Peninsula Gallery to present five artists in still life exhibit April 5-29
Beginning with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 5, Peninsula Gallery will present its second exhibition of 2014 with a show of still life paintings by five artists. The painting of a still life affords the artist an opportunity to present a grouping of usually inanimate objects to achieve a specific emotion or to engage the viewer in an intellectual repartee, sometimes humorous, sometimes profound. In this show, although all the artists will present paintings in the still life motif, the themes vary from traditional to contemporary.
The artists in the show include award-winning local artist Victor Letonoff of Lewes, who is known for his detailed and realistic images that capture the effects of light falling on his subject. In this exhibition, Letonoff will present a series of miniature works as small as 2-by-2-inches as well as more traditional-sized paintings.
John Schisler of Georgetown presents a variety of themes in his stylistic still lifes, blending highly colored elements such as fruits or vegetables with elements from nature. In his painting, Schisler uses the techniques of the Old Dutch Masters and mixes his own paints from a combination of black oil (a combination of linseed oil and lead oxide), varnish, and ground pigment, a process he learned while studying at the Conrad Miller Studio in Fells Point, Md.
John Held from Baltimore, Md., known at the gallery for his atmospheric landscapes in pastel or oil, will present new work using traditional methods to create an original series of still life paintings. This is a recently developed interest for Held, and this show will be one of his first presenting this new work. He attended the California Institute of the Arts and has a bachelor of arts degree from The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Wash.
Longtime still life painter, award-winning Susan Budash of Amherst, N.Y., presents traditional still life paintings using Old Masters techniques including an initial underpainting of the image in shades of grey known as a grisaille, which is then followed by a series of translucent oil glazes that create a luminous final image.
Finally, William Patterson of Milton will complete the artist list. Patterson, a longtime resident of Milton, holds a BA in art education and an MA in teaching. He taught art for over 30 years in the New Jersey public school system. He paints a variety of images, often featuring landscapes of southern Delaware. For this show, he will present a series of still life paintings with contemporary themes.
The exhibition will extend through April 29. The Peninsula Gallery at 520 E. Savannah Road is currently in its 18th year and presents the work of more than 20 local, regional and international artists, Peninsula also provides fine art framing and restoration services. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday. The gallery is closed on Monday. Phone 302-645-0551. For more information go to www.peninsula-gallery.com.
