June Featured Artist – Larry Horowitz

Since Paint Snow Hill days I have remained fascinated by the diverse talents of artists who paint “en plein air.” The history of plein air painting is based on the desire for French artists in the mid-800s to capture changing light and weather by painting landscapes outside their studios. They wanted to catch nature’s elements in real time. Through the course of the past 200 years outdoor painting has remained popular with some artists only painting plein while others use plein air paintings as studies for studio paintings. Today choices artists use in plein air painting are more diverse by medium, approach to composition and chosen techniques. The plein air movement continues to evolve as artists find subjects to paint wherever they are.

I offer this brief background to introduce our June artist, Larry Horowitz, and how we became acquainted. Last spring, Larry and his wife, Tami, paid a visit to the gallery while they were renting a house in Rumbley, Somerset County. Rumbley is not a place you think someone from New York would find but Larry is a “traveling” artist who during the first four months of the year takes time to explore the East Coast region from the Carolinas to Virginia and Maryland. The time of year and changing seasons feed his artist’s appetite for subject matter to paint plein air. It goes without saying – Larry finds wonderful landscapes and local imagery to paint – in the traditon of plein air painting. This was his second year in Rumbley.

To those who know me, it should be no surprise that I asked Larry if he would show his work at Bishop’s Stock. It is our good fortune he agreed to a show in June. His paintings are full of color, energy and local references to the Eastern Shore. Check Larry’s website to see his accomplishments. Unfortunately, he will be traveling and unable to be at the opening on Friday, June 6 from 5 until 8 but the paintings will tell his story and how the Eastern Shore inspires him.

Opening Reception & Wine Tasting for Lynne Lockhart & Kirk McBride, April & May Featured Artists

This is our largest 2-person exhibit. Lynne Lockhart and Kirk McBride will show work from travels, from the Eastern Shore and from their backyard, We will be tasting wines from California.

May Featured Artists – Lynne Lockhart & Kirk McBride

April means showing New Work by Lynne Lockhart and Kirk McBride. This is year 18 for this tradition. All year we watch what comes out of their studios but this gives us a time to put many of those paintings on our gallery walls. The past year has given Lynne and Kirk great scenery and even weather to paint. Lynne continues to find unsuspecting animals to capture while Kirk still finds beautiful sunrises and sunsets to show the beauty of our marshes and beaches. Take them away from the Eastern Shore and they come home with new studies or photographs as references for studio paintings. Check thier websites – Lynne Lockhart and Kirk McBride – to see their recent work. Check our Facebook page for albums of all of the paintings in the show.

Lynne Lockhart

Kirk McBride

March Featured Artist – Helene English

March is a month that brings new color back to the gallery. Helene English is our featured artist. One series we have shown of her work was Ocean City paintings focused on Boardwalk icons. The themes of her paintings are everyday observations painted with intense color, bold composition and lots of imagination. She often captures human and animal experiences that are least expected. One of my favorite paintings is a pyramid of 14 happy dogs named Lots of Ruff, Ruff, Ruff. With our dogs in front of the painting It was a perfect backdrop for our annual holiday card.

January & February Featured Artists

Throughout January and February gallery walls will continue to show paintings by a number of our artists – Eva Carson, Scot Dolby, Lois Engberg, Lynne Lockhart, Kirk McBride, Linda Perry, Fred Sprock, Christie Taylor, Nancy West and Keith Whitelock. As always, we have Erick Sahler’s prints which now include his mini-legacy prints. We will be open on Saturdays from 11 to 4 but will be glad to open by appointment. Our next Opening Reception & Wine Tasting will be for the work of Helene English.

Opening Reception for Scot Dolby – November’s Featured Artist

Join us as we celebrate the 7th solo show of work by Scot Dolby. Everyother year since 2010 Scot has been our featured artist during November. . The one exception was 2022 with limited openings due to Covid. This year he will again help us celebrate the opeing of the gallery 21 years ago.

Opening Reception & Wine Tasting with Featured Artists John Aquilino & Linda Perry

Join us for the opening of our show featuring John Aquilino and Linda Perry. Each artist is presenting images of different pastimes – relaxing by the ocean and enjoying equestrian pleasures.

Opening Reception & Wine Tasting – Featured Artists Nancy West & C. Keith Whitelock

Come visit with Nancy West and C. Keith Whitelock to hear about what inspires their painting. Nancy is showing her sumi-e ink paintings and Keitth is water colors. Other artists with work being shown are Kenneth Browne, Lynne Lockhart, Kirk McBride, Jim Rehak, Fred Sprock and Christie Taylor. This is a mix of recent plein air and studio paintings.

Booksigning with Al “Hondo” Handy

Come meet and chat with Hondo Handy about his book “Defying Expectations.” Buy the book to be inspired!

Booksigning with Author Barbara Lockhart

 

For the Blessing of the Combines local writer, Barbara Lockhart, will be in the gallery selling and signing her children’s book, Mosey’s Field, which tells a story about a dog who can no longer find his favorite spot in a field. From spring planting through fall harvest, Mosey learns about the fun of chasing rabbits through corn rows and the fear when the big combine appears. Barbara will also have copies of her other childrens’ books that day. In all her books s Barbara shares stories about Eastern Shore history and culture with her readers.