Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League (2010)

Posted on April 17, 2010 by John O'Keefe Jr.

It was time again for the 2010 Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League. I was busy taking photographs for the Cheshire Art League website assignment I was given. But, more interesting was Jennifer O’Keefe submitted a photograph to the exhibition and won an award!

Event Literature – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Event Brochure — **Event Brochure**

Receiving, Hanging, and Judging (3/10/2010) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Exhibition Receiving Crew: Joan Shackford — **Receiving Crew**

Exhibition Hanging Crew: — **Hanging Crew**

Opening Reception and Award Ceremony (3/27/2010) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 1

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 3

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 5

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 2

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 6

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 4

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 7

Visual Arts Exhibition, Reception and award ceremony - image 8

Short Video: Award Ceremony
(A short 1-minute and 43-second video documentary of the Cheshire Art League 2010 Exhibition.)

Short Video: “Old Fashion Winter”
(A short 2-minute and 5-second video documentary of Jennifer O’Keefe’s Award in Photography for best photograph at the Cheshire Art League 2010 Exhibition award ceremony.)

Concluding Thoughts

As is always the case with Chesire Art League exhibits, there was a nice crowd of friendly faces, many good conversations and laughter, food and drink, and a really good time. It is very generous that the Cheshire Public Library hosted the 2010 Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League.

About the Judge – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Beth Ellis publicity photograph — **Beth Ellis**

Beth Ellis is a dedicated en plein air artist and instructor who paints and teaches outdoors year-round along the Maine coast and in Connecticut, alongside rolling farmlands and Connecticut River sites. After graduating from Paier College of Art in Connecticut, Beth worked as a designer and illustrator. Today, Beth has a thriving gallery at Perkins Cove in Maine, where she exhibits paintings of rural and coastal New England. She has received many awards for her paintings, which she exhibits in various select and prestigious outdoor-juried shows, such as the Bruce Museum Show in Greenwich, CT, and the Armonk Outdoor Art Show in Armonk, NY. Her works in oil can be found in private and public collections from coast to coast and various Northeast galleries. 1, 2

Footnotes:

Image of Beth Ellis from www.legacy.com ~ 2014
Bio information for Beth Ellis from the exhibition brochure.

Jennifer O’Keefe’s Warm Use of Color in Oils (2008)

Posted on December 31, 2008 by John O'Keefe Jr.

Jennifer took up oil painting with her husband, John, in the year 2008. One notable feature in her paintings is her close attention to the smallest details. Jennifer O’Keefe’s warm use of color in oils is very reminiscent of the fall season, very warm and inviting. In addition to oil painting, Jennifer enjoys pastels and colored pencil mediums, not to mention her love of knitting, looming, jewelry making, photography, interior decorating and so on. When it comes to personal pursuits and hobbies, when your not being chased after by a barrage of daily responsibilities, why limit yourself?

Jennifer O’Keefe’s Warm Use of Color – 2008 Oil Paintings

Peaceful Pond, Warm Use of Color, Oil on Board, 8x10, Jennifer O'Keefe, 2008 — ***“Peaceful Pond”***
Oil on Board, 8×10,
Jennifer O’Keefe,
2008

Palm Tree, Warm Use of Color, Oil on Board, 7x5, Jennifer O'Keefe, 2008 — ***“Palm Tree”***
Oil on Board, 7×5,
Jennifer O’Keefe,
2008

The Hummingbird, Oil on Board, 10x8, Jennifer O'Keefe, 2008 — ***“The Hummingbird”***
Oil on Board, 10×8,
Jennifer O’Keefe,
2008,
(Study from Time Magazine article)

“The Hummingbird” painting highlights a favorite theme for Jennifer. She has hummingbird decorations all throughout her home and in her garden. They are colorful, delicate and graceful creatures that can mesmerize a person. Her garden occasionally receives one of these visitors looking for nectar.

I hope you enjoyed looking at these paintings and Jennifer O’Keefe’s warm use of color in oils. Also, please check out Jennifer’s award winning photograph “Old Fashion Winter”.

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League (2008)

Posted on April 30, 2008 by John O'Keefe Jr.

2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League at Cheshire Public Library. — Cheshire Public Library,
Cheshire, Connecticut

The 2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League was my first art show. The exhibit was held at the Cheshire Public Library in a dedicated space.

Even Literature – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit event literature by the Cheshire Art League. — **Event Brochure**

Hanging and Receiving (4-2-2008) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

I volunteered to help hang the exhibit. In addition, my family, wife, and children also assisted with the hanging process. During the hanging, I met several artists I would get to know better in the coming years.

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit, Member artists hanging artwork for exhibit — **Hanging**

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit, Member artists hanging artwork for exhibit - group pose — **Hanging Team**
(from left to right)
Paul Miller, John MacKay, Jennifer O’Keefe,
John O’Keefe, Dale Spaner, Danielle O’Keefe,
Angela Orsene, Joan Shackford,
and Joshua O’Keefe (taking the picture)

Award Ceremony and Reception (4-9-2008) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

With great excitement and anticipation, we arrived early for the award ceremony and reception. There were about 40 people in attendance. As a result, I met and talked with many people, including some artists in the exhibit. During the evening, I received an award and cash prize for my painting, “River Through the Adirondacks.” My family and I had a good time at the 2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League.

'River Through the Adirondacks' by John O’Keefe Jr — *“River Through the Adirondacks*” by John O’Keefe Jr.

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit, John posing with award next to wining painting — **John O’Keefe Jr. and “River Through the Adirondack’s”**

Meet the Judge (4-30-2008) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

John O'Keefe and Dianne Gorrick — **John O’Keefe Jr. and Dianne Gorrick**

“Technique and brushwork with attention to detail outstanding. The use of the difficult color green is well executed. Distance – good 3D effect. Hudson River School quality.” ~ Dianne Gorrick

About the Judge – Visual Arts Exhibit

Professional artist Dianne Gorrick — **Dianne Gorrick**

Artist Dianne Gorrick’s formal education in the visual arts includes a Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University and a Master’s Degree from Wesleyan University.

She is the recipient of two National Endowment Fellowships; a research grant concerning the Hudson River School of Painters and a fellowship to attend Dartmouth College, where she studied the art and culture of New England.

A painter and teacher with over thirty years of experience in the visual arts, Ms. Gorrick is represented in many private and public collections, including a prestigious sculpture installation for the Russell Library in Middletown, Ct. A lengthy exhibition history includes the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the New Britain Museum, the Slater Museum, and the Ward-Nasse Gallery, SoHo, N.Y.C.

Ms. Gorrick is an elected artist at the Mystic Art Center and the Essex Art Association. She is a member of the Ct. Plein Air Painters Society and the Lyme Art Association. Working in oils and watercolors, landscapes are the artist’s favorite subject matter. 1

Footnotes:

Biography information for Dianne Gorrick from her website.