Oil Paintings

Shirley Claunch is the first to admit she can't draw at all. But she can paint in oils, and she loves to do it. The oil paintings she creates are unique, too. She takes old black-and-white photographs and makes identical oil paintings from them. Thus, the old photographs that are worn, aged and deteriorating can be preserved in an oil painting, according to Claunch. She started oil painting after she graduated from high school and took a several months of instruction at training college in Chicago.

Danville/Boyle County Chamber of Commerce will host "All in Good Taste," a food-tasting event, from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Centenary United Methodist Church Christian Life Center on Perryville Road at the entrance to Millennium Park. The event will feature the sampling of food and beverages from 19 area restaurants and caterers. Participants also will have the opportunity to view art work - and do some early holiday shopping - of 13 area artists who will join the "Taste" after tonight's "Gallery Hop. " The Arts Commission of Danville-Boyle County and the chamber have collaborated to create this weekend of arts in November.

Alice Neikirk had reason to be optimistic when she delivered entries to the Boyle County Fair. "Last year, we had about 30 entries, and we came back with about 30 ribbons," said Neikirk, a staff member at McDowell Place. Entries this year by McDowell Place residents ranged from a towering arrangement of roadside wildflowers to oil paintings, not to mention plenty of baked goods and home-grown vegetables. Residents came to see their entries exhibited Friday morning. Mabel Bottoms examined the exhibits at the Floral Hall with a smile.

LaChrista Ellis has a sharp focus when she picks up the brush to dab into oil paints, or grasps the pastels, or gathers the various pieces she wants for a mixed media giclee work. She wants to convey the essence of a spiritual situation, according to her artist statement. "The reader should be able to transport mentally into the piece and connect emotionally while having a sober awareness of the medium application," it reads. Ellis uses each of the mediums in her current exhibit, "Moods and Emotions," to express emotions associated with spiritual praise and moods brought by religious ceremonies, she says.

SOUTH FORK - When a lot of us come back from long trips, we like to share our experiences with our friends and family through photo albums as thick as the New York City phone book or slide shows as long as a full-length Hollywood movie. But during their travels all over the United States and Mexico, Ron and Sylvia Bower tell the stories of where they have lived and visited through different kinds of pictures - paintings. In fact, when you enter their old farm house in the South Fork area of Lincoln County, near McKinney, you are entering the Bowers' own version of a photo album or slide show.

Reception at Arts Center open house The Community Arts Center will hold an artists' reception and open house for the public 5-8 p.m. Friday. Featured exhibits are "The Spirit of Wood," by Parksville carver Andy Croushorn, and oil paintings by Lexington artist Jack Cochran. Lancaster wood turner Jim Decker will demonstrate the process of turning wooden bowls, and Danville pianist Sharon Williams will provide entertainment. Oil paintings by resident artist David Farmer also will be on exhibit.

The hot and humid summer days are customary to most Kentuckians, but what about the artwork of some of our most renowned artists? Sandra Oppegard and Bill Fletcher, two of Kentucky’s finest, share their spirit for their old Kentucky home with us this month at the Community Arts Center. Sandra Oppegard: “The Art of the Horse” Oppegard’s works, on loan from the Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington, give us more than a subtle reminder of why Kentucky is known as the Horse Capital of the World.

The Friday highlight of the 29th annual Constitution Square Festival will be The Rally on the Square. (See sidebar.) Park manager Brenda Willoughby says Constitution Square State Historic Site is a good place for the rally. "It's appropriate for it to be held at the birthplace of Kentucky, where Kentucky's constitution was signed," she notes. Willoughby adds the rally should draw a different crowd to the festival Friday night. "There will be a lot of out-of-town people there, and a lot of candidates will bring their own entourage," she explains.

Oil paintings by Hustonville residents Sylvia and Ron Bower are highlighted at the Second Sunday Select event today at Speckled Egg Gallery. Additionally, some of owner Wilma Brown's "favorite things" will be offered at a 30-percent discount during the open house and artists' reception. Ron Bower says he can't remember a time when he wasn't interested in art and nature. "As a child, my father taught me to draw and make things from clay gathered from the stream behind our Pennsylvania farmhouse," he says.

The hot and humid summer days are customary to most Kentuckians, but what about the artwork of some of our most renowned artists? Sandra Oppegard and Bill Fletcher, two of Kentucky’s finest, share their spirit for their old Kentucky home with us this month at the Community Arts Center. Sandra Oppegard: “The Art of the Horse” Oppegard’s works, on loan from the Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington, give us more than a subtle reminder of why Kentucky is known as the Horse Capital of the World.

Wendy Guirola-Tucker oil and pastel paintings will be on display at the Main & Maple Coffee House through Friday, Dec. 4 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by The Art Depository and Main & Maple. Guirola-Tucker recently exhibited the "Dynamic Doors" through the Lexington Art & Cultural Council which is on permanent display at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. Guirola-Tucker serves on the Art Depository board and Jessamine Quilt Trail committee.

Oil paintings by Hustonville residents Sylvia and Ron Bower are highlighted at the Second Sunday Select event today at Speckled Egg Gallery. Additionally, some of owner Wilma Brown's "favorite things" will be offered at a 30-percent discount during the open house and artists' reception. Ron Bower says he can't remember a time when he wasn't interested in art and nature. "As a child, my father taught me to draw and make things from clay gathered from the stream behind our Pennsylvania farmhouse," he says.

BEREA - On Friday John Haywood of Litt Carr will demonstrate painting from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. John Haywood was born in eastern Kentucky in an isolated community called Risner, which was named for his mother's family. During his childhood, Haywood had the advantages of rural living and was able to learn some of the traditions that have been handed down for generations in the eastern Kentucky region. Haywood underwent change - just as his own community began to change from outside influences and development.

Events for this column must be submitted to the Advocate by noon Tuesday. Call (859) 236-2551 with complete information, including hours and admission price; or e-mail jenb@amnews.com. VISUAL ARTS "Looking Deeply into Tea," traveling exhibition of photographs by Bruce Richardson, poetry by Shelley Richardson and soundtrack by Debra Baker Harman, through March, First Floor Gallery, Lexington Public Library, Main Street. Information: www.lookingdeeply.com . Works by Gathering Artists, through June, Commonwealth Cancer Center, Danville bypass.

DAWSON SPRINGS - For anyone interested in learning how to paint, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park will host its annual Oil Painting Weekend Jan. 25-27. Participants will learn the wet-on-wet method of oil painting by creating their own 16-inch by 20-inch landscape painting. The instructor, Walter Kunkle, who trained directly under Bob Ross, will demonstrate his talents Friday night then instruct the class on Saturday and Sunday. The Sunday class has been added due to overwhelming demand last year.