Impressionism and Realism on Display
Blowing Rock Frameworks Presents
New Works by William McCullough and Joana Wardell
By Jeff Eason
A Source by William McCullough
Sometimes the best way to find out if you like a certain painter's work is to compare it to an artist with a different style. Eyeballing two contrasting works and figuring out which is more pleasing says as much about the viewer as it does about the art.
Art lovers will have the opportunity to explore two contrasting painting styles this month as Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery, LTD presents the recent works of artists William McCullough and Joana Wardell at a new show August 8-27.
A reception for the artists will be held on Saturday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Blowing Rock Frameworks. The reception is free and open to the public.
McCullough, now in his mid-fifties, is considered one of the premiere realist painters in the South.
"These are oil, plein air paintings, most of which were painted earlier this year in France," said McCullough. "Some of them were painted on Mt. Ventoux, one of the mountains that Lance Armstrong climbed in the Tour de France. Others were painted in southern France in Provence and Lanquedoc."
For the past eight years, McCullough has been dividing his time between France, Charleston, South Carolina, and the High Country. A professional artist for over three decades, he started his career painting portraits on commission in 1968 in South Carolina.
"I still paint the occasional portrait," said McCullough. "I consider my style to be that of a post-modern realist."
Wardell's work provides a stark yet pleasing contrast to McCullough's art. Wardell's new exhibit features mostly acrylic paintings with a few oil works.
"She has a nice impressionistic feel to her paintings," said Blowing Rock Frameworks owner and curator Tim Miller. "Her new paintings feature some landscapes plus still-lifes of boxes, bird nests, pears and party hats. She puts a lot of paint on her canvas. They end up having a thick, textured look to them with circles and fossil-like images."
"The surfaces of cracked worn sidewalks and the walls of old buildings are the inspiration for my abstract paintings," said Wardell. "These surfaces that reflect history, memory and the layers of passing time. Metaphorically, they reflect the process of life. It is these layers of life remembered, partially remembered, or long forgotten that create the patina of the soul."
Both painters have been represented by Blowing Rock Frameworks for the past three years. Wardell and McCullough will be on hand at Saturday's reception to talk with the public.
For more information on this art exhibit and Saturday's reception, call the Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery at (828) 295-0041 or visit their website at www.brframegallery.com. Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery is located at 7539 Valley Blvd. next to Food Lion.
Blowing Rock Frameworks Presents
New Works by William McCullough and Joana Wardell
By Jeff Eason
A Source by William McCullough
Sometimes the best way to find out if you like a certain painter's work is to compare it to an artist with a different style. Eyeballing two contrasting works and figuring out which is more pleasing says as much about the viewer as it does about the art.
Art lovers will have the opportunity to explore two contrasting painting styles this month as Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery, LTD presents the recent works of artists William McCullough and Joana Wardell at a new show August 8-27.
A reception for the artists will be held on Saturday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Blowing Rock Frameworks. The reception is free and open to the public.
McCullough, now in his mid-fifties, is considered one of the premiere realist painters in the South.
"These are oil, plein air paintings, most of which were painted earlier this year in France," said McCullough. "Some of them were painted on Mt. Ventoux, one of the mountains that Lance Armstrong climbed in the Tour de France. Others were painted in southern France in Provence and Lanquedoc."
For the past eight years, McCullough has been dividing his time between France, Charleston, South Carolina, and the High Country. A professional artist for over three decades, he started his career painting portraits on commission in 1968 in South Carolina.
"I still paint the occasional portrait," said McCullough. "I consider my style to be that of a post-modern realist."
Wardell's work provides a stark yet pleasing contrast to McCullough's art. Wardell's new exhibit features mostly acrylic paintings with a few oil works.
"She has a nice impressionistic feel to her paintings," said Blowing Rock Frameworks owner and curator Tim Miller. "Her new paintings feature some landscapes plus still-lifes of boxes, bird nests, pears and party hats. She puts a lot of paint on her canvas. They end up having a thick, textured look to them with circles and fossil-like images."
"The surfaces of cracked worn sidewalks and the walls of old buildings are the inspiration for my abstract paintings," said Wardell. "These surfaces that reflect history, memory and the layers of passing time. Metaphorically, they reflect the process of life. It is these layers of life remembered, partially remembered, or long forgotten that create the patina of the soul."
Both painters have been represented by Blowing Rock Frameworks for the past three years. Wardell and McCullough will be on hand at Saturday's reception to talk with the public.
For more information on this art exhibit and Saturday's reception, call the Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery at (828) 295-0041 or visit their website at www.brframegallery.com. Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery is located at 7539 Valley Blvd. next to Food Lion.
53 Cannon Street
Charleston, SC 29403
843 / 853-2004
currie@53cannon.com
