Focal Point: Robert McKay

Year Born: N/A

Price Range: $315.00 - $6,912.00
(This price range was estimated with limited info and may be inaccurate)

Main Website: http://www.robertmckayart.com

Other Web Pages With Info About Robert McKay

Robert McKay's Main Artist Website

Art Galleries Representing Robert McKay

Overview

Click Here to go to the website for artist Robert McKay

All images copyright Robert McKay (c)

Biography

BIO WEBSITE

Robert A. McKay

Robert strives to capture the animated spirit of the figure and landscape through a painterly approach. "I endeavor to capture the breathing essence of my subjects. Studies from life are a critical part of my work in seeking beauty, harmony, order and truth in nature."

His influences are the classic American Illustrators; especially those who designed with lush, broad strokes of value and color such as Dean Cornwell, Tom Lovell, and Haddon Sundblom. He also looks to the painting legends Frans Hals, Joaquin Sorolla and Emile Gruppe for their descriptive, lucid brushwork.

Robert grew up in the shadows of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. His high school art teacher, Lorin Folland, introduced him to plein air painting and also passed on teachings learned from Brackman and DuMond at the Art Students League.

After earning a BFA in Illustration from Brigham Young University, UT, he traveled east to complete a Master's degree in Studio Art through Marywood University, PA in conjunction with Parsons School of Design and School of Visual Arts, NY. Two of Robert's influences at the time were Max Ginsburg and Malcolm (Skip) Liepke who gave him encouragement in his artistic direction. Robert went on to apprentice with artist Paul Mann. "Paul trained me in the solid tradition of narrative painting/illustration. I'm indebted to him for his mentorship; for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for painting and the history of illustration."

Beginning his art career as a freelance illustrator, Robert painted for such clients as Browning Arms, Boyd's Mills Press, Deseret Book, the Baptist Sunday School and the LDS Church Magazines. He eventually had the opportunity to attend figure and landscape workshops with Earl Jones and Jim Wilcox. They served as an inspiration for his teaching.

Over the years Robert has taught university and college level drawing and painting courses in illustration, figure and landscape painting. He has conducted a variety of workshops in the dynamic, Utah landscapes of Park City, Snowbird, and Heber Valley. Robert currently teaches figure drawing and painting at Salt Lake Community College. As an artist, Robert deems it a pleasure to pass on the grand tradition of painting to the next generation.

Robert's fine art and narrative illustration works exhibit in private and public collections, book and international magazine publications.

See "Events" page for current exhibitions.

Past exhibitions include:

2007 Terra Nova Gallery, Provo Plein Air Competition, Best of Show and Artists' Choice awards
2007 Bountiful Davis Art Center Holiday Show
2007 Terra Nova Gallery, All Things Great and Small Show
2007 Spring City Plein Air Event
2007 Ogden Valley Plein Air Event
2007 Thanksgiving Point Plein Air Invitational
2007 Ogden Union Station, Secret Show Invitational
1998-2007 Bountiful Davis Art Center, Contemporary Illustration Exhibition Invitational
2006 Bountiful Davis Art Center, Utah State Show
2006 Eccles Community Art Center, Black and White Show

Upcoming Events and Exhibits

WHEELER HISTORIC FARM MASTRIM GALLERY EXHIBIT
6351 S. 900 E. Salt Lake City, Utah
9/10/2008-10/31/2008
Reception: ()

The Paintings of Robert McKay and The Sculpture of Benjamin Hammond

CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATORS INVITATIONAL
Bountiful/Davis Art Center 745 S. Main St.
9/12/2008-10/10/2008
Reception: 9/19/2008 (7-9pm)

PLEIN AIR PROVO
Terra Nova Gallery, 41 W. 300 N. Provo, UT
10/3/2008-10/31/2008
Reception: 10/3/2008 (6-9pm)

Come to Terra Nova Gallery during the Gallery Stroll and see Historic Provo City through Robert's plein air paintings. There will be work from a variety of artists.

SECRET SHOW
Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave. Ogden, UT
10/9/2008-10/11/2008
Reception: 10/11/2008 (6pm)

Will you walk away with Robert's painting? How about his wife, Cindy's painting? Secret anonymous art show and sale. Saturday, October 11th at Historic Union Station. For $10.00 you will receive a Secret! pencil needed to purchase art, all while nibbling delicious hors d' oevres, sipping refreshing beverages, and being entertained by a Jazz Ensemble featuring ZOLTAN at the keyboard. The Secret! pencil is needed to purchase art. A drawing will determine purchase rights, with each piece selling for just $99. Entertainment begins at 6:00pm. Sign-up begins at 6:30pm with the drawing for purchases at 7:30pm; then the Secret! will be out and artists revealed! Preview the show October 9th-11th 10am-5pm in the Grand Lobby of Ogden's Historic Union Station. Gallery at the Station thanks our donating artists. Art sales proceeds to benefit the Union Station Foundation.

GLEN EDWARDS ALUMNI EXHIBIT
Apple Frame Gallery, 70 N. Main Bountiful, UT
10/17/2008-11/17/2008
Reception: 10/17/2008 (6-8pm)

Robert studied under Glen Edwards for two years at Utah State University and greatly appreciates his influence that was given through his daily class demonstrations in drawing and painting from life with speed, color and flare.

BDAC ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW
Bountiful/Davis Art Center, 745 So. Main St.
11/21/2008-12/23/2008
Reception: 11/21/2008 (7-9pm)

A tradition for over 30 years, the Holiday Show has proven to be one of the most popular exhibitions at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center.

Upcoming Workshops

Other Web Pages that Robert McKay Recommends you visit

(These pages are not necessarily about Robert McKay)

Frans Hals

Illustration House

Illustration Magazine

Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida

John Stobart

John Stobart Maritime Heritage Prints

Mark Omer

Max Ginsburg

Max Ginsburg Illustration

Paul Mann

Richard Coombs

Rob Coombs