Along the Shore - Plein Air Paintings    Jul 11 - Aug 10, 2008

Opening date: Fri, July 11th 6-8pm

Along the Shore brings together 38 prominent artists painting shoreline views from Connecticut to Maine. Many are plein air painters who take their paintings and canvas to the site and paint directly from life. Their “plein air” style has a freshness and a vitality that comes from honing their observation skills by using nature as a constant guide. This year we have introduced several new studio artists committed to the classical tradition. Trained at the Florence Academy of Art, Elizabeth Leary Strazzulla captures the essence of the setting, particularly the fleeting play of light across its surfaces in an initial series of sketches - then masterfully developed in the finished canvas painted from life. In “Sunbathers, exquisitely rendered shells with their delicate nuances of tones bask in textured sand on a warm, sunny day. Richard Murdock looks for the small beauties of nature and paints evocative, atmospheric landscapes with a startling 3-dimensionality and subtlety. Peter Bergeron applies thin coats of color and glazes to capture the light in his meditative landscapes with his signature mist-laden skies.

Internationally-known George Van Hook painted on location in Madison, Hammonasset State Park, and Old Lyme capturing the light and atmosphere specific to these Connecticut locales.

Diane Aeschliman who has been painting along the shoreline for 30 years, draws you into her lush, local canvases with apple blossoms in bloom, tempting lily pad greens, and sunlit dunes.

Sergio Roffo's "Anchored Cats" catches midday's warmest moment, under a brilliant blue sky.

Award-winning artist Katherine Simmons, President of the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, will be exhibiting her atmospheric Connecticut marsh and shoreline views.

The subtle and ever changing mood of the sea is a fascination for avid sailor and painter James Magner. Inspired by the Impressionists, Magner's expressive seascapes and Hammonasset Marshes painted from life have a wonderful light infused tonality.

Nationally known marine artist Leonard Mizerek's colorful oils are luminous with glowing reflections. Marine painter Yves Parent’s oils exude the feel, as well as the look of the sea.

Sandy Garvin and Barbara Lussier use color to communicate emotion in their luminous paintings.

New Paintings by: Diane Aeschliman, Kathy Anderson, Chris Dixon, Harley Bartlett, Peter Bergeron, Lou Bonamarte, Deborah Chabrian, Sandy Garvin, Vincent Giarrano, Jennifer Holmes, Rosemary Ladd, Roxann Leibenhaut, Paul Lipp, Barbara Lussier, David Lussier, Christopher Magadini, Jim Magner, Barbara Maiser, Ed Martinez, Leonard Mizerek, Richard Murdock, Kim Muller-Thym, Cora Ogden, Hillary Osborn, Yves Parent, Sergio Roffo, Dennis Sheehan, Katherine Simmons, Douglas Smith, Caleb Stone, E. Leary Strazzulla, Frank Strazzulla, Katie Swatland, Eric Tobin, George Van Hook, Sandra Wakeen, Carolyn Walton and Tina Waring.