October 2nd will usher in three new shows and a new look to the traditional opening reception at ARTWORKS around town.  In the Studio Gallery, Amanda Carney and Andrew Bartsch will display their work while The Student Gallery will feature creations by participants in Wheeling’s NAMI organization.

The Gallery hop is taking on a new form and a new day, with a free reception on Saturday, October 2nd from 11 am until 2 pm.  Light refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome to stop by and meet the artists.

“Fast Awake” – Amanda Carney

Amanda Carney holds an interdisciplinary degree from West Liberty University and is owner and operator of The Cats Paw Art Studio, LLC.  Her entire life has been devoted to studying and living art.  She has never worked outside the field.

“My work is myself”.  She describes her creations as being “bright, colorful and joyous in its presentation but also sad, morbid and irreverent in its subjects.”   Most of the works in this show are portraits of cartoonish, feminine figures existing in a surreal state of emotion or lack thereof.  Carney works primarily in gouache paint but uses other mediums such as watercolor pencil and ink.  Recently, she has returned to digital art making she enjoyed when she was younger.

“Doctor Sam” – Andy Bartsch

Sharing the Studio Gallery is Andy Bartsch.  He describes himself as “an illustrator specializing in comic book style art.”  His work has never been in a gallery before and ARTWORKS is pleased to be giving him this opportunity.  Bartsch’s inspiration comes from classic hero and super villain comics, graphic novels, science fiction as well as “the difficulties and absurdities of modern life”.  He accepts commission work.

The Student side of the north end will host works by NAMI clients.  Patti Neic is coordinator.  The organization offers help and support for any adult living with a mental health condition or experiencing the signs and symptoms of a mental illness.ARTWORKS around town is a nonprofit charitable and educational Gallery and Art Center.  Hours are 10 am until 5:30 pm Monday through Saturday except Friday when closing is at 6.  To take part in the various ongoing and special workshops or to join ARTWORKS go to the website: artworksaroundtown.com.

Wheeling Heritage Foundation

Wheeling/Ohio County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Moundsville Arts & Cultural Commission

Gary Dietz Insurance Agency

R & V Screen Printing & Embroidery

Judsons Art Outfitters

2 Anonymous Donors

Hosted and sponsored by ARTWORKS around town

There is a lot going on at ARTWORKS for the month of May.  The Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League continues to display their stunning show titled “Pure Pigment” in the Studio Gallery.  There are pastels galore and each one of them is as unique as the one next to it.  This is a must see exhibit.  One-of-a-kind Mother’s Day gifts are available for sale.  Framed originals, prints and note cards are included in their offerings.

“Holland Windmills” by Nanette Hought

ARTWORKS member and watercolorist Karen Catlett is going to present a Watercolor Workshop on Saturday, May 15, 2021 from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.  There will be a break for lunch (bring your own).  Catlett states “students will learn the brush strokes, how to lay washes, using hard and soft edges, glazing over existing washes and much more.”  Participants can be beginners or advanced or anywhere in between in knowledge and experience.

STUDENTS SHOULD BRING:

• watercolor paints
• brushes – 1” flat and rounds
• paper – 140 lb or better
• two containers for water
• 1 roll toilet paper, tissues or paper towels
• support board
• tape

The first five people to register attend for free due to a $100 donation.  The cost for all others is just $20.  Register by calling Catlett at 304-845-0875 or email her at kcatlett601@comcast.net or by calling ARTWORKS at 304-233-7540.

Coming in June is a show featuring the students of Greg Siegwart.

At noon on June 5th  there will be a free, public “critique” led by Greg Siegwart and Bobbi Priebe.  This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who would like to share their work with artists who can offer suggestions or who just want to share what they do in any medium.  The group that comes together about every three months has fun, is informal and beneficial to all.

ARTWORKS around town is a nonprofit charitable and educational Gallery and Art Center located in Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market.  Hours are from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except for Friday when closing is at 6 p.m.  Anyone interested in becoming a member is encouraged to go to the website:  artworksaroundtown.com for more information and an application form.

Betsy Cox, exhibit creator at ARTWORKS around town is pleased to  announce the Gallery will host its first Hop in over a year on April 9, 2021.  Ushering in this “new normal” chapter is the opening of a spectacular array of paintings presented by the Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League (PPAL).  A free reception will take place from 5:30 until 8 p.m. and will require the wearing of masks and social distancing to comply with current pandemic guidelines set forth by the state of West Virginia.

“Pure Pigment” is the title of the show that will run from April 2 until May 26 in the Studio Gallery of ARTWORKS.  PPAL was founded in 2002.  Their press release states the group “is a member supported art organization dedicated to pastel artists and to the promotion, understanding and enjoyment of the medium of soft pastels.”  Pastels are produced and sold as either, soft, medium or hard.  Soft pastels provide a wide array of possibilities that produce dramatic paintings in vivid colors.  Eric Dye, member of ARTWORKS and PPAL explains,“Pastels are sticks of pure pigment made from the same minerals as oil and acrylic paints.  Since pastels are a dry medium and aren’t mixed like those mediums, pastel painters must have a rainbow of colors at their disposal.” Soft pastels are produced by dozens of manufacturers, some  made by hand and come in hundreds of different colors.

Members of  the group come from all over the tri-state area and range from the internationally known professional to those new to the medium.  Quarterly meetings in many different locations as well as newsletters, workshops, classes, exhibits and group excursions are just some of the many activities of this energetic group.  Anyone interested in joining the PPAL is welcome to join and enjoy all member benefits.  Dues have been suspended for the 2021 year because of Covid.  Access more information from their member-supported website, www.ppal-artists.com .

The exhibit is a  great place to get your Mother’s Day or Easter gift.   Framed originals, prints and notecards will be for sale during the entire show.  In addition to Eric Dye,  participating members include; Sandra Beitsinger, Cindy Berceli, Cynthia Gilberti, Diane Grguras, Nanette Hought, Gina Judy, Renee’ Keil, Jan Pini, Marian Sallade and Patricia Young.

ARTWORKS around town is a nonprofit, charitable and educational organization that operates a Gallery and Art Center for the benefit of the artists and general public of the region.  Located in Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market, hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. except for Fridays when closing is at 6.  Anyone interested in becoming a member, go to the website  artworksaroundtown.com for information and an application.

March at ARTWORKS around town promises to be an exciting bright spot in this otherwise dreary winter.  Betsy Cox is keeping her “Retrospective” collection in the Studio Gallery for another month and a new artist is debuting his skills in the Student Gallery.

Betsy’s painting talents are beautifully arrayed in the north gallery at ARTWORKS.  Watercolors, oils and pastels show the range of her skills in everything she attempts.  Best known recently for her award winning ceramic work, her paintings are a must see as well.  Betsy sells originals, prints and note cards at the historic Center Market Gallery.

For the first time, Logan Picard Keller will have his artwork on display, and ARTWORKS is honored to host this promising young talent.  Born in France, Logan has been drawing and creating art since he was 2 1/2 years old.  For the most part, he is self-educated having no previous formal training.  He was introduced to different mediums as he was growing up by his mother, Anissa.

Logan considers himself to be an experimental artist, using several different styles in crafting his acrylic pours.  In addition to painting, Logan loves to sculpt and design his own characters for gaming and comic books using pencils and markers.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of his work will be given to the Nsaba Orphanage of Uganda, Africa to support the organization and children in need.

ARTWORKS around town is a non profit charitable and educational Gallery and Art Center for the benefit of the artists and general public of the region.  It is open six days a week from 10 am until 5:30pm Monday through Saturday except for Friday when closing is at 6 pm.  Anyone wishing to become a member may access the website: artworksaroundtown.org for information and an application.

Nationally known and respected artist, Betsy Cox will present a collection of work never previously exhibited.  The Studio Gallery at ARTWORKS around town will host a Retrospective of her two-dimensional work for the months of February and March.  The student side of the North end will continue to exhibit works by Gallery members depicting beautiful winter scenes.

Cox is most recently known for her work in ceramics.  She has earned many awards in local as well as national shows.  This Retrospective Exhibit reveals another aspect of her talent not usually seen.  There will be almost 40 year’s worth of paintings starting with an acrylic still life done in 1972.  There will be florals, still lifes and landscapes painted in various mediums including pastel, acrylic, oil and watercolor.  She has worked with clay prints and encaustic in addition to more traditional forms of expression.

She grew up in a family that was immersed in artistic expression of one kind or another.  Her mother and brother did leatherwork, her father liked to draw and work in mosaics and her sister painted.  Her mother’s Austrian side of the family boasted sculptors.  Needless to say, Betsy has come from a long line of creative and innovative artists.

The Retrospective promises to reveal many layers of skill Cox has honed over many years of practice and experience.  Betsy’s love of nature and her keen eye for detail are evident in everything she does, whether in clay or paint.  Betsy’s ceramic items are available for purchase in her permanent space at the Gallery.  She sells note cards as well as her originals.Visitors are encouraged to view both exhibits six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.  ARTWORKS around town is located in Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market.  ARTWORKS is a nonprofit charitable and educational organization that operates a Gallery and Art Center for the benefit of the artists and general public of the region.  Anyone interested in becoming a member, please go to the website: artworksaroundtown.com for information and an application.