Knowing When to Loosen Up – Artist Insights from Craig Mooney

When I was thinking about this new body of work, two things stood out initially. First, I was painting newer versions of much older, more abstracted pieces. Second, sometime after at least a decade of my work tightening up, I’m loosening up again. Corse brush strokes, less definition, a build-up of surfaces. It feels fresh again. 

When Inspiration is Personal – Artist Insights from Margaret Gerding

I have always loved the “quiet end” of the beach, where even in the heat of summer you can find open space to rest. The dune divides the ocean from the marsh, and allows for both a sunset and sunrise viewing. The large clouds held such a beautiful blue against the warm sky this evening.

Scenes from a Fisherman – Artist Insights from David Witbeck

‘Cloudscapes’ aren’t something Witbeck ever focused too much time on. Yet, like everything else, that has changed. Into the Light is one of those pieces where the clouds became the central focus of the piece. “I spent time working on the boat wake, motoring into the sunrise,” he says.  “It is a detail that needed to be added, but I was surprised at the difficulty of such a simple thing. It is a rarity that I paint a ‘pretty painting.’ With the brilliant yellow and the purple clouds, this one is indeed pretty.”

It’s Where You Look and How You See – Artist Insights from Bethany Harper Williams

“There are few things I tried to focus on as I worked on this show. I became much more aware of ‘from where’ and ‘how’ I looked at things. I found myself studying the same things from a different angle,” shares Bethany.  “ A great deal of the time, I tried to look beyond or past or through. Whether it was ordinary objects, house, people, or even shapes.”

The Traveling Artist – Insights from Artist Claire Bigbee 2021

I was stunned at this magnificent sight of rolling hills and eye-popping colors. I hadn’t ever heard of the blueberry barrens, so this was a real treat for me to paint. The wind kept blowing my easel down, so I finally gave in and painted the canvas on the ground. I spent the day there alone, soaking in the electric range of colors and absolute solitude. The barrens were more than I imagined and well worth the trip and funny moments that usually occur on a painting trip.

Alex Dunwoodie – The Choice Show 2021

Seeking peace and celebrating the small joys in life, these subjects center on nature and my surroundings. I enjoyed painting on a small, intimate scale this year. I don’t paint with an easel but hold my work in my lap and hold the brush like I’m holding a pen. They’re turned this way and that. I look at them very much as objects, with small illusions on their surfaces.