Art in the Albemarle Area -- by Talmage Dunn

Wow! This month has been a tease of the wonderful weather to come. Springtime! One of the best seasons of the year to get painting. There are a myriad of beautiful colors just beckoning us to get outside and paint. It is also the time of year where many painting shows and events are starting to take place in the Albemarle area. Two examples are: The Seaside Art Gallery's 26^th International Miniature Art Show, exhibition dates are May 6 – June 3, 2017; deadline date for receipt of artwork is April 22, 2017; and May 27, 2017 is the awards reception. Entry fees for this art show are $20.00 for the first entry and $15.00 for each additional entry, with a maximum of 3 entries per artist. All art must be original. Competition is open to all artists. Art may be in any media except photography or computer generated imagery. Works must be framed and have a secure hanging fixture (no saw tooth hangers). Miniature artwork is artwork that is no more than 3 ½ inches deep, front to back. Outside dimensions of the frame cannot exceed 42 square inches. Sculptures should have no dimension greater than 6 inches including the base. Visit http://seasideart.com

The second example of Art show exhibition is the 22^nd Annual Artist Self-Portrait exhibition at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery. Dates of the show: April 1 through May 11, 2017. Artists (18 years of age and older) are invited to submit one self-portrait. Original work only. Any medium. For inspiration, here is the theme for 2017- “Self-Portrait Doing My Thing!” Entry fee is $15.00. Artwork will be accepted at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery March 23 – March 25 deadline (delivery hours: 10 am to noon and 1:30 until 5 pm). Frameable work must be framed, and all work should be ready for exhibition with the entry form included. For large work please check for space availability. Exhibition Reception and awards: Saturday April 1, from 2 pm – 4pm. Awards: 1^st place: $250.00 and an invitation to do a month-long display in the Gallery (7' x 7' panel) during 2017. 2 Excellence awards ($50.00 each) 4 honorable mention ribbons. Website www.glenneureart.com

These are just two of the shows in our area. Please do not forget to look for more shows coming up.

Last issue I asked you to try a little watercolor painting of your own. I hope you took the time to paint and have a little fun. I have included a painting I did using the same directions I included. As you look at the painting or tried it yourself, you may have noticed a particular quality that watercolor has that is different from oils or acrylics. Watercolor paints get lighter as they dry. It is important to start with a lighter background and overpaint to a darker background. Much of this is painted in layers and you build up to the front of your painting using less translucent paint.(meaning using less water).

I urge you to get out and look for ideas and start trying to bring out your inner artist. It's there waiting for you to discover and transform. Check out nature for your inspiration and enjoy yourselves.

I have included a painting and will donate any money to one of our area charities. Since it is almost time for what we hunters like to refer to as “Spring Gobbler” season. I have a 16” x 20” painting of Monarchs of the Woods. $150.00 is the value placed on this painting. Contact our editorial staff and they will see that the money goes to the charity selected. It could be a church or other needy organization within our area. Feel free to contact me by e-mail bowhuntor@yahoo.com or by phone 252-267-5437. Talmage Dunn, Artist.