LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Gallery introduced new artists and publicized its new exhibition and contest during the gallery's monthly “First Friday Fling” meet and greet last week.
Leszek Forczek’s painting “Blue Pieta,” inspired by Michelangelo’s “Pietà” sculpture, was awarded as the door prize early on in the evening.
When asked about the mission of the gallery, local instructor and painter Richard Seisser said: “Simple. We’re local. We only do local because we need to support our locals.”
Lake County hosts 10 art galleries. The ongoing exhibition offers another opportunity for talented residents to show off their personal flair while bringing in more patrons to Main Street Gallery.
Several artists from around the lake are currently featured there.
New artist Linda Marshbanks uses acrylic paint on paper towels, applies them to recycled wood pallets, and then glosses them over with a finish.
Patty Theis uses the skills she learned in a cake decorating class to create textured impressionistic landscapes and stills with frosting.
Marilyn Crayton makes dream catchers out of hollowed out gourds.
New contributor C.B. Lippincott, who started painting later in life, painted his first portrait – one of his wife – when he was 50 years old.
“My whole goal in the beginning was like a caveman decorating his cave,” Lippincott said. “So I was just painting to decorate my house and when my house got full I just kept going. Now I have over 200 paintings.”
The Main Street Gallery began its April themed exhibition and contest featuring local artists’ paintings of “Lake County Spring Babies.”
Ray Farrow’s painting of Grace Church won March’s contest featuring historic Lake County architecture.
Artists submitted their work to the exhibition for an opportunity to win free wall space in the gallery’s prime slots looking out onto Main Street, where passersby also can get a good glimpse of the works inside.
Patrons can vote for who they would like to win this month’s exhibition contest in person at Main Street Gallery throughout the entire month of April.
Main Street Gallery’s First Friday Fling is a great opportunity for anyone interested to meet the county’s visual artists and get inspired – many of the artists who have work on display also are teachers.
The Main Street Gallery is located at 325 N. Main St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-6658, http://www.lakecountyartscouncil.com . Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Email Shari Shepard at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .