Submitted

Oil and Water normally do not mix but when Patt Legg and Marietta Smith decided to share the common gallery at Railwalk Studios & Gallery, the title seemed appropriate for their upcoming exhibit. Both artists are proficient in both media but this exhibit showcases oil paintings by Patt Legg and watercolors by Marietta Smith. Rail Walk Studios & Gallery will hold an opening reception for “Oil and Water” on Saturday, May 6 from 5-7 p.m. Along with meeting the artists and seeing their art, visitors will enjoy refreshments and live music by CJ Peters and his Busker King sound. Rail Walk Brewery and Eatery is staging an outdoor event in the parking lot behind the gallery offering a double treat for reception attendees. “Oil and Water” will be on exhibit May 4-June 24 at the gallery 409-413 N. Lee St. Exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

When asked about her work in the show, Patt Legg replied, “I have always been interested in the paintings of Vermeer, Rembrandt, Caravaggio and many of today’s artists who share this technique. The Classical or Flemish technique is the layering of color upon color beginning by drawing with brush, seeing shapes, forms and values and applying a varied gray tone first to canvas until the entire subject looks like an old photograph without color, proceeding to the “dead” color and finally using color glazing to complete the oil painting. This takes an extensive amount of time with the drying process between each layer. My adaptation of this method is what I have used with each of the nine oil paintings in the exhibit. I also teach this method of painting in my studio at Railwalk.”

Smith says of her work, “I have been very inspired by the strong lights and shadows I was seeing during our early spring and one of the scenes just told me it wanted to be painted in watercolor. I found such pleasure in painting it that the next one also needed to be done with water media. Before I knew it, I had enough works in watercolor and pen and ink to complete my part of the exhibit. To me there is just something about the colors of nature that respond well in watercolor. I have enhanced some of the pieces using quill pen with black ink. I think it creates a nice contrast. I am also looking forward to leading a workshop in May using that technique.”

This will be the third two-artist exhibit that Legg and Smith have mounted together. Their art and personalities seem to work well together — despite the contrary suggestion of their exhibition title.

For more information call Rail Walk Studios & Gallery 704-469-2781, www.railwalkgallery.com or Patt Legg at 704-232-6000, www.PattLegg.net or Marietta Smith at 704-431-8964.

Rail Walk Studios & Gallery is open to the public Thursdays – Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with free parking and no admission fee.