Debbie Edgers Sturges’ larger than life wildlife paintings have graced the Celebration of Fine Art since 2004. Each year brings new subject matter as she travels the world to research the animals in their natural habitat.

In 2007 Debbie traveled to Alaska spending time in Kukak and Halo Bays to observe Alaskan Coastal Grizzly Bears. She was able to take over 6000 photographs of bear behavior. Her first hand observations have translated themselves into passionate and realistic paintings that made viewers want to reach out and touch. Many of these works of art were on display at last year’s show until they were scooped up by excited collectors. In 2008 she fulfilled another lifelong dream as she traveled to Churchill to study and photograph Polar Bears in their natural setting. Visitors to the Celebration of Fine Art can expect to see these images come to life in Debbie’s studio this year! She has already ordered a 4’ x 6’ canvas for one such painting. You can expect to see other animals as well – buffalos, fox, cougars, rabbits, elk, birds, bobcats and more!

Debbie’s work truly reflects her passion for the western wildlife and landscape. Her paintings have been inspired by her summers as a child exploring the beaches of Washington State and her current adopted home of Idaho in the Rocky Mountains as well as the winters she now spends in the Arizona desert. Debbie lives in a log cabin in the shadow of a mountain next to a river. When she is not painting she is enjoys hiking, observing and photographing the animals and landscape that live in the desert rocks and mountain forests. Many of the animals you see in her paintings are truly her neighbors! One of Debbie’s avid collectors, T. Schupp of Tempe, says “Debbie’s paintings have a way of bringing the animal and its surroundings to life. You can feel the presence in the room where you hang the work.” Debbie hopes to inspire others to examine with a curious heart all that surrounds in the natural world.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, MA, Debbie is well trained in the technicalities of art. Perhaps, more importantly, Debbie has an innate ability to translate what she sees into phenomenal works of art that leave a lasting and positive impression on anyone who sees her work. Be sure to stop and say hello to Debbie when you visit the Celebration of Fine Art January 16 through March 29, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Kirk Randle has been a part of the Celebration of Fine Art since the very first year in 1991. We’ve watched his work explode into stunning works that take your breath away and we’ve seen his family grow up (more about that later)! His collectors span the globe and many are very familiar faces at the Celebration! He’s even been immortalized in a song tribute written by one of his collectors! Bountiful, Utah is his home base, but from January 16 through March 29, 2009 you’ll find him in his working studio at the Celebration of Fine Art from 10 am until 6 pm. He often comes back after dinner to paint late into the night which shows his passion for what he does.

Kirk Randle is what he paints. To appreciate his work, one must assume the romantic’s sensitive, highly perceptive stance. As it applies here, this is an attitude of emotional candor that establishes the artist’s feelings towards a person, place or event as that entity’s most important feature. Working from this premise, Kirk tends to paint more from feeling than from an immediate response to an object or a scene.

A native of Utah, Kirk’s subject matter is often Rocky Mountain vistas, landscapes, country homesteads and Native American subjects. His landscapes frequently contain sunsets like those vivid bleeding colors that are the hallmark of the Arizona sunsets.

In 2008, he was invited to spend a week living and working in the original home and studio of Edward Hopper on Cape Cod.

Edward Hopper, 1935
…following his first retrospective

“In every artist’s development the germ of the later work is always found In the earlier…What he was once, he always is, with slight modifications. Changing fashions in methods or subject matter alter him little or not at all.”

We all have experiences that “rock our world”. These experiences focus us in a new direction or add layer to our success. “It was one of the most important experiences of my life. Seeing from his perspective the vastness of the land and ocean, smelling the air and listening to the rain all became moments of inspiration.” Says Kirk.

Look for a new body of work to premier at the 2009 Celebration of Fine Art with the numerous paintings based on his trip to the Edward Hopper House. You will see his eyes light up as he describes his experience while creating each of these paintings.

As a family man, Kirk encouraged his son, James Randle, to pursue his passion in painting. James’ success allowed him to join the Celebration in 2008 and to return in 2009.

(left) Kirk watches James add a finishing touch to one of Kirk’s paintings.

Now a Grandfather, Kirk is passing the brush on to his daughter’s son, Henry, to carry on the family business.

Kirk’s grandson, Henry gets in on the action!

If you’ve been to the Celebration of Fine Art, you can’t miss the big smile that is almost always on Penny Benjamin Peterson’s face. Her bright personality and positive outlook on life transfer to her lively canvases. Her passion and generosity are easy to recognize when you meet her.

Penny’s abstract works are a reflection of the inspiration she finds from the beautiful

Arizona sky, mountains and desert landscapes that she has been surround by most of her life. This inspiration combined with life experiences is what drives her passion to create. Penny says “Life experiences are universal and mine speak in rich color, texture, shapes and brush strokes. The interrelationship of texture, color and how they relate to each viewer intrigues me.” Many of her paintings incorporate words and quotes that inspire the viewer to look for the best that life has to offer. Penny has a vast collector base that circles the globe. In 2007 she traveled to China for a special exhibition of her work. It was an experience that she will long remember. Her generosity is second to none. She has several causes that she is passionate about supporting including Arizona Easter Seals, Free Arts for Abused Children and the American Diabetes Association.

Penny is always willing to share her smile, her talent and her joy for her artwork with anyone. Be sure to stop by and meet her in 2009 when you visit the show. You’ll be sure to become a fan of hers, just as all of us from the Celebration of Fine Art family are!

Penny is shown here with Celebration of Fine Art Collector, Frank Racioppo.

This month we have a special double feature for our Featured Artist column -   husband and wife, Del and Martha Pettigrew!  Del and Martha are one of several couples who participate in the Celebration of Fine Art, proving that couples who create together, stay together!   They have been married for 30 years and have been part of the Celebration family of artists since 1996. Not only have we enjoyed their wonderful works of art, but we have enjoyed watching them mentor and influence other Celebration of Fine Art artists over the years. [Continue Reading]