If you go
› What: March/April show by Victoria Pearmain, David Salerno, Joe Parrott and Curtiss Brock› When: Through April 30› Where: River Gallery, 400 E. Second St.› Phone: 423-265-5033, ext. 5› Online: www.river-gallery.comUpcoming artist demonstrationsNote: Includes artists not featured in the March/April show.› Saturday, March 23: Victoria Pearmain, 1:30-4:30 p.m.› Saturday, March 30: Maralyn Wilson, 1-4 p.m.› Saturday, April 6: David Salerno, 1-4 p.m.› Saturday, May 25: David Heckler, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
"Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove" is a 12- by 16-inch oil on masonite by Joe Parrott. / Photo from River GalleryTwo of the four artists featured in the March/April exhibition at River Gallery are scheduled to demonstrate their techniques for visitors during the run of the show, including Victoria Pearmain on Saturday.
Pearmain is primarily a plein air painter who works in oil on canvas, paper and panels. "Plein air" translates from the French to "plain air," a technique that takes the artist outdoors. Pearmain will set up a demonstration where visitors may ask questions about her process or simply watch as she paints scenery around the Bluff View Art District.
Scenes in and around Chattanooga figure prominently in her work, with Chester Frost Park, the Tennessee River and the Chickamauga Battlefield among her frequent inspirations.
"When I look for places to paint, I am attracted to open spaces, fields, farms and water views," she says in her artist statement on the gallery's website. "I am inspired by unmanicured places where nature is allowed to flourish."
"Southern Saddlery" is a 9- by 12-inch oil on linen by Victoria Pearmain. / Photo from River GalleryPearmain says she also enjoys painting houses and industrial structures, "places where man has left a mark, but nature is reclaiming the space."
Oil painter David Salerno will give a similar demonstration on April 6. In his artist statement, he says he most enjoys creating still life and plein air landscape paintings.
"In the studio I paint alla prima (wet-on-wet) as much as possible, trying to simulate the freshness of outdoor painting," he says. "For still-life paintings, I prefer to paint directly from the set-up. For studio landscapes, I refer to my plein air studies and drawings and notes made on-site. I use photographic references as little as possible."
Also featured in the gallery this month are glass works by Curtiss Brock and oil paintings by Joe Parrott.
River Gallery is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday and by appointment.
Clockwise, from left, are "Tellico Hay" by David Salerno, "Golden Nugget" by Curtiss Brock, "Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove" by Joe Parrott and "Southern Saddlery" by Victoria Pearmain. / Photo from River Gallery