"Homage To...": Contemporary Artists Paint in the Manner of Historic Masters

Get an art history lesson with Peninsula Gallery’s June exhibition, “Homage To…”, where six contemporary artists paint in the manner of historic masters. From June 1-23, Jacalyn Beam, Sydney McGinley, Nina Mickelsen, Joe Milligan, Nick Serratore, and Nancy Richards West will display a collection of new work that honors a famous artist they have selected while still maintaining their own unique style and aesthetic.  An artist reception will be held on Saturday, June 1, from 5 to 6:30 pm and is free and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with some of the artists during the evening. Call (302) 645-0551 or email peninsulagallery1@gmail.com for further details.   Jacalyn Beam is a nationally known plein air oil painter, with her work being recognized across the country. Her work is included in various books and publications, including 100 Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters, Art Collector Magazine, Brandywine Valley Reflections, and more. In this exhibit, Jacalyn is paying homage to Edward Redfield, a Delaware Impressionist and Plein air painter. Her images mimic Redfield’s well-known scenery, brushwork, and style, most notably in the winter landscapes she features.  Sydney McGinley is a designated Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. She has won national and international awards and has been featured in various established art publications. Her work is collected in the United States and Europe. Sydney uses her pastels to paint in the manner of American Impressionist, Mary Cassatt. The correlation between Sydney’s and Cassatt’s artwork lies in their figurative work, as both women capture the essence of the female form. Sydney will feature six new portraits in this show, three of which are stylized like Raphaelite sketches, leaving the original composition marks on the paper.    As a Finland native, Nina Mickelsen’s artistic roots are in Nordic design: clean, bright colors, bold shapes, crisp, strong lines — conveying energy, strength, and motion. She draws her inspiration from nature but also contemporary design. Nina’s chosen medium of silkscreening pays tribute to Andy Warhol’s revolutionary pop art pieces. Like how Warhol used brands and popular imagery to convey his artistic intention, Nina uses bold icons like Tabasco hot sauce, multi-color buoys, double-flavored popsicles, and more to craft her pop art images. Joe Milligan’s watercolors evoke a sensitive and emotional feeling of time and place, which can be attributed his keen observations of the subjects and their surroundings. He is featured in galleries in PA, DE, and NJ, has received awards at regional art shows, and has appeared in books and magazines about the New Jersey coast. Andrew Wyeth is Joe’s muse for this showcase, embracing Wyeth’s atmospheric, moody, and rustic subjects. Like Wyeth, Joe’s paintings are void of people but their presence and spirit are always there, even if it’s just fleeting. Nick Serratore works primarily in pastels — a medium he feels can capture the tactile experience and majesty of the grand landscapes he depicts. Nick has featured in multiple solo exhibitions, participated in various charitable events, and won numerous awards. Since he was an art student, Nick has been influenced by the work of German-born artist Wolf Kahn. Nick’s technique harkens back to Kahn’s mark-making, which juxtaposes contrasting colors to blend warm and dark hues. While Kahn is known for his bright and colorful images, Nick has opted to craft muted and melancholic paintings for this exhibit, highlighting how he can take Kahn’s style and update it. Nancy Richards West has been painting professionally since 1971, with a focus on depicting the quiet beauty of wildlife and nature. She works in an array of styles and mediums but has focused on the ancient Asian art of Sumi-e painting, or ink-wash painting, for this exhibition. Nancy’s traditional Asian artwork is inspired by Sesshu Tōyō, a 16th-century Japanese artist known to be the defining master of Sumi-e landscapes painting. Her work replicates Tōyō’s soft, misty scenes and firm and energetic strokes, allowing her contemporary images to evoke a timeworn appearance.      “Homage To…” is on display from June 1st to the 23rd. Works from the show can be previewed at www.peninsula-gallery.com and are available for pre-sale.  The gallery is located in the Shops at the Beacon, 520 East Savannah Rd. Lewes, DE, and is open Tue-Sat 10-5, and Sun 11-3. Venue: Peninsula Gallery.