New Artists

We are pleased to announce we have two new artists in the gallery, Kyle Eckert and Chelsea England. Kyle is an oil painter who paints many flowers, landscapes, and portraits. Chelsea is an acrylic painter who paints bright and colorful florals and landscapes. We’ve included several pieces from each artist below, along with three new pieces from Vicki Wilson. Vicki has been showing in the gallery for a couple of years and her specialty is florals.

“The Distant Steeple and Bridge” Kyle Eckert, 36x54 oil

“Coastal Vibe” Kyle Eckert, 11x14

“Lilacs” Kyle Eckert, 24x12

“The Usual Suspects” Chelsea England, 30x40

“On the Upside” Chelsea England, 24x20

“I’ve Got Spring in My Soul” Chelsea England, 12x16

“The Colors of White” Vicki Wilson, 24x36

“Quietly Irresistible” Vicki Wilson, 24x24

“Silence of Petals” Vicki Wilson, 12x12

Unveiling of Abraham Lincoln Painting by local artist, John Helfrich

Monday, April 15th at 6:00 pm CDT, Reception 5:30-7:00

April 15th marks the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s death. Evansville artist John Helfrich is remarkably skilled at creating technically accurate and realistic oil paintings, and he recently completed a new portrait of Lincoln, the beloved 16th President of the United States of America.

The unveiling of Helfrich’s most recent Lincoln portrait will take place at Inman’s Picture Framing, 2828 Lincoln Avenue in Evansville on Monday, April 15th. Doors open at 5:30 pm CDT for this very special event, with the art being unveiled at 6:00 pm CDT.

Helfrich’s most recent Lincoln oil painting was collected quickly at Inman’s, where it was on exhibit. A fortunate and astute art collector purchased it shortly after it was first displayed in the gallery.

Abraham Lincoln lived in nearby Spencer County, Indiana from age 7 through 21. He was a self-taught lawyer and is regarded as one of the greatest U.S. presidents, was an opponent of slavery, and successfully led the Union during the Civil War.

John Helfrich is a self-taught artist whose paintings display true elegance. He says, “Being diagnosed as agoraphobic, painting has provided me a way to connect with humanity that would otherwise be impossible for me. I have no achievements in competition to boast of. To me, competitions involving artists tend to breed animosity in an environment where we must raise each other up, not prove we are better. The look of true appreciation, excitement, or love in the eyes of a recipient of one of my paintings brings a higher premium than any dollar amount or number of ribbons ever could.”

Featured Artist, Julie De Young

Born in Bozeman, MT then growing in a Chicago suburb, I found myself happily married and eight years later settling down in Evansville, IN. It was such a great compromise after experiencing large cities and small towns.

In 2006 I had surgery for a rare facial pain disorder. I had to leave my job and close my floral design business. No longer reliable in the working world I had to figure out what to do in life. I recalled when I was in high school, I enjoyed art, mainly watercolor painting and have always been interested in pursuing it.

A local craft store was advertising watercolor classes by a very talented watercolorist, Gloria Baker. I signed up and found not only a great teacher but a whole group of wonderful friends.

I started with basic supplies and over time learned the difference of well-made paper, brushes and paints. There is such a wide variety of supplies and in all different price ranges on the market. I purchased watercolor books that explained techniques and challenged myself to paint often if not most days. Like anything practice improves skills.

Evolving over the years I love painting coastal, silhouettes, mountains, Italian and western scenery and my Dutch heritage has led me to painting windmills and tulips. I also create collages that tell stories and stem from my life experiences. Some of my paintings are motivated by a single beautiful color I’ve seen in a sunset or sunrise. This year I am expanding my horizons into abstract and the mid-century realms.

I hope if you are so kind to purchase any of my prints or originals it is because you will love looking at them for many years and they bring you joy in owning them.

If just a beginner I encourage you to delve into really anything that interests you. You might be surprised and so very happy where it leads you.

Three plein air painters new to the gallery!

You’ll now find the work of Terry Rone, Iris Gentry, and Marka Kroeger at Inman’s. All three specialize in plein air painting and are from Henderson, Kentucky. Plein air is the act of painting outdoors. Drop by the gallery to see their gorgeous artwork!

Works by Terry Rone

Works by Iris Gentry

Works by Marka Kroeger

Oil Artist, Ken Eppler

Born in August 1969, I grew up in a large Catholic family. As I grew older, the artistic gene from my great grandma Veller became more prominent. I graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1987. Four days after my 18th birthday I joined the army.

After basic training, advanced infantry training, and airborne school, I was assigned to the 101st airborne division. During those four years with the Screaming Eagles, I graduated from Air Assault school, served a six month tour in Sinai Egypt and became a combat veteran during the Gulf War. I served another four years in the Indiana National Guard at which time I graduated number one in my class at Sergeant school and participated in the Sergeant exchange program with the British. Through the eight years of my military service, I never stopped drawing.

After the military, I married and focused on raising my son and daughter. During that time period, I used my art to ground myself before I even knew what grounding myself meant. It took me 25 years to seek help in dealing with events that took place in Iraq.

In October 2021, I taught myself to oil paint. A lifetime of following a wandering star lead me to our local art community. I now enjoy volunteering at the Evansville Wartime Museum, where several of my pieces are on display. I also demonstrate my art technique to grade school children touring the Museum. Maybe I can inspire a young artist. - Ken Eppler

Artist Spotlight, Vicki Wilson

In the artist’s words…

I believe that art is a reflection of our soul and desires, and that it comes from our innermost being. It connects the artist to the viewer in a unique way, usually without words, but with intentional brush marks, movement and a variety of colors. I have always loved to be creative, even as a young child, coloring my white bedroom curtains red which I do not recommend! I now stay clear of curtains, and find myself using canvas and other surfaces to work with.

My style has changed over the years, beginning with collage and mixed media pieces which I still create occasionally, but I now focus mostly on my love of texture that I like to create with palette knives. I love the movement and building up of layers it creates. Palette knives, along with brushes, has become my signature way of painting. I feel each stroke on the canvas creates a type of dance in a painterly style with both texture and color.

My love of nature reflects in my work. My style of paintings are often based on soft colors and a quiet palette. At times I add a pop of color but most of my work shows a softer side of life. Florals, serene landscapes and objects in nature are my inspiration. They calm my soul and inspire me to be a better person and a better artist. I’ve had many people say my art creates a peace and a feeling of going back in time for them. This makes me feel like I am doing what I should with my art.

I often tell my beginner art students to think about the reason one weeds a garden. We remove what does not belong and that no longer serves us so we can then cultivate and nurture the garden. I encourage them to not allow fear and self doubt get in the way, and weed those type of things out. Above all, have fun and enjoy the process!

I am a wife, mother and Nana. I paint from my home studio in Evansville Indiana. You can find my art at Inman’s Picture Framing and my website, www.vickiwilsonart.com.

Artist Spotlight, Jaime Haney

In the artist’s words…

I’ve always used creativity in my life. I started out like a lot of artists, drawing and coloring as a kid, then doing all the contests in school. My Dad is also an artist, so his illustrations and sculptures influenced my art, I’m sure. He’s always encouraged me to think outside of the box, to think “what if”. That phrase is still something I think daily in the studio and in life. 

I went to college for graphic design and worked in that field for 11 years. After the birth of my son, I stayed home and opened up my art studio where I have been painting ever since.

My style is constantly evolving and changing. When I first started to paint it was important to me to paint in a representational and detailed style. About 80% of my work has remained that way until as of the last year or so. Now, as the years have passed I’ve matured in my skills and most importantly clarity. I find I get more and more enjoyment painting for myself. That involves expressing feelings, thoughts, imagination and storytelling through less literal means. I’m working towards creating more visceral work and pleasing myself for the majority of the time now. It’s my hope that my collectors continue to follow this new path I’m taking and walk along the journey with me to see where the road leads. 

I’m looking forward to another popup style art show with artist friend Lori Rivera, this September. I also am excited to be included for the third year in a row to an open house called “Christmas at the Cabin”. It’s an amazing shopping experience in December held at the most unique studio I’ve ever seen. It’s a log cabin in the woods of Posey County, the studio of my friend, fellow artist and potter, Tom Wintczak. Just sign up for my email list to be invited to either of these events.

Featured Artist, Lori Rivera

“It’s all about the viewers’ experience and bringing them joy.”

Lori Rivera's artistic journey began with using art as a form of self-directed therapy, but her artistic style has evolved over the years, becoming more uplifting and focused on bringing joy and excitement to the viewer.

Drawing from her own experiences of overcoming dark times in her life, she aspires for her artwork to serve as a positive energy source in the spaces where it is displayed. Her goal is to bring a sense of well-being and upliftment to her collectors, creating a happier atmosphere.

“We think it’s truly amazing to see how customers react to her art. It speaks to them and just gives them a sense of happiness.” - Jessica Inman

Wife, mother, artist and Evansville native, Lori paints with acrylics from her home studio.

Celebration Cake, above, is an award-winning piece

Lori's primary passion is in painting abstracts, as they provide her with the opportunity to create something meaningful from deep emotions and intangible aspects of life. While she also explores other subjects like still life, portraits, and landscapes, abstract art allows her to tap into her emotions, whether current or from memories, and convey them in a way that resonates with others.

Even though Lori’s favorites are abstracts, she still makes time for quirky paintings of objects too, like those below.

Why Choose a Local Framer over an Online Option?

You may see options for framing online, but there are many reasons to choose a local framer. First, you get a personalized experience that you can’t get online. We help you through the entire process, sharing our knowledge of framing with you while you choose the perfect frame, mat color, and glass. You may have questions and we can answer them on the spot.

Another reason to choose a local framer is that you have the opportunity to see the mat and frame samples in person. There’s no guessing on color as sometimes colors aren’t a true representation on a computer. Like anything else, you get a better vision in person of how the frame will look with your piece. You just can’t get the same feeling shopping online.

Even though size in inches may be listed online, sometimes it can be difficult to visualize the size in relation to the piece you’re framing. But in person you can immediately see how small or large a frame is and how that size works with your piece. There’s also no shipping cost to worry about when choosing a local framer.

Finally, when you support local businesses, you are helping keep resources in the local community! Drop in and see us for your one-on-one personalized consultation.

Award-Winning Artist, Lesley Nelson

“I believe we heal through our subconscious and there’s meaning in everything around us so I pay attention to my dreams and my daydreams. Every feather you find, every color…It’s all trying to tell you something.”

In the artist’s words…

Lesley Nelson, Evansville, Indiana Artist

I received my associate degree in visual communication/graphic arts from Ivy Tech. I did a small amount of freelance work, applied for a couple graphic design jobs but ultimately decided to stay in jewelry at the time where I had been working. I received certifications through DCA (Diamond Council of America) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and worked at Helzberg Diamonds and Kay Jewelers up until I delivered my first child, Sam. When he was small, I waited tables for awhile as I was also doing custom upholstery out of my basement. I decided to return to Helzberg when I was pregnant with my 2nd child, Katie. I continued to do some seamstress & upholstery jobs while she was little. I’ve always had a side hustle but ultimately my babies were first. I always said once I got my kids in school I’d focus on art again. I’ve always drawn and loved different artistic things but you just have a different life when your kids are little. 

When Katie started kindergarten, I bought myself a huge set of watercolors. I always had my pencils, colored pencils, and pastels but I had never really done much painting. I started with watercolors and loved it for a while and I still do occasionally, but I feel like acrylics are more for me. Once I started with acrylics, I feel like it became an addiction.

My first art show was the 50 years in Evansville in 2019. I’ve always been shy and struggled with confidence and that’s the year I decided to start putting my stuff out there!

I feel in control of my own life when I paint or at least the acceptance of things I can’t control by doing something good. It’s hard to explain but it’s empowering for me. I have a lot of rejection from family members and painting everyday became a meditative practice for me. Something good, something that was by me and for me, something nobody could take from me. Out of all the things that have been taken from me, nobody could ever take this. It’s about the journey for me. The quest for happiness and acceptance and helping people around me to strive for the good also.

IN CLOSING

“As an artist I’m all over the map but I’ll try to explain myself… I’m a vivid dreamer and I truly believe in the meaning behind your dreams so I paint from my dreams often. I had a dream that red spiders were pouring from the walls. I know it sounds like you’d be scared but in my dream I was happy and curious. You should always pay attention to the emotions in your dream, not just the elements. I googled red spiders that morning and came across the red spider lily flowers. I was blown away by the deep meaning of them. I believe we heal through our subconscious and there’s meaning in everything around us so I pay attention to my dreams and my daydreams. Every feather you find, every color…It’s all trying to tell you something.”

Lesley takes commissions too. Commission a piece by contacting Jessica at jessica@inmanspictureframing.com.

Fine Art Printing

Did you know you can get your art prints made through us here at Inman’s? We offer a variety of paper choices such as matte, glossy, luster, fine art, watercolor and canvas.

And yes, we do giclée prints as well.

What’s a Giclée you ask? From the French term “gicleur” which means to spray, a giclée is a type of fine art print created by using a high resolution inkjet printer to spray the ink on archival paper. Archival paper is known for its durability as it’s acid free and won’t degrade or age like regular paper.

Photographs courtesy of Jeff Walin, art by Cynthia Watson and Lori Rivera

Watercolor Artist Jon Fuchs

In the artist’s words…

I am a lifelong resident of Evansville and I have created artwork my whole life. I have a wide variety of art, birds, nature, landscapes, beach, lighthouses, portraits, abstracts and many of my hometown Evansville and its beautiful iconic landmarks. Everyone has a gift…GOD has given me the gift of seeing beauty in the world and painting it and I am THANKFUL.

Own a piece by Jon

Add a pop of color with a Prisma frame

Part art and part science, Prisma Frames combine engineering ingenuity with a passion for great picture frame design. Fun designs for serious collectors, Prisma frames are highly sought after. Choose a traditional or floater frame, which you can order in any width, shape, and single color — sanded or clear. Accent your art by combining sharp or rounded corners with convex and concave exteriors. There are 19 patterns, 9 style options, and 45+ color option samples in the shop.

Award-Winning Artist, Cynthia Watson

Cynthia Watson, an award-winning artist, has called Evansville home for four decades, after spending her formative years in Indianapolis. Having honed her craft at Herron School of Art and Design, she is a proud mother of three and a doting grandmother of five.

As a versatile artist, Cynthia has expertise in oil, watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. Recently, she has ventured into the captivating world of plein air painting, which involves capturing the beauty of nature in an outdoor setting. Additionally, Cynthia is a fervent advocate for exploring mixed media works that combine various mediums for a stunning result.

Cynthia finds immense joy in sharing her artistic knowledge and experience through teaching classes for both children and adults at her charming studio in downtown Evansville. During summers, she hosts children’s art camps, week-long day camps that encompass lessons on the color wheel, 3-point perspective, watercolor, acrylics, and even tie-dye projects.

SUMMER 2023 ART CAMP

June 12-16, 9:30a-2:00p
June 26-30, 9:30a-2:00p
July 10-14, 9:30a-2:00p
July 17-21, 9:30a-2:00p

All materials included except white t-shirt (for tie-dying)
Must bring own sack lunch.
Art show on Fridays at 12:30 to showcase art from the week for family and friends. 401 SE 6th St, Suite 209, Evansville, IN 47713

Call 812-484-9459 to reserve a session.

Cynthia also takes commissions. To commission a piece by Cynthia, contact Jessica at jessica@inmanspictureframing.com. Visit our online shop to collect a Cynthia Watson.

Own a piece by Cynthia

Fine Art Printing Now Available

You can now get all your fine art prints through us! Prints on fine art paper. Photographs in matte, satin, lustre, and high gloss. All sizes. Contact Jessica for more info at jessica@inmanspictureframing.com.

The newest addition to our family…The Pistorius saw

Excitement abounds as we unveil our new saw! But, what does this mean for you? Brace yourself for cleaner cuts on your frames, and a faster turnaround time for your projects. Our commitment to providing the best possible quality and customer service remains our top priority.

Is Your Artwork Safe?

We’ve Got You Covered

Preservation framing techniques are crucial for protecting your artwork collection from environmental damage and ensuring its longevity for future generations to enjoy. By using archival-quality materials and techniques, your artwork can be safeguarded from the damaging effects of light, humidity, and temperature fluctuations. Investing in preservation framing is well worth the cost in the long run to preserve the value and beauty of your precious collection. Contact Mike at mike@inmanspictureframing.com for more information about preservation framing.