"A form of escape" – July First Friday's featured artist

The art of abstract artist Donna Atwood is unlike what most people think of when they encounter the word “abstract.” Beginning July 5, with the opening reception for her month-long show as Gallery 54's featured artist for July, visitors will be entertained and even amused by the whimsey of her art.

Artist Donna Atwood

The open reception is part of the Skaneateles July First Friday, from 5 to 8 pm.

The next day, July 6, Atwood will share how she creates her art during a three hour demonstration from 1 and 3 pm at the Gallery. Visitors to the gallery will get see a unique painting technique that involves putting textures into the watercolor background and then going into the now abstract background and finding the images of animals

Even though Atwood was a science education major in college her interest in creating art, which began as a child, continued to flourish. It wasn't until 2012 that she started practicing watercolor, she says describing her artwork as abstract impression. While she creates her share of surreal landscapes her preference, as the Gallery 54 show will demonstrate is for paintings of animals.

“I decided to create surreal animals and found many different ones lurking in patterns,” she notes. As she describes her work, the backgrounds start out as abstract colors and shapes, but “by manipulating shapes in to eyes, ears and a noses,” she can get the viewer to see” what she sees . . . “the face and body of a creature.”

Atwood is particularly fond of finding animals that are endangered or under represented in artwork generally. Many people, she notes, relate to specific creatures or what she calls “spirit animals.” She likes that viewers of her paintings relate to her whimsical version of “their animal” and that the colors or faces in her paintings make them smile.

“Keeping the background of a painting as untouched as possible allows the animal to grow from it,” she says, adding, “I want to express the presence of the animal, not highlight every hair or whisker.”

Atwood's work has received awards at the New York State Fair and well as numerous local art exhibits. A resident of Sempronius, NY she has had artwork shown at the Cortland Public Library, the Dryden Community Cafe and the Gilded Lily gallery in Connecticut. Following her show at Gallery 54 she will have an exhibit at the Cortland Guthrie Hospital, from September through November and currently has work displayed at the Tully Artworks Gallery.

Light refreshments will be served, accompanied by the music of guitarist/singer Jane Zell.

Gallery 54 is open 10 am to 5 pm Sunday through Wednesday and 10 am to 8 pm Thursday through Saturday.