And the winner is . . .

As you likely know if you read this blog regularly, this coming Saturday, March 26, is a big day for Gallery 54. Since between noon and 3 pm we will have the pleasure of hosting portrait artist John Fitzsimmons as he paints the portrait of one of our customers. For those who have seen John's portraits it's easy to understand why we are excited. For those who haven't why not join us Saturday afternoon?

A recent portrait by artist John Fitzsimmons

Well, someone else is probably excited by now, too. Since we announced, a few weeks back, that John would be painting a portrait at the gallery, we've been encouraging gallery visitors to enter a free drawing to be the subject for this portrait. Today, we drew the name of the lucky person who will be going home Saturday afternoon with a free portrait. We're happy to announce that the winner who will sit while John works his magic with a paint brush on Saturday is . . .   
               Danielle Bouchard, from Freeville, NY. 

While we cannot offer any more free sittings, we hope a lot of our friends will stop by on Saturday and congratulate Danielle while taking the opportunity to witness an accomplished artist at work. John will also have a number of his other paintings on display for the afternoon.

Waiting for “Real Spring”?

Even though winter was unusually mild for Central New York and the official start of spring will arrive on schedule, many of us cannot wait for spring to really arrive . . . Gallery 54 certainly isn’t waiting. 

Regardless what the weather channel might say, on April 1 it will be spring at the gallery and “that’s no April Fool’s Day prank,” says photographer Tom Dwyer, one of the eight artist/owners of the popular gallery. “From the moment you arrive you’ll find it difficult to not ‘Think Spring,’ ” he says.

Spring Crocus

Beaded spring by Judi Witkin

Dwyer has created a new, special collection of spring and spring floral images on canvas, mounted on plexiglass, and matted for framing.

From 5 to 8 pm on Friday, April 1 the gallery will host a special opening of the spring season which will last throughout the month of April. 

Dwyer’s spring images will be available with special pricing, included special collections that gallery customers will be able to create for themselves. “Whether for your home or business,” Dwyer notes, “we want you to be able to select images that say spring to you, so images will be available in a variety of sizes from 8”, 10” and 14” square canvas wraps to panoramic canvas, 8" x 10" matted prints up to 16” x 20” matted prints behind glass and ready for framing.”

Pink Lady on canvas

Ever wonder how many beads it takes to
a piece like this . . . Ask Judi April 1

Just the beginning

It’s not only photography that’s going to have the spring accent as several Gallery 54 artists are working hard to add spring to their collections as well. Bead jeweler Judi Witkin; Ceramic artist Terry Askey-Cole; Glass painter Nella Joseph; and Potter Sallie Thompson will all have unique, new work to share.

Special invitations bring special prices, too

Special invitations are going out to greater Central New York flower and garden clubs, nurseries, landscape architects, interior designers and home builders all of whom have a special interest in the arrival of spring. In addition, “members of the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce are also receiving special invites,” says Dwyer noting, “Typically, on the First Friday of each month beginning in May, Skaneateles businesses are preoccupied with their own businesses as the village hosts extended business hours for First Friday Art Nights. We’re extending special invitations to our fellow Skaneateles business people,” says Dwyer, “so they can enjoy their last free First Friday evening of 2016 . . . as the guests of Gallery 54.”  

Spring blossoms and an old stone barn

During the opening evening on April 1, those who bring their invitations with them (or a copy of this article) will receive a special 10 percent discount off the already special pricing set for Dwyer’s spring collection.

Gallery 54 is an upscale venue for Central New York artists that showcases and sells unique, inspired, and timeless art in a diversity of mediums.

CHECK BACK BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL 1ST FOR MORE ABOUT 

THIS SPECIAL SPRING OPENING!

Demos, more demos and . . . here comes spring

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

All of us at Gallery 54 are grateful for the support and interest in our gallery that our artists and customers alike demonstrate on a regular basis.

Already this year we have had three well attended demonstrations by artists whose work we love and are proud to share in the gallery - that of Elizabeth Andrews, David Owens and Linda Flynn.

Linda Flynn, demonstrates
alcohol painting

A David Owens Oil Painting

Each presented both our customers and our fellow artists with rare opportunities to witness first hand their creativity, their dedication and the effort that goes into producing their respective art.
Elizabeth actually brought a press into the gallery and encouraged visitors to try their hand at etching copper plates which she then inked and "printed" on the press.

David used his demonstration time to create an original oil painting while discussing his work and the process that he follows creating each painting.

An Elizabeth Andrews
Etching

Linda brought the brilliant colors of her alcohol painting to life and seemed to naturally fit into the gallery scene with the vibrant colors of Liz Micho's stained glass garden art as her background.

All expressed their gratitude for the interest in their art evident in the attention and questions from fellow Gallery 54 artists and gallery customers alike.

There's more to come . . .

EVER WANT YOUR PORTRAIT PAINTED?

If you've ever wanted a portrait painted by a master portrait artist, now's your chance. Noted local artist John Fitzsimmons will be the guest artist/demonstrator at Gallery 54 on Saturday, March 26h beginning at noon. If that's not exciting enough, one person will get the opportunity to have a portrait painted by John and to actually take the portrait home ... for free.

More Fitzsimmon art
will be on display and
for sale.

All you need to do is stop by Gallery 54, at 54 Genesee St., Skaneateles, NY before the 26th and sign-up for the free drawing. There are only two stipulations and one is pretty obvious. You need to be available to sit for the portrait on Saturday the 26th. And, you need to be able to sit for up to four hours while John works his magic with the paint brush.

Be sure to stop by the gallery soon to get entered into the drawing.

Still more coming our way . . .

SPRINGING INTO SPRING – April 1st

A special collection of spring images will be featured at Gallery 54's
SPRING INTO SPRING EVENT

No ma'am. No sir. This is not an April Fools Day joke. But, it still promises to be a hoot. Not only do we promise it to be a lot of fun, but it will be an early season opportunity to brighten up your home, office or business with a special collection of spring photography by Gallery 54 photographer Tom Dwyer, To make it even more interesting, the gallery is getting a head-start on the next season with a special SPRINGING INTO SPRING/First Friday/Opening Reception all rolled into one. Mark your calendars for April 1 from 5 to 8 pm and spread the word to everyone you know.

Fleeting spring blossoms

Stunning close-up and macro
flower photography.

Tom searched his photo files for never before exhibited images that conjure a  sense of spring and has produced them on canvas, glass and Giclée archival prints. For the first time he'll offer handsome "canvas collections" as well as canvas panoramas and a variety of framed and unframed prints ready for display and your personal framing choice.

While all our customers are invited and encouraged to join us for this special evening, special invitations are also going out to Central New York garden/flower clubs, nurseries, interior designers, architects and landscape architects. So, make a evening of it, visit beautiful Skaneateles, enjoy a light refreshment at the gallery while perusing our special spring art before (or after) a relaxing dinner at one of the village's many fine restaurants.

To make this event even sweeter, many Gallery 54 artists will have special pieces with spring accents available to help usher in the new season. Spring art will  be featured throughout the month April.

Light refreshments will be served.

Gallery 54 Artist to Demonstrate Alcohol Ink Painting

The most rewarding part of doing any art is in the process of making the art. So says Gallery 54 artist Linda Flynn. “Losing oneself in the flow of creative moments, the abandonment of the here and now and being immersed in the process of working with color,” is what Flynn finds most rewarding about the art of alcohol ink painting.

Linda Flynn

   A resident of Bridgeport, NY, Flynn will be demonstrating the art of alcohol painting at Gallery 54 in Skaneateles, February 27 from 12 – 3 pm.

   Flynn started out as an artist doing face painting and selling her acrylic paintings, prints and postcards at weekend art and craft shows. “A YouTube video featuring painting on ceramic tiles with alcohol inks led me to a change of medium,” she says.

Adirondack Lake

Starting out painting abstract compositions her work evolved into florals and landscapes. Today she primarily paints on ceramic tiles and Yupo paper. In some instances she will print her work on tiles using a dye sublimation process that affords her tiles that are both heat resistant and waterproof.

Brant Point Lighthouse

My work is all about the color,” she notes adding, “the alcohol inks are dye-based inks that use alcohol to blend and mix. She particularly likes that the finished result in an extremely bright and luminous painting.

Flynn adds that her paintings are mostly images from nature. She works from reference photos, sometimes more than one for a composition. “Still,” she says, “colors are my main focus . . . colors chosen more for their emotional response than a representation desire.”

Sea Turtle

“There aren't many fine artists using alcohol inks,” says Flynn, so her demonstration will be a rare opportunity to see alcohol ink paintings being created as well as to meet an accomplished artist.

Flynn has been a perennial award winner at the NY State Fair Fine Arts competition and exhibits her work regularly at Gallery 54 and other Central New York galleries.

Gallery 54 is an upscale venue for Central New York artists that showcases and sells unique, inspired, and timeless art in a diversity of mediums.

Valentine's Day Made Easy

Gallery 54 - the quintessential Valentine shop.

Whether you want to say "I love you" with a traditional heart or something with your own special meaning, Gallery 54 will help make your selection easy. All our artists have ideas with special meaning . . . ideas you won't find elsewhere . . . fine art and craft sure to be treasured for years to come.

Gallery 54 showcases the unique, inspired and timeless art of more than 50 Central New York artists. Below is only a sampling of what you'll find at Gallery 54.

We'll be open this weekend to help you make your Valentine's Day selections: 

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.

Ceramics & Mosaics by Terry Askey-Cole

Art Quilting  by Sharon Bottle-Souva

Stained Glass by Elisabeth Micho

Painted Glass by Nella Joseph

Woodworking by Fred Weisskopf

Ceramics by Sallie Thomson

Ceramics by Leslie Green Guilbault

Beaded Jewelry by Judi Witkin

Paintings by Kathleen Schneider

Fine Custom Designed Jewelry by Donna Smith

Watercolor Paintings by Robert Ripley

Woodturning by John Volcko

Jewelry & Metalwork Dana Stenson

Photography by Tom Dwyer

Ask the artist at the front desk to help you find that special Valentine's gift.

David Owens to Demonstrate Oil Painting At Gallery 54

All those who has ever wondered about how an oil painting actually takes form, needs to mark February 13 on their calendars. That's the date that award winning plein air painter, David Owens from Oswego, NY will be demonstrating the art of oil painting at Gallery 54, here.

Artist David Owens

You'll be in good company with Owens. His painting draws its influence from the illustration world and early Golden Age illustrators like Mead Schaeffer, Howard Pyle and Winslow Homer. He appreciates their strong compositions and the loose feel to their brushwork. Additionally, he has “studied a bit with Christopher Baker,” an art teacher and well-known landscape painter who has “been an inspiration over the years.”

Owens has exhibited his painting and won awards on numerous occasions from the New York State Fair to the State Museum in Albany, and an international show in Plasencia, Spain. He's also won two SUNY Presidential Purchase Awards and been a finalist in the Southwest Art's Artistic Excellence Competition.

As a youngster, Owens “stumbled across a book full of early Disney concept art.” He would “look through the book for hours.” When he was introduced to oil paint, while a student at SUNY Oswego, he immediately saw its advantages and has been plein air painting ever since.

Owens expects to complete an oil painting during his demonstration and will have several new plein air paintings on display during the demonstration. He loves the process of plein air painting. “No matter what the results are, it's usually a really relaxing and enjoyable experience, “ he says.

Besides being a regularly exhibited artist at Gallery 54, he has exhibited at the Just Looking Gallery in San Obispo, CA, as well as a solo exhibiting at the Schweinfurth Memorial art Center in Auburn, NY.

Gallery 54 is an upscale venue for Central New York artists that showcases and sells unique, inspired, and timeless art in a diversity of mediums.

The Mysterious Art of Etching

The 2016 edition of the Skaneateles Winter Fest here, Saturday, January 30, just became a lot more interesting. Noted Central New York artist, Elizabeth Andrews has agreed to demonstrate the 500 year old art print making known as “etching” during a demonstration titled, “The Mysterious Art of Etching” at Gallery 54, 54 E. Genesee St., from 12 to 3 pm.

ElisabethAndrews

Andrews began etching because she “...loved its detail and sometimes serendipitous nature.” She's found that “people are genuinely interested and curious about the art” through which she gets to interpret life “and make up stories!”

“It's special,” she continues, “because it is all created in my imagination. I write stories and poems and illuminate them.” Many pieces of her work are illustrations of her writing. “Sometimes,” she notes even “stories I haven't written yet.”

Andrews has been the printmaker for the Edward Gorey Museum in Yarmouth Port, Cape Cod, MA for two years. Edward Gorey left hundreds of etching plates and collographs with complete editions and unfinished editions yet to print. Because she is also a technical printer she is able to interpret Gorey's work and print the plates with his original vision and intent.

Linden Moon etching

As an avid book reader, “the old fashioned paper kind,” she says, she creates images on paper that look like they have been torn from old books . . . a practice she hastens to note she would never encourage.

Andrews adds that “The etching of metal plates enables me to make multiple prints that are all originals. The etched plate is truly a labor of love and a medium that provides the texture and mysterious complement to my poems, personal anecdotes and creative musing.”

Her work is exhibited regularly at Gallery 54 as well as at numerous other galleries around New York State.

Gallery 54 is an upscale venue for Central New York artists that showcases and sells unique, inspired, and timeless art in a diversity of mediums.