Summer is officially here, and the pools are open. What goes well with pool time? If you are an artist, watercolors surely come to mind. If you happen to have a cool, shady spot, paint outdoors. If not, find one. Our parks have stairways and terraced trails leading to the cool creeks and streams.
Take your camera and sketchbook on a woodland walk. Pick a comfy log or rock, settle in and just be still.
Listen. Look.
Life will start to appear around you. Look for details on the logs and rocks. Let your hand choose loose flowing strokes to capture the feel and mood of the environment. Make notes to remind you of the smells and colors and the way they make you feel.
Your notes will remind you of how you felt you when you were “in the moment.” Being able to put that feeling into your artwork is a priceless gift and needs to be nurtured — a delightful task for a lazy summer day.
By this time, you should be ready for some air conditioning.
Calls are out for artists able to bring the viewer into the experience of creating as they look into the artwork. I saw a couple of shows just this week that included several feels-like-you-are-there pieces. Details to follow.
Penitentiary Glen
Lake Metroparks’ 37th annual “Amateur Photography Contest & Show” is open for viewing through Aug. 4 at Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, Kirtland.
I was a judge, as was Maria Perme, Maria Perme Photography and Roni Leatherman, Roni Leatherman Photography. This year’s show had 129 entries from 56 participants. Only four of them were juniors — 14 or younger. It’s a number we’d all like to see increase.
The Best of Show winner in the Adult division is Doug Wilson, and the Best of Show winner in the Junior division is Branson Porter.
The contest also named winners in several categories:
— in Lake Metroparks: Stewart Unsdorfer, first place; Rob Lewis, second place; Linda Janosko, third place; John Venen, honorable mention; and Sebastian Knez, honorable mention.
— in Lake Erie: Emily Zerecheck, first place; Nic Cassell-Greene, second place; Earl Linaburg, third place; and Lana Andriyenko, Sarah Komaromy and Jay Joseph, honorable mentions.
— in Wildlife: Gary Wright. first place; Doug Wilson, second place; Jim Legat, third place; and Dwight Boyer, Alexandria Novak, Jacquelyn Leach, Ty Whiting and Tony Gazso, honorable mentions.
— In Landscape: Grace Eapen, first place; Alexandria Novak, second place; Stewart Unsdorfer, third place; and Heather Barninger, Jacqueline Sprenger and Emily Zerecheck, honorable mentions.
— In Black & White: Doug Wilson, first place; Gary Wright, second place; Christy Buser, third place; and Linda Kelley, Evan Brzeczkowski and Taylor Stanley, honorable mentions.
— in Floral: Gary Wright, first place; Raymond Rundelli, second place; Heather Barninger, third place; and Roger Lokar, Evan Brzeczkowski, Sarah Komaromy and Aaron Knight, honorable mentions.
— in the Junior Division, which included all the above categories: Branson Porter, first place; Emma Gooden, second place; Brooklyn Amato, third place; Brooklyn Amato and James Komaromy, honorable mentions.
Wildwood Fine Art & Wine Festival
Enjoy the Wildwood Fine Arts & Wine Festival from noon to 6 p.m. on June 22 on the shady grounds of the Wildwood estate,7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor. Learn more about the event or become a volunteer by calling 440-974-5735 or emailing wildwood@cityofmentor.com.
Stella’s Art Gallery
Stella’s Art Gallery, 38033 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, opened the first of a double show in the main gallery last weekend. This first exhibit, “Size Matters,” began with the artists’ awards reception.
Congratulations to Rickie Denes, the Best of Show winner.
The winners in Tiny Bits, no larger than 4 by 6 inches, are Tracy Zakaysek, first place; Nancy Nelson Brotz, second place; and Linda Janosko, third place.
The winners in Medium Muscle, between 8 by 10 inches and 12 by 16 inches, are Gregory Johnson, first place; Nancy Nelson Brotz, second place; and Wendy Playter, third place.
The winners in Living Large, for artworks 18 by 24 inches or larger, are Becky Grasser, first place; Heather Hayden, second place; and Anna and Sam Weisend, third place.
The second show, “Ekphrastic Poetry,” calls for the art of the word. Writers are to select and confirm their choice of artwork from the exhibit before June 27. Only one author per art piece is permitted. Writers will express their feelings or reactions to this specific piece, and it will join its inspiration on the gallery walls.
All are invited to the open-mic reading in the gallery from 7 to 9 p.m. on June 28. Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Ray McNiece will jury the writings.
The July show is “Opposites Attract?” You decide between the two categories, Abstract and Realism, as both will fill the gallery with their opposing points of view.
Abstract is art that does not represent reality but uses colors, shapes and textures to present an appealing image. Realism features art that depicts everyday life in a naturalistic manner and can reach the point of appearing to be a photographic image.
All mediums are welcome. Art will be accepted from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on July 2 and 3 and from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on July 6.
For more information, visit StellasArtGallery.com or call 440-266-9111.
Ashtabula Arts Center
Entry is open for the 2024 Paul & Norma Tikkanen Painting Prize. Interest has grown as news spreads of this $40,000 competition. The first-place prize is $12,000 in both abstract and realist painting. There are also two $5,000 second-place prizes and up to four honorable mentions, $1,000 each.
Paintings must have been completed in the past three years, and the contest is open to artists from Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit and Trumbull counties. It is also open to artists from Pennsylvania counties Crawford, Erie, Lawrence and Mercer. Maximum size is 4 by 4 feet and 25 pounds.
The first round of submissions will done digitally and must be received by July 14.
Entry details and a link to entry are available at ashtabulaartscenter.org. Good luck, everyone!
Fairmount Center for the Arts
Fairmount Center for the Arts, 8400 Fairmount Road, Russell Township, is looking for artists to enter the 48th annual “Fairmount Art Exhibit,” set to open Aug. 6.
Submissions are being accepted online and will be accepted at the center on July 27 and 29. Get details at fairmountcenter.org or 440-338-3171.
