C.J. CALVIN ELIZABETH LEAL BARRY RUSSELL JENNY LOU SHERBURNE CINDY TAPLIN JANE WOODWARD
C. J. Calvin
Radiance
My most recent work draws from the color palette and subject matter that the child in all of us can appreciate.I love art in all its forms, from abstract to surreal to realistic.I remember as a boy reading a comic book and wanting to do that kind of art when I grew up.Around that same time I attended my first art museum, marveling at the works of Picasso and Dali.Eventually, I would meld these two strong childhood inspirations into the style you see now.
My technique is constantly evolving and my approach is often “tongue-in-cheek”.I paint what makes me happy.Often times I let the child inside manifest in my paintings of colorful and kind monsters, which has led to the creation of my most popular paintings, collectively entitled the “Monsterpalooza” series. Sometimes I am inspired to create satirical, surreal or abstract art, but usually with the intention of moving the viewer to smile.
In life, I am generally positive, so I tend to paint things in a feel-good motif.I love to celebrate life through my art.I want to capture you with simple joy.My biggest hope is that you enjoy my work, as much as I enjoy creating it.
C.J. Calvin
ELIZABETH LEAL
Nature and Spirit 21
Artist Statement Art has great power.It is my profound belief that art transcends other human activities and that it is a source of humankind’s broader comprehension of its past, present, and near future.Nurturing the senses of viewers and producers of art positively is one of its functions.As an artist I search to experience this power of art and try to expose my reality to others through aesthetic approaches. I consider my work as representations of my experiences, and interpretations of events and situations from the past and present, and my idealization of the future.The work also depicts my deepest feelings and emotions.Further, in my work I experience the transformative power of art through seeking connections between matter and spirit.The traditions and cultural background of my Mexican descent have had an important influence in the content and form of my art.My lived experiences, perceptions of evolving social and cultural phenomena are translated into objects through intuitive responses.In this ongoing series: Nature and Spirit, I delve into notions of freedom, nostalgia for color, and desire to represent personal interpretations of life’s intricacies through textile art/embroidery (simple and/or elaborate).These pieces are lush and embody experiences of nature and the natural environment synthesized to their outmost reduction and materialized through thread, color, and shape.Each piece in this series is an homage to my family (mother, great aunt, and grandmother) who emphasized the pleasure in the aesthetic and the intrinsic value of traditional media (sewing, embroidery, and crocheting).
Elizabeth G. Leal
Barry Russell
Boojum Magic
I am a self-taught wood turner.I have not attended any formal school to learn the basics of woodturning, but I have met, worked with, hosted in my home, and discussed my work with many nationally recognized wood turners and have attended demonstrations and workshops….The artists that have influenced me the most have been mostly in approach and attitude rather than object specific.They have given me insights and encouragement to follow my own path.
Woodturning on the lathe easily lends itself to the creation of vessels, but the vessel is only the beginning.I seek to use classic forms as a starting point.I am challenged by a beautiful and unique material that canbe formed to create a work that honors the beauty of wood and the elegance of form, and at the same time, I am challenged to present a piece that transforms the vessel into a unique object. I employ carving, sculpting, texturing, burning, and coloring to create a work product that has a visual and tactile impact on those who come in contact with it.
Barry Russell
Jenny Lou Sherburne
Footed Teapot with Cream and Sugar
I believe that life is a gift.Making pots is my way of celebrating and maintaining this belief.The creative process compels me to listen to an inner voice – my intuition – which, in turn, provides me clues about how to live my life.
My inspirations range from garlic cloves to onion domes, from the Isle of Crete to the Land of Oz, and from Antonio Gaudi to Dr. Seuss.I see beauty, humor, and vigor everywhere, and I try to create pots that embody these values.The cross-pollination between my life and work nourishes both as I strive to communicate a world view of wonder, curiosity, and joy.
Jenny Lou Sherburne
Cindy Taplin
Down in the Alley
First known for her landscape paintings of cedar trees, Taplin more recently has focused on paintings of buildings, especially those of landmarks in downtown Winston-Salem.She tells how her ‘building series’ began in a somewhat accidental way….“I was walking around downtown and just seeing all these cool places, and I think part of it is the math thing in me, too.I love all the old factory buildings around here.
I think I’ve figured out that you try a little bit of everything, and then suddenly one day it’s like, oh, this is what I’m actually good at!I’m always looking for light and dark.I’m always looking for, like, that one shadow there on that green building; that’s what drew me to that.With the whole series, though, I was thinking more about getting people to look at things that they walk by every day.I’m not trying to make any huge statement; I just want people to see things the way that I see them.The shadows – they get me every time!”
Cindy Taplin
Jane Woodward
Window in Rome
From a grade school kid with the excitement of a new box of crayons to an adult with her first tiny set of oil paints, my passion has always been about color and the anticipation of creating!My background as an Interior Designer further focused my interest in architecture, composition, color, and texture.These elements become the foundation of my paintings. Uniting my love of architecture with photography, I often compose my paintings on camera.My frequent answer to “What do you paint?” is “architectural elements”.The fluid movement of oils helps to achieve a distinctive architectural viewpoint with a unique design perspective. My current body of work, entitled “For the Love of Italy”, is taken from personal photographs from a recent expedition in plein air paintings in Tuscany.Combined with visits to Rome and Florence, the inspiration of Italy continues to inspire me.
