The night will feature paintings by Portlock and Riehle and ceramic work, above, by Gail Van de Bogurt.
Bajo el Sol Gallery at Mongoose Junction will host an opening reception on Friday, February 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring artists Lucy Portlock, Ayn Riehle and Gail Van de Bogurt.
The first featured artist is St. John resident Portlock whose work in the art world is a watercolor painter. She keeps working on developing her watercolor pieces with different techniques, but stays mainly in the realism school, “because there are just too many beautiful scenes here on St. John to paint.”
One of her pictures in this show is semi-non-objective art, which was a departure from Portlock’s usual work.
Riehle, the second featured artist, captures the viewer by challenging them to “walk with her” through the creative process of her paintings.
“I am interested in patterns and creating visual pathways through my work with places to stop with surprises,” said Riehle. “I have been making and looking at ceramics for the past several years as well as painting, and the imagery from classical ceramics have strongly influenced this series of paintings from Delpht masters in Holland to Chinese pottery”.
The third featured artist is Van de Bogurt, a ceramicist and watercolor painter. This year’s show will feature work in both mediums by Van de Bogurt.
“This year as a watercolor painter and potter I’ve been exploring clay as a two and three dimensional medium,” she said. “I’m interested in the pure simplicity of handmade functional forms and how those forms evolve in shape and color. Some of my new vessels are more purely sculptural and not wheel thrown.”
“I have also begun making porcelain clay panels to paint upon in watercolor and am excited about tying these two strong loves of mine together,” Van de Bogurt said. “This is evident in my land and sea tile panels with fish and frigate birds. Words are an element that was once an important feature of my work and I’m beginning to bring that back into play.”
Join Bajo el Sol Gallery, Friday February 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. for this opening reception. Enjoy the gallery as well as the classical guitar of David Laabs.
The artists will be featured for the month of February. For more information call 340-693-7070.
