12/14-12/15 | West Wind Fine Art | Keene, NH

’Tis the Season

West Wind Fine Art presents a holiday exhibition at the historic Bruder House in Keene, New Hampshire.

For two days only, Kristen Thies of West Wind Fine Art will present a holiday showcase featuring new paintings by some of today’s leading artists. The holiday show, which will take place at the historic Bruder House in Keene, New Hampshire, happens December 14 and 15 and not only includes fresh artwork but has special events for collectors and art enthusiasts alike to enjoy.Richard Schmid, A Christmas Still Life, oil, 14 x 30"

Paintings in the show, which kicks off December 14 with an artist reception and opening from 4 to 7 p.m., are by artists Richard Schmid, Nancy Guzik, Kathy Anderson, Carol Arnold, Stephanie Birdsall, Maggie Cahoon, Josh Clare, Cynthia Feustel, Daniel J. Keys and Judy Stach. There also will be a new limited-edition print by Timothy R. Thies available. Josh Clare, New England Red, oil, 11 x 14"

Among Keys’ paintings for the exhibition is Cup, Carnations, & Rosehips. Describing the painting, he says, “I often try combining several elements to create an interesting composition, even on a small-scale piece such as this. I’ve had a fascination with rose hips as of late, and found these while plein air painting with a friend. I’m always apprehensive about taking things from nature (trying to be as respectful as possible), but these were growing in abundance over a fence and nearly sprawling out into the roadway, and I loved them instantly! They add beauty long after the blooms have faded, and I think that’s special in and of itself. The cup was a gift from an artist friend, and has showed up in several works over the years—it’s antique and has a beautiful and delicate Asian pattern. The carnations are a nod to my mentor, Richard Schmid, as I don’t think anyone in the art world paid much attention to the ‘common’ species until they saw how he handled them in paint. Combined, these objects create a unique composition that’s loose and casual in design, intimating what nature does so well but is so easily missed.”Daniel J. Keys, Cup, Carnations, & Rosehips, oil on linen panel, 10 x 8"

The Window Box, by Stach, is the artist’s observation of what can appear in a flower window box throughout the year. “A window box by itself is merely a container, an empty space, which when filled with seeds can become something to celebrate as the flowers and other plants spring forth,” she says. “I observe this each year at a New Jersey beach club where window boxes adorn the walls of a row of cabanas that line a perennial flower garden. The window boxes have plastic liners and in the spring of each year they are delivered to a local nursery where they are planted with seeds inside a greenhouse. The liners are then transported to the beach club in May to the delight of the beachgoers.”Nancy Guzik, Cape Cod Peonies, oil, 12 x 24"

One of the figurative pieces in the show is Feustel’s Playtime, which depicts a young girl playing at a table. “A figurative painting can tell a story through an expression that conveys a particular emotion or a setting that evokes a memory,” the artist explains. “As a portrait artist, I was drawn to paint this young girl’s innocence and the beautiful light cascading over her. I chose to capture her in this quiet moment at play, keeping both the composition and color scheme reserved to echo the simplicity of pioneer life.”Kathy Anderson, Green Tea and Roses, oil, 8 x 10"On December 14, from noon to 3 p.m. Anderson will host a ticketed still life demonstration with limited seating available. The following day is the celebration of Schmid’s newest publication My Still Life Art from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Available will be Schmid’s books, DVDs and a new print. In discussing why he decided to write a book on his still lifes, Schmid says, it is “because I have been doing still life ever since I began painting. My development as a young artist was happening so rapidly that I wanted to have a record of my techniques as they occurred and then blended it with newer ways of painting.” —