Thursday, November 15, 2012

Launching Kathleen Richter's Art Career!

Pictured below is Kathleen Richter in front of her first few paintings--stunning work for a newby!  Actually she's been dabbling in art for a long time, but only just got serious.  We at the Sebastian River Art Club noticed how good she was at sketching people, the likenesses were great, so we pushed and pushed, and finally she picked up the brush and immediately began blossoming.  She was like a sponge--wanting to know as much as she could as fast as she could ... and it paid off in spades.  You can see from her paintings below that she appears to be an accomplished artist.  And day after tomorrow she will be participating in her first outdoor show!  Congratulations Kathleen--we're so proud of you.  And good luck on Saturday, you'll have a good time with the SRAC "gang," and meet lots of friendly art-loving people (maybe even sell a painting???)



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

Friday, November 9, 2012

Peni Baker's Opening at Inlet Wines

Come one, come all ... to Inlet Wines Saturday night and tip a glass with us!  A regular Tuesday and Thursday painter and exhibitor in the SRAC's Art Center, we at the Club are very proud of this member. 

Friends and fellow artists will join Peni in celebration of her exhibit.  An award-winning acrylic artist who can capture not only seascapes (see card below), but florals, landscapes, still life, and fabulous portraits.

Other examples of her work ~



POST-NOTE ON THIS PAINTING - IT SOLD AT THE VERO BEACH ART CLUB'S SHOW "ART BY THE SEA" AT THE MUSEUM JANUARY 27TH FOR BIG BUCKS!  CONGRATULATIONS PENI BAKER - YOU DESERVE IT!

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

Monday, October 22, 2012

Melina Nelson Bair-Photographer for November/December

Featured in the Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center for the month of November is photographer Melina Nelson Bair.  This writer saw her work in the Press Journal's "Picture of the Day" and contacted her about showing her beautiful photographs in the Hume Gallery space of the Art Center.  On the postcard below is pictured a detaiil of the actual photo that caught my eye.  We are proud to present her work to you, which will be on display through November and December.  Please join us for an opening reception Saturday, November 3rd, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

See more of Melina's work at by clicking on http://melinanelsonbair.zenfolio.com/

Portion of Melina's exhibit
While you're at the Art Center, be sure to see all the other wonderful works on display there, including the Little Jewels--over 100 petite works by our excellent artist members.  And please vote for your favorite "Sebastian Scene" which is the theme for November for our member artists.  Look for the colored dot on select paintings indicating they conform to the theme, and place your vote in the ballot box at the A/C's entry.


"Flamingo" photograph by Melina Nelson Bair


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

Sunday, October 14, 2012

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

Monday, July 23, 2012

On View at the SRAC's Art Center

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, Thursday and Saturday 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.


//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Saturday, August 18 ~ This just in!
With much excitement, people were scurrying around weilding paintbrushes, hammers, squeegies, sponges, mops and brooms in the building in back of the SRAC Art Center.  A soon-to-be SENIOR CENTER!!  What a marvelous transformation in just one day!  Actually many hands and hearts had been working on this for some time, and now the seniors will have a place to play cards and games, make new friends, gather and chat and share stories, and just have a place to go and enjoy themselves.  I can imagine a piano, hot coffee brewing, light music playing ... and lots of laughter.  Bravo to all who donated money and things and time.  And thanks to the City for allowing an old unused building to be put to good use. 



The Sebastian River Art Club is offering a series of six portrait demonstrations in their Art Center at 1245 Main Street, Sebastian.  Each one-hour demonstration will cover the major mediums of pencil, charcoal, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and oil, and are scheduled on consecutive Tuesdays beginning August 28th, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Presented by Judy Burgarella, they are free and open to the public, no reservation is necessary.  For further information call 772-581-8281.  For more information on this demonstration, click on this link - http://www.burgarellaportraits.blogspot.com/

"The Duke" oil by Judy Burgarella
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Pictured below are shows on view at the Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center.  Our "Little Jewels" show, small, affordable paintings, painted by Art Club members.  This show will be a constant in the Art Center, and paintings will be changed and rotated as more works are created.  The works may be removed to make way for certain shows at some time.
"Little Jewels" in the Picasso Gallery

Below is picured our "Plein Air Paintings" show in the Rosalee Hume Gallery.  Art Club members have been painting away for the last couple of months, creating new works to add to the plein air works in their inventory.  "Plein Air Painting" means painting out in the open air, onsite.  For an artist, nothing compares with painting the colors and light in their natural environment.  This show will be on view through September, with new paintings added to it as they are created.


"Plein Air Paintings" on view in the Art Center's Rosalee Hume Gallery


"Plein Air Paintings" on view in the Art Center's Rosalee Hume Gallery
"Sebastian Reserve" oil by Terry Pate on, on view in the Rosalee Hume Gallery

Today, July 24th, we had a great time at the Art Center.  Kathy Costa's fresh-made cake was outstanding, and others brought in nibblies too which we all enjoyed.  Marlene Mayfield gave an impromptu retrospective presentation which we all enjoyed.  I hope more people do this--it's very interesting seeing how an artist's work evolves, and listening to how they got to the point they're at now.  Marlene is accomplished in many mediums and it was a nice, albeit short, diversion from all our chatter and paintspatter. 

Well, that's all for now folks.  Stop by the Art Center 11-3:00 any Tuesday or Thursday ... AND NOW SATURDAY!  We hope to better serve the art-loving public by extending our hours on the weekend to accommodate those who work.  We love browsers, and we love children so bring them along.  We are also open by special request or for private group showings - call 772-581-8281.

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

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

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.


//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


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

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Saturday, June 17th, Report on Crabby Bills Show

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.

Thursday June 14th was art class day, and Sondra Andres marched in with a beautiful painting, a photo of which is below.  There wasn't much I could help her with on this one because it was already a striking rendition of a poinciana tree.  I suggested a little tweaking and whallah! A masterpiece!

"Poinciana" acrylic by Sondra Andres

And forgive the poor quality of the below photo, but in my class Suze Lavender is putting the finishing touches on a stunning oil of three wolves.  I can't wait to see it finished and framed.  The eyes actually follow you around the room. 

"Three Sisters" unfinished oil painting by Suze Lavender

Although not an Art Center show, I must report on the Crabby Bill's Show which was Saturday June 17th--it was a smashing hit with the participants, and the public obviously enjoyed it too.  Toni Hill, who organized the show, gave out prizes and first place prize went to Lee G. Smith for her stunning painting of a plein air artist actually painting at river's edge of Crabby Bills, second place prize to Peni Baker for her famous acrylic of the Sebastian Inlet Pier, and third place prize to Jean Archibald for her beautiful watercolor of a sailboat.
Artists Suze Lavender (L) and Ann Emery (R)





Well, that's all for now folks.  I'll post as things happen at the Art Center.

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