Meet The Artists
See The Violins
Artist:  Laurie Baral
Violin:  "Copland's Kid"
Laurie Baral, a member of The Portrait Institute, is a newcomer to the public market. Until recently, her work has been limited to family needs and volunteer services. Although formally trained as a commercial artist, she has known all along that her artistic career would eventually be in portraiture.

Description of Violin:
The inspiration for this piece came from the Northland Symphony Orchestra's recent rendition of Copland's Billy the Kid Suite performed earlier this season. The contrast of Copland and "Billy the Kid" seemed too good for the artist to pass up. The artist used oil paint as the medium to create the image on the violin.
Artist:  Mary Pat Corder
Violin:  "Born to Play"
Always happy to support the arts, this is Mary Pat Corder's second year participating in this event. Mrs. Corder is the art teacher at St. Andrew the Apostle School in Gladstone, MO. She also explores art through oil & acrylic painting, glass work and sculptures. In addition, she is currently finishing work on a musical she has written called, “The Peach.” Please visit www.marypatcorder.com to view more work.

Description of Violin:
Mrs. Corder has been inspired by old masters and has taken liberties with Sando Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and incorporated a violin in Venus's hand. Paints, wood burning, shells and collage were among the mediums used to create this piece.
Artist:  Donna Silver Fox
Violin:  "Moonstone Sonata"
Donna Silver Fox is of Cherokee descent and uses Native American designs as a base for contemporary art pieces in many different mediums. Ms. Silver Fox's work has been displayed with Northland Exposure Gallery in Parkville for over five years; she has also participated in several local art shows. Ms. Silver Fox creates pieces for special commissions. All of her designs are unique and one-of-a-kind.

Description of Violin:
Sterling silver wire and stones are used on this piece to create a unique, curled design accented with silver leaf. The wire and stones are inlaid into the body of the violin. CZ stones are placed in a random pattern in different areas of the violin.
Artist:  Steve Higgins
Violin:  "Ode to Rock and Metal Music"
Artist Steve Higgins has always loved most types of art and photography. When he was young, Higgins would draw every free moment; he made little books of his own to later give to his friends as gifts. Ten years ago, this artist went from drawing on paper to utilizing materials available to him, such as metal, glass, wood and stone. Other works by Steve Higgins can be viewed at: www.metalstormartgallery.com.

Description of Violin:
As an 'Ode to Rock and Metal Music,' the violin is created to look like it is made partially of stone and metal. This was accomplished by using paint and texture materials. The violin is made to hang as one piece of artwork.
Artist:  Julie Hudspeth
Violin:  "A Fruitful Melody"
When Julie Hudspeth was 9 years old, she experienced a special connection with both artwork and the symphony. She first painted with oils in high school. Though she has also studied ceramics, sculpture and watercolor, oil remains her favorite. With a love of nature inscribed upon her soul, she frequently paints representative realism, often with an impressionist touch. Her work is exhibited and collected in the U.S. and Europe and will expand to Russia and the Middle East this year. Please visit JuliesStudio.com to view more of Julie's work.

Description of Violin:
It seemed natural to combine music and luscious fruit. The pomegranate, pear, peach and grapes are painted in oil; the grape vines are real. In Julie’s accompanying prose she speaks to the heart of the viewer:

“A Fruitful Melody”

May the music in your heart
be gloriously revealed in your life.

Peaches: Beautiful, delicious, moments to enjoy.
Pears: Luscious, succulent, ripe in its season.
Pomegranates: Grace-filled juice of healing.
Grapes: The fruit of the vine, bringing forth rich, full wine to savor.
Artist:  Steve Karol
Violin:  "The Soloist"
Steve Karol is a professional artist living in Liberty, MO and is employed by HMN Architects. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Miami in Miami, FL. Mr. Karol has worked in the mediums of oils, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, and photography; he is currently exploring digital manipulation of his own art and photography. His main focus is landscapes and abstracts. Mr. Karol describes his philosophy about art as an expression of three main concepts: beauty, emotion and an idea. As an artist, he feels an obligation to “…point out what is beautiful.”

Mr. Karol’s work is available for sale at Northern Exposure Artist’s Gallery in Parkville, MO. His art is on the cover of this year’s edition of the Kansas City Voices Magazine. More work by Steve Karol can be viewed at: www.northlandartists.com.

Description of Violin:
This piece is intended to convey the tie between the human form and its relationship to the instrument while performing. The result encompasses a volume of space much greater than the physical form. Materials used on this piece include: wood, acrylic paint and digital print on gatorboard.
Artist:  Cathy Kline
Violin:  "Playtime"
Cathy Kline owns and operates her own gallery at 1st and Main in Parkville, MO. Ms. Kline's mural work can be viewed at Piropo's in Parkville, as well as Piropo's Restaurant in Briarcliff Village, the Peachtree restaurant at 18th and Vine, and St. John's Hospital in Leavenworth, KS. Oil Portrait commissions and custom Fine Art constitue Ms. Kline's work. On Saturdays in her studio, Ms. Kline teaches art classes. Adults and children may sign up for summer classes to be held on Monday evenings. Please visit www.cathyklineartgallery.com to view more of Cathy Kline's work.

Description of Violin:
The scene is one that was observed by the artist last summer in Zona Rosa - at the very location in which "A Taste of Zona Rosa" takes place. This particular scene is during one of the 'Open Air' concerts, with children playing in the fountains. The piece captures images of the children dodging, playing and enjoying the water while the parents relax and enjoy the music of the concert.
Artist:  Kris Smither
Violin:  "A Taste of Zona Rosa"
Kris Smither is an art teacher at Park Hill South High School. She has taught in the Park Hill schools for 29 years. Her personal artistic direction is in watercolor, pen & ink and colored pencil. An ultimate reward for this artist is when her students aspire to their best and develop a desire to use their art to improve their lives.

Description of Violin:
The architecture of Zona Rosa is captured on the violin through use of acrylic paint and added embellishments such as wire, glass and beads.
Artist:  Diane Stolz
Violin:  "Ballerina Violin"
Diane Stolz is a member of the Kansas Watercolor Society and the Mid-America Pastel Society. She is currently exhibiting in the Heartland Juried Exhibit at Merriam Community Center. Ms. Stolz's work can also be seen at Framewoods Gallery in Topeka, KS for Kansas Watercolor Society's Winter Invitational Show. Ms. Stolz was a 1st Place Winner in Pastel at the Trinity Lutheran XXVII Juried Art Exhibit that was held in April in Overland Park. Visit the Boardwalk Public Library to view some of Ms. Stolz’s floral artwork.

Description of Violin:
Ballet is a beautiful art - the violin is a beautiful instrument to which many duets and solos are created by the violin. Together, these two arts create magic!
Artist:  John C. Sutton, III
Cello:  "untitled..."
John C. Sutton III is a professional artist living in Kansas City, MO. He started his career as a cartoonist and comic book illustrator. Lately, Mr. Sutton has begun creating various innovative abstract oil paintings while incorporating unique elements of sculpture. Mr. Sutton is also a student at Park University with a major of Fine Art.

Description of Cello:
With the passing of local baseball hero, Buck O’Neil, Mr. Sutton wished to create a work of art dedicated to the many great and inspiring athletes of the Negro leagues. He used a unique painting process to give the wood the appearance of being ‘bronzed.’ Plain white stock paper was stained to give the photographs and authentic “antique feel.” Various baseball items, such as baseballs and a bat were incorporated into the piece.
Artist:  Hazel Iskyan Tripp
Violin:  "Gnome Construction"
Hazel Tripp earned her degree in Art Education and taught high school art in Virginia. Hazel is a constant student, learning and trying new things with 3-Dimensional designs and materials. She maintains a particular focus on fairies, gnomes, frogs, and unusual or ‘different’ faces. Hazel views her artwork as a continuing journey in change – and she hopes it will bring a smile to your face.

Description of Violin:
This violin has been ‘invaded’ by gnomes made of polymer clay and cloth. They are trying to construct or string the violin.
Artist:  Sandra Trupcevic-West
Violin:  "The True Heart of America: Kansas City"
Sandra Trupcevic-West is a professional artist from Kansas City, MO. She is a University of Central Missouri graduate, earning a BFA in Commercial Art, with an emphasis in Illustration. Her forte is Realism. She also enjoys figure and portraiture and works in various mediums such as: acrylics, pencil/charcoal, watercolor and photography. Please visit www.artage.biz to view more work.

Description of Violin:
Kansas City is a town that always comes forward to help others, locally and worldwide. The people of this city always unite and give selflessly from their hearts. This violin depicts Kansas City and includes the Skyline, Union Station, and in the fore-front: The Liberty Memorial. Pen & ink and Prisma-Color marker were two of the mediums used on this piece. The stain was delicately removed with a Dremel and wood carving tools.