South Florida Artist Skip Hartzell Creates Unique Art Inspired by Man's Best Friend

Renowned South Florida artist Skip Hartzell creates unique art inspired by man’s best friend. His inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The canine-inspired artworks that he creates are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes, and varieties.

Skip Hartzell in his art studio with his dogs

The artist creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog.” He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life.

Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork. 

'Toy Three' (2018), Oil on Canvas, 60 x 48 Inches

“The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

Happy Skip Hartzell Collectors

“Dogs are always in the moment. Although nothing in life has held my attention longer or has been more fascinating to me than dogs, my work is about much more than that. It is about form, movement, color, and texture. The dogs are a recognizable common denominator that allows me to communicate my joy of living, passions, and sentiments,” explained Skip Hartzell.

'Dog No.50', Paper, Concrete and Resin, 13 x 6.5 Inches

The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more. Skip Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no-kill shelters. For sales info, private commissions, general inquiries or exhibition updates, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit https://www.skiphartzell.com/

The Frank presents New Industry: Contemporary Visions of the Industrial

The Frank art gallery in Pembroke Pines presents the Opening Reception for New Industry: Contemporary Visions of the Industrial on Thursday, August 29th from 6-9pm. Enjoy an exhibition focused on industrial aesthetic, blurring the lines between fine art, mechanical design and fabrication while also challenging traditional artmaking materials and techniques. New Industry is on display from August 29 through October 26, 2019. Guests will be treated to a performance by top Miami rap artist and Pembroke Pines native, Sam Stan. This event is open to the public, admission is free. Complimentary refreshments & hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Image: Nestor Arenas, 'Typologies: Structure No. 9', Acrylic on Canvas, 77 x 67 Inches.

Curated by The Frank’s Chief Curator Joshua Carden, the new exhibition features the work of artists Nestor Arenas, Yves Gabriel, Kx2, Devora Perez and Norman Silva along with a video piece by Layne Hinton and Chris Foster. Each of the artists employ a minimalist tendency while engaging the viewer with work grounded in industrialization, gentrification and/or the notion of change through industrial materials.

Boca Raton Museum of Art: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day

Enjoy Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day at the Boca Raton Museum of Art on Saturday, September 21st. Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian magazine. Museum Day is a one-day event in which participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. Participants are allowed to download one ticket per email address. The ticket provides free general admission on Saturday, September 21, 2019, for two people.

Tickets will be available to download on August 15, 2019 at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venues/museum/boca-raton-museum-of-art/ Free Admission is sponsored by PNC Bank.