FALL SHOW & LITTLE TREASURES!

Coming this Saturday - Sebastian River Art Club's Fall Art Show, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, in the Art Center Meeting Room.  This show is for all SRAC members, and is their opportunity to showcase a few of their finest works.

Approximately 30 artists will be displaying works in a myriad of subjects and mediums, and many of the artists will be on hand all day to greet visitors and chat about their art.  Punch and finger foods will be available, and visitors may also view works in the Club's gallery spaces.  On view right now in the Art Center gallery spaces is a show entitled "Wildlife," in celebration of October being National Wildlife Month.

Visitors may notice a small stand with some very small paintings hung from its hooks ... this "teaser" is a small sampling of the "Little Treasures" which will be on display hanging on our Christmas tree through November and December in the Picasso Gallery.  SRAC member artists have been doing their finest miniature work on these little beauties, which will be on sale for $10 and will benefit the Ecumenical Food Pantry, helping to feed those in need over the holidays. Below is one of this blogger's contributions.

"White Cat" Acrylic by Judy Burgarella

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Sebastian River Art Club

Wow! What a Banner!

Received this image today from Peni Baker, who has just finished the banner for our July 4th float--and Wow!  What a masterful and professional job she's done!  Just had to share it with our blogger fans.  So beautiful, and so representative of the name of our club, the beautiful and exotic Sebastian River.  Enjoy the view below, but you must see it in person at the 4th of July parade.  Look for me on the float showing off my granddaughter Salem.

The Sebastian River Art Club is proud to be a part of our City's parade, paying homage to the freedoms we all enjoy.  Freedoms which include setting up folding chairs that night at 9:00 along the Indian River Lagoon to see the FABULOUS FIREWORKS the City of Sebastian provides for its residents and visitors.  What a country!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the
Sebastian River Art Club

Art Studio Tour Coming February 9th!

The Sebastian River Art Club will be participating in the 2nd Annual Sebastian Art Studio Tour, a tour of 10 artists' home studios on February 9th, 10:00-5:00.  Maps are avilable online at www.sebastianartstudiotour.com and at locations around town which are listed on that website.  The Club will have member artists at work creating their magic, and other members will be there to show the public our wonderful art space and the many works therein.  Presently we are featuring a show about birds, more information of which can be found in the previous posting. 

So jump on the tour, rain or shine, follow the map and look out for our funky arrows on the street.  We'll be there to welcome you to our wonderful artworld.

Judy Burgarella
blogger for the Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center

Portrait Demos finished!

Theme for the Art Cetner this month is "Impressionism," and many are already on view, with others being feverishing created by our exhibiting A/C artists.  On view in the Hume Gallery continued are the Plein Air Paintings (made on-site in the open air), Challenge paintings (3-hour fast-painting challenge, with some time stretched out at home), and Judy Burgarella's (this writer) "Art of the Portrait" demonstration paintings (below).  Next month's theme in the Art Center will be "Sebastian Scenes," so if you're looking for a sourveneir of this beautiful rivershore town, come to the Art Center and pick one out.  Also on view are precious little 2-1/2" to 3" square paintings on canvas, wooden easels included, by our Club artists, available for purchase with all proceeds going to our Scholarship fund.

"Art of the Portrait portrait demos presented by yours truly were conducted in six separate sessions on Tuesdays 3-4 pm from August 28th through October 2nd, and was very well attended.  Videographer Bob Barbour (eyesforlight@gmail.com) recorded each hour-long session, and DVD's will soon be available. 
It was exciting to see so many people interested in portraiture, my favorite subject.  Each week was a different medium, starting with pencil, then charcoal, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and finishing up with oil.  The demonstrations consisted of mapping out the face, determining negative space and spacial relationships, how to create a realistic eye, and then getting right into the act of creating a portrait in the six different mediums.  Demonstrations were free and open to the public, and the finished works can be viewed through October at the SRAC Art Center, 1245 Main Street, Sebastian, FL on the City Hall Campus.  Donations benefit the Club's Scholarship Fund. 


Mostly-finished portraits

Pictured above, top left to right, "Guido Costa" pencil (not finished), "Norwood Stanhope" black and white charcoal (not finished), "Noah Lavender" pastel, "Kathy Costa" watercolor, "Patti Goins" acrylic, and "Tania Ortega-Cowan Oil.

COMING THIS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012, 3-4 pm - Christine Thomas will show us how to paint on silk - I've seen her work on this (she's also a fabulous artist) and it is spectacular!  This demo is also free and open to the public. 

At this time, it is a day after the Club's Annual Fall Show at the Clubhouse, and I heard it was a very well-attended successful show.  The Crabby Bill's show on Riverside Drive will be coming up soon, and I will have more news on that. For more information about SRAC's Art Center, please visit the previous posting.

Of note, the Sebastian River Art Club is proud to have recently contributed $250 for the use of the newly-created Sebastian Senior Center, across the courtyard from the Art Center.  Yay for for those volunteeers and generous businesses for creating something so wonderful for our seniors.  A lot of laughter comes from that buiding, so I guess they're all having a good time.
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the
Sebastian River Art Club

Lots going on at the Art Center for June & July!

 Welcome to the Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center Blog.  Find news about the SRAC on our website at http://www.sebastianriverartclub.org/.  This blog is for the Club's Art Center only, which is located at 1245 Main Street in Sebastian, on the City Hall campus.  Hours are Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.  A select number of artists occupy sections of a 6-room space adjacent to our meeting room.  The space features one gallery room (Picasso Gallery) exhibiting small, affordable works, another gallery room (Rosalee Hume Gallery) filled with special guest artists or Club shows and currently showing through the summer are plein air works by Club members.  The remaining 4 exhibit rooms are filled with divided sections for gallery members, who rotate their works regularly with fresh new paintings.  There are also a few spots that include pottery and sculpture. 
CLASSES
Instruction in oils and acrylics by Judy Burgarella
Even number dated Thursdays, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
$15 members, $20 non-members
Beginner-intermediate-advanced - Judy conducts demonstrations as requested, taking students through the mechanics of creating a painting; or bring your troubled or started painting and she will help you revive and correct it.  Some still life props available, or bring in a reference photo.
Instruction in watercolor by Judy McNamara
Tuesdays, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
$15 members, $20 non-members
Beginner-intermediate-advanced for adults and children - Judy will take students right through the complete process, guiding you along the way, step-by-step to completion.  Students paint from teacher's reference image, and children are provided with supplies.


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July 17th Toni Hill conducted a one-hour workshop on abstract painting, which we all enjoyed.  Some of us painted and listened and managed to at least get one started.  It's esepcially of interest to us all since next month's theme in the Art Center will be "Abstracts."  That should be interesting?!

Kathleen Richter's Acrylic Abstract

Judy Burgarella's Abstract Landscape made with Publix plastic bags and acrylic paint

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There was another 3-hour Challenge Paint-in at the Art Center on July 10th, 11-3:00.  All challenge paintings will be on display through September and October.  Note: This was another smashing hit!  Many paintings were completed or almost-completed and they were fabulous!  We shall have more!

Theme paintings for the Art Center Member Gallery Spaces is "Still Life" for July.  Stop by and see all the wonderful still life paintings on display in the Art Center, and be sure to vote for your favorite one as ribbons are awarded at the end of each month for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.  Enjoy the below painting that I found on the internet, one which epitomizes the best in still life.

Below are two piantings by Kathleen Richter, who has been a member of the Sebastian River Art Club for some time, is only just beginning to paint in the Art Center with us on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays.  We knew she had talent, as she sketched away one day and did a fabulous pencil portriat.  So enjoy these two acrylic paintings of hers.

Acrylic by Kathleen Richter

Acrylic by Kathleen Richter

July 11th we had another "Three Hour Challenge" painting session and a great time was had by all.  For excerpts from the day and pictures of the day's Challenge paintings, visit Peni Baker's blog at http://www.artbypenibaker.blogspot.com/ . Peni took a "Rated X" photo of me kissing my painting--so be sure to see me lovin' up my "Cowboy" on her blog.  Another Painting Challenge is in the works, so stay tuned.

Below is Marlene Mayfield's Three-Hour Challenge painting.


"Riding the Wave" Watercolor by Marlene Mayfield



PENI'S "THREE-HOUR PAINTING CHALLENGE"
(P-s-s-t!  Watch for news of a special "Challenge" show!)

Thursday, June 19th over a dozen Club members accepted Peni Baker's "Three Hour Painting Challenge in the Clubhouse room.  Doors opened at 11:00, and people began trickling in, setting up their gear and getting busy.  We started setting up on the raised staging area, thinking that we'd keep separate from the usual Tuesday gabby art-crowd.  But to no avail because everyone was painting and gabbing all around the room.  It was such fun and we talked about doing it again, so stay tuned for that!


It was pleasantly surprising to see the quality of work done in such a short time, and under such pressure!  Actually everyone kind of enjoyed the pressure, and the variety of subject matter was so interesting.  Flowers, and horses and bears--Oh my!  Can't wait to do it again.


Below are pics from the Challeng.

Past President Barbara Bonnah painting a Bear, with Suzi Lavender looking on

The "Challenge" in action at the Sebastian River Art Club Clubhouse

Well folks, that's all for now, but you can continue reading for news that is still releveant about the Sebastian River Art Club's Clubhouse and Art Center by clicking on "older posts" below.  We have lots of fun there and laughter is heard often ... oh, and we paint too!  So you should take a peek some Tuesday or Thursday 11-3:00.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Sebastian River Art Club

SUMMERTIME HAPPENINGS AT THE ART CENTER IN SEBASTIAN

Welcome to the Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center Blog.  Find news about the SRAC on our website at http://www.sebastianriverartclub.org/.  This blog is for the Club's Art Center only, which is located at 1245 Main Street in Sebastian, on the City Hall campus.  Hours are Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.  A select number of artists occupy sections of a 6-room space adjacent to our meeting room.  The space features one gallery room (Picasso Gallery) exhibiting small, affordable works, another gallery room (Rosalee Hume Gallery) filled with special guest artists or Club shows and currently showing through the summer are plein air works by Club members.  The remaining 4 exhibit rooms are filled with divided sections for gallery members, who rotate their works regularly with fresh new paintings.  There are also a few spots that include pottery and sculpture. 
CLASSES
Instruction in oils and acrylics by Judy Burgarella
Even number dated Thursdays, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
$15 members, $20 non-members
Beginner-intermediate-advanced - Judy conducts demonstrations as requested, taking students through the mechanics of creating a painting; or bring your troubled or started painting and she will help you revive and correct it.  Some still life props available, or bring in a reference photo.
Instruction in watercolor by Judy McNamara
Tuesdays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Beginner-intermediate-advanced - Judy will take you right through the complete process, guiding you along the way, step-by-step to completion.  Students paint from teacher's reference image.



Although not an Art Center show, coming this weekend Friday June 15th and Saturday June 16th, 10:00-4:00, Club members will be exhibiting works, many nauticals, at Crab-E-Bills Seafood, 1540 Indian River Drive.  Over 25 of our members will have their work displayed on racks throughout the empty space in back of Crab-E-Bills, and below is your personal invitation!

Located on the shores of the beautiful Indian River Lagoon, it's a lovely walk along the river's edge, with many sights and sounds to take in, in addition to visiting the art show.  If it's a lovely day, take a walk and enjoy the abundance of wildlife along the river and mangroves, dally at the art show, then dinner at Capn' Hirams; then saunter on down to the Tiki bar or any of the "Key West" -style ourdoor cafe's and listen to some live music or try your hand at kareoke!  This is Sebastian, we have fun here!
(Psst-If the weather's not so great, skip the walk but still come to the show--it will be indoors and we have air conditioning!  And you can still catch dinner at any of the fine restaurants along the river)


Below is a previous post, and is of a photo of one of our Plein Air painters, taken at Rock City Gardens in March.  The opening reception for the "Plein Air" Show and "Little Jewels" show was fun, although very stormy, and we greeted many new visitors and old friends. All works will be on view through the summer, with many new paintings and changeovers happening in the rest of the gallery space, so visit often and you'll see new works by our Club members year-round.

SRAC member Donna Coughlin painting "en plein air" at Rock City Gardens in March

 Beginning Tuesday, June 5th, the Sebastian River Art Club will present "Plein Air Paintings" by Art Club members on view in the Rosalie Hume gallery space.  An opening reception will be celebrated for this show and for the Little Jewels show at the Art Center on Friday, June 8th, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. 

"Plein Air" painting means creating works of art outside in true light and fresh air.  Most of the paintings in the Hume gallery space have been painted on-site, or at least started on-site.  There are exquisite advantages and challenges when painting outside, as the light is true and the colors are most vivid.  However the challenge is to chase the light as it changes, whisk the bugs away, hold down equipment in the wind, and be prepared to pack up quickly if the weather turns bad.  Ah, but the comaraderie of painting with other artists is the best.

Below is an example of a plein air painting this blogger did in the water park on Royal Palm Pointe, Vero Beach.  There will be many beautiful and interesting paintings in a variety of mediums to view in the Hume Gallery of the Art Center.  Tomorrow as we hang the works I will take photos of some of the entries and post them on this blog.

"Green Umbrella" oil by Judy Burgarella

Over 75 "Little Jewels" will be on display for your viewing pleasure.  These lovely little paintings are perfect for that small space under the kitchen counter, or narrow wall, and make wonderful gifts--easy to pack and ship, and prices range from $5 to $300!  Below is just a sampling, and new works will be constantly rotated into this show in the Picasso Gallery throughout the summer.

So join us on June 8th and enjoy refreshments, meet the artists, and view all the other wonderful works of art around the gallery spaces of the Art Center. 

Also in the Art Center view May's three award-winning floral entries, and vote for your favorite "Beach" painting for June's competition.

Below are May's "Floral" winners - Congratulations all!

1st Place Prize - "African Flower" oil by Patti Goins

2nd Place Prize - "Lilipads" by Maureen Fitzpatrick

3rd Place Prize - "Sunlit Rose" by Marian Alcorn

The Sebastian River Art Club organizes plein air paintouts during the year, and there are classes and workshops scheduled throughout the season.  We are a very active, friendly club, and to become a member just drop into the Clubhouse any Tuesday or Thursday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and pick up an application. 

For further information check out our website http://www.sebastianriverartclub.org/.  Read the older postings below for more interesting information.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center