Art lovers had a chance to get up close and personal with local artists at the Vero Beach Art Club Art Trail last Saturday. In addition to having a front row seat to the creative process of the artists, the tour of studios and homes also provided a peek into gated communities and neighborhoods that are somewhat off the beaten path.
This year’s self-guided tour, chaired by Soozi Schuble and co-chair Deirdre Bugbee, featured 10 artists at nine locations.
Although many of her paintings are influenced by European travels, some of Carol Bennett’s most popular watercolor and acrylic works feature clustered objects. An acrylic painting of hundreds of colorful fish was the first one sold at the Art Club’s Art by the Sea exhibition, and A Small Crowd, a tight people grouping, recently won Watercolor 1st Prize at the Best of the Best Backus Show. Her work is currently on exhibit at Main Street Vero Beach and Christ Church.
The genial David McQuinn creates wearable art, highlighting the beauty of Mother Nature’s semi-precious stones. Some are delicately wrapped with up to five feet of sterling silver wire, with occasional touches of Swarovski crystal. Beaded necklaces are on silk cord, securely knotted between each bead. “I sell mostly off my wife’s neck,” laughed McQuinn, whose jewelry is available at the Artists Guild Gallery.
Seeking a creative outlet, Dorinda Walker turned to ceramics, particularly Raku pottery, an ancient firing technique that creates unique iridescence and crackles. Her new collection features an unusual black ribbon effect. She is also experimenting with an extruder to make delightful “little people” statuettes.
As celebrated around town for her creative tea pots as her exotic teas, Maria Sparsis, owner of Tea and Chi and a founder of Flametree Clay Art Gallery, is always trying new techniques. “My favorite thing is always what I’m working on at the time,” said Sparsis, whose newest effort is plain, fired porcelain. “You can tell I have a good time doing this.”
“Her work is all very elegant; they reflect her,” said artist Tim Sanchez, assisting at the home of the lovely Doraté Muller, who has painted for 35 years. Her stunning and diverse works in oil, watercolor and mixed media, ranging from impressionistic to abstract, all draw the eye equally.
The tour’s only stand-alone studio belonged to pottery artist Rae Marie Crisel, who also paints in watercolor and oils. “I started with watercolor and pottery about 15 years ago and switched to oils about seven years ago. I use the watercolor techniques to paint on my pottery,” said Crisel, who sells her work from her studio.
“My husband does the graceful form of women; his pieces are very strong,” said Sally Blanchard of husband Peter, who primarily sculpts in Vermont marble, but also alabaster, black soapstone and slate. Of her own eclectically whimsical works, such as flowers made from water faucets sprouting from teapots, Sally said, “This is my flight of fancy; they reflect my sense of being. You can’t wake up in the morning and see this and not smile.” She also creates smaller bronze statuary and jewelry.
Eco-artist Sheryl Coppel-Sallow uses found objects and her creative imagination to produce one-of-a-kind collages, sculptures and paintings. “I just moved here in July from Maryland where I worked in corporate America,” she said. “I call it pent up artistic emotion. I came here and it’s just so beautiful, everything poured out of me. It’s so much fun, which is what art should be.”
Award-winning watercolorist Joel Johnson, featured in the Dec. 10 issue of Vero Beach 32963, was participating in his third tour, in a newly enlarged studio. From people and objects to landscapes and architecture, Johnson is an expressive master of shadows, light and texture. He teaches watercolor at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
