8/12/2011
By GARY DEMUTH Salina Journal
Since his granddaughter didn't end up on a greeting card, Bill Hottman had to paint a second picture of her.

Hottman, a retired art instructor at Salina South High School and Kansas Wesleyan University, had entered two watercolor paintings in this year's ninth annual Connections of the Heart greeting card contest, a fundraiser for The Volunteer Connection, 239 N. Santa Fe.

When informed he was one of four winners of the competition, Hottman assumed his winning entry was a painting of himself and his granddaughter Lauren walking together when she was just a toddler.

"I told my granddaughter (now a high school sophomore) that she was going to be on a greeting card," he said. "I guess I shouldn't have told her that."

As it turned out, the picture selected was Hottman's watercolor rendition of three tulips he called "Three Sisters."

"You never know what people are going to choose," he said. "A lot of people seem to like flowers."

This year, the public voted for their top four choices among 36 entries submitted by 26 local and regional artists during an April 15 open house at The Volunteer Connection offices.

Watercolors and a photo

In addition to Hottman, this year's finalists include watercolor paintings by Salinans Larry Cullins and Dean Groves and a photograph by rural Tescott resident Ken Greene.

All the entries will be sold through silent auction at the Connections of the Heart Art Auction and Reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 in the lobby of Salina Community Theatre, 303 E. Iron.

Each entry can be viewed until Aug. 25 in the south lobby of the Salina Public Library, 301 W. Elm.

The four winning entries will be sold as greeting cards in packs of four for $5 each, said Nancy Klostermeyer, executive director of The Volunteer Connection.

"You also can buy individual cards or packs of the same cards," she said.

Additionally, a live auction of special-themed packages will be conducted by Salinan Abner Perney during the reception, Klostermeyer said.

"It's a live auction of suitcases that contain themed items like 'pet Lovers,' 'sports lovers' and 'family fun,' " she said.

There also will be a selection of "relinquished treasures" auctioned, Klostermeyer said, which are pieces of artwork donated by local art owners.

It served him well

Proceeds from greeting card sales and the auction will be used to benefit Volunteer Connection administrative and operating expenses. The Volunteer Connection, now in its 35th year of operation, matches volunteers of all ages with community needs, Klostermeyer said.

Hottman said The Volunteer Connection has served him well, and he's happy to contribute his work to benefit its mission.

"They sent volunteers to South High to model for my art classes," he said. "I appreciated that so much. I think it's a great program, so I give them one or two pieces of art each year."

Cullins has entered nearly every greeting card competition since it began. This year his winning entry, "North Santa Fe II," is part of a series of watercolors painted from photos he snapped in downtown Salina.

"I look for points of interest in Salina or landmarks -- things unique to Salina," he said. "There is some interesting architecture downtown, so I'll wander around with my camera."

Like Hottman, Cullins likes to donate his art to worthy causes.

"Artist can always donate art if they work it into their schedules," he said.

He's two for two

This year marks the second year that Greene, a farmer and photographer living north of Tescott, has entered the contest. It's also the second time in a row he's been chosen as a winner.

"I'm surprised to be chosen two years in a row, but I'm pleased they chose me," he said. "This has been a really good showcase for area artists."

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by email at gdemuth@salina.com.

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