The Art Menu

Michael Longhofer, Artist

Everyone knows that Artists think differently than most. How differently? You’d be surprised…

The Art Menu’s mission is to give local artists a platform, not just to promote their work, but also to share the sincere point of view behind what drives them to create. This interview begins the first of an ongoing series with our talented roster of Artists explaining their craft, the creative process and their artistic credo.

Michael Longhofer is our featured Artist of the Month for March. Here is his story…

“Downpour at Dusk”

TAM:  Where is your hometown?
Michael:  Amarillo, Texas


TAM:  How long have you lived in the Dallas area?
Michael:  10 years


TAM:  When did you discover your creative talents?
Michael:  I started drawing as a young lad.

TAM:  How long have you been making art?
Michael:  On and off in the beginning, but my whole life

TAM:  Where did you train?
Michael:  Laguna College of Art and Design, BFA


TAM:  What would you call your style?
Michael:  Hyper-Realism


“Morning Commute”

TAM:  How long have you been showing your work professionally?
Michael:  Since 1994


TAM:  What other jobs have you had?
Michael:  USMC, Art Director, Fine dining server, Wine sales

TAM:  What’s your favorite part of being an Artist?
Michael:  Starting with nothing and ending up with something


TAM:  And you’re least favorite?
Michael:  $$$


TAM:  Have you been inspired/influenced by any artist or artists or movement in particular?
Michael:  I like photo-realism / Chuck Close; pop art / Wayne Thiebaud; and impressionism / Monet.

TAM:  How long does it take to complete a work of art?
Michael:  2 weeks (depends on detail, size & medium used of course)


TAM:  How do you know when a painting is finished?
Michael:  I’m very organized with my painting process. So, when that process is done.


TAM:  How has your artistic practice changed over time?
Michael:  It’s more efficient, and my color mixing has improved. But my eyes are shot.

“Nawleons”


TAM:  What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Michael:  A fireman cried when he received a painting for his retirement.


TAM:  What food, drink, song inspires you?
Michael:  Christian music. Just sodas, no food


TAM:  What makes you angry?
Michael:  Frustration, dishonesty, and favoritism


TAM:  What research do you do?
Michael:  I research every project depending on what the client wants. If it’s my art, I play around with trying to come up with something edgy and cool. 


TAM:  What is your dream project?
Michael:  A mural on a skyscraper, with an unlimited budget, and I choose the subject matter.


TAM:  What is your favorite or most inspirational place?
Michael:  New York


TAM:  What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Michael:  If you have a gut feeling not to deal with someone…Don’t do it, no matter how big the piece of cheese is.


TAM:  What is an artistic outlook on life? 
Michael:  There are lots of users and abusers out there in the art world. So, I watch my back, and try to keep making quality art, that will stand the test of time.

 

 

Caroline Oliver, Artist

The Art Menu, an online gallery dedicated to promoting the works of emerging and established Dallas Artists, announces the addition of Artist Caroline Oliver to their roster of elite local talent.

Caroline Oliver grew up in Phoenix, AZ and received a BFA in studio art, with an emphasis in oil painting, from Pepperdine University in California. Oliver’s delicate oil paintings are lovely and sensuous. Her brushstrokes are reminiscent of the painted gardens at Giverny. The soft infusion of color and shape in her works has made a splash in the local art scene.

“Blue Mist”, Caroline Oliver

“My goal is to be an artist that is as adept as she is passionate. To me, painting is like life. You have to gratefully embrace times of celebration and progress through what’s hard and confusing: frequently stepping back to think before you act, keep alert to your intuition, and wait for the right opportunities; don’t touch what already has substance and extract anything that does not contribute. In all, my goal is to make work that occurs organically but has palpable intention and force,” says Oliver.

“Sugary Paint Cherry”, Caroline Oliver

The Art Menu represents an elite group of Dallas area artists, each bringing their own unique talents to the table via their diverse mediums and subject matter.

They provide a much-needed service for artists and the artistic community at large by discovering exceptional local creative talent as well as providing an online platform that publicizes and markets their work. The works of these artists then become available to the larger artistic community in the form of limited edition giclée art prints and canvas prints.

The giclée process requires the original art on canvas to be professionally scanned and digitized, assuring the highest level of quality reproduction.

“Our website helps artists put their work out into the public eye,” said David Hobbs, Owner of The Art Menu. “People buy art because they relate to the piece and the story behind it. We want The Art Menu to be a platform for the artist to share his creativity and his authentic voice.”

Design District Diversion, March 1, 2012

Envisioned as the “signature” of the twenty-first-century city, the elegant Santiago Calatrava designed, Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is a letterhead-ready icon of soaring aspirations. In construction since 2007, the opening weekend was finally upon us, and The Art Menu was thrilled to be in the forefront of the opening celebrations.

The Dallas Design District and Jim Lake Companies threw the “Design District Diversion” on March 1, and invited artists and select local galleries to show work, including Mary Tomas Studio Gallery, Cohn Drennan Contemporary, Circuit12 Contemporary and The Art Menu. The caliber of art at this event was top-notch.

You couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant evening, as the early onset of Spring in Dallas attracted hundreds of people to the lovely indoor/outdoor space. Live jazz from Roberto Verastegui set the tone for a swanky evening filled with a veritable who’s who of artists and art aficionados alike. Delicious fare from Easy Slider Truck and Yum Yum Food Truck was a special treat for for all the partygoers looking to nosh.

Artists Gina Marie Dunn (L) and Liz London (R)
Background artwork “Our True Nature” by Gina Marie Dunn (L),
“Orange Crush” by Anita Horton (R), available at theartmenu.com

For this particular event, the venue had selected the works of Gina Marie Dunn, Rick Griggs, Anita Horton, Carmen Menza and Tamara White to display. As The Art Menu moves forward with more events in the future, we have plans to include other Artists’ works in our lineup so that each person’s work has the opportunity to shine.

We couldn’t have been more pleased to partner with these premier art and design organizations to participate in an event that celebrates the changing cultural face of this city.  With the completion of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, Dallas is evolving before our eyes. The Art Menu is proud to represent the local talent of artists who are working to revolutionize our city from the ground up, just like this soaring new addition to our skyline.