Madison
Art Club
Local
artists to present
Colors in Bloom exhibit
By
Laurel Sparks
Contributing Writer
(April 2005) The famed French painter Renoir believed that
art should be attractive and optimistic. His Spring Bouquet
(1866) is one of the worlds best-loved floral paintings. In the
spirit of Renoir, members of the Madison Art Club in April plan to celebrate
spring by featuring their own floral artwork at their gallery on Main
Street.
The exhibit will run throughout the month. It has been planned to complement
the annual spring garden tour, Madison in Bloom, sponsored
by the Jefferson County Historical Society. The art clubs show
will end on Sunday, May 1, following the first weekend of the garden
tour.
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Photo
by Debra Maylum
Dottie
Shepherd arranges the centerpiece for the April art show titled
Colors in Bloom at the Madison Art Gallery.
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Many traditional spring bouquets are featured in the exhibit,
though Colors in Bloom presents several pictures of flowers
from the garden or in the wild. There is also one brightly-colored oil
painting showing only a single bloom. This is Hal Daviss contribution.
Last year Davis series of individual roses in bloom became well-known
locally. Having heard about Davis unique florals, a daylily hybridizer
in Michigan City, Ind., commissioned Davis to paint a series of individual
lilies. Now the colorful daylilies are becoming something of a trademark
for him. He especially enjoys painting these flowers because their deep
throats allow him to add more depth to his canvas.
Lillie Wingham and Carolyn Lopez are two popular local artists who regularly
sell floral art at the gallery. This year, Wingham, known for her versatility
and skillful mix of colors, is exhibiting two works. Her oil painting
of white roses in a wine-colored vase was done with a palette knife
and, as she says, from imagination. Though Wingham generally
arranges her still-life paintings carefully in advance, she says she
enjoys inventing many of the florals while she is in the process of
painting.
Lopez has been a member of the Madison Art Club for more than 30 years.
While many people request her scenes of Madison landmarks, she says
florals are her favorite paintings. She has completed 102 original cut-always,
watercolors in which a portion of the subject is lifted over the paintings
mat. Most of the subjects are florals, including irises, pansies and
peonies.
For Colors in Bloom, Lopez has something slightly different.
Titled Especially for You, it depicts pink roses and lily-of-the-valley
with detail in gold line. She is also exhibiting The Yellow Rose
of Madison, showing a flower that grows in her own garden.
Colors in Bloom features photographs as well as paintings.
Works are offered in a range of sizes, styles and prices. In addition
to the featured exhibit, the gallery always displays a variety of original
artwork and also sells prints, many picturing Madison area scenes.
Among the artists exhibiting in Colors in Bloom are Bill
Borden, Kevin Carlson, Marjorie Conner, Davis, Chris Duncan, Lee Featherstone,
Sally Fitch, Phillis Fultz, Stephanie Hellmann, Marguerite Ligon, Lopez,
Larry Rudolech, Bob Saueressig, Phyllis Searcy, Dottie Shepherd, Elle
Smith, Laurel Sparks, Karen Taylor and Wingham, Lopez and Davis.
The Madison Art Club Gallery is located
at 301 E. Main Street (across from the courthouse). Hours are 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call (812)
265-3135, ext. 251.
Back to April 2005 Articles.