Wells Gallery

We Welcome Curt Butler for SEWE 2012

2012-02-17T12:12:00.000-08:00

What is Oil and Encaustic on Canvas?

The word encaustic literally means to “burn in” and involves a heating tool of some kind with the addition of colored pigments or oil paints mixed into the wax. The temperature for melting the wax is usually somewhere around 200 degrees. In order for the finished painting to melt, it would have to be in an environment or situation that could reach that temperature.

Encaustic painting has been around since the early 1800s; and it was originally developed by ancient Greek shipbuilders who used the method to fill the cracks in the hulls of their ships. Soon after, they decided to experiment with putting pigments in the wax to create a painted surface: an art form was born.

Encaustic painting has seen resurgence in the work of Modern Art, most notably in the works of 20th-century American artist, Jasper Johns. Recently, encaustic and encaustic techniques are more popular than ever due to their workability with mixed media and other multiple layering techniques. Artists are using electric irons, hotplates and heated stylus on a variety of different surfaces including card, paper and even pottery.

“I enjoy the play of carving back into the wax with a palette knife to create different textures, or a single line of a telephone pole. Heating up the wax allows me to fuse layers of paint to create a surface that is varied and complex. Each layer must be carefully fused to the next to ensure there is no cracking. Stand oil is routinely applied to the wax to give it a little flexibility and makes it possible to work on a canvas surface rather than board. I sometimes put the wax and pigment on cold and melt it with a heat gun, and at other times, I start with a hot wax directly on the canvas. I have found these techniques feel very sculptural in nature. At times, I am building up the surface and at other times, I am subtracting or carving into the surface of the paint. Encaustic painting with oil has given me the emotional response that I am currently seeking in my work. To be able to suggest a subject rather than illustrate it, to literally feel the surface of the paint and to be able to engage the viewer from a distance, and yet retain them when they are close are all reasons I choose to work the way I do.” – Curt Butler

Interview with Russell Gordon

2012-02-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Interview with Russell Gordon of the Wells Gallery

Huddled in the Grapevine o/l 8x8 unframed

Interview with Russell Gordon whose works can be seen at the Wells Gallery in downtown Charleston, SC the month of February.

What kind of research do you do for each piece or series?

I usually have a familiarity with whatever I’m depicting to begin with. The objects in my still lifes are often chosen because they are familiar to me and have built up layers of meaning and symbolism. The birds in my recent works are ones that I know from my gardens and woods around our home here in Cambridge, NY for the most part. So actually, it’s only after getting to know something pretty intimately that I will begin to come up with painting ideas for it.

How do you challenge yourself as an artist?

I’m probably the greatest critic of my own work and only produce 18-24 pieces per year so I’m constantly challenging myself to paint better. Like most artists I have an ideal in my head that I try to achieve and while that shifts over time I always think ‘I can do this better if I try hard enough’. Lately, and ironically, going back to the subjects I was drawn to as a kid are creating a wonderful challenge. I think any artist’s ultimate challenge in the visually driven, media soaked world that we find ourselves in is to somehow find their own unique voice. I think I may finally be doing that.

What do you want to convey to viewers of your work?

I have always been pulled into the microcosmic view of things in this world. I (for instance) see the tiny melodramas enacted amongst blades of grass between a ladybug and an inch worm on the lawn during outdoor summer concerts (instead of what’s going on onstage). My attention as always drawn down and in and almost always rewarded. So I guess I’m a details guy. I want viewers of my work to stop at 30′, be drawn to 5′ for a closer look and then finally almost press their noses into the canvas to discover something precious. In other words ‘don’t just stop and smell the roses, look into the buds and see the little sugar ants…what are they up to.’

What do you want viewers to take away from your work?

I really hope people will stop and appreciate the fact that there are artists working today in the US who quite pride themselves on the craft and technique of painting and go more than the extra mile to create art which we hope will survive far beyond our own lives.

Apart from painting, what other interests do you have?

That’s an easy one. Painting better.

What are you currently working on that we can look forward to?

I’m pretty excited about painting birds right now. I’ve always been entranced by birds and grew up admiring avian artists like John James Audubon and Roger Tory Peterson. I went to art school and trained classically and feel inexorably drawn to find my own synthesis between classical realism and traditional naturalism (too many ‘isms I know). I want to do more complex and larger bird paintings in the coming year so look for those.

How long have you been a career artist?

I began drawing at an early age. In those days in school you could read or draw as soon as you were finished with an assignment so I learned that the benefit of doing well in class was the privilege of being left alone to draw. I loved drawing and found art to be the best way to record what I saw in nature and to express ideas and emotions. Most importantly I had supportive parents and even some close neighbor/friends who took me to lessons with the very accomplished artist Peter Egeli. From Egeli’s studio I found a hugely supportive teacher in my first year at St. Mary’s College of MD named Thomas Rowe. Rowe told me quite clearly that I would never learn to be an artist in any college in the US at the time but sent me to the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore, MD where I studied for 6 years with Ann and Hans Schuler and apprenticed with Will Wilson. I graduated in 1992 and have had the great good fortune of painting full-time ever since.

What do you find is your favorite subject matter?

I truly hope I haven’t found my favorite subject matter yet because I want to look, look, look for it for a long time to come. I LOVE painting.

Featuring Russell Gordon: Month of February

2012-02-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Wells Gallery welcomes Russell Gordon

Featured artist for February

Artist’s Reception Friday February 24^th 5-8pm

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (January 26) The Wells Gallery will host an Artist’s Reception for Russell Gordon on February 24^thfrom 5:00 until 8:00. The gallery is always open to the public and we invite you to take the time to see the masterful detail of this American painter.

Born in 1968, Russell Gordon received his undergraduate and graduate art education at the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore.Gordon's works evoke an old world feel but often with a decidedly contemporary twist. These richly detailed and carefully composed paintings reflect the Dutch Golden Era and Italian Renaissance sensibilities, yet remind us that simple and natural beauty are timeless and unchanged. Often combining layered symbolism and a subtle wit, Russell builds each work with carefully applied layers of oil paint and a strong sense of light and dark. Worked directly from life, the paintings invite the eye into windows of alternate but convincing reality without hesitation or reluctance.

New Russell Gordon

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

"Curiosity" 14x18 framed

Quiet Space: Photography by John Michiels

2012-01-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

For the month of January, we will be featuring over fifteen limited edition photographs from John Michiels in a show entitled Quiet Space. An artist's reception will be held Thursday, January 26th from 5:30-7:30, and is open to the public.

Mark Bailey in "The Artist's Magazine"

2011-12-07T07:42:00.000-08:00

We are proud to announce that Mark Bailey placed 3rd in the Portrait/Figure category in this year's "The Artist's Magazine" competition (The December issue is currently on newsstands). There were 6745 total enteries with 1975 of those in the Portrait/Figure category. The judge, Robert Liberace, is a very well known and respected figure artist, and he had this to say about Bailey's work:

"With his flashes of color, flawless drawing and dynamic design Mark has created a picture with a spirited immediacy that puts us right in the chaos of the moment. The fantastic slashing strokes excite the imagination and show how great painting can open our eyes to the beauty of the world in the most unlikely places."

Congratulations Mark!

To view Mark Bailey's current works at our gallery, please visit our website.

December 2011

portrait/figure

Third Place

Mark Andrew Bailey

Vancouver, Washington

The title, In the Weeds, is a term restaurant workers use when the kitchen goes crazy trying to keep up with orders. Such scenes, rife with tension and energy, are what Mark Bailey most likes to paint. He prefers painting from life, but with this scene, there was no way. The setting is the kitchen of Basil Thai Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. “My objective was to capture the light, color and energy of a fleeting moment,” says Bailey. “For paintings like this, I take as many photos as I can in order to really get an idea of the place and have several images to pull from. Sometimes I jot down color and lighting notes of things that might get lost in photographs.” Bailey, in his 20s, places himself at the beginning of his career, still developing his process. He works in transparent layers, first blocking in major shapes and then breaking them down. “I remind myself that nothing’s sacred—that I shouldn’t be afraid to mess something up,” he says. “Sometimes I’ll take a broad brush and paint over a ‘finished’ area or scrape if off entirely. As scary as that is at the moment, that area usually ends up being far more interesting.”

In The Weeds (or 'Basil'), Mark Bailey

Birds in Motion {recent commission by Russell Gordon}

2011-08-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

Russell Gordon recently finished two custom paintings for a client that will be displayed together, so they had to be painted in unison. Here are the finished paintings and a very cool time lapse video Russell Gordon created to see the process behind the work! Enjoy.

"Flash of Blue"

"Perching Rainbow"

Earl B. Lewis {Lotto Icons} in American Art Collector

2011-08-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Khom Loi by Mark Bailey and Floating Lantern Festival of Thailand

2011-08-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

It is very interesting how a painting can come to be created, and also how it can lead us to stumble upon other inspiration. Recently Mark Bailey finished up the painting Khom Loi, depicting a Charleston Locale with these unique lanterns above the tables. Khom Loi is a term for fire lanterns... which led us to this wonderful video of the "Floating Lantern Festival" in Thailand. What a wonderful tradition!

Earl B. Lewis {Broken Flowers . Blues . Books}

2011-07-20T08:57:00.000-07:00

We recently caught up with Earl B. Lewis to ask him a few questions during his hectic schedule. He kindly obliged via telephone while still painting in his studio. Earl has many projects demanding his complete concentration.

"Ring Around The Rosy"

The most recent watercolor to arrive at the Wells Gallery features three girls playing Ring Around the Rosy. This striking painting is from a 6 book series titled "A Magnificent Park in the City". It tells the story about a families migration from East to West, starting out in a shanty town in New York that would be later be the location of Central Park. Many poverty stricken families and children were forced to move March 3 1855, and this book series tells the story of one of those families.

"Broken Flowers"

"Crosstown Boy"

Earl has been working on a series focused on the Crosstown of Charleston and the gentrification happening there. This series will be featured in an anthropological book by The College of Charleston, and his paintings will feature portraits of children that have been affected by this event. "Broken Flowers" (featured above) will be the cover of this book which should be released in a couple of years. Portraits from his current Lotto Icon series will also be featured in this publication.

"Distant Thunder"

While focusing on an upcoming show with The Wells Gallery, he is also traveling to various countries to meet with authors of books he will be illustrating. He will be heading to Israel to meet with award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson to begin work on the book "Sparrow" about the western wall in Jerusalem. This trip will also provide research for portraits to be featured in "Lotto Icons" {A Global Perspective}" opening Friday October 7th at The Wells Gallery. He is also currently working on the book "Under the Baobob Tree" which features students from the local Jane Edward School in Edisto reenacting the story for Earl's illustrations. This project was also featured in the Post and Courier recently, check it out here.

While working is his studio on his various projects, Earl feels Blues, Jazz and even some Folk music helps him immerse himself in the paintings. "Music is my muse, it helps place me in the mood of the painting", says Lewis. Recently, "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday created an emotion so profound to Lewis, he created a painting for his upcoming show in October solely dedicated to that very song. If you would like to know what Earl is up to, you can now visit his Facebook page under Earl B. Lewis or follow him on Twitter and YouTube.

Laurie Meyer "The Magic of Transitions" featured in Charleston Style & Design

2011-04-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Magic of Transitions

Laurie Meyer captures light’s soft, gentle edges

BY JASON A. ZWIKER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLGER OBENAUS

Just start Laurie Meyer talking about painting, that’s all it takes. As she wraps words like luscious and sensual around the subject, you realize that her enthusiasm isn’t puppy love—it’s passion.

Ask her how she creates such a soft and lovely look in her paintings and she speaks of the way that light, changing its warmth and color throughout the day, plays on her emotions like music. “I’m moved emotionally by the warm late-day colors,” she says. “It’s such a journey to capture it well.”

Her own journey to becoming a successful artist carried her across several careers outside the arts. But art was always there, in the margins.

“When I moved to Charleston in 1983, I was drawn to the group of watercolorists who were here in town at that time,” she says. “Most of these artists are now at the top of their careers.”

She was a teacher then, one who weaved lessons about the beauty of art into English class. “I was always incorporating drawing or some sort of artistic endeavor along with literature and writing lessons.”

Outside the classroom, she immersed herself in the works of Lowcountry watercolorists like Rhett Thurman. She learned much about the art of the painting in those days, but she still had a few more corners to round in the path of her life before becoming a full-time artist.

“After Hugo, I was no longer a teacher and no longer married. I did have a young child and I felt it was going to be difficult to make ends meet on a teacher’s salary, so I moved into a pharmaceutical career.”

“I found that art, in a strange but true way, entered into pharmaceutical sales. During that time, I was working with neurologists and became very involved with the Alzheimer’s Association.”

In 1994, she collaborated with several others to launch The Art of Alzheimer’s, using art as therapy in nursing homes.

“I was fortunate that I started with watercolor because it taught me about soft edges,” she says. “Edges are where you find the soul of a painting. The mind of the painting would be the very technical aspects: correct drawing technique, perspective, values. The heart is in the color and light.”

Those feelings flowered within her as she transitioned from watercolorist to oil painter. Her life as a whole was transformed as well. She re-married, raised three daughters, and achieved her dream of becoming a full-time artist. In addition to creating her own works of art, she teaches classes and workshops both locally and abroad. In May, she’ll teach “Painting Color under the Tuscan Sun” in Cortona, Italy.

She has a special love for painting landscapes, streetscapes, architecture and white hydrangeas in the warm afternoon light. “Soft suggestions in a painting allow the viewer to draw his own conclusion as to what the artist is trying to say.”

Her path has taken her many places and includes numerous highlights and accolades. She earned a blue ribbon at Piccolo-Spoleto, and served as Program Director and Director of Artistic Growth for the Charleston Artist Guild. She’s also a member of the Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, the South Carolina Watercolor Association and the Portrait Society of America.

She is represented by the Wells Gallery in Charleston and The Wells at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, as well as galleries in Beaufort and Greenville, North Carolina.

Her representation by these galleries is among the milestones of which she is most proud as an artist. From the earliest years of her professional career, she told her children that someday her work would be shown in such venues.

Her many years of determination paid off. Today, what was once just a dream is now reality.

About the Artist - {Sally Tharp}

2011-03-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

How would you define your style of painting?

I would describe my style as realism, but not photorealism. I want to convey my feelings about what I am painting versus duplicating an image.

How long have you been painting?

I have been paining full time for 2 1/2 years.

What do you hope to express through your work?

I hope to show a warmth, softness and beauty of things in which most people wouldn't expect to find it. And by magnifying things and painting them on a larger scale, I am giving them an importance that comes with that size.

How many hours a day are spent in your studio/ What would a typical viewer see if they observed you in your studio?

I am in the studio every day. On most days, I am there all day and other days as much as I can sneak away! My studio is an out building at our house, so I can be available to kids but still working. My studio is full of my "treasures"! (That isn't what my husband calls them :) ) I am so blessed to have a creative environment with so much inspiration! I usually have many canvases sitting around in various stages of completion and still life fodder and bottles and jars everywhere. I have all my window sills lined with rocks and bottles and I have a huge old bar back that is perfect for storing everything else.

Common Question - How to collect artwork

2011-03-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

"Muse" by Glenn Harrington

We often have people come in and ask us how to collect artwork. Our first response is to collect the works that you love, and the paintings that move you. If you are going to be enjoying these works for years, then they should continue to make you react in some positive way on a daily basis. When asked for more in depth about how to collect, we suggest always doing your research on the artist. Here is a great link to help you gather information and start your research. Of course our best suggestion of all is to get out of the house and visit the local art galleries, check out the new works in person. There is a lot lost in translation when looking at fine art work from an image on a computer screen. Let us know your words of wisdom on this matter, share with us your suggestions for new art collectors.

Mark Bailey {new works with a hint of Charleston}

2011-02-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

The wonderful aspect of Mark Bailey's work is that his use of perspective and composition create a universal glance into the world. Whether it is a place you are familiar with or not, they always draw you in and let you create your own story. We are excited about the newest works that have just arrived here in Charleston, and they also feature a few locales. Do these look familiar and can you guess where they are? (hint is in the title if you know Charleston well)

"Fleet Flux"

"Oistre"

Update from the Studio of Russell Gordon

2011-02-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

Ever curious to see how the works come to life, well here is a sneak peak into Russell Gordon's studio. He is working on a painting for our upcoming exhibit "Wanderlust". Here is the painting in the works, it looks to be off to an exciting start.

"Gold Rush" in progress....

Stop by The Gallery Friday March 4th to see it in its final state.

"Sometimes we need to release ourselves, uncage our wanderlust and let it fly free.

A new 'Gold Rush' where we are all our own intinerant alchemists." ~ Russell Gordon

George Pate, OPA - Signature Member of Oil Painters of America

2011-02-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to see the new works by George Pate, and get ready for the upcoming spring openings here at The Wells Gallery. We wanted to share his featured works from Kiawah Legends Magazine. To see all works, click here.

"Backcountry, Lowcountry" by George Pate

as featured in Kiawah Legends Magazine

from a private collection on Kiawah Island

"Sundowner" by George Pate

held in the collection of the Ocean Course Clubhouse

as photographed over the fireplace in the dining room

"Cedar Waxwing" by Russell Gordon

2010-12-23T13:36:00.000-08:00

"Cedar Waxwing" by Russell Gordon

"The painting "Cedar Waxwing" began when a flock of these beautiful birds visited one afternoon in the crabapple tree outside my studio door. About a dozen or so flew in and stayed nearly an hour, perching, resting and eating the bittersweet berries that are still on the vine that winds through the tree even through November. They stayed so long that I was able to really observe them complete w/ quick sketches in solitary poses and preliminary small groupings and even make notes on how they interacted for later reference. I began the painting at once in about mid November and actually brought the limb of crabapple into the studio complete with it's last golden leave and a few red berries. Whenever possible, painting from life is the best way to go for true realism. The bird progressed pretty quickly although I made a few changes along the way, slightly opening the beak and adding a small inchworm which I think adds a hint of whimsy and alludes symbolically to the cycle of seasons and growth that is boundlessly inspiring to me. The painting finished with about a month's work and I am pleased with the result. I am so fortunate to not only see these small wonders of nature on a regular basis but also to then include them in my paintings. I look forward to another visit from these and other of nature's humble wonders." ~ Russell Gordon

"Lotto Icons" - Earl Lewis

2010-12-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

first sketch from the series

Lotto Icons ~ Earl B. Lewis

Layers of meaning and materials illuminate E.B. Lewis’s latest body of work; a series of evocative small paintings that signal an evolutionary leap for this established artist. Titled “Lotto Icons,” they stem from mundane trips to a convenience store, where the artist routinely watched adults scratch and discard lottery tickets.

This disturbed him on many counts, not least of all because those living below the poverty line spend a disproportionate amount on lottery tickets; particularly the scratch-off kind. And research further reveals that desperation and feelings of powerlessness motivate this spending. Bearing the brunt of these sad facts are the children; children whose parents cling to the hope that their next ticket, despite massive odds, will deliver them from poverty even as it exacerbates it.

Contrast and parallel references also characterize this collection. Some begin with an actual intact scratch-off lottery ticket, on which the artist paints a portrait of a child. He then applies genuine gold-leaf over the image, referencing gold’s exalted status and the pipedream of instantly striking it rich. Then he scratches it off. The children’s faces emerge while remaining partially hidden; inviting questions about their potential, the odds they face, and their perceived value in a money-centric world. But, like the untapped tickets beneath them, their outcomes remain unknown.

Shrouded as they are in gold or silver and sensitively painted, these images immediately evoke traditional medieval icons. Given the nature of icons, this contrasting context adds profound bite to the artist’s indictment. Icons have essential requirements and enormous spiritual significance. To the faithful they are not mere works of art. They both personify and actually contain the presence of the invisible. As such they are venerated as sacred instruments of the divine.

By replacing the traditional pantheon of revered saints with the faces of disadvantaged children, the artist invites us to contemplate their status and our response to them. But, apart from the conceptual framework informing this collection, these paintings remain true to the artist’s devotion to aestheticism. If they are simply beautiful, that should be enough.

Karen Larson Turner "La Nuit" & Painting in the Park

2010-11-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

"After a Good Day's Works"

"Steeples at Sunset"

The CFADA Fine Art Annual Weekend has been an exciting occasion for the past eleven years, and this year will be no different. We are pleased to celebrate the past ten years of Karen Larson Turner painting for the Wells Gallery with her opening reception "La Nuit" Friday October 6th from 5:30 - 8:30. It is a diverse exhibition of both natural marshscapes and quiet Charleston evenings. In the paintings of downtown Charleston, she also explores the warm glow cast from streetlights and from within homes.

Saturday Morning, Karen will be doing a live painting in Washington Park, and afterwards signing this year's CFADA Fine Art Annual poster that features her painting "Early Evening Ride". This event is free to the public and is a great opportunity to watch artists paint live, chasing the quickly changing light of day. We hope you can join us in Washington Park Saturday November 6th from 9 a.m. - noon to watch as Karen Larson Turner, Rick Reinert, Laurie Meyer and Kevin Leprince bring their works to life.

The “La Nuit” exhibit will coincide with the CFADA Fine Art Annual, featuring several gallery openings, lectures, plein air paintings by Charleston most distinguished artists and an auctions of works on Saturday evening. To find out more about the events through the week, visit www.CFADA.com. If you would like more details of works available at the art auctions, visit www.charlestonartauction.com, or call us at (843) 853.3233 to request a catalog of works.

CFADA Fine Art Annual poster

2010-10-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

The CFADA Fine Art Annual posters are in and they look wonderful with an image painted by Karen Larson Turner on them. The posters are $40 and shipping is an additional $10. Click here to see them on our website.

Congrats to Mark Bailey - 2nd place in Boldbrush competition!!!

2010-10-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

"Pike" by Mark Bailey took second place in the Boldbrush competition!

For more details about the painting here in the gallery, click here.

To learn more about the Boldbrush competition, here is a link.

Thank You John Michiels

2010-10-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Wells Gallery would like to say a huge THANK YOU to John Michiels, our beloved photographer, for his incredible architectural photography of the gallery. Without his photography talent, our Fall 2010 Catalogs would not look as great as they do. Here is a sample of the photos he captured.

The Wells Gallery in Historic Charleston

Our beloved glass floor showing off the original cistern

The Wells Gallery on Kiawah Island

To see more of John Michiels works, you can visit http://www.michielsartphoto.com/.

John Michiels - Carolina's Got Art

2010-10-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

We would like to say a big congratulations to our photographer John Michiels.

His photograph "St. Philips 3:37" was chosen for Carolina's Got Art which opened in Charlotte last week drawing over 1,000 visitors. Of the 1,800+ entries, only 181 were selected as representing outstanding quality.

St. Philips at 3:37" by John Michiels

Also, his photograph "Drayton Hall #20" was selected for the Salon de Refuses show

"Drayton Hall #20" by John Michiels

To see more or John Michiels works, you can visit our website

Ambiguity and Insinuation - Wendy Whitson

2010-09-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

For the upcoming show "Elements & Atmosphere", Wendy Whitson has been treating us with samples of her work that will soon come down to Charleston from her studio in Asheville. Incorporating a muted, earthy, often, tonalist palette, Wendy's paintings bring a new edge to the Wells Gallery offering, and exemplifies why collectors have warmly embraced her work.

She says "Ambiguity and insinuation, the point of intersection where the earth meets the sky, the mountains become the sky, water ends and sky begins, is extremely intriguing and satisfying to paint."

"I want my paintings to draw the viewer in - to have them feel that they are present in, or want to enter into, the painted space", says Whitson.

Wendy begins each painting with a random grid to hint at the structure she sees in all of nature. " I have always been interested in how thing fit and work together," say Whitson. "The random grid I use in my underpaintings, is symbolic to me of the backdrop of nature, of how things are interrelated, organized and structured." Check out Wendy Whitson's biography or more of her works at our Kiawah Gallery .

"Artists Helping Artists" Symphony Auction

2010-09-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

What I love about Charleston is how willing the locals are to take their god-given talents and put them to good use by giving back to the community. The generosity in this city is what seems to get everyone through the hard times. The people of Charleston know that if they give when they can, one day, if they are in need, the favor will be returned. This is just a small thank you to three of our artists who are doing just that. Kevin LePrince, Laurie Meyer and Rick Reinert have donated a few of their wonderful paintings to help the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. The painting will be going into an auction to raise money to keep the Symphony alive and well. We encourage you to join this effort by attending the auction on October 9th at the Charleston Place Hotel. For more details, go to Charleston Symphony Auction 2010 . The Wells Gallery would like to say thank you to our artists, you make it an honor to have you as part of the family.

For a preview of the works by our artists going up for auction, here is a little sneak peak.

"In Concert" by Kevin LePrince 24(h) x 72(w)

"A Little Night Music" by Laurie Meyer

"February Sunlight" by Rick Reinert

Unpredictability & Adventure

2010-08-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

click here to see all of Evan Harrington's show paintings

When I was in the process of selecting images and themes in order to create a cohesive body of work for this years show, I naturally felt that Charleston and its surrounding area, with a wonderful contrast of both history and modernity, would serve as a great subject. With this as my main theme, I was able to step out of my role as a still-life painter and venture into painting exterior scenes as well as portraits. “Dry Dock” set the tempo of the show for me. It was not only the first piece for the show, but also spoke specifically of the Lowcountry landscape and its culture.

I hope to convey to my audience that my artwork does not only speak directly of the subjects I paint but the day-to-day experiences I have. I often find painting to be like shopping. You go to the store to pick up a shirt and you ending coming back home with a pair of pants and a jacket, sometimes even forgetting what you originally set out for. The unpredictability of the final outcome adds to the adventure. My hope is that those who view my work witnesses this journey in every painting I do. ~ Evan Harrington

Mark Bailey on upcoming show "DUO"

2010-07-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

"Flight" by Mark Bailey

"Pike" by Mark Bailey

I was out at the beach one evening a couple months ago and I witnessed what had to be one of the most amazing sunsets ever, one like none I had seen before. Something about it deeply affected me, I realized that I will never see THAT sunset again, and in fact every moment and experience is just as rare and fleeting, moving slices of time. We are always in motion, moving forward, moments and the memories constantly passing us by. I am trying to find a way to capture these moments. Not just to record a still image or take a "snapshot", but I have been trying to give my images more motion and energy, with the realization or idea that this scene is passing, and will never re-occur. I am relying more on the memory and feeling of that time rather than trying to accurately convey it as I saw it. It can be the bustle of people within a setting, the sound of music coming from a group of musicians, the crisp air in a winter scene, or water rolling up onto the sand. I have struggled throughout my life to remain in the moment, which means I consciously have to make an effort to take in what is happening at the time. I have tried my best lately to focus on today, to enjoy what I have right now, and attempt to capture the memory, emotion, movement, and energy, as I am here. I strive to take those moving slices of time and create a painting that will more accurately convey the emotion and feeling of that moment or memory. ~ Mark Bailey

Junko Ono Rothwell Visiting Artist

2010-07-20T13:17:00.001-07:00

The Wells Gallery is proud to bring you the innovative and powerful

works of visiting artist Junko Ono Rothwell.

Junko Ono Rothwell received her art degree from Okayama University in Japan, and soon after came to the United States and attended art classes at Cornell University. Rothwell’s cultural heritage can be seen in her use of space and shape – which echoes Eastern art, yet her color palette is strongly influenced by her American art experience. She uses bold bright colors in contrast to the more delicate tones often associated with Asian art. “When I was an art student in Japan, I used darker colors. But after I moved to the U.S., I often went to museums where I learned to use brighter colors.” Rothwell uses color to bring out the mood, movement, and energy of her works. “I do not block each color, but try to flow colors over the entire paper to create the feeling of movement. Color brings each painting to life.” The pieces Rothwell created for the Wells Gallery are brought to life by this color interplay. These works include images of Charleston as well as Kiawah marsh landscapes. Rothwell is a master at capturing changing color and light as she paints en plein air. “I am always impressed at how the sun lights up the marsh and changes its colors and moods at different times of day and during different seasons of the year. Weather patterns also dramatically change the look of a marsh. In summer, I always love to paint big white clouds floating over the distant marsh. And in November, the marsh glows with a lovely yellow-orange cast.” It is for a marsh scene that Rothwell is best known on Kiawah – a large colorful marsh owned by the Sanctuary Resort brightens their east wing and draws in locals and visitors alike.

The Sanctuary is not the only fortunate holder of Rothwell’s work. Her works have been purchased by the State of Georgia and many corporations including the Southern Company, Continental Telephone, Kaiser Permanente, Prime Bank, Nations Bank, George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and the Northwest Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

"Blueprints" by Russell Gordon

2010-07-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

"Blueprints" by Russell Gordon began as a traditional tabletop still life, but evolved into a painting with visual dimension as well as depth of meaning.

"The actual blueprints I used as a prop are the ones we had drawn up by and architect when our studio was built in 2000. I tried to make the painting an homage to the arts, primarily with the palette and brushes but also to music (the treble clef formed by the string near the shell) and poetry literature (books). The blue bird (an Indigo Bunting) was a late addition but I felt gave the painting some life and snap. The snail finds his way into a lot of my work as a nod to the time it takes to work this way, so slowly. The mortar and pestle and the bottle are old apothecary tools but I use them to grind paint and of course as pictured to hold paint, watercolor style. I sort of bound the whole composition in a string to unify it but also left the viewer a pair of scissors to cut where they want." ~ Russell Gordon

What the viewer gets is a masterpiece that prompts discussion both for its underlying meaning but also the impeccable details only achieved through a combination of the marojer medium used by Gordon and his incredible skill.

Palette & Palate Stroll 2010

2010-07-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Before every show, there is this sense of anticipation and excitement to share the new works with our beloved collectors and fans. This year's Palette & Palate Stroll is no exception since we will be having so many things going on in the gallery beside just the amazing selection of food. First of all, we get to host Charleston Grill again, and they never disappoint. Also, Felice Killian of Felice Designs will be bringing her behind-the-scenes studio work to our gallery so you will get to see her create her murano glass beads using the lampwork process live at the event. Rick Reinert will be our artist on hand to do a live painting and discuss his works. Also, since the whole reason behind the CFADA Palette & Palate event is to increase funding for the Charleston visual arts education programs, we will host Hans Turner, an incredibly talented local 18-year-old artist. We will be exhibiting his Prismacolor drawings exclusively during the event. Any sales of his works from the evening will help fund his education at the Art Institute of Charleston.

Tickets sell out every year, so we will repeat ourselves, definitely buy your tickets early. To purchase tickets for the event, go to www.charlestonfineartdealersassociation.com

necklace by Felice Designs

"The Colors of Rain" by Rick Reinert

"History in Repose" by Hans Turner

Quote of the Day

2009-01-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.
-Amy Lowell

George Pate fully inhabits each landscape he paints, extracting the essence that resides in the soul of the land, and releasing its poetry onto the surface of his canvas.

"Beaufort Bayou" 36x48 unframed

Quote of the Day

2009-01-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is the recognition of the pattern.
-Alfred North Whitehead

Evan Harrington is an emerging artist at the gallery, whose talent extends way beyond his 19 years. Now in his second year on a merit scholarship, Evan is currently studying at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in Philadelphia. He will be featured in "Anticipation," along with fellow emerging artist Mark Bailey.

"Irish Jar with Peaches" 18x21 framed

Quote of the Day

2009-01-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

A painter paints the appearance of things, not their objective correctness, in fact he creates new appearances of things
-Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

With this quote, I introduce local artist Kevin LePrince and his painting"Kool and the Gang". Pairing clever titles with quirky southern birds, Kevin's paintings are approached with a wry sense of humor and a sense of familiarity. "Kool and the Gang" can be seen on our website, along with other works by Kevin.

Kevin LePrince "Kool and the Gang" oil on panel 10x21 framed, 1100