How are two of my favorite artists connected to the Loveland Cherry Celebration?
I met one of my favorite artists in 1979. I was a freshman in high school and she was my art teacher. Susan Blankenship was not only a highly skilled artist, but she also had a great way of inspiring an art room full of high schoolers. Oh, and she drove a Camaro Berlinetta which made her super cool.
Somewhere during my four years of art classes at Paola High School, Mrs. B (as we called her) tried to broaden our tiny brains by teaching us about some of the artists that influenced her own style. My favorite was Wayne Thiebaud. I suppose he fits into the early pop art movement, as his subject matter usually consisted of cakes, lollipops and ice cream. I was inspired by his color palette, heavy brushstrokes and unexpected bold color placement that made an ordinary piece of cake look hyper-real.
What Would Wayne Do?
Along my own art journey, there have been many times in my own painting endeavor, that I've asked myself WWWD. My latest paintings are not cakes and lollipops, but cherries. As I paint this simple stone fruit, I ask myself more and more: WWWD. Where can I add a pop of cobalt? or pink? or lime green? There's something refreshing yet challenging about painting a simple composition of fruit.
Why Paint Cherries?
This weekend, Saturday July 15, 5-8pm, in downtown Loveland is the Cherry Celebration. The parking lot adjacent to Lincoln Gallery will be filled with vendor booths, where you will find all the cherry things. Including cherry pie. The Thompson Valley Art League (TVAL) artists will fill a booth with cherry-themed art, and other art too.
A YART Sale!
Cherries aren't your thing? What about a SALE? TVAL artists will also be having a YART Sale, in the booth and in Lincoln Gallery. What is a YART Sale? Think yard sale for art and art supplies. TVAL artists will sell discounted artwork plus gently used art supplies. The YART Sale is a great opportunity to begin or expand your collection of local artwork. It's also a great place to grab some art supplies. The YART Sale is a fund-raiser for TVAL, which is a non-profit organization. AND the artists get to make some money too. That's a double bonus. AND you get great art and art supplies, triple bonus.
While you are at the Loveland Cherry Celebration, check out Lincoln Gallery's updated look! See you Saturday 🍒