New Moon Art Show: Plein Air Paint-Out
Paint-Out: 15-17 April 2016
Art Show in the VIC Great Room:
20 April - 31 May 2016
Edith Urban: The Giant's Pillow
Sampling of Images in the 2016 VIC Paint-Out Exhibit
Invited Plein Air painters were out painting on the trails at the Paul Smith's College VIC from 15 to 17 April 2016. Spectators were welcome to come and watch! It was a great opportunity to meet with and talk to the artists, get some exercise, and enjoy the natural environment at the same time. The artists then framed up their wet paintings and hung the show on 20 April.
The VIC – with a variety of natural settings, including mountains, old growth forest, bogs, streams, marsh, beaver lodges, and Adirondack lean-tos – is a popular destination for both artists and photographers.
- Last year, the VIC challenged local photographers to participate in a photo "shoot-out," held in late April to coincide with the 2015 Science, Art and Music Festival. The resulting photos were exhibited in the New Moon Art Show, which hung from 24 April to 17 May.
- Over the 2015 Labor Day weekend, invited Plein Air painters were challenged to a "paint-out" at VIC, with the paintings exhibited at the New Moon Art Show which hung from 13 September to 12 October 2015.
- In 2016, the artists were assigned the April time slot; and the photographers have been assigned the Labor Day time slot.
Although the VIC has miles to trails to tempt both artists and photographers, many of the most scenic views are within a mile or so of the VIC Building. This year's paint-out produced several haunting views of Heron Marsh and Saint Regis Mountain, with many artists choosing to focus on the iconic Eastern White Pine island on the Barnum Brook Trail. Other artists captured the early spring colors of Barnum Bog from the Boreal Life Trail board walk. Some of the paintings reveal the artist's fascination with the ever-changing patterns produced by sun and shadow. Other paintings highlight details along the VIC trails, concentrating on trees, rocks, or individual plants. Over half of the paintings feature water -- the still water of a pool on Heron Marsh or the moving water of Barnum Brook.
The following artists took part in the 2016 paint-out and the subsequent exhibit:
- Nancy Brossard works in oil with a travel paint box easel, painting on the site. She paints in the Plein Air style similar to the impressionist painters of the 19th century. Her love of the Adirondacks, its woods and waters, is evident in her work. She lives in Lake Clear.
- Frances Gaffney lives and works on a houseboat on the Hudson River in New York. She has been painting since 1974. After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, she worked in New York as a textile designer. Her Adirondack drawings reflect her dedication to representational art, forever classic and enduring.
- Sandra Hildreth (Saranac Lake) started painting full time after she retired. Comfortable with both oils and watercolors, she uses whatever medium seems appropriate for what she wants to paint. Working 'en plein air' (outdoors, on location) has become her passion, although she also paints in her home studio when weather prevents outdoor work.
- Charles Atwood King regards painting as just one of his artistic pursuits. He is also a carpenter of furniture and cabinets; he is a skilled weaver, potter, and designer of jewelry, lamps, chandeliers, and many other whimsical pieces. Born and raised in the Adirondack foothills of Northern New York, he is perhaps best known for his oil paintings predominately done in an Old World Master style. He is a member of the North of Adirondack Artists Gallery in Malone.
- Edith Urban does Adirondack oil landscape paintings, one-of-a-kind handbags and totes, hand-made quilts, jointed Teddy Bears, hand-painted pillows, and needle-felted wool animal sculptures. "After studying under Raymond Jackman, I began painting seriously in 1981. My lifelong experiences living in the Adirondacks have been my inspiration."
- Catherine Hartung works primarily in watercolor and acrylics. She lives outside of Plattsburgh in the foothills of the Adirondacks. The unique beauty the Adirondacks inspires much of her artwork.
- Diane E. Leifert creates fine art pastel paintings of Adirondack faces, places and beyond. "I work hard to paint what I see, fair witness to who the person is at that moment. To capture the essence, to create resonance in the image. That is the goal."
The paintings produced over the weekend will remain on exhibit for viewing and sale until May 31. Free admission.