Plein air at Ballard, new works at Adams
This Saturday, R.H. Ballard Gallery opens the exhibit, “Vantage Point,” of new paintings by three regional plein air artists — Gray Dodson, Lynn Mehta and Meg Walsh. The show runs through Nov. 16.
An opening reception with the artists is 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 22), with Gadino Cellars wine and light fare, and is part of “An Evening of Art in Little Washington,” which also includes the opening reception a block away of the Gay Street Gallery’s exhibit of works by Kevin Adams, Robert Bouquet and Paul X. Rutz, also from 4 to 7 p.m.
In Ballard’s three-person show, artists Dodson, Mehta and Walsh have exhibited widely and all get their inspiration from being in the landscape and painting directly from it.
“Though I am a representational painter,” says Meg Walsh, “I am more concerned with creating a strong composition than accurately depicting a scene. I try to translate the landscape, emphasizing what interests me most about a specific place at a moment in time, whether it be a dramatic shadow pattern, the blazing heat of a summer day or the rolling sky of a passing storm. My paintings have a strong abstract element, and I often
limit my values and simplify shapes to make a more forceful statement.”
Lynn Mehta has this to say about her work and process: “When I paint I connect with changing light, the color of the landscape, and movement. I feel the most free when I paint outdoors, whether I paint deserts, cities, mountains, farms, docks, rivers, or beaches. I focus on abstract shapes and forms that create a whole, seeking inspiration that makes a universal connection.”
Says Gray Dodson: “My work is about place and mood. Color and light are extremely important. I adjust them as they relate to each other and the entire composition, often emphasizing the contrasts of lights and darks while relying on my emotional response to the landscape. I hold a deep reverence for nature and strive to connect with its spiritual aspect.”
“Vantage Point” runs for three weeks only at R.H. Ballard Gallery (307 Main St., Washington, open 10 to 6 daily except Tuesday). To schedule an appointment or viewing contact Robert H. Ballard at 540-675-1411 or Robert@rhballard.com. See more selected works from this exhibition at rhballardgallery.com.
In an exhibit opening in tandem with the Ballard show, Gay Street Gallery presents works by Paul X. Rutz, formerly of Virginia and now keeping his studio in Portland, Oregon, who offers a collection of contemporary still life paintings on carved panels. And the Gallery welcomes back Culpeper-based sculptor Robert Bouquet, who presents abstract and figurative work in Virginia soapstone and Italian alabaster. Finally, resident artist Kevin H. Adams presents new paintings of Rappahannock and from his travels, all focused on the quality of light illuminating the landscape. More at gaystreetgallery.com.