Category Archives: Paintings Philadelphia

oils, acrylics, watercolor, mixed media, ink, philadelphia

Miniatures @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

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More than 150 small artworks in many different media are arrayed around the historic gallery space of the Philadelphia Sketch Club on the Avenue of the Artists, Camac Street.  Miniatures represents the work of more than 60 area artists from Betsy Alexander of Ravenswing Studio, Dumpster Diver extraordinaire Alden Cole and Da Vinci Art Alliance board member Lilliana Didovic to esteemed club members such as Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi, Dr. Doris Peltzman and first prize winner Michael Kuncevich, one of the club’s elders.  Second prize was awarded to Susan J. Donmoyer  for an extraordinary drawing.  Even though DoN was a co-chair of the show, he has to say – the show is extraordinary with really exciting work by great Philly artists.  Thanks to everyone who helped pull it off – if you’ve ever organized a show, you know what a time suck it is.  A special thank you to Laura Guzzo, 3nd prize winner, for acting as docent & sales associate.

Miniatures - Laura Guzzo

Laura Guzzo @ Miniatures in PSC Gallery.

Miniatures - Stephan Iwanczuk

Stephan Iwanczuk, silver print.  Steve is chair of Miniatures.

Miniatures @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Clockwise – Lilliana Didovic, Deborah Horsting, Parimalasri Vairapandi & Vincent Docktor.  Vince is part of the the three-person show in the PSC Stewart Room.

Miniatures - Betsy Alexander

Betsy Alexander‘s Alaska paintings capture the expansiveness of the great wilderness in tiny squares.  Bold color choice, graphic decisions and simplicity transport the viewer to a foreign landscape at once welcoming and strange.  Betsy is also an original Dumpster Diver and was recently featured on the Today show with her famous piano playing cat, Nora.

Miniatures - Monique Lazard

Monique Lazard, oil @ PSC Miniatures.

Miniatures - Dr. Doris Peltzman

Dr. Doris Peltzman, Giovanni’s Table, oil.  Doris has had several one-person show’s in Wilmington’s prestigious Carspecken Scott Gallery, has sold out shows at Artist House, consistently wins top awards and today is gallery sitting at the club – stop in and visit her and Reta Sweeney.

Miniatures - Alden Cole

Alden Cole, Dancing with the Stars, drawing @ PSC Miniatures.

Miniatures

Clockwise – Linda Hibbs, Elizabeth Breakell, Elizabeth MacDonald, Marlene Craig, Dorothy Roschen & Lucy Roehm.

DoN entered a digital picture frame with 20 views of Paris roof tops – the prospectus said any medium!

Objects & Things @ The Plastic Club

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Curator Alan Clawens insisted all entries must be work created outside of the historic art club on Avenue of the Artists, Camac Street, the theme being still life in any media; the Plastic Club artists reached deep into creative reserves to bring work that represents they’re own style yet meet the criterion of the show.  There’s nothing like listening to an artist explain how they’re work meets the rules – it would make a great reality show but in this case everyone seems sincere in bringing their best.

Objects & Things - Marie Davis Samohod

Marie Davis Samohod, Parting of Ways, acrylic.

Objects & Things - Elizabeth H Macdonald

Elizabeth H. MacDonald, Tin Can, relief print.

Objects & Things - Michael Kuncevich

Michael Kuncevich, Facets, monotype.  Kuncevich took first prize in the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Miniatures Show.  The delicate coloration and high concept of this print is a master class in composition, technique, style and skill.

Objects & Things @ The Plastic Club

Debra Campbell Goodyear, Lemon Aid, photograph, Veronica Schmude, Wheel, digital print and Alden Cole, …And Delicious, mixed media.  Isn’t this a beautiful tableau?  DoN LoVeS that Veronica & Alden are hanging together since they’re both DoN faves.  DoN‘s looking for Ms. Goodyear.

Objects & Things - Mina Smith-Segal

Mina Smith-Segal, Terracotta Head, watercolor.

Objects & Things - Anders Hanson

Anders Hansen, Wild Onions, ink & graphite.

Object and Things @ The Plastic Club

E.S. Holmes, Pipes, acrylic, Thelma Segal, Mexican Paper Flowers, watercolor, Paul Perez, Artist, photograph and Dom Loschiavo, Lunch at Le Magnolie, color print.

Objects & Things - DoN Brewer

DoN Brewer, light being (David Arneson), digital photo.

The Plastic Club is an oasis of creativity, friendship, camaraderie and support; not just a club, it’s a think tank, a hide-out, a studio, a gallery, a place to learn and experiment without fear.  Fear is the mind-killer.

Mid Summer Show @ Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Frank’s Bar

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Rick Wright @ Off the Wall Gallery

DoN‘s photo does no justice to Rick Wright‘s pristine photographs of hair balls shot against a stark white background now on display at Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Frank’s Bar. The first time DoN saw Wright’s compositions at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists he got kind of pissed off – is this what the competition in the art world is?  WTF are a bunch of hair balls doing in an art gallery?  And then they showed up in Dirty Frank’s Mid-Summer show and over drinks Rick explained the origins of the anamorphic fibrous images – a person who used to be in Wright’s life had Trichotillomania, an impulse control disorder manifested in hair pulling, twirling and twisting their hair into knots to be left sitting on tables, dressers, the mantle…It turns out the creepy little hair balls have a poignant back-story while transmitting secret messages.

A. Celeste Hardester @ Off the Wall Gallery

The gorgeous flower photos by A. Celeste Hardester are simultaneously decorative and technical, impeccably presented and meticulously composed, botanical yet romantic.  Flowers are thought to emanate energy associated with particular stars; Hardester’s photos capture the star power of flowers.

Mid Summer Show @ Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Franks Bar

The salon style hanging @ Off the Wall allows a good number of works to be shown in a limited space; Mid-Summer @ OTW was curated by Jody Schweitzer, hand picking pieces from the studios of former OTW award winners including Robert Bohne, Bob Jackson, Debbie Bonacci, Annette Saggiomo, Avalon Clare, Susan Stromquist, A. Celeste Hardester and Rick Wright.  Through October 2, 2009.   

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

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Models @ The Plastic Club

Jessica Hummel, Self Portrait took first prize with her photographic trilogy.

The Plastic Club on Camac Street is hosting an outstanding show of art by artists models; who else but models have insight into the world of artists, absorbing and intuiting the complexities of visual arts.  Many of the plastic club models have been mentored by the fine artists they pose for and artists are grateful for the intricacy and nuance of posing.  Susan Stromquist is included in Off the Wall Gallery’s Summer Show of past award winners – her folded chalk and pastels are Rorschach pop melded with classic atmospheric naturalism.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Karl Richard Olsen, Jeno, POR – looks like a bargain since this appears to be what’s known in the art biz as a masterpiece.  Olsen draws and paints everyday, even while walking, honing his eye and exploring new ways to express his vision.  Karl’s Flickr page is very cool and he’s currently completing one self portrait each day for 30 days.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Rob Willis, Self Portrait – you know, DoN had to double check but he knew this drawing is by Willis, last year’s Model’s Show big winner, since a definite style has emerged over time – he’s really handsome, too.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Jenn Warpole @ The Plastic Club’s Model Artists Exhibit.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Echo Shi @ The Plastic Club

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Rob Willis @ The Plastic Club

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Rob Willis – the paint job on this chopper is Super Kawai, super flat, super cool – DuChamp for everyday life.

Models @ The Plastic Club

Jym Paris, Shooting for the Moon & The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.  DoN LoVeS Jym’s fearless style, infectious personality and spontaneous gesture.  As Antony & the Johnsons sing, “I’m a little boy now, but when I grow up I’ll be a beautiful woman.”

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Deborah Dias, Ratamandala.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club through 8/22 – the club is holding special event workshops with moving model Stephanie Hyland – imagine long, slow croqui’s with the model slowly , steadily changing.  Contact the club for dates and times.

Little Show of Horrors: Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery

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DoN Brewer & Ted Warchal @ Bartram’s Garden

Da Vinci Art Alliance is sponsoring the fabulous show, “Little Show of Horrors” @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery; alliance members were challenged to create works commemorating Charles Darwin’s 150th anniversary of “The Origin of Species”and carnivorous plants and all the artists went crazy on the theme of the fabled bug eaters.  Above is Ted Warchal’s mixed media dream box and DoN Brewer‘s digital photo collage.

Dexiang Qian, Girl with Venus Flytrap

Dexiang Qian, Girl with Venus Flytrap, oil on canvas @ Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.  An honorable mention award winner, the painting explores the mystery and allure of collecting exotic plants.  The display of carniverous plants in Bartram’s Garden is unbelievably fascinating, DoN highly recommends seeking out the display while the Summer is still hot.  Venus Flytraps are indigenous to the Carolina’s and their habitat is being encroached upon, Bartram’s Garden offers a glimpse into a strange & wondrous world of ecology and botany and it’s fragility.

Alden Cole “Starlings” @ Little Show of Horrors

Alden Cole’s Starlings tap into a deep psychological pattern recognition much like ancient man must have reacted to the Venus of Willendorf; the simple play of line and shape is loaded with narrative, a single line of graphite tingling the hive memory deep in our genetic code.

Michael Diprinzio @ Bartram’s Garden “Little Show of Horrors”

Michael Diprinzio @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery “Little Show of Horrors” featuring Da Vinci Art Alliance members.

Emily Orb “Garden of Earthly Delights” @ Bartram’s Garden

Emily Orb with Bartram’s Garden director Louise Turen with “The Garden of Earthly Delights“, silk  painting was honored with Best in Show.  The reinvention of Bosch’s iconic dream scape is rendered with modern characters and technique, filling an entire wall of the historic space.

Dr. Deb Miller @ Bartram’s Garden “Little Shop of Horrors”

Dr. Debra Miller presenting awards @ Little Show of Horrors.  The Bartram’s Garden Gallery is in the oldest barn in Philadelphia and a wonderful space for art shows with the rough stone white-washed walls, wide wood plank floors and ancient windows – and air conditioning!

Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery

Rachel Citrino, Ted Warchal (Most Creative winner) and the painting duo Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi @ Little Show of Horrors.  The show runs though August 22nd and members of the alliance will be gallery sitting, Alden & DoN will be on sight all day Wednesday.

Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery

The art party opening for Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery sponsored by the Da Vince Art Alliance.  For a free downloadable version of DoN Brewer‘s Honorable Mention winner, “Botanical Print”, click here.