Tag: The Danvers Art Association

Exhibitions

Danvers Art Show 11/22/35-1/4/26

Sheila

Danvers Art Association is pleased to invite the public to our latest Member Exhibition at the Peabody Institute Library, also known as the Danvers Public Library. Please join us at our opening reception on Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 2:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m. for good art, conversation, and delicious treats. The exhibit will run from November 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026.

It makes me so happy that my painting, Great Horned Owl, has been accepted into the exhibition. Great Horned Owl (acrylic on canvas, 16″ x 20″) was painted in the plein air style, which means it was done quickly on location in real time. It was inspired by the beauty of the raging blizzard coating the trees in the woods behind my house one winter afternoon. However, since it was so cold, I set up my easel inside the glass doors of my house beside a roaring fire and painted in comfort!

Though I intended to paint the snowy woods, with maybe a few chickadees huddling on the branches, I got a surprise visit by a mighty great horned owl swooping through the air! I had often heard her hooting, seen her tiny owlets peeking from the nest in the oak tree, and even heard her hunting scuffles — but I had never actually seen her before. She really made the painting sing. Since she moved too fast for me to “catch”, I painted her in afterwards, with the help of some reference photos.

Gallery wrap canvas has several benefits. It allows me to continue the image around the deep edges of the canvas. It does not require framing, thus keeping the price down — though you can have it framed in a floater frame if you wish. It also makes the painting lighter, so you do not need to worry about hanging it from a stud in the wall.

A huge array of other paintings by members of the Danvers Art Association will fill the lovely room, done in many different mediums and styles. You will find oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings; photographs; drawings; and more. Why not treat yourself to spruce up your home in time for the Holidays? Maybe a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork would make a perfect gift this season!

Please visit my website to view some of my other paintings! I enjoy collaborating with patrons to help them find artwork that fits their budget and style. I hope my painting gives your heart as much happiness as it has given mine!

Peabody Institute Library of Danvers

15 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA 01923

Library Hours

Monday – Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Friday & Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday (Nov. – Mar): 1pm – 5pm

TEL: 978-774-0554
E-MAIL: danversref@noblenet.org

Uncategorized

Best in Show!

Sheila

The Danvers Art Association’s Fall Member Exhibit opened October 10, 2025 and it will be on display until Sunday, October 12. The Opening Reception will be held on Friday evening October 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public afternoons at the Danvers Art Association’s lovely antique schoolhouse at 105 Elliott Street, Danvers, MA which is right on Route 62. You can call them at 978-777-8501.

I was thrilled when my entry was named Best in Show and was also given the 1st Place ribbon for Acrylic Painting! My painting, Gloucester Dahlias was painted en plein air with acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas, 24″ high by 12″ wide. There were numerous beautiful paintings and photographs in the exhibit and I feel very surprised and lucky to have the honor of being chosen for these awards.

I love the lush, colorful dahlia gardens along the sea walk by Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, MA. One perfect early autumn day last fall, I brought my paints and easels there, set up on the sidewalk amid the blossoms, and painted! I had to work fast because as the sun moves, the shadows move too and the colors seem to change. The bees were working fast right beside me, moving from bloom to bloom gathering nectar; and many of them spent time curiously walking over my painting. I’m sure there are many tiny bee footprints decorating my canvas. Many people stopped by to visit me as well as they strolled along enjoying the perfect weather and glorious garden.

It is a pleasure to paint outside where I can feel the breeze, smell the aromas of flowers and ocean, and hear the waves and happy people. I think “being there” and working fast, gives plein air paintings a sense of immediacy and freshness that I prefer to working from my photographs. I hope you will have a chance to visit this show!