A Splash Of Color For Mid-Winter

By Shannon Hicks

Seascapes, landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and abstract works of art are filling one of the rooms at Lexington Gardens this week as The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN), Inc, is presenting its 10th Annual Color in January Art Show & Sale.

A room at the garden center and boutique that until just recently was home to more than a dozen heavily decorated Christmas trees and holiday decorations of all shapes and sizes was cleared out for SCAN, who came in with screens and original artwork for the nine-day show and sale.

The show opened on January 17, with more than 100 works representing 84 local artists. Dozens of friends and art lovers turned out on Saturday to celebrate the show and the artist group’s continuing efforts to promote the arts in Newtown and the surrounding area.

The annual members’ show offers a variety of media including oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastels, and graphics.

By midweek nearly two dozen works had been sold. Most people have opted to take their works home with them when they are purchased, but even with so many pieces having been sold and removed the temporary gallery space maintains a broad presentation. The exhibition was full without being cluttered last weekend, and still feels complete midway through its run.

Prices are set by the artists and remain very reasonable. Many pieces are in the low $100s, and a few even in the double digits.

Anita Gregorski was staffing the show on Wednesday, and she spent time with one couple who seemed to be first-time visitors to the SCAN event.

“This is a nice show because people can come in to shop at Lexington Gardens and couple that with a visit to our show at the same time,” said Mrs Gregorski.

“We see a lot of people at this show who don’t come to our other shows. They seem to like the casual atmosphere,” she said, adding “we don’t pressure people, though. Visitors should come in knowing they can just wander around and we won’t try to sell them anything they don’t want.

“We’re here to answer questions,” she noted.

One integral part of each “Color in January” is a series of four artist demonstrations, one each Saturday and Sunday during the show’s run. Last weekend opened with an oil pastel demonstration by Kevin Conklin and a pastel still life by Leslie Levy.

“These demos are like free classes,” said Mrs Gregorski. “The artists cover everything from composition and lighting to their thought process. It’s very comprehensive, and you have more of an appreciation when looking at the show after the demos,” she added.

This weekend, Barbara Goodspeed will be creating a landscape in oil on Saturday and Richard Ochs will be doing a watercolor program on Sunday. Programs begin at 12:30.

Ms Goodspeed’s clear and insightful approach to composition and design has a strong appeal to artists working in many media. According to materials supplied by SCAN, Mrs Goodspeed always shares insights gleaned from the many artists she has worked with. A Sherman resident, her paintings evoke the rural beauty of New England.

Mr Ochs takes an impressionistic approach to painting, giving viewers the sense that they have just happened upon a scene; his landscapes immerse the viewer in all the sensations of the outdoors. The Newburgh, N.Y., resident has work in galleries and collections along the East Coast.

“Come early if you’re interested,” Mrs Gregorski cautioned. “They fill up fast.”

Chairmen for “Color in January” are Nancy Warwick (746-9100) and Lyn Wallin (775-2862).

Show hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily. Lexington Gardens is at 32 Church Hill Road.