Paul Dorrell’s Blog

I’ve been down here a couple of days, seeking new talent for one of my corporate clients.  Caught the bloody flu a day before leaving, but the arts must go forward ill or no.  Glad I sucked it down; have met several great painters and sculptors along the way.

Above is an oil by Basil Seymour-Davies.  With a name like that, you’d think he was a Brit.  And he is by half: his mother is Cambodian, his father British.  Either way, he paints on a level of international sophistication.  This piece is more straightforward than it first appears, and certainly one of his less conceptual works.  But among figure painters, he stands out.  A well-kept secret of Fayetteville whose talent should not be a secret any longer.  I aim to help him change that.  

Then there’s Leon Niehues, who creates sculptural basketry unlike any I’ve ever seen.  He’s a middle-aged hippie dude (as I am), living with his charming wife in Huntsville, which is in the hills east of Fayetteville.  Leon is far from unknown, having exhibited for years at the major craft shows in venues like San Francisco, Baltimore and Philly.  He also has a piece in the White House collection.  It just took me awhile to catch up with him, being rather slow in some capacities.

Both of these are stellar artists, as are the other ten I’ve visited.  Now it’s a quiet night in Eureka Springs, and I plan to enjoy it with a dip in a hot tub, a couple of gins, and dinner at Ermillio’s.  Man I do love the arts.