Stops Along the Way- Paintings by Bob Larsen

McGowan Fine Art announces “Stops Along the Way” featuring the paintings of Bob Larsen. The show will run from March 1 through April 1, with an artist’s reception on March 11 from 5 to 7 PM. This show is a benefit for Canterbury Shaker Village and is free and open to the public.

Bob Larsen is a noted local artist and former lawyer. His work has been featured most recently at the Sharon Arts Center, but also at the Sulloway Gallery in Concord, NH and the Forbes Galleries in New York City. As a lawyer Bob was in charge of the art acquisition and exhibition program at Sulloway & Hollis Law Firm where he was able to give outlet to his creative side by curating. In the past 15 years his passion to paint crystallized into something more than a hobby. A four month sabbatical and the inevitable retirement gave him the large chunks of time needed to develop his artistic skills.

Larsen has been recognized in the past for capturing the iconic structures of the state: the Capitol Dome, the buildings of Canterbury Shaker Village. For this show he revisits many of these icons but puts a twist on them. He bridges past and present by incorporating the contemporary and historic landscape. In ‘Benning Wentworth House” he has included the shadowy silhouettes of the Naval Shipyard cranes towering over the dignified yellow mansion. In “Lempster Wind Farm” the Washington Town Hall steeple vies with the stately wind towers. Some of the other icons he depicts are Strawberry Banke, Canterbury Shaker Village, the Bridges House and Gould Hill Orchard in Concord and the Cog Railway.

Mr. Larsen’s paintings are readily recognizable by their strong shadows and frequent use of reflections in windows. Attention to detail is his hallmark. In “Ministry” his close up of an historic window in the Ministry Building of Canterbury Shaker Village depicts the distorted images of other buildings, distant landscape and the shadowy image of a bowl and ewer sitting on the sill- effectively rendering three different worlds. “These paintings take me quite a bit of time to work out” says Larsen. “They might take a month a piece and I am a ruthless cropper. The painting generally starts off quite a bit larger than the finished piece. As I finish up I start to distill it down to the final composition.”

100 Artists of New England

Last year I started working with author Ashley Rooney to identify  artists in New Hampshire to include in her recently published book 100 Artists of New England. Ms Rooney has published many books on a wide range of subjects from old barns to small kitchens to shingle style homes. She excels at bringing together a broad variety tied together by a common theme. She has done it again with this book.

Because Ashley, who lives down in Massachusetts, could not be plugged in to the art scene in each state she reached out to different galleries and art organizations for their input. Like many projects there was time spent making selections, then trying to round up images and profiles on the the artists. Time was short as Ashley was working on a deadline and I had other projects on my plate to look after. It was pressure for me and the artists I had helped to select, but it is the sort of thing that makes my job interesting. The artists of New Hampshire that I helped to identify are Gary Haven Smith, Peter Milton, Sandy Wadlington and Paul Pollaro.

I was only able to identify as New Hampshire artists as Ashley was reaching out to galleries in others states to identify their favorite artists. I was gratified to see that some of the ones I would have liked to select were chosen any ways. Artists such as Noriko Sakanishi, Holly Meade and Kim Bernard.

We are hoping to do a show in the near future to highlight a select group of artists from the book and bring in Ms Rooney for a book signing. So stay tuned!

Love, Lust & Desire III

McGowan Fine Art announces the opening of “Love, Lust & Desire” featuring the works of over 60 different artists. The show will run from January 25 to February 12, with a reception on January 28 from 5 to 7 PM. There is a snow date of February 4.

February is a month that inspires the romantic in all of us- but are you tired of giving the same old box of candy or vase of flowers? In celebration of Valentine’s Day, McGowan Fine Art presents “Love Lust & Desire,” a group show of over 60 artists. The majority of these artworks will be smaller than a sheet of paper, with prices between $25- $300- perfect for framing and presenting to your sweetheart. Or make it a date and pick out a valentine for each other. With such a big theme a lot of surprises are to be expected. And the reception is the perfect opportunity to meet the artist who has created your Valentine.

The artists’ submissions from this show are as varied as the artists themselves. This year promises a number of jewelers running the gamut from beading to metal to paper. Lisa Hall’s work is rich with weaving and pattern and harkens back to the glamour of the 1920’s. Mary Ann McNicholas makes funky drawings of legs and shoes sandwiched between glass to create a colorful necklace. The elaborate coiled and beaded bracelets of Claire Larabbe would be dramatic touches for a simple outfit for your Valentine.

 

Many artists turn toward animals for inspiration. Jane O’Hara’s touching portraits inspire tenderness in the viewer. “Hip Hop” and “Howl” feature beautifully rendered animals on a blank background. Ann Eldridge’s simple line drawings illustrate some of the more humorous aspects of relationships such as in “His Young Dog Tried To Fill the Space My Old Dog Filled.” Deb Kinson’s paintings combine objects such as twigs and pearls alongside exquisitely painted songbirds.

 

There are also many more traditional landscape and still life paintings speaking to everyone’s love of nature and the natural. Jamie Bowman’s elegant still life “Bowl and Figs” displays a nuanced palette of whites, grays and plum. The florals of Jan Roy are a counterpoint with their vibrant jewel tones and simple compositions.

This is a show that will amuse and amaze. So bring your Valentine in for the gift of beauty.

This exhibit will be on display at McGowan Fine Art at 10 Hills Avenue in Concord, NH. Please call Sarah Chaffee at 603-225-2515 for more information or visit our website at www.mcgowanfineart.com, or contact at art@mcgowanfineart.com. Hours: T-F 10-6, and Sat 10-2 and by appointment.