The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) has been prolific in recent months, hosting regular and special events for members and the public. Following is a look at what’s next, some of the recent events, and what is currently on view in town.
Up Next: Birdsall Floral Still Life Demo
SCAN will welcome Stephanie Birdsall on Wednesday, May 8, at 7:30 pm, when she will lead a demonstration on painting a floral still life in oil.
The program will be in the lower meeting room of Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street (at The Flagpole). The demonstration is open to the public and admission is free.
Birdsall received her formal training at the City and Guilds of London Art School in England. After graduation she spent time traveling through Europe honing her skills as a plein air painter.
Upon her return to the United States, Birdsall continued her study under several master artists including Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik, David Leffel, and Sherrie McGraw.
In 2006 Birdsall was invited to join a group of painters under the tutelage of Schmid. This opportunity began an intense focus and rapid growth period. Painting for the last 15 years with Schmid and his wife Guzik and the others in this small group, which has become known as the Putney Painters, has provided invaluable support and inspiration.
Birdsall and her work have been featured in publications such as International Artist magazine, Southwest Art magazine, PleinAir Magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector and Pastel Journal as well as Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) station. She has 3 DVDs available from Northlight Publishing, and recently recorded a new oil painting DVD, “Lemons and Leaves,” with Lilliedahl.
Birdsall’s work is among the permanent collections of the Museum of the Everglades, Everglades National Monument: Florida Museum of Art and Culture, Florida State Art Collection, and The Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson, Ariz. She has been honored with a one-artist show at Florida Museum of Art and Culture.
Her work has garnered recognition and more than 60 major awards in national and international juried exhibitions. She has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London, England, Bargemon, in France, and National Arts Club in New York.
Among the awards she has received are Best in Show at Bridgeport Museum of Arts and Science, Grumbacher Gold Medallion Award, first place, The Florence Gleseman Floral Exhibition Salmagundi Club, The Degas Pastel Society Exceptional Merit Award, Connecticut Pastel Society Herman Margulies Award and The Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club John Manship Award.
In 2004 her work was selected by National Academy of the Arts for inclusion in the Arts for the Parks National Exhibition.
Birdsall is a Signature member of the Oil Painters of America and of the Salmagundi Club, a Master Pastellist with The Pastel Society of America, and a Master with the International Association of Pastel Societies.
Birdsall is also a distinguished workshop instructor. Her goal is to help her students overcome their fears and become true artists. When not traveling to paint plein air, or teach, she spends her time working and teaching in her studio in Redding.
Reservations are not needed for SCAN programs, but additional information may be available at SCANart.org.
‘Manet’s Florals’ With Shea
On April 20 award-winning artist and teacher Roberta Shea gave a painting workshop at Newtown Meeting House. “Watercolor Florals with Roberta Shea” was based upon the painting style and work of Edouard Manet.
Manet was a French painter who is considered a forerunner of the French Impressionists. While he never exhibited with them, his work and artistic approach served as an inspiration for them.
Shea spent five hours with eight students. The workshop opened with a demonstration and instructions, and then Shea guided students of all levels, working in their medium of choice, as they created scenes based on live floral arrangements.
Portrait Program With Harrington
On April 24 SCAN sponsored a portrait painting demonstration with the award-winning artist Heidi Harrington.
The artist told attendees that as a young woman she was amazed at the power that was conveyed by a Rembrandt self-portrait. That experience turned out to be a strong influence on her future career plans. Although she had been drawing since she was a young child, the Rembrandt painting was the catalyst that helped her decide to become a professional artist.
Harrington is well-known for her series of portraits of British comedians, “Stand-up Sitting.”
Spring Show & Sale On View
SCAN hosted the formal opening reception on April 6 for its Spring Juried Art Show and Sale. An estimated 100 people attended the opening for the annual presentation, which is on view until May 24 at Art & Frame Gallery, 77 Main Street.
A collection of 71 works was accepted into the exhibition. Viewers are treated to a variety of media including oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings, pieces of sculpture, mixed media entries, prints, pastels, and other forms of graphics.
Jurors for the show were Sandra Cointreau, Jim Laurino, and Alain Picard, all well-known artists. Awards totaling $2,000 were presented to the 11 winning artists.
The Larry Newquist Award for Excellence/Best in Show was awarded to Linda Thomas for her watercolor “Fanfare.”
Additional 2024 Awards included The Ruth Newquist Memorial Award to Carmina Polarino for her graphics work, “On the Vine”; The Barbara Engelman Memorial Award for Watercolor to Randy Carboni for “Evil Goat”; The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission Award to Sharon Ohmen Krejcir for her oil “From Gram’s Kitchen.”
Also, The Barbara Goodspeed Memorial Award to Joan D. Cone for her oil “Still Life with Pears”; The Marianne Scanlon Memorial Award to Maureen Gianni for her oil “Putnam Pond”; The May Pat Ramsey Award to Anne Brecher for her sculpture “Waiting.”
Also, The SCAN Members Award to Roberta Shea for “Bloom”; The Meeting House Painters Award to Dandie Daignault for her acrylic “Not Far from Here”; The C.H. Booth Library Award to Cathleen Nardo for her pastel “Contemplating Degas”; and The Caraluzzi’s Market Award to Pamela J. Danneman for her oil “Sheep.”
Art & Frame is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.
“Lemon Zest” is an oil painting by Stephanie Birdsall, who will offer the next artist demo for The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown. —contributed photo
Award-winning artist and educator Roberta Shea stands with a painting she was creating to demonstrate some of the techniques and the overall approach that French painter Edouard Manet used in his paintings during an April 20 workshop she led for SCAN. —Bee Photo, Glass
Debbie Brundage and Fred Ray experiment with some of the techniques used by Edouard Manet that were presented at the workshop led by Roberta Shea. —Bee Photo, Glass
Heidi Harrington works on a portrait during the April 24 program hosted by SCAN. —Bee Photo, Glass
SCAN member Lynn Welsh sits while having her portrait painted by the award-winning portrait artist painter Heidi Harrington, April 24 at Newtown Meeting House. —Bee Photo, Glass
More than 100 guests attended the opening reception of SCAN’s 52nd Annual Spring Juried Art Show and Sale on April 6 at Art & Frame Gallery. The annual exhibition of member works is on view until May 24. —Bee Photo, Glass
Two SCAN Spring Show & Sale award winners (from left) Pamela J. Danneman and Maureen Gianni join SCAN members who played key roles in arranging and setting up the show including Lisa Willvonseder-Greto (center), Ed Arribas, and Arline Corcoran (right). —Bee Photo, Glass
