Precision and detail are the hallmark of both the featured July artists, Georgia Dangel and Greg Siegwart, at Artworks Around Town in the Centre Market. The newest opening will be July 5th at the gallery at 2200 Market Street inside the Centre Market. Light refreshments will be provided by the members of the artist co-op for the attendees to enjoy. This is going to be a “cracker jack of a show”. Creativity and painting have been a part of the lives of each of these painters’ families in the past.
Georgia Dangel and Greg Siegwart are both artist members of Artworks Around Town. Both are art teachers and both work in oil and acrylic. There is some similarity in their artwork. Their palettes are similar. A “palette,” in artist terms, means that an artist uses the same set of limited colors over and over in their work. Although Georgia and Greg have similar palettes, their work is not that similar. Georgia tends more toward portraits in almost photographic detail and still lifes in complex detail. Greg is an accomplish plein aire (open air) artist in oil. It is no small feat creating an artwork in one sitting with changing light and arrangement throughout the sitting. Add working in oil paint, which dries very slowly, and you have an admirable and rare skill.
Georgia’s family has a history of supporting her as an artist. Georgia started initially with tote painting in the early 1980s. Later she took Bob Ross classes and learned to mat and frame. By 1993 she was painting on glass for a local glass factory. After the factory closed, Georgia still painted glass and showed that glass, as well as kiln fired glass, lamps, crocks, china, jewelry, and painting at many area artisan shows. She has continued her education as a painter taking many workshops and always trying to improve her technique and style.
Winning a variety of awards in local juried shows, Georgia has earned three Best of Shows (a rare award) including numerous first, second, and third places, and honorable mentions throughout her career. Georgia has a history of teaching adult evening classes at Belmont Technical College, and now, teaching younger students in her studio. She has published a book, Speaking of Art, Artbook I, as well as pamphlets and an article in the “Interactive Artist Magazine” on quilt barns, the quilt squares on barns around the country. She is currently vice-president of the Great Lake Region Artist Group, a member of Monroe Artist, Monroe County, Ohio and Artworks Around Town.
Greg’s great-grandfather, Joshif Siegwart, a Swiss immigrant, painted and inspired Greg to paint as well. Greg loved to oil paint by age 10. Forty years later his experience with oil as a self-taught artist is phenomenal. Oil painting would have remained a hobby had it not been for a debilitating accident in 2000. After that accident, oil painting became a therapy, a vocation, and a talent to share with others. He has been teaching at both the Stifel Fine Arts Center and at Artworks Around Town for the past six years. 
Greg has given workshops and demonstrations at The Mon Valley Art Center, Steppingstones Arts Festival, Stonewall Jackson Resort and many others venues. His commission pieces have included portraits, still lifes, wildlife, animal portraits, landscapes, fantasies, and surreal pieces. Greg is one of the only surreal painters in the area. His surrealism is complex and interesting to interpret.
If you like oil painting, you’ll like this show. If you like detail in painting, you’ll like this show. If you like beautifully rendered subjects in almost any subject area, you are going to find this show a real treat, “a cracker jack” sweet show.