Winter South Carolina Style

December 2016 Art Central group show

‘Winter Wonderland’ is so often the theme this time of year.  Usually it includes plenty of snow—people playing in it, trees and mountains covered with it, little carrot-nosed creatures made from it.  June Sullivan’s “Winter Hymn” celebrates this theme with a breath-taking architectural shot on one of the rare occasions that Summerville experienced ice and snow.

Here in South Carolina, though, winter usually looks different. Winter may bring crisp air and low, dark clouds.  But it also includes yellow marsh grass, green live oak trees and bright blue skies.  

Meet the artists at a holiday reception on Third Thursday December 15, 2016, 5-8 pm.  

Rhythm Exploration Continued by Yvonne L. Rousseau

ENTHUSIASM ,  20" x 16" acrylic on canvas 

Expanding this series of work without a realistic subject was an enjoyable adventure. In these paintings you see a relationship between line and shape, a sense of near and far, a balance between positive and negative space, a range of color values.  These elements are always important, with or without a discernible subject. I feel it becomes even more necessary to be mindful of these design elements when working without a formal subject.

    So Yvonne Rousseau explains her new abstract art exhibit, which will hang during the month of November at Art Central Gallery in Summerville. 

    This series has an added component.  The artist began several of these paintings by inviting ordinary people to make a stroke or two on a blank canvas. It then became her challenge to incorporate those strokes into a finished work of art.

    Visit Art Central Ltd Gallery during November to see this featured artist’s series.  Leave a brief comment about your favorite painting in Yvonne’s THOUGHTS BOX and win a mini painting if yours is chosen at the close of the exhibit.  The winning comment will be posted on the Art Central Facebook page.

   Meet the artist at the Third Thursday reception, November 17, 2016 5-8 pm.  See more of Yvonne’s work at www.artcgalleryltd.com. 

Greens to Golds by Sarah Kuhnell

The theme of Sarah Allums Kuhnell’s October 2016 exhibit at Art Central Gallery reflects a transition from summer to fall and harvests, the shift from cool relaxation to holiday celebrations, and the flow of her inspirations.

Curating the paintings for this show reminds the artist of the gifts life has granted this year, the sights that echo in her heart and challenge her to capture them in her art.

Early in the year, a chilly walk at Magnolia Gardens inspires a tribute to honey bees busy among our winter camellia beauties.  The result is “Gathering Gold.”

In "Bartletts Reflected", a watercolor of golds and greens, the smooth skins remind Sarah of painting faces with varied blushes.  The artist wonders, “Doesn't everyone line up their produce for a photo shoot? Especially when pear lovers lurk nearby?”

Lucky timing with camera ready, Sarah snaps the crane’s hop on the waterfall.  In “Short Flight” the graceful curve of this majestic bird’s unfurled wings are echoed in the shapes of light, shadow and splashing water.

Other paintings show the glee of children playing in a fountain, the informality of friends sharing brunch, the frilly dramatic blossoms of the stargazer lily and other moments celebrating the beauty around us.  Together Sarah’s art works reflect a year of precious gifts.

“Greens to Golds” will hang at Art Central Gallery through the end of October.  Meet the artist and her colleagues at Third Thursday, October 20, 2016 5-8 p.m.  as they celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the gallery.  More information about Sarah’s work is online at www.artcgalleryltd.com.

Still Lifes by Detta Cutting Zimmerman (1945-2014)

September 2016 featured Show & Sale at Art Central Gallery, Summerville, SC

“Detta just loved to create still life paintings.”  These are the words Delbert Zimmerman uses to describe the art of his late wife, Detta, whose work is featured at Art Central during the month of September.

Many of the flowers and vegetables for her paintings came from her own backyard.  She also eagerly searched the farmers’ market to find objects to feature in her work.  “She loved all the bright colors and shapes they had,” Delbert remembers.

Detta would set up her composition and take several photos of the arrangement. Then she would paint for hours.  Each element in the still life arrangement has a purpose.  Sometimes that purpose is to delight and challenge the artist, as with the reflective copper pitcher in “Fall Bounty”.  Detta’s work illustrates her love of patterns, colors and shapes.

Detta painted and thought about painting wherever she went.  Often she set up a still life to paint while working at Art Central.  The artist also composed arrangements using the elements of a family picnic or a luncheon with her sisters.  As in “Pink Azaleas and Red Wine”, the viewer is invited to share a glass of wine and stay for a while.

Be sure to stop by Art Central on Third Thursday, September 15, 2016 5-8 pm, to see one of Detta’s first still life paintings she did at 12 years of age.  This genre clearly was one of Detta’s life-long passions, as she created so many over her 60 years of painting. Lucky for us many of these paintings are still available!

Learn more about Detta’s work at www.artcgalleryltd.com. 

Click here to watch the latest video from Art Central!

Reflections - Renee Bruce

Quiet water is a magnificent thing.  From one angle, you can look deeply into the water to see what lives and moves there.  From another angle, you can see the reflection of what is above the water.  Those reflections have small differences from what is above, such as color, shape, angles but the mirror image is there.

Artist Renee Bruce has been noticing these small differences and recording them with paint on canvas.  Her new exhibit, “Reflections”, will be on display through Aug. 31, 2016 at Art Central Gallery in Summerville, South Carolina

On a recent visit to Buffalo Lake in Summerville,  the morning rain storm is clearing and the sun begins to peek through the clouds.  The artist is enchanted by the clouds, which appear to be floating in the sky.  Bruce says, “On second glance, I notice the water.  The very still surface is a magnificent mirror.  The clouds are beautiful enough when you see them in the sky, but in the reflection, they are mesmerizing.”

At Beidler Forest, leaning over the rail of the dock to peer into the water—what captures the eye? “The sky!  The water is so still that it is a perfect, if skewed, mirror.  The trees appear to be leaning over my shoulder as though we are all gazing into a deep well.”

Visit Art Central Gallery to see what has been commanding Renee Bruce’s attention.  And be sure to notice clouds for yourself!“Reflections” will be featured through the month of August, with a reception for the artist on Third Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, 5-8 pm. For more about the artist visit: www.artcgalleryltd.com

 

 

"Fields and Valleys" by artist Alexandra Kassing

Art Central Gallery features the work of artist Alexandra Kassing in July 2016 with her show "Fields and Valleys".  The landscape exhibit features colorful images of flowing fields and valleys overlooked by majestic mountains.

"There is something about the rhythm and energy of an open field that continues to inspire me," says Kassing. "When I paint these scenes, I am trying to capture just a fleeting moment of nature's song."

Many of the works were completed on site "en plein air" to catch the immediate impression of the landscape. For these, Kassing works with quick, lively brushstrokes or palette knife to convey the energy of the scene.

Several of the paintings were done at her grandparents' Kansas farm where the artist first learned to paint. "My grandmother was a Kansas landscape painter and was my first serious art teacher. Working in her studio and in the wheat fields near her home, I felt her inspiration," said Kassing.

"Fields and Valleys" will be featured July 8-31st, 2016 at Art Central Gallery, 130 Central Ave., Summerville, South Carolina. The public is invited to a reception with the artist on Third Thursday, July 21, 2016 5-8pm. For more information visit: www.artcgalleryltd.com 

Step Back in Time with artist Delaine Walters

Step Back Into Time with Delaine Walters’ Newest Paintings

Art Central Gallery presents Delaine Walters as the June 2016 Artist of the Month, with "A Step Back Into Time".  Her inspiration for these new paintings comes from artists no longer with us, such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and John William Waterhouse.  The old masters’ art holds a fascination and mystery for Delaine.  The more she studied each master artist’s works the more she wanted to paint them.

Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, “Starry Night,” was #1 on the list, and the artist began by making swirls of rice paper in the shapes of clouds and sun.  For the branches of the almond tree in bloom, Delaine used impasto to emboss the flowers.  The artist says, “This could be my little town, small, unique, quiet, peaceful. It just makes me feel good.”

Delaine’s skillful re-imagining of John William Waterhouse’s painting, “The Lady of Shallotte”, 1895, will have to be seen to be believed.

STEP BACK INTO TIME and re-visit some classic images from art history with a contemporary twist.  An artist’s reception will be held on Third Thursday, June 16, 2016 5-8 pm.  More information about Delaine Walters’ work is at www.artcgalleryltd.com.

"Let's Go to the Beach" photography show by June Sullivan

"LET’S GO TO THE BEACH!"   -  A Collection from Photographer June Sullivan

"I have always felt that people who live an extended period of time in close proximity to a beach are never quite happy if they have to move to a more landlocked place, no matter how interesting or beautiful the area," says photographer June Sullivan

Such is the hold the beach has on local photographer June Sullivan.  And her exhibit at Art Central Gallery during May celebrates that love of place, that “something that seeps into the heart and mind and beckons to the soul.” 

Sullivan has included some of her favorite images of the beach in this exhibit.  She says, “deciding which photographs to display has been difficult because the beach offers so much.  I hope to take those who see the exhibit on a journey of at least one favorite memory.  Everyone in lowcountry South Carolina has a favorite beach, pier, boardwalk, or shell collection that I believe will connect them to my photographs and hopefully bring a smile as we all anticipate the arrival of summer.”

Stop by Art Central Gallery, Summerville, SC during the month of May to see which photograph brings to mind a beach memory, and meet the artist at a reception on Third Thursday, May 19, 2016 5-8pm.

www.artcgalleryltd.com

Atmospheric Art by Artist Faith Cuda

Artist Faith Cuda is drawn to what she refers to as “Atmospheric Art.”  Whether her subject matter is Earth, Sky or Water, her nonrepresentational paintings are pulling her into a journey of discovery.  Art Central Gallery proudly presents her newest exhibit of the same name during the month of April.

      

The emotional message of the artist is her interpretation of her composition through the size of the canvas, the design and always the color of her chosen palette.  Sometimes the work is more experimental, sometimes more representative, but always full of mystery and excitement.  “The triumph,” Faith says, “is always the use of light and the secret of creating form by its use.” 

For Faith, each painting is packed with things she has learned:  using colors in a pleasing or jarring way, using her brush or palette knife to make interesting marks, finding ways to infuse her work with the passion she feels for art.  “Now, if all of that sounds like a lot to learn and do in one painting, it is;” she says, “however, that’s the journey and the evolution to become a really good artist.  We are never too old to learn and to create and to chase the illusive.  This ‘atmospheric art’ involves me and inspires further experimentation.  The only thing missing on this journey is time to fully experience all of it!

“My display at Art Central Gallery on Short Central will be filled with this style of art which is my new and emerging identity as an artist. I hope you enjoy it!”

Meet the artist at a reception on Third Thursday, April 21st 5-8 p.m. and see more of her work at www.artcgalleryltd.com.

Showing Our Green - group show March 2016

Yvonne Rousseau

During March—that month so full of green, from fresh spring growth to the beer on St. Patrick’s Day—Art Central Ltd. Gallery is celebrating all things green.  The artists present a group exhibit, “Showing Our Green,” depicting the many variations of this most special hue. 

    Green offers so many possibilities!  Of course, it all starts with yellow and blue, as we learned in kindergarten, but green can also can contain many other pigments.  The artist can adjust that basic mixture by adding purple, orange, red, white or black.  All of these variations exist in nature and make painting the Lowcountry’s lush green landscapes that much more fun. 

    The exhibit includes landscapes, floral designs, and still lifes in oils, watercolors, batiks and photography.  In some of the work, green is the main player; in others it takes a supporting role. But always it is an eye-catcher.  In this area so many plants keep their color through the cooler months.  Even though this winter has been particularly warm, it’s exciting to welcome a new season of growth.  One of the surest harbingers of the colors to come is the bright yellow-green that only appears in early spring.

    Celebrate the new season with the artists at a reception on Third Thursday, March 17, 2016 5-8 p. m. and see more green (and other exciting colors!) on their website, www.artcgalleryltd.com. 

"The Deep Blue Sea" - oil paintings by artist Christine Crosby

featured February 2016 show

Art Central Gallery is proud to feature Christie Crosby’s exhibit of oil paintings entitled “The Deep Blue Sea” during the month of February 2016.  These paintings represent some of her favorite images of the sea and the land next to it.

As a Lowcountry native, Christie grew up on the water.  Fishing has been a life-long love for her and her family.  Even though catch-and-release is Christie’s preferred method, she does enjoy eating some of her catch as well.

The image “Roundup” depicts one of the most challenging catches a deep-sea fisherman can make.  It is a long and tiring ordeal.  That’s why the reference photos for this painting came from the successful catch her brother made in a fishing tournament.  He was happy to show off his hard work for the camera.  After gathering reference photos and sketches, the artist paints her marine life subjects in their natural environment.  Much as Christie loves fishing, her paintings are not about that—her work is about the natural world she loves.

Most of the artist’s subject matter includes the land and water she grew up exploring, and her devotion for the Lowcountry is evident in her work.

“The Deep Blue Sea” will be on exhibit until the end of February 2016.  Meet the artist at a reception on Third Thursday, Feb. 18th 5-8pm and learn more about her work at www.artcgalleryltd.com. 

"Fanciful Florals" by artist Debbie Grogen

Art Central Gallery's featured January 2016 show is “Fanciful Florals”  by artist Debbie Grogen. Debbie has created a collection of paintings that showcase impressionistic, abstract, and realistic flowers done in several mediums. The artist enjoys perpetually experimenting and trying new techniques and mediums.  These paintings are in oil, watercolor, pastels, acrylic, and her newest discovery-alcohol ink on yupo (synthetic) paper.

Debbie’s work includes landscapes, portraits and pets, but she keeps coming back to her first love-flowers.  Debbie describes sitting down to paint a floral piece as a special connection to Mother Nature.  The challenge of capturing the essence of each flower never becomes dull.  “The turns of the petals... the subtle shading that creates shape and form... the sunlight casting strong shadows... I love the leaves and the various greens that frame the blooms... Every flower has SO MUCH going on...and the study of it all is a peaceful mediation that always gives my soul sustenance”.

One of the paintings featured is entitled “Red Redolence.”  It is a palette knife oil painting of white lilies in a bright red vase inspired by the need to paint an arrangement of flowers in something red!  Another quieter piece is a watercolor of a single white rose with dewdrops on the petals.

See “Fanciful Florals” at Art Central Gallery during the month of January 2016, Monday-Saturday 10-5.  Meet the artist on Third Thursday, January 21st 5-8pm or see more of her work at www.artcgalleryltd.com.