Autumn Aura’s Top Ten

By admin on September 14, 2017

With the opening of our small works exhibition, “Autumn Aura,” it finally feels like fall! Our artist members depicted a cornucopia of fall-themed subjects including leaves and gourds and spooks (oh my)! As we turn over a new leaf into our newest small works exhibition, we will look into the ten small works that received awards of merit.

Nancy Colella, CA, Straw Hat. Oil, 8 x 8”

Nancy Colella’s Straw Hat shows off her simple yet deliberate style. Speaking about her work, Colella states that “my paintings are meant to present as much information as possible with a few, well-planned brushstrokes.”

Debra Keirce, Ketchup and Mustard. Oil on panel, 4 x 2”

Debra Keirce’s Ketchup and Mustard, one of the smallest pieces in our small works show, can fit in the palm of one’s hand. It is an excellent example of Keirce’s ability to paint fine details and intriguing angles while exhibiting a sense of activity in the background.

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Barney Levitt, CM, Reflecting on Vermeer. Oil on canvas, 10 x 13”

Through the use of word play, Barney Levitt’s Reflecting on Vermeer takes on a dual meaning. In one sense, this oil painting shows how artists study or “reflect” on well-renowned artists, such as Johannes Vermeer, to improve their technique. In another way, the painting also exhibits how artists learn to master an object’s physical characteristics, such as the reflections given off by an orb.

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Jeanne Rosier Smith, CA, Country Road. Pastel, 10 x 8”

Copley Artist Jeanne Rosier Smith has a soft spot for pastels because they give off a velvety texture and rich colors. Country Road is a fabulous work that shows off this medium, as well as Jeanne Rosier Smith’s expert skills.

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William Burnham, CA, The Stowaway. Acrylic on canvas, 9 x 12”

It is no easy feat to paint water, and William Burnham shows off his skills in painting rough waves in The Stowaway. Along with the beautiful rocky waters, a seagull can be seen happily resting aboard a boat, which gives the painting an added charm.

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Beth Rundquist, CA, Foggy Day. Oil on linen, 10 x 12”

Beth Rundquists’s Foggy Day shows off a strikingly beautiful texture. The inviting scene includes thick coats of paint as well as Rundquists’ intriguing use of light and shadow.

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Thomas Darsney, Museum Series – MFA Boston. Oil on canvas, 16 x 12”

Thomas Darsney captures a moment from a familiar Bostonian location—the Museum of Fine Arts. In this piece, Darsney plays with idea of viewership and art. While we watch the young girl respond to the sculpture, our own reaction to the bust takes shape because of her influence.

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Maureen Vezina, Allihies Dairy Farmer II. Oil, 8 x 8”

Maureen Vezina has a rich love for the outdoors, which is why she often paints outdoor scenes or “en plein air.” Allihies Dairy Farmer II is a simple view of a dairy farmer, yet Vezina’s rendering heightens the scene into an alluring moment amongst nature.

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Jon Allan Marshall, CM, Unwrapped Lemons. Oil on copper, 11 x 14”

Copley Master Jon Allan Marshall created this exquisite still life of lemons for the small works show. The contrasts between light and dark, shades of yellow and black, and the juicy details in the lemons makes this painting an obvious choice for an award. If anyone held sour feelings toward lemons before, this painting may change their minds.

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Gary Tucker, Autumn Light Kenmore Square. Watercolor, 13 x 15”

Autumn Light Kenmore Square is the only watercolor to receive an award of merit for “Autumn Aura.” Working in such a difficult medium, Gary Tucker captures the famously large CITGO sign in Kenmore Square and turns it into a captivating icon atop a busy Boston street.

 

“Small Works: Autumn Aura” will be on view through November 2nd. 

 

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