SHAMOKIN - Welch Art Studios is presenting its annual Summer Student Art Exhibit at the gallery inside the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, at no cost, now through the beginning of September.
The show, entitled "Abstractions from Nature," is a first for instructor Lisa Welch and her crew of student artists and associates.
"We don't typically do what most people would consider 'abstract art' in my studios," said Welch. "I don't hold up that kind of anything-goes attitude as a standard, splattering or drizzling paint, or color field and other aspects. I teach drawing fundamentals and painting basics. Our work tends to be realistic and representational."
Faced with a glut of acrylic paint that was about to dry up and go bad, Welch decided to try a project that would go quickly and use up much of the paint.
"I got big sheets of foam-core board. I had the kids pick something from nature that they like, such as a bird, flower or animal, and had them draw and paint it on the foam board really huge, many times more than life-size."
Students could also repeat the patterns they found in nature, like clumps of berries or the markings on a bird or butterfly, thereby transforming and abstracting them into new objects.
"I was pleasantly surprised with the results," says Welch. "These pieces are all big, so they have an immediate impact to the viewer."
Welch has students and associates spanning five counties including Luzerne, Carbon, Schuylkill, Northumberland and Columbia. Her students range from age 5 to retired adults.
The studio gallery is open from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays. For more information about the show or the studio, visit www.welchartstudios.com or call 847-0033.