Images of Brian Neher Oil Portrait Demo

MAG was so excited and honored to have Brian Neher demo his technique in oil portrait painting, Tuesday evening on March 14th. If you missed it, you should be feeling pretty bad. Here are some shots from that phenomenal demo. It was a memorable one.

This was our first MAG meeting downstairs in the MAC studio.

Brian's tools and palette with... Cad Green Pale!

Mixing the paints with palette knife

Brian explains one of the most important elements of portrait painting... VALUE!

The initial brush strokes and the cane when a steady hand is needed

And... here is the portrait at the end of the hour of painting.

Thanks, Brian, for sharing your skillful know-how with us. Visit his web site at brianneher.com where he has videos for sale which further explain his technique. Brian will also be our judge for the MAG Member Competition in May.

Matthews Alive Poster Contest Call For Artists

It's here! Hurry! Enter your poster ASAP! Bring in your poster to the Matthews Community Center (100 McDowell Street, Matthews, NC) by Thursday, April 18th at NOON! . 

Here are the reasons to enter:

1. The rules are simple. ANY ARTIST may enter. Poster must have been created in the past year using any medium, including the computer!

2. This year there is NO THEME! Just make sure your work, without a shred of doubt, shouts, "MATTHEWS!"

3. If you win, not only do you receive a check for $500, but your work is displayed in the Charlotte Observer, on flyers, tote bags and... t-shirts! Everyone sees it!

4. It cost NOTHING to enter!

Works will be judged by the Matthews Alive Board of Directors. 

Click here for entry form and rules.

Don't miss Brian Neher Tuesday 3/12 at the MAC!

At the lower level of the McDowell Arts Center, Brian Neher is our special guest at the next meeting tomorrow 3/12 at 6:30 PM (social time with meeting beginning at 7 PM). He is a very successful oil portrait painter. He will be showing the basics as well as technique in rendering his unique representational painting style. You cannot miss this one. No matter what medium you use, you will benefit from his teaching. Questions? Email MAG at magart2009@gmail.com.

More details at previous blog: http://matthewsartistguild.blogspot.com/2013/02/brian-neher-presenter-for-next-mag.html 

Reception for In Celebration of Women Exhibit

Join MAG in honoring women by bringing

the women you honor to our exhibit

Love filling spaces between windows with

small artwork

The exhibit features quilts, metal sculptures, paintings

and photographs

MAG is having a reception to honor the quilt makers  and MAG participants in the In Celebration of Women Exhibit. The reception will be held at the McDowell Arts Center, Wednesday 3/13/13, at 7 PM. This is open to the public.

Can't make it? You can see the exhibit during MAC's operating hours:

M-F 1-8 PM

Saturday 10 AM- 4 PM

Sunday 1-6 PM

This exhibit offers a wide variety of artwork. Some are for sale. If you see something you'd like to buy, just call the artist to arrange the sale. Go see it!

Movies at the MAC Today Tuesday 3/5

Interweave has given MAG permission to show its DVD: Mastering Plein Air Painting in Oil with Frank Serrano. The video instructs on needed supplies for painting outdoors, the palette colors, composition and tips for situations along the way. It's a great video for beginners and intermediates in en plein air. 

The video will be shown today, Tuesday 3/5, at the McDowell Arts Center downstairs at 10 AM. This is open and free to the public.

Thanks to Interweave for allowing us to show this video.

In Celebration of Women Exhibit

From now until April 5th MAG will be holding its In Celebration of Women Exhibit at the McDowell Arts Center. Local quilters Megan Shein, Charlotte Harkey, Deborah Young and Margaret James are featured on the floors. Each quilt is an original artwork that captures your full attention as soon as you enter the room. They are so exquisite but please avoid the temptation to touch them.

Also on display, are works by MAG members with paintings, photographs and sculptures to fit the theme of celebrating women. Best title for this exhibit is: "The Other Woman" by Shane Somerset. Go by and see his work to find out why. There are no theme police for the exhibits so sometimes the title is changed to fit the theme. Very clever, Shane!   

The reception for this exhibit is Wednesday, March 13th at 7 PM downstairs at the McDowell Arts Center. This event is free and open to the public.

The following MAG artists are on display this month:

Shirley Bennion
Jennifer Benton

Rita Bowers

Dianne Britton

Lisa Britton

Bob Brooks

Eric Casaburro

Marie Davis

Robert Evans

Joyce Fischer

Pam Hancharik

Nena Hartz

Mona Hearne

Ken Hutchins

Johanna Kelly

Gene Lazo

Bill Locke

Valeria Marcus

Lindy Midkiff

Jana Midkiff

John Moeslein

Vince Murray

Elise Orenstein

Carol Pighin

Anne Harrell

Roger Schulz

Carl Shealy

Cecile Smit

Shane Somerset

Jen Spaker

Prudy Weaver

Debbie Yacenda

Jean Yates

"Time Goes On" by Bill Locke

Metalwork sculpture on old car door

Photographs and Paintings by MAG Artists

Paintings depicting women(?) in various activities 

One of 8 quilts on display at the MAC

Art Done One Stitch at a Time at MAC

Large Quilts by Charlotte Harkey

Smaller Quilts by Megan Shein and Deborah Young

The MAC is quite cozy for the month of March with beautifully intricate quilts by local fabric artists, Charlotte Harkey, Deborah Young, Megan Shein and Margaret James. Stop by and be amazed by the power of thread.

The MAC is open every day from 1-8 PM. In addition to the quilts, there is artwork on display by the local artists of MAG. The theme for this month is "In Celebration of Women."