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December Issue 2006
Fountainside Gallery in Wilmington, NC, Features Works by Don Sahli
Fountainside
Gallery in Wilmington, NC, will present the exhibit, Travels
of an American Painter, featuring 17 paintings done on location
during Don Sahli's painting tour, stretching from North Carolina
to Washington, DC, all done plein aire. The exhibit opens on Dec.
8 and continues through Dec. 30, 2006.
For Colorado artist Don Sahli, interpreting the beauty of the east coast, the majesty of a lighthouse or the sun on the Lincoln Memorial using the Russian painting tradition is no conflict at all! In his latest exhibit of plein-air oils now showing at Fountainside Gallery, the influence of his mentor Sergei Bongart is readily apparent. The vigorous brushwork, strong color and dynamic design are reminiscent of work done by Russian Impressionists decades ago, but are also in many ways, contemporary. Bongart immigrated to Santa Monica, CA, in 1949 where he began his influential legacy as a teacher in his "old world" art school. When Sahli attended one of the Russian's workshops, he recognized the student's talent, saying "So - me thinks you may be pretty good painter - if you continue to study here at school" and so he did.
Sahli has earned his living as a professional artist all his adult life. He is prolific, producing studio pieces, including numerous public works and corporate commissions. He regularly lectures, demonstrates and teaches in galleries and other guest-artist venues. Sahli's work has won many awards and is represented by galleries in California, New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado, Texas and North Carolina. He founded his own school of art in 1995 where he teaches throughout the year.
Last April Sahli began his introspective sojourn up the east coast. Starting in Southport and Wilmington, NC, moving on to Cape Hatteras in NC's Outer Banks, then to Virginia, he fought the elements and loneliness, producing 2-3 paintings a day. "When I look at a painting," says Sahli, "I want it to bring me back to when I was on the scene - to convey the drama and emotion that first captured my attention - the soul of the place. This is the goal of my work - to go past the image to touch the viewer." The collection of works in the Fountainside Gallery exhibit prove the student is now the master.
Fountainside Gallery is also showing an exhibit of small oil paintings entitled, Summer Memories, by Sandy Nelson, on view through Dec. 7, 2006. The artwork was created over the summer as the artist visited area beaches, creek marshes and attractions such as Airlie Gardens and Orton Plantation. Nelson is especially known for her landscapes and paintings of children playing on the beach, as well as her commission portraiture.
For further information check our NC Commercial
Gallery listings, call the gallery at 910/256-9956 or visit (www.fountainsidegallery.com).
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