You're Invited to the Noyes Gallery, Lincoln, NE

Solitude ©Beth Cole | Oil on Canvas | 36 x 36

Gary and I have been invited to participate in a group show at the Noyes Gallery this Friday, February 2nd, 2018,  from 6-9 in conjunction with Lincoln's First Friday Art Walk event. We are excited!

There will be many beautiful works of art on display including jewelry, painting and photography. Gary will have quite a few photographs including his latest, and I will have a variety of oil paintings of various sizes. The show will be available for the month of February.

Gayle Kuhlman is the lead artist of the show, other artists are Karen Bowling, Rachel Montoya, Ambur Harvey, Drew Curtright, Hope McCulley and Maddie Warnemunde. 

There are fifteen Galleries listed on the First Friday Art Walk map -  you can take a look here - something for everyone. I also have a few pieces at the Burkholder Project if you happen to stop.

Hope to see you soon, thanks for your interest and have a good week!

--Beth
 

Happenings! (November 2017)

Kaleidoscope 2017 at MONA in Kearney, November 4-5

You are invited to the Kaleidoscope of Art at the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney. It is happening next weekend, November 4-5, 2017 from 11-5 both days. 

I will be taking many small, affordable paintings as well as a bunch of small vintage barn paintings...and a few handmade journals. It will be a festive event, good fun for all.

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Also, I just received word that one of my paintings, Rainy Place, has been juried in to the 2017 Nebraska 2D Biennial Exhibition at Gallery 1516 in Omaha. Yippity skip! I am overwhelmed and very grateful. The show opens to the public on November 3rd with a reception from 6-8.

2017 Nebraska 2D Biennial Exhibition at Gallery 1516 in Omaha, Opens November 3rd, 2017

Art Camp Recap

Syncopation | 8 x 10 | Oil on Panel | ©Beth Cole

I got to experience five days of uninterrupted painting at the autumnartworkshop.com a few weeks ago in Aurora, Nebraska, and it was glorious! I am still soaring on such a fun and positive experience.

I signed up for the oil painting workshop, the instructor was David Mensing and he was fantastic. He demonstrated different colored background wash colors and block-ins with alizarin crimson.

So fantastic and effective. His palette knife technique was amazing to watch and we all benefitted from the individual time we received as he went around the room.

One thing I really loved was the concentration on big shapes and values. The first exercise we did was to do a small painting using only one color and white.

One Color and White Exercise | 8 x 10 | Oil on Panel | ©BethCole

The next day we were challenged to use two complementary colors and white. These exercises were so good for helping me see and practice the shifts between the values of the landscape.

Two Complementary Colors and White | Patience | 8 x 10 | Oil on Panel | ©Beth Cole

It was the 50th year of this workshop so we celebrated with birthday cake and entertainment. This was only my third time attending, but I hope to attend more often in the coming years. It was held at the Leadership Center in Aurora, there is a wonderful walking trail adjacent to the camp and this cool old truck was parked nearby.

Here are some of the pieces I worked on during the five days.

Fog | 8 x 10 | Oil on Canvas | ©Beth Cole

Dry Creek | 8 x 10 | Oil on Canvas | ©Beth Cole

May I just say I loved being able to start painting just as the sun was coming up without having to worry about cooking a meal, answering the phone, changing a load of laundry or going to the store. It was a wonderful retreat and I am very grateful that I was able to attend. Maybe I’ll see you there next year? Here's some video footage from 10/11 news to get you thinking about it!

--Beth
Soli Deo Gloria

Thank You, Painters!

Rising © Beth Cole | Oil on Panel | 8 x 10

Thank you to all those who have already signed up for my online painting class, Earth, Water, Sky. I appreciate you and look forward to seeing the beauty you create in class.

If you have been considering the class, I wanted to let you know the earlybird registration expires tomorrow, September 4th, you are invited to join us!

Art Auction August 1-3, 2017

Light Show © Beth Cole | Oil on Wood Panel | 11 x 14

Heartful Soul Collective Facebook Auction 

I'm excited to announce I have been invited to participate in the Heartful Soul Collective Art Facebook Auction happening August 1-3, 2017. In addition to "Light Show" (above), I will also offer these three pieces.

Contentment © Beth Cole | Oil on Canvas Panel | 11 x 14

Calm Waters © Beth Cole | Oil on Wood Panel | 11 x 14

Winter © Beth Cole | Oil on Wood Panel | 12 x 12

The title of the auction is Light and Shadow and artists have begun posting their works and works in progress, it is so fun to see the creativity. Here is the link to check it out....

This is my first time doing anything like this and I feel happy and grateful. Thanks for taking a look and please let me know if you would like an invitation to join us on August 1st.

Enjoy the week!
--Beth

Kearney Art in the Park July 9, 2017

Light Show ©Beth Cole Oil on Wood Panel, 11 x 14

Gary and I are looking forward to sharing our art and photography at Kearney, Nebraska's Art in the Park on Sunday, July 9th. This is always a wonderful art show. The atmosphere is festive with music and kettle corn and tropical snow and the like. 

This year I'll have several new pieces and I am excited to introduce a new art print gift service, more details to come, but I'll have the special frame and example prints to show.

If you come, please stop by and say hi, would love to see you!

--Beth

Carnegie Arts Center Show - Alliance, Nebraska

Gary and I will be doing a joint exhibition at the Carnegie Arts Center in Alliance from May 16-June 25, 2017. You're invited to a reception on Saturday, June 24, from 1:30 - 3:30.

The Backroads in Pixels and Paint

We love driving the backroads with our cameras on nice days, foggy days, even snowy days. Gary likes to shoot anything unusual especially old buildings, vehicles, rusty things, etc. I also gravitate toward this subject matter, and I like looking for light and shadow. These photos are inspiration for when I get back in the studio with my paints. 

Please know you are welcome and invited to attend our reception on June 24, and we would be most happy to see you. Gary will have 20-30 pieces and I will have 10-15 of all sizes.

If you have not visited the Carnegie Arts Center in Alliance, this would be a great road trip. The gallery is beautiful and has much to offer art lovers.

Thanks for stopping by and take good care, dear reader.

--Beth

Bonecreek Museum of Agrarian Art Exhibit

North of Town, Oil on Panel, 8 x 10 © Beth Cole

The Bonecreek Museum of Agrarian Art in David City, Nebraska is celebrating Nebraska's 150th birthday with an exhibition titled "150 Artists, 150 Artworks, 150 Years of Nebraska Art in Miniature." My piece, North of Town, was accepted for the exhibition, wahoo, so fun! I am honored and grateful.

This painting is a scene very close to where we live. It was a foggy morning and I was out and about with my camera. As the fog started to dissipate, the sun came out behind me and lit up the road and the fields with beautiful warm light. The fog was still hanging in the distance making for a dramatic contrast. I'm not sure my painting does it justice. I really enjoyed painting it.

The exhibition with 150 pieces of art will be on display at the museum from May 3 through July 30, 2017, with an artist reception scheduled for July 29, 2017. I'm looking forward to seeing all those artworks. I have visited this museum and it is lovely and would be worth your while to go for a visit. I'll be posting more about that as the time approaches.

Art Happenings and Opportunities

There are a few art happenings and opportunities coming up in central Nebraska the next few months, here's a quick rundown. Please share - hooray for art!

Our art club, Arrow Artists of Broken Bow, Nebraska, is sponsoring an Art and Photo Competition August 1-3, 2016 in conjunction with the Custer County Fair. We are offering over $700 in prizes thanks to funding from the Custer County Foundation and area businesses  - thank you sponsors.

The Sand Painters Art Guild of Valentine, Nebraska is sponsoring a portrait workshop with artist Rita Kirkman on August 13-14, 2016. I think there are still a few seats left if you are interested in attending. Search Facebook for the Sand Painters for more information or contact Pat Schemmer, 402-376-4222. Rita Kirkman is a fantastic artist and teacher.

The Arrow Artists are sponsoring a painting workshop in Broken Bow, Nebraska with artist Todd Williams on October 27-29, 2016. Seating is limited. For more information search Arrow Artists on Facebook or contact President, Mary Smith at 308-870-4189. Todd Williams is a world-class painter and teacher, it is a wonderful opportunity to have him as a workshop leader.

If your organization is holding a workshop/class or painting opportunity please share in the comments. Thanks for following along and happy painting everyone!

--Beth

Kearney Art In The Park 2016

Kearney Art in the Park 2016

Gary and I are getting ready to share our art and photography at Kearney Art in the Park this Sunday, July 10th from 9:00 to 5:00. Also showing from our area is my friend, Alissa Millsap, she has lots of goodness to share.

Gary has been taking photography and metal art to this show for many years and we have met so many awesome people who love art. It is always well attended.

The temperature might be a little warm but there is lots of shade, music throughout the day and into the evening, and great food including shaved ice to cool you off.

If you are local, I hope you can make it to the show and be inspired by beauty, goodness and creativity. If you come, please stop by and say hi to us, we would love to see you.

Vintage Bridal Dress Display Open

Dawson County Historical Museum Vintage Wedding Dress Show. Painting by Beth Cole

The Dawson County Historical Museum in Lexington has been working very hard to create a beautiful display of vintage wedding dresses. The display is now open so if you are local, it would be fun to take in. Here is Crystal's interview on NTV's Good Morning program telling more about the display.

I painted six of the dresses in oil and pastel, they are also hung and ready for viewing. The show will be open through the end of August, 2016.

Enjoy the day my friend.

--Beth 

Vintage Bridal Dress Paintings

Cropped Version of Wedding Dress III © Beth Cole

The Dawson County Historical Society and Museum is opening a show of their collection of vintage wedding dresses on June 20-August 31, 2016.

I have painted seven pieces to accompany the show. I struggled with whether to paint the full figure or just the dress, mannequin style. I ended up doing a little of both. There are seven pieces in all, four oil paintings and three pastels. 

I am planning to host an online show for my newsletter subscribers. If you would like an invitation, please subscribe to my newsletter and let me know by June 30th.