By Ann Nichols
annsnichols@aol.com
Victoria Pearmain, Elizabeth Rogers-Decosimo, Scott Leach and Joe Mullican are featured in “Landscapes: A Southern Perspective,” Gallery 1401’s exhibition opening Friday.
“These talented artists represent a powerful perspective of diverse representations of our Southern landscape,” said Sue Markely, owner of Gallery 1401. “More than 50 paintings in oil and watercolor will be on display.”
For Ms. Pearmain, the gray days of winter, early spring and fall are favorite times to paint because of the subtle colors of those seasons. The oil paintings that will be in the show have been based on areas in Chester Frost Park, Chickamauga Battlefield and Chattanooga Nature Center’s Reflection Riding.
The artist has been working on these pieces for about 10 years. Her process is lengthy and involved — beginning them on site and then continuing to refine them in the studio.”
“I work to eliminate all but the necessary elements, breaking them down to a very minimal sense of the landscape,” she said. “It is a process that involves adding many layers of light and dark until I reach the desired effect.”
Ms. Rogers-Decosimo focused on the contrasting landscapes of Michigan and Chattanooga in her portion of the show. She loves color, clouds and sky and has interpreted them in both watercolor and oil.
“In these paintings, I’m trying mainly to capture the light, atmosphere, clouds and weather,” she said.
The Shenandoah Valley, Middle Tennessee, North Georgia and Sequatchie Valley are depicted in Mr. Leach’s oil paintings. His soft-edged style results in romantic and serene representations of morning and evening light, reflections in water and sun-lit fields. He said he prefers the landscape over other subject matter because there is an ever-changing variety of mountains, rivers, streams and green fields.
The beauty of the 15 to 30 minutes before sunrise never ceases to amaze Mr. Mullican.
“But, when the sun comes up, it is color time and time to paint,” he said.
Using a loose form of realism, Mr. Mullican tries to suggest the essence and feel of the place, as much if not more, than an exact likeness. He paints primarily on location in Chattanooga and North Georgia — making oil sketches and studies that are sometimes enlarged in his studio.
Like the other other artists represented in the show, he is fascinated by the changing face of nature.
“The scene may not be motivating until a change in the light reveals its beauty,” he said.
“Landscapes: A Southern Perspective” continues through March 20. A reception will be held Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Gallery 1401, at 1401 Wiliams St., is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment. Call 265-0015.