Meet the Artist Archive 03/12/2021 to 05/28/2021
Meet the Artist events every Friday at 5-6 pm
Join the Guild in celebrating one of our fine artists in an informal presentation of their work, process, inspiration and tools. Raise a glass! You will be able to ask questions. The program is usually held on Fridays at 5 p.m. on Zoom.
Meet the Artist
Ivor Parry
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Friday, March 12, 2021 at 5-6 pm
Zoom link:
Join on Zoom
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Meeting ID: 812 5319 8713
Password: 998958
For painting surfaces I use canvas, wood, MDF board, and heavy watercolour paper, with mediums oil (mostly), acrylic, charcoal, pencil, and watercolour. Starting with a line, a swish of paint on a brush, colour, or maybe blocking out random geometric and irregular shapes, that will nudge me in a direction that keeps developing as I paint. My objective whether representational or design oriented is to achieve a strong visual image that I feel works as a complete picture and viewers will appreciate.
Meet the Artist
Adrian Holmes
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Friday, March 19, 2021 at 5-6 pm
Zoom link:
Join on Zoom
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Meeting ID: 812 5319 8713
Password: 998958
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"My passion is painting portraits. I love to work in oil and watercolor.My paintings could be referred to as impressionistic, which does fairly describe my work. I have had the benefit of observing the masters of impressionism. I believe I fall into the simple reportage style of John Singer Sargent (American, 1856 – 1925) who in his many watercolors, reported what he saw with elegance and élan. It’s obvious that Mr. Sargent used watercolor painting as a relief from the riggers of painting society portraits. One quick glance at a Sargent watercolor and you are immediately aware that the artist is having fun and rejuvenating his spirit.
It is my simple hope that my work can convey the same energy and spirit. My influence lies in my good fortune to have studied with Lian Quan Zhen the Chinese watercolorist and author. It is the simple expressive classic Chinese brush stroke that forms the backbone of my work. My philosophy is one brush stroke says a hundred words Therefore, a painting of a hundred strokes will say a thousand words. Like Haiku I strive to say more with less.
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My technique is like a Chinese artist using a very narrow palette. However, my palette is made up of traditional English watercolors. Color is a secondary consideration and a reflection of the scene I am painting. It is the interest and detail in the brush stroke and the tonal value in the colors that bring harmony to the work.
I am a member of the New Jersey Watercolor Society. I also belong to the Art Students League and The Ridgewood Art Institute. I was born in London and came to the United States in the mid 70's. I freelance as a graphic designer working mainly in advertising. In 1978 I was a founding partner of a small graphic design company.
I was educated in fine art at the Ealing School of Art and the Twickenham School of Art. I studied graphic design at the London College of Print and Design and the Plymouth College of Art."
Adrian is organizing the Guild of Berkshire Artists Portrait Painting program. You are invited to go to BerkshireArtists.org under "Making Art" for more information on the Portrait Painting program.
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Meet the Artist
Mark Mellinger​
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Friday, March 26, 2021 at 5-6 pm
Zoom link:
Join on Zoom
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Meeting ID: 812 5319 8713
Password: 998958
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In the '60s I studied at Cooper Union Art School, later I worked in biology research; ultimately, becoming a psychologist. While continuing my psychoanalytic practice, I paint, collage and make constructions of found objects in my Pittsfield studio. I love the Berkshire art scene.
Meet the Artist
Susan Smith
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Friday, April 2, 2021 at 5-6 pm
Zoom link:
Join on Zoom
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Meeting ID: 812 5319 8713
Password: 998958
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Over 3 decades ago I majored in fine arts at Skidmore College. I focused on oil painting and not listening to my professors. Sadly I was very rigid about how I wanted to paint and was not necessarily ready to really learn new things. After a long break, I returned to creating via photography. I am finally ready to "learn" and I am loving the journey.
I am grateful for an incredibly supportive community, in particular Dana Goedewaagen and Bruce Panock. It is remarkable how much free learning there is through facebook critique groups, challenge groups and camera clubs. For now I focus on nature and immensely enjoy hiking with my camera and dog. I have embraced being a beginner and it has lead to wonderful things.