Art in the Albemarle Area -- by Talmage Dunn

The Seaside Art Gallery's 26^th International Miniature Art Show exhibition in Nag's Head, NC is currently taking place. Entries from all over have been coming in to this show. If you get the opportunity, please take the time to go and view the many beautiful pieces of miniature artwork on display.

The 20^th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show in Dare County is also currently underway.. This show features an interesting mix of artwork. The art will be on display at the Dare County Arts Council in Downtown Manteo April 30 – May 30. These are just two of the wonderful art displays that we offer here in the Albemarle area.

The Albemarle Senior Games has its Silver Arts show and competition has taken place. Stop by the Perquimans Art League gallery and view the different works of art on display. North Carolina is the only State Senior Games that offers a Silver Arts competition. There are exhibitions in the Visual, Heritage, and Literary Arts. The Literary Arts category is represented with Short Stories (fiction), Essays, Life Experiences, and Poems. The Heritage Arts category includes Basket Weaving, Knitting, Stained Glass, China Painting, Rugs (hooked, braided, and woven), Needlework, Jewelry, Woodcarving, Quilting, Tole/Decorative Painting, Woodworking, Weaving, Tatting/Needlelace, crocheting, Pottery (hand-built/thrown), and wood Turning. The Visual Arts category includes Acrylics, Mixed Media, Drawing, Oils, Photography, Sculpture, Pastels, and Watercolor. As you can see there is an opportunity to be involved no matter what your art form. There is also a performing arts category that includes Comedy/drama, Vocal, dance, Instrumental, and Line Dance. Contact your local County Senior Centers for more information or go to our website: albemarleseniorgames.org.

SPLASH is coming in May. The opportunity to view and learn from artists all around the country will be here in Elizabeth City, NC. Be watching for the local information to be forthcoming. For information about SPLASH, contact Carolyn Peel at carolynpeel2400@gmail.com.

Watercolors open up a wonderful world of painting for the beginning artist. Again, as I have often stated, begin with a subject you like. It causes you to have a vested interest in your painting. Once you begin to paint.... you begin to look at your surroundings differently. I always have a small 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” frame with me. I will hold it up against my surroundings and before-you-know-it, Voila!! A painting idea jumps out at you. I was on a recent fishing trip down by the river in Chesapeake, Virginia. A place known as Bob's Fishing Hole. I was sitting on a dock by the river bank, patiently(?) waiting for a bite and looked over the river at the railroad trestle crossing the river. I held up my frame …. and a painting was conceived ! I went home and lightly sketched my idea out on a piece of watercolor paper and began to paint.

This is the painting I have included this month. It is the trestle that spans the river at Bob's Fishing Hole.. It is a 3” x 5” miniature watercolor painting. It was a relatively easy painting to complete. Now it's time for yoy to try. Start simple, take yoyr time, and paint, paint, paint!

Feel free to contact me by e-mail bowhuntor@yahoo.com or by phone 252-267-5437. Talmage Dunn, Artist.