carmen's gallery

2012 events calendar

Gallery events planned to date:
Next WEEK!  Gallery workshop:  May 15 & 16!  Bobbi Pratte from the Torpedo Factory's Art League School!
Bobbi will be teaching plein air techniques to students of all levels using any medium..particularly water based such as acrylic or watercolor.  We will be painting both inside and outside.  These workshops give you a lot for the cost, which is $200 total for the 2 days.  For a supply list or to sign up, please contact the gallery at  410.326.2549.  We still have a couple of spaces available.

Sunday, May 20:   3 - 6 p.m.   Dennis Lake Smith Art Scholarship fundraiser

I hope that each of you will consider attending this special event.  Dennis was a friend, a talented artist and musician, engineer, and a supporter of youth.  He passed away far too early last May 1.  He would have been a very young 70 years old on May 31.  Dennis received a scholarship to art school, but had to drop out before graduation because he couldn't afford the books and supplies.  That didn't stop his talent from blossoming and it didn't prevent him from sharing his gifts with the world - especially children.

To honor Dennis, I established a student art scholarship at the College of Southern Maryland in Dennis' name.  The Dennis Lake Smith Memorial Art Scholarship will provide funds to an art student in Calvert County to allow him or her to attend the College of So. Md.  It will be based on need.  Please join us to celebrate Dennis' life and talent and provide an opportunity for other students to pursue their interest in the arts.   Any and all donations to this fund will be very much appreciated by the college, by Dennis' friends and family, and by Matt and me.  Thank you.

Gallery painting workshops
Each workshop is $100/day/student plus a materials fee.  Each workshop has been planned to accommodate every level of painter/student from beginner to more advanced.  These are GREAT instructors!  Sign up for one or all.  Call for more info (410.326.2549) or email the gallery at info@carmensgallery.com.  Spread the word!  Class size is limited and we really have fun (see some of our efforts below.  Notice the smiles!)
 

Candace and Sylvia - our talented staff paints with the class	Lois Gajdys with color sampler	Laurie Ford is happy with her sampler

We are already filling our next 2 workshops!  See below.  Call today.

MAY 15 - 16:  Bobbi Pratte:  "Painting Solomons:  Plein Air Basics & Beyond"

This course on plein air landscape painting will emphasize painting water, skies, and land.  ANY medium is welcome and the course is for any level painter.  Pratte has been to Solomons in past years to teach workshops "en plein air" for the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria.  This is her first workshop through carmen's gallery and we're very excited that she will be here in May.  Check out Bobbi's work at www.bobbipratte.com.

AUG 27 - 29:  Kevin Beck:  "Painting the Landscape with Oil or Pastel"

This exciting 3 day workshop is open to oil and pastel painters of any level.  Focus is on learning the fundamentals of creating spontaneous fresh landscape paintings both from nature and using photos as reference.  The goal is to create life infused paintings and NOT a copy of a photo.  Daily demos will be focused on simplifying the plein air painting process and will include value studies, color theory, how to select a subject, what to leave in and what to leave out, and more!  N.C. painter Beck is a renowned and experienced instructor whose work may be seen at www.kevinbeck.com.

And, we are trying to schedule another Brenda Belfield workshop this summer...on a weekend!!

For more workshop info, materials lists, or to sign up, please contact the gallery at 410.326.2549.  Please consider joining us.  These are highly qualified instructors that we are bringing to you! 

June 13 - 16:  Solomons Plein Air Festival 2012

Juror Dee Beard Dean will have an exhibit of her paintings for sale during the "Affaire of the Arts" at carmen's gallery.  This talented and well respected artist is supporting our fundraiser, so please support her!

2012 Plein Air Festival poster Special invited competition artist is Robert Guthrie from New Orleans, who designed our 2012 Festival poster shown at left.  The poster is only $40 and is signed and numbered in a limited edition of 100.  Event sponsors at some levels receive the A/P of this print which will be personalized by Guthrie ($100 value).  Enjoy great art and help a worthy cause.  Preorder by calling the gallery at 410.326.2549.  Poster release will be at the "Affaire of the Arts" June 16.   Meet Robert Guthrie at the gallery on June 16.

A GREAT BIG FUNDRAISER FOR THE FIREWORKS, CHRISTMAS WALK, TASTE OF SOLOMONS & PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL!

3 days of artists painting around Solomons Island!  Join the fun. Wed - Fri:  Artists paint the town Saturday:  Street Fair and Quick Draw AND Affaire of the Arts! Street Fair at Lighthouse Inn property from 10-6 with inflatables, children's tent, artisans and more. Artists' QUICK DRAW:  10 am- 12pm - Artists have 2 hours to complete a painting from start to finish!  Come watch their progress along the Riverwalk.  Paintings available for purchase immediately afterward at the Celebration Tent at Lighthouse Inn parking lot.  ANYONE can register.  For non-competition artists, the fee is $25.  Register at the Solomons Pavilion prior to the event.  Be ready to paint by 10 am!! Preview Champagne Reception - 5 - 6 p.m. at carmen's gallery:  Get first choice of competition painting while sipping champagne and meeting the artists.  $100 entry fee goes toward purchase of any competition painting!  Call and reserve your place today.  ALL PROFITS BENEFIT SOLOMONS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION'S 4 EVENTS AND THE CSM STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP! "Affaire of the Arts" 6-9 pm at carmen's gallery:  The culmination!  All competition paintings available for sale, new 2012 collectible print, live music, cash bar and much more fun.

And, every bit of profit goes to the SBA to fund its 4 events:  the Plein Air Festival, the July 4 fireworks, the Solomons Christmas Walk, and the Taste of Solomons and to the College of Southern Maryland for a student scholarship fund!

Please join us for fun, art and a worthy cause.

And, from the 2011 festival..we still have the wonderful Belfield collectible print (see below)  ...$100 for a great cause