Travels to Italy and France produced works such as this "San Giorgio Maggiore" painting above by Durinda Cheek and a photo below from Provence by Cam Busch. A combined collection of 33 works by the two artists is on display in Vonore, Tenn.
Photo from Provence by Cam Busch.Two artists who have traveled together abroad over the years have created works for an exhibit of "Inspired Destinations" in Monroe County. The show of paintings by Durinda Cheek and photography by Cam Busch continues through April 30 at Rarity Bay Community Center Art Gallery, 150 Rarity Bay Parkway in Vonore, Tenn. An artists reception is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 23.
Cheek leads inspiration workshops abroad for artists every year. Busch joined the groups in Tuscany and Florence in Italy and Paris and the Provence region in France. This October, the two traveled to the northern lake region of Italy on Lake Garda and then spent a week in Venice. The resulting 33 works show the different approaches to the same areas with photography and painting.
"[Busch] gets around and takes a lot of photographs, including close-ups of nature or architecture while I paint or sketch in one place mainly for an hour or two," Cheek says in a news release.
Cheek uses her field sketches to paint larger oil and watercolor paintings when she's back in her studio.
"I am attracted to the European style of architecture and also to the rural landscape," she says, adding that the exhibit contains her watercolor and oil paintings.
The gallery is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, by appointment Friday-Saturday. For more information, call 423-744-4166.