A Wonderful Weekend in Nashville

The weekend of October 17th (2 weeks ago now) was the opening reception for Oil Painters of America's 2008 Eastern Regional Exhibition. This year's event was hosted by Richland Fine Art in Nashville, Tennessee, and since Nashville is a fairly easy drive from Atlanta, of course we had to go!

The gallery was packed when we got there, with the crowd spilling out into the lobby of the posh, high-end shopping center where Richland Fine Art is located. There were so many wonderful paintings there and, as cliche' as it sounds, it was truly an honor just to be included in the show. (I found out that evening that more than 800 pieces had been submitted, but only 94 were accepted!) We could have stayed for hours more just to be able to closely look at everything. I'm sure we missed a lot - the crowds made it a little difficult to spend time with any one piece.

This was the first OPA event we've been able to attend and it was really nice to meet so many of the artists. A representative from American Art Collector magazine was there taking pictures, there was live harp music in the lobby and talk, introductions and laughter flowed freely.

Dinner for everyone followed at a great restaurant just a few doors down from the gallery. We were joined at our table by David Hettinger, an OPA Master Signature member and the awards judge for the show. He told some great art school anecdotes from his youth and he and Charles swapped David Leffel stories back and forth. He was a great sport and very pleasant company. His plan was to leave town early the next morning, take the back roads and paint his way home! I hope he had a great trip.

Bright and early Saturday morning many of the group were at Belle Meade Plantation for a group paint-out. Nashville-area artist Dawn Whitelaw had graciously made all the arrangements. The weather was perfect with only a few clouds rolling through in the afternoon. There were at least 15 painters scattered throughout the grounds of the plantation that morning. Several hours later most everyone met for a lunch break to chat and compare notes. The main house, various outbuildings and barns, the gardens, the family crypt (now empty) and Richland creek (which runs along the front of the property) were all captured in paint that day.

Charles finished 2 paintings - the main house with fall foliage in the morning sun and the old stone dairy building in the afternoon. (Once he's added the finishing touches and signed them, I'll post them here on the blog.) We left in the late afternoon weary and energized at the same time, with 2 beautiful little paintings and several new friends.

Our early start the next morning got delayed by a bit of antiquing on the way home. We came out with several little treasures which I'm sure will soon find their way into some of Charles' new still-life paintings! It was a great way to wrap up a wonderful weekend.

A Student Testimonial

Joyce Golinsky, a student of Charles' from the afternoon painting class at Binders, recently wrote the most wonderful statement about her recent artistic development and her experiences in Charles' class. She started with Charles at the beginning of the year after seeing "Takin' it Easy - a study" hanging at the Atlanta Artists Center last November.

She has given us her permission to post her words here. And while Charles may blush at the praise, I'm gonna jump at the chance to share this with everyone...

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Finding the right teacher to take me to the next level was not easy. I was looking for one that not only has a high degree of technical knowledge, but also could connect to my individuality, with the ability to help me develop as an artist.

I am very happy to say that Charles Walls is absolutely one of the best art instructors I have ever taken from! He not only is a fantastic artist, he is a passionate teacher.

His sincere desire to impart art principles, while focusing on steps for an individual's development, enables him to analyze the best approach for each student.

I am thrilled and excited to have found a true teacher, capable and willing to help me achieve my artistic goals. Thank you, Charles!

Sincerely, Joyce Golinsky

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Painting - Design and Technique
next session dates: Dec. 2, 9, 16, Jan. 13, 20, 27
Tuesday afternoons (1-4 pm) or evenings (6-8:30 pm)
$140 for six weeks

The Art School at Binders
Piedmont Peachtree Crossing
3330 Piedmont Road, Suite 18, Atlanta GA 30305
http://learning.bindersart.com/
contact person: Kristina Breneman -
404-237-6331 ext. 203

AAPL 80th Grand National Exhibition

"The Red Cup" has been named a finalist in the 80th Grand National Exhibition of the American Artists Professional League!

Artists from all over the country submit pieces to the annual exhibits of the AAPL. We are very pleased to have made it past their stringent selection committee to be part of the 80th Grand National. The show will hang at the Salmagundi Club in New York City from October 28 - November 7. If you find yourself in the area, please make a point to drop by and see what promises to be a wonderful exhibition.

Based in New York City since its inception in 1928, the AAPL focuses on meeting the increasing interest in traditional realism within American art. The organization strives "to advance the cause of fine arts in America, through the promotion of high standards of beauty, integrity and craftsmanship in painting, sculpture and the graphic arts."

I also just recently found out that, in 1932, the AAPL was the first organization to press for the improvement of the chemical and physical purity of artists' pigments, becoming the country's leading authority on artists' pigments at the time. They were also instrumental in securing government sponsored standards for artists' colors through the U.S. Bureau of Standards. It would seem that all fine artists today owe a huge debt of gratitude to the American Artists Professional League.

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The American Artists Professional League, Inc.
80th Grand National Exhibition
October 28 - November 7, 2008
awards reception: Sunday, Nov. 2, 2-5 pm
Salmagundi Club
47 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10003
212-645-1345 -- AAPLinc@gmail.com

"Natasha" A Finalist in OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition

For the second year in a row, Charles has had a painting accepted into the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition of Traditional Oils.

A major accomplishment to be sure, made all the more so by the fact that the OPA's eastern region was expanded this year, thereby significantly increasing the number of entries. The 94 paintings that made the cut will be on display at Richland Fine Art in Nashville through mid-November.

We are very proud to have "Natasha" included in this prestigious exhibition. The painting will be available for sale through the gallery; please contact them for more information.

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Oil Painters of America
2008 Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition
October 17 - November 15, 2008
opening reception: Friday, Oct. 17, 5-8 pm
Richland Fine Art
2131 Bandywood Drive, Nashville TN 37215
615-292-2781 -- info@RichlandFineArt.com

Painting Classes Continue in Atlanta and Gainesville

Now that the three week break is almost finished, oil painting classes will resume at The Art School at Binders on Tuesday, October 14. Both afternoon and evening classes are available.

Charles is also offering classes in Gainesville, Georgia at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center. The 6 week session there begins Wednesday evening, October 15.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Painting - Design and Technique
Tuesday afternoons (1-4 pm) or
evenings (6-8:30 pm)
$140 for six weeks
Session dates: Oct. 14 - Nov. 18, 2008

The Art School at Binders
Piedmont Peachtree Crossing
3330 Piedmont Road Suite 18, Atlanta GA 30305
http://learning.bindersart.com/
contact person: Kristina Breneman - 404-237-6331 ext. 203

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Painting - Design and Technique
Wednesday evenings (6:30-9:30 pm)
$150 (members) $165 (nonmembers) for six weeks
Session dates: Oct. 15 - Nov. 19, 2008

Quinlan Visual Arts Center
514 Greene Street NE, Gainesville GA 30501
http://www.quinlanartscenter.org/
770-536-2575 or email info@QuinlanArtsCenter.org

Simply Drawn

It occurred to me the other day that I had not posted anything yet about the recent drawings only exhibit sponsored by the Atlanta Fine Arts League. You don't see many juried shows limited to drawing media only, so this was a rare treat. And believe me, there were some exceptional pieces there.

The exhibition was juried and judged by John de la Vega, who drove in from Kitty Hawk, NC for the awards reception. Charles and I first met him last year at the annual conference of the Portrait Society of America in Washington, DC. It was a pleasure to see him again, he's always so charming!

Among the pictures I've included here are: Charles with his charcoal drawing "Afternoon Practice," John de la Vega addressing the group just prior to the awards presentations, and some general opening reception crowd shots.

You have another week if you'd like to stop by and see the show - it closes on September 25th.

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Atlanta Fine Arts League
Simply Drawn: an exhibition of monochromatic drawings
September 6 - 25, 2008
The Art Station Big Shanty
2050 Kennesaw Due West Road, Kennesaw GA 30152
770-514-5930 -- tas@ncart.org

Scholarship from the National Academy of Design

Charles was awarded a scholarship to attend a two-week master class with figurative artist Peter Cox at the National Academy School of Fine Art in New York! 

Charles had the opportunity to study in-depth with Peter in the early 1990s, and has been very fortunate to be able to study with him again periodically since 2006. This current 2-week master class at the National Academy concentrated on multi-figure compositions and their inherent narrative powers.

 

Review Magazine describes Peter Cox as "...maybe the best figurative artist now working in New York." He has twice won the gold medal at the National Arts Club and has taught at various prestigious art schools in and around New York since the mid-eighties.

The pictures I've included here were taken in October 2006 and used in a feature article about Peter Cox published in the Spring 2007 issue of American Artist Workshop magazine.

Kudos for "Natasha"

"Natasha" has been named a finalist in the 2008 Art Kudos International Exhibition!

Art Kudos is an online-only gathering of exceptional art. Only in it's fourth year, it has steadily grown in both scope and reputation. This year's exhibition contains 128 works from 13 countries around the world. An incredible variety of mediums and artistic styles are represented in this year's show and the quality is outstanding. It is a wonderfully diverse group.

The exhibition went online today and can be viewed at ArtKudos.com. Charles was also a finalist in last year's show. That can be viewed in the archives section of their webpage.

"Lavender Lace" Honored with Memorial Sunflower Award

At the opening reception of the Atlanta Fine Arts League's 2nd National Exhibition last Friday night, August 1, Charles' painting "Lavender Lace" was honored, quite unexpectedly, with what I thought was the most meaningful award of the evening - the Kerry Aube' Lingle Memorial Sunflower Award.

Unfortunately, Charles was out of town that evening and was not there to accept in person, so I stepped in on his behalf. Pictured above are Matthew Lingle, Pat Aube' and Tom Gray, and myself, with Charles' painting "Lavender Lace."

Kerry Aube' Lingle was the daughter of AFAL charter member Pat Aube' Gray. She was a very talented and creative graphic designer with a bright and giving nature. She was tragically lost to her family just last summer. Her parents, her husband and the Atlanta Fine Arts League created this award as a very special way to honor her memory.

Her mother, Pat Aube' Gray lives, teaches and creates her art in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. You can visit her website to view her lovely works, or read more about her daughter Kerry and the Memorial Sunflower Award on her blog, Art Matters.

The AFAL 2nd National Exhibition will remain on display until September 26, 2008 at the Roswell Visual Arts Center Gallery in Roswell, Georgia.