Batavia Society of Artists

The Batavia Society of Artists hung their artwork today at the Richmond Memorial Library for their annual winter show.

The show opens Monday with an opening reception Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The monthly meeting of the Batavia Society of Artists last night featured a demonstration by Patricia Tribastone in a style of painting known as Alla Prima.

The Alla Prima style of painting is a technique in which the artist completes a painting in one sitting. The painting is done “wet into wet” and the main characteristics are fresh color, minimized detail, and brush work. 

Tribastone, who is involved in numerous national art organizations and has won several awards for her pastel and oil paintings, set up a still life scene for the demonstration and explained how she arranged her subject and the materials she used to complete the painting.

Tribastone has a gallery and studio in Canandaigua at 32 S. Main St.

Terry Weber, a member of the Batavia Society of Artists, has opened an art gallery and antique shop and has an art studio in the Old General Store on Route 63 in East Bethany.

Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays -- or anytime you see the "Open" flag flying outside.

If you are a member of the Batavia Society of Artists and mention your membership, you'll get a 15-percent discount on your entire purchase.

The location is five miles south on Route 63 from Batavia.

The Facebook page is under "Bethany Arts."

The Batavia Society of Artists will host a picnic and plein air art demonstration featuring watercolorist Michael Killelea on Tuesday, June 13, at Kiwanis Park. It is located at 3808 W. Main Street Road, Batavia. The event begins at 6 p.m.

This event is free but YOU MUST RSVP BY 7 P.M. TODAY so ample food and refreshments can be purchased. Organizers are going shopping for the picnic supplies later tonight.

Please call or email Teresa at 506-2465 or ttamfer@yahoo.com to give a head count so she knows how many hamburgers and hot dogs to buy.

Also, please bring a dish to pass and a lawn chair. Water will be provided, but feel free to bring another beverage.

Organizers want to make sure that Killelea can set up to paint wherever he picks and that they have enough chairs just in case they are needed.

The weather is going to be warm and it looks like it will be a wonderful night for this.

About Michael Killelea

Killelea’s paintings, headlined as “exquisite watercolors” in a Spring 2005 feature article in "American Artists’ Watercolor" magazine, were featured again in their Winter 2012 issue, and also in their 2006 Watercolor Highlights annual.

He is an inveterate plein-air painter who carries paper and brush with him almost everywhere he travels and loves to connect with his subjects off the beaten track, and often without speaking their native language.

He is actively involved in, and on the board of directors of a number of WNY and national arts organizations. He's also a member of the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society and the Buffalo Society of Artists. He is a Navy veteran, and has spent his working life as an art director and photo editor in major newspapers, and in the production of annual reports.

Killelea’s watercolors have been exhibited in a many national museums, as well as in the U.S. Capitol building, and numerous community displays. His work and bio are included in the Smithsonian Museum and the Library of Congress, and he was recently invited into the Burchfield Penny Art Center’s collection of featured Western NY artists.

A graduate of SUNY Farmingdale, he has attended Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts. When not traveling, he teaches and presents on watercolor painting. His award-winning work is in many private collections and has been reproduced in two books he wrote and illustrated on Long Island’s rural North Fork.

A copy of both Watercolor magazine articles on his work can be downloaded from his website www.killeleart.com. Additional examples of his work can also be found on his “Killeleart” Facebook page.

Jenny Wood hosted the Batavia Society of Artists today at her home on West Main Street Road, Batavia, for a "sketch out," a chance for artists to paint and draw the landscape of her yard, which is well known locally for the annual bloom of forget-me-nots.

David Burke is the winner of the 2017 Spring Art Show hosted by the Batavia Society of Artists at the Richmond Memorial Library. Burke received his award at the show's opening last night.

Richard Ellingham received second place and Kevin Feary received third place.

Rachel Beck, a Genesee Community College student and resident of Attica, received the Carr-Mumford scholarship.

The Batavia Society of Artists opened its winter show last night at the Richmond Memorial Library.  

Brian Kemp, above, received the Best of Show award.  

In the photo below, Kevin Feary, of Batavia, explains the technique behind his second-place photo.

The Batavia Society of Artists sponsored a Sketch Out/Paint Out event in Jackson Square on Wednesday evening, featuring cast members from the Batavia Players upcoming presentation of "Guys and Dolls."

The event gave local artists a chance to paint or draw characters from the famous musical.

The Batavia Society of Artists 2016 Spring Art Exhibit will be held at Richmond Memorial Library from May 9 to May 29.

The Opening Reception with artists will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 12. At 7 o'clock that night, the society will present the Virginia Carr Mumford Memorial Scholarship to a student from Genesee Community College.

Carr Mumford was a long-standing member of the society and over the years her family has graciously continued the yearly scholarship.

In addition, at the reception there will be award recognitions for the 2016 show and the drawing of a raffle winner of Brian Kemp's demo painting. It is a collaborative abstract painting titled "#17." Raffle tickets will be availble for sale until 7 p.m. They are $5 each or three for $10.

All proceeds will help the society to hold more art demos.

For additional information, contact Terry Weber at 993-0509 or ebgs55@yahoo.com.

Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

Karen Crittenden, owner of Karen's Yarn, Paper and Scissors, was the guest instructor tonight at the regular meeting of the Batavia Society of Artists at GO Art!. Crittenden's class tonight was a new art form known as Zentangle. Zentangle is described as an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns that is fun and relaxing. It was invented by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts.

Batavia Society of Artists and Batavia Players teamed up Tuesday night for a unique arts event in Jackson Square. The artists made art, the players were the models, in character for an upcoming performance of "Alice in Wonderland." Artists were encouraged to paint or draw in whatever medium they preferred. Some sketched, some used acrylics and others put chalk to cement. The players also rehearsed their parts for the show. There was also a wine tasting featuring Midgard Winery, of Corfu.

Batavia Society of Artists opened its Spring Show Thursday evening at the Richmond Memorial Library.

Kathy Roblee, above, won Best of Show with her work, "Tonawanda Creek," which is an acrylic.

Linda Metcalf, First Place -- "Where's Mary," watercolor.

Marilynn Palotti, "Napa Valley Sunset," acrylic.

Amber Motzer (not pictured) won the Virginia Carr-Mumford GCC Art Award.

Local artist Larry Buckley gave an oil painting demo Tuesday evening at GO ART! for members of the Batavia of Society of Artists.

Other events coming up for the society:

• Spring Show, opening reception 6:30 to 8 p.m., May 7, Richmond Memorial Library;
• Steve BonDurant, plein air demo and picnic at Kiwanis Park, 6 p.m., July 14;
• Joint event with Batavia Players at Jackson Square, free and open to the public, where the players will practice parts and also serve as models for artists, 6 p.m., Aug. 11;
• Kevin Feary, oil-graisalle demo, Sept. 8;
• Brian Kemp, acrylic abstract demo, Oct. 13;
• Dennis Wood, perspective drawing, Nov. 10.

For more information on the Batavia Society of Artists, e-mail bsa.bataviasocietyof artists@gmail.com.

Madeleine Rusch, with her painting "Cat Fancy," won Best of Show in the Batavia Society of Artists 2014 Winter Art Show, on display now at the Richmond Memorial Library.

FIrst Place went to Dennis Wood for "Winter Scape," second to Kevin Feary for "Hustled Again," and Feary also got third for "Snow in November."

Honorable mentions went to Karen Crittenden, Rusch, Nicole Tamfer, Bryan Kemp, Lorraine Gluck and Ed Adams.

Beth Kemp snaps a picture of Bryan Kemp with his Honorable Mention award.

Michael Messerly, right, publisher of the Batavia Daily News, attended the event.

Joan D'Alba gets her picture taken under her painting, "Snowy Barn."

Linda Metcalf's painting "Hussies" was honored with the Best in Show ribbon in the 2014 Batavia Society of Artists Art Show at the Richmond Memorial Library.

Metcalf arrived at the reception this evening surprised to learn she won.

The show runs through May 28.

First place went to Kevin Feary ("End of the Season"), second to Terry Weber ("Poppy's Garden") and third to Dennis Woods ("Cosomos in Cosmos"). Honorable mentions: Carole LaValley, Kathryn Roblee and Maidul Kahn. Metcalf and Wood also received honorable mentions for their paintings "Finally Spring" and "Fancher Fill-Up."

Katherine Clark, pictured with Peter Mumford, won the Virginia Carr Mumford Award. Clark attends GCC and plans to pursue a career in art.

Terry Weber