One-Stop Shop for Specialty Gifts

The holiday season is here and its time to start thinking of special gifts for your loved ones. The Artists Hand has a collection of works by local artists, that anyone in the family can enjoy. Help support local small businesses and artists. The display case that sits to the left of the barista counter as you walk into The Artists Hand, houses many works by local artists who's artwork will make beautiful gifts for the holiday season.

Betty Hedman
Mug
$35.00

Betty Hedman and Ron Moretti are two artists who have artwork for sell that would make great gifts for the holidays. Betty Hedman's ceramic mug series gives the the consumer a variety to choose from with her assortment of large and small ceramic kitchen ware. Betty salt glazes her pottery. She uses flame, kiln atmosphere and salt or soda as the elements that intimately intermingle with her pottery. This gives them the warm rich colors and surface desired.

Ron Moretti
Natural Edge Maple Burl Bowl
$125.00

 Ron Moretti's burl bowls and vessels are great gifts for the relatives that enjoy wood working. Ron Moretti has been wood working for nine to ten years and takes great satisfaction in taking rough lumber and turning it into functional and pleasing pieces of furniture. The warmth of the wood Ron uses and the grain the wood follows, shows natural beauty and expression in his work. This gives the customer atmosphere with being one with nature.



The Artists Hand represents the best of Indiana County. Stop in to treat yourself or a loved one to the exceptional artwork these local artist have to offer.

Gregory A. Jones

"...Ansell Adams

I can remember reading this many, years ago and how it touched upon what I was trying to convey with my photography. From the very first session in my darkroom I built in the basement of my home in the early 70's I knew this would be a love that would last my lifetime. I remember the first image I developed and still look at that picture after all these years for inspiration. The guidance I received from my stepfather who was a professional photographer was invaluable.

Spring Creek
$150.00

Two years ago I retired after 38 years at Indiana Regional Medical Center and am now pursuing landscape and nature photography on a full-time basis with my studio located in my home where I do all my post-production editing, matting and framing. When not pursuing the perfect photograph I enjoy gardening, landscaping and riding my motorcycle. I also work out to stay in shape for those long days on the trail photographing. The scenery in Pennsylvania offers much for the photographer to build their craft upon. At this time, this is the place I am meant to be to develop my craft."

North Pier Lighthouse
$150.00

At first glance Greg Jones photography can be mistaken for a realism painting. The composition of the photographs looks and feels so surreal that it may seem to be pulled out of his imagination. Greg Jones has a knack for finding the right angle that allows your eyes to follow a pattern with his photographs. He gives you the feeling of actually being in the exact place he captured the moment. Attention to detail is a crucial part of his work.

 

Stop into The Artist Hand and purchase some of Greg's work and enjoy wonderful seasonal coffee from our Espresso Bar. Greg Jones photographs will make excellent holiday gifts for your loved ones and family. 

Exceptional Artists At the Artists Hand

As we move into our third Christmas Season and reflect on our good fortune, it is important to note the high quality of artists that we represent. there are 54 artists currently represented here at the Gallery, and many of them have been with us since before we had this wonderful place to call home. Some notables this season are Kaoru Tohara, who has recently been cited a one of Pittsburgh's Emerging Artists to watch. Joy Fairbanks just took an Honorable Mention at The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Biennial 2014. Painter Jonelle Summerfield opened two show within the last two weeks,  at the Gallery on 43rd Street, Pittsburgh, PA and at the Latrobe Art Center in Latrobe, PA.

Joy Fairbanks; Umbrellas $300

Additionally, several of our artists show their work, not only regionally, but nationally and internationally. Several have their work represented in Pittsburgh and one has a long standing relationship with a gallery in Gettysburg. We are very pleased to bring you the best of Indiana County here at the Artists Hand. Stop in find that perfect something for that special someone, or treat yourself.

Jonelle Summerfield; Rural Pennsylvania Street $400

Kaoru Tohara; Foggy 2010, Pittsburgh $200

The Holidays at The Artist Hand

Christmas time is just around the corner and the weather is turning wintery by the day. Join in the spirit of the holidays with us at The Artist Hand. Enjoy seasonal flavors made available to you at the espresso bar and stop in on Friday, November 21st for Light Up Night and the opening for The Ken Vinton Santa Show, featuring Walt Carter's Santa Sculpture.  The show opening is from 6 to 8, so stop in before the parade and after.

Walt Carter
Highlander Santa
$950.00

Walt Carter is an Indiana County native that graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is recently retired as an interior designer from Douds of Plumville, located in Plumville, Pennsylvania. Walt Carter has a few of his sculptures on sale.  Each sculpture has a different Santa related theme. The details, the different types of fabrics and materials used really make these sculptures come to life. The Ken Vinton Santa Show and Walt Carter Exhibition is not going to be something you want miss.

Events happening in Downtown Indiana:

It's A Wonderful Life in Indiana, Pa Festival and Parade at IRMC Park

The lighting of the tree at the Indiana Courthouse and more fun filled events to bring in holiday joy.

The Santa Show!

November 21st marks the opening for our 2nd annual Santa Show. Come in during the "It's A Wonderful Life Event" Friday night and kick off the holiday season with us!

This year we have 24 different Santas in all shapes and sizes from Rastafarian Santa to Pittsburgh Steelers Santa.

Ken Vinton, the artist that creates these Santa portraits, has no limit to his imagination. He has created abstract and fun pieces to bring in the holiday spirit. Ken's Santas are all hand-drawn and then printed as giclees. The Santas are drawn with graphite, outlined with micron precision pens, printed, and colored using a blend of soft colored pencils to bring the Santas to life. Each Santa has a different boarder and is encased in a different frame giving each one its own personality. My personal favorite Santa shows Santa Claus snorkeling under water; the thing that makes this particular Santa pop out is the border that surrounds him. The border is a mix of ancient roman and classical Corinthian pillars that hold up a window through which you view Ken's Santa. The Santa show has something for everyone--the entire family can find a Santa that is right for them.

The Collectors Corner

Why collect art? What does it mean to be a collector? What is the difference between buying art and collecting? Questions such as these arise everyday as people travel through the gallery. Collecting art is more than just acquiring pieces that coincide with one's personal aesthetic: it is a yearning to support the arts, to be a part of art history, to tell a story and create a unique grouping of works that reflects one’s taste, a specific historical period and ideas. Collecting requires a niche to see art as it does a deep desire to live with and care for important and beautiful objects. Throughout history, collectors from all eras have used this concept to shape art history in both overt and subtle ways. Here at The Artists Hand our Collectors Corner is geared towards people who want to begin a journey down the path of becoming an art collector. Prices range from $35 to $75 and there are pieces to suite each collector's desires. Art collectors here at The Artists Hand have had this to say:

"I own an art gallery and studio, The Artists Hand, where our mission is to create a space in which anyone can be apart of the arts. Each time you buy a piece of art, attend a class, rent a space, or even rent a space from the espresso bar you are a contribution to the collection of work that the gallery offers." Brian Jones, owner, The Artists Hand
 
"Art makes me excited to be alive, it gives me well being." Catherine Raeff, local collector

"I collect paintings because they are evocative moments and they sing to me; they speak to me." Berry L. Barta

Jolene Joyner

Jolene Joyner is an oil/pastel painter. She has lived in Indiana County most of her life and currently lives in Clymer, PA. Her studio is in her home. She works from photographs that have been taken locally and from her travels to France & Italy. Her artwork is representational because she enjoys the challenge.

Jolene Joyner’s “Fox Hunt” and “Trail Ride” are oil on canvas paintings that display equestrians on horseback riding through a forest during autumn. The equestrians serve as a focal point for the piece; as your eye meets the center of the piece, you are able to follow the directional light sources. Her use of light and dark tones and hues of brown help to separate the horse riders from their surroundings; while her tints of green and red give an opaque look for the scenery surrounding the focal point. These aspects give the pieces depth. Jolene Joyner’s work is very popular at The Artist Hand. She has a talent of capturing a moment in time with her oil paintings. 

Janice Selkirk

"My Passion is photography and capturing those moments in time that will take us back to a familiar place, or a place that breathes an air of calmness and serenity. Beauty can be found just about anywhere, we just have to slow down, look, and take the time to see it before it's gone. Capturing those images, the ones that will awaken our other senses allowing us to hear the sounds of nature, feel the gentle breeze, and smell the scents of the scene is my goal. When I look at my pictures, a smile always comes to my face, and a feeling of peace and tranquility melt away the stresses that everyday life can sometimes bring us." - Janice Selkirk. 

She is an Indiana County native who, after graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, moved away to pursue her career in Medical Technology. In 1991, she married her husband John, and moved to Philadelphia. Their family was complete with the addition of two sons. They spent much of their lives in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where she discovered a love for photography. Through the years, she has developed a talent for capturing moments in time with her camera. She loves to shoot nature, historical points of interest, her sons sporting events and whatever catches her eye. She recently moved back to Indiana County and with the encouragement of friends and family, has chosen to share these moments in time." 

Janice Selkirk’s photographs have a balance to them. Each one of her photographs gives a sense of you being in the exact spot were the photograph was captured. Her work shows off both aspects of her life, from the rural to the cities structures. Her work is very crisp, the contrast of the images are high so her ranges of lights and darks are very dramatic. Her compositions draw you in. Your eye follows the contour lines through out her photographs. The cast shadows of her pieces give dimension and stability to the overall composition.