‘Color In January’ Will Combine Original Art And Artist Demonstrations

Original art in a colorful setting and “ah…so that’s how it’s done” moments – both will brighten a winter day and both will be found at the Ninth Annual “Color in January,” an art show and sale sponsored by The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN). This show and sale will be open on Saturday, January 17, and continue daily through Sunday, January 25, at Lexington Gardens, 32 Church Hill Road in Newtown.

The public is welcome to visit the show, free of charge, between 9 am and 5 pm daily. An opening reception will be presented from 2 to 4 pm on January 17.

The annual members’ show typically features over 200 original paintings by nearly 100 area artists in a variety of media including oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastels and graphics.

Artists and art lovers can enjoy any or all of the special features of the show: four hour-long artist demonstrations held each Saturday and Sunday during the show beginning at 12:30 PM.  Four prominent area artists will be highlighted this year.

On January 17, Danbury native Kevin Conklin will demonstrate his distinctive technique of using oil and oil pastels to capture the radiance of light in a landscape.

Mr Conklin, a professional artist and illustrator for over 20 years, finds his inspiration from abstract patterns in nature and recreates nature’s brilliance in vibrant colors.

On January 18, Leslie Lillien Levy will paint a pastel still life. Ms Levy describes her style as representational and her approach as intuitive.

A signature member of the Pastel Society of America, she paints and teaches in her studio in Kent.  While she specializes in still life, Ms Levy also includes portraits and landscapes in her repertoire.

Barbara Goodspeed will demonstrate painting an oil landscape on Saturday, January 24.  Ms Goodspeed’s clear and insightful approach to composition and design has a strong appeal to artists working in many media.

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.

On January 25, Richard Ochs will demonstrate painting in watercolor. Mr Ochs takes an impressionistic approach to painting, giving viewers the sense that they’ve 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. 

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