September 07, 2010
More Animals for the Fair: Paintings by Gay Freeborn and Ceramic Animals by Ronnie Gould
What do artists Ronnie Gould and Gay Freeborn have in common? The answer is that both artists have a love of animals and create exqusite renderings of their four legged subjects. Gould works is a ceramic artist and Freeborn is a painter. The exhibit opens on September 18th about three weeks before the Sandwich Fair and will continue through Fair Weekend. There will be a reception to meet the artists on Saturday evening, September 25th from 5-7 p.m. This exhibit is a must see for all animal lovers.
Ronnie Gould explains her work and her process:
My work emanates from a background in drawing and painting but mostly as an observer of the world. I rely on visual information such as how people and animals move, their body gestures and expressions to create my sculptures. Every animal has it’s own personality and my goal is to highlight these traits.
My selection of animals is always expanding including both domestic and exotic. All of my animals are individually hand-built in stoneware. The finish firing varies from raku, smoke, or saggar over colored slips and stains.
By manipulating the firings I influence the desired results, but the lick of the flame and smoke leave their own signature. Just as animals have their own personalities, the firing process adds unique and exciting traits to the sculptures.
Gay Freeborn comments on her paintings:
As a painter I have been searching, as we all do, for that which touches my heart. I have painted all of my life; from childhood horses, college figure drawing to images of those in distress, sad people, beautiful people, dogs and their people. I began breeding Labrador Retrievers on my farm in Maine and watching them, noticing their curves, their motion and their devotion, finally I have found an urgency to my brushstrokes that were not evident before. Using oils on canvas as my medium, I portray the dog with love for the animal as my driving force. The space that surrounds the subject is as important as the figure itself as they swirl, sit, sleep or stare back at me from the light engulfing them. The Dog, unconditional and unpretentious sits at my feet as I paint and I don't think I could ask for anything more.
Freeborn’s paintings are not uniquely about dogs. Goats, Sheep and even children join her canine friends.
Posted by: Patricia on September 07, 2010 at 03:58 pm.