SOMERS — Artist Doug Gillette has been busy working in his Enfield studio where he has been creating two paintings to submit as part of this year’s Piedmont Juried Art Show in Somers.
“I will be entering a seascape with trees and an architectural rendering of a castle that is a fantasy piece, part of which is based on a real castle,” he said.
The longtime artist — who has also served as a past juror of the show and has a master’s degree in Fine Art from Towson University in Baltimore — still has time to put any finishing touches on his paintings. All entries must be submitted in person only on Aug. 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at Piedmont Hall on 604 Main St. in Somers.
The Somers Cultural Commission, organizers of the event, has put out a call for amateur and professional artists to enter the juried show which accepts many mediums from pencil and ink to watercolor and acrylics, but no sculpture or prints. To request an entry form, call show chairman Neil Connell at 860-749-4924. The fee for entrants is $25 for their first piece of art, and $15 for all others.
Gillette works in casein, as does Connell, also an accepted medium, which by some is considered an overlooked medium. Found in prehistoric cave paintings, casein is a fast-drying, water soluble, opaque paint that is derived from milk.
It is an ancient type of milk-based, water soluble, opaque paint which has been found in prehistoric cave paintings.
“It is up to our juror which pieces entered will be hung as part of the show, and no entry fees are returned. She will also be deciding which entries will receive an award,” Connell said, noting the monies raised from entry fees go toward the cash prizes.
A former art teacher, Connell has entered his own painting into the show, not all of which have made it into the gallery, he noted with a laugh.
“I like to paint things people see every day, but who don’t realize they are seeing them as they walk by them,” Connell said.
The show has grown over the years since it began back in 1993.
“Originally it was only one weekend but has expanded to additional weekends, now featuring more than 100 entries from all over Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York,” Connell said.
“The show was started by Linda Percoski, a dear, old high school friend of mine who has since passed. There were very few art shows in the area and we needed something to do as a newly formed commission,” Connell said, who helped Percoski organize the show from day one.
This year’s juror is painter Barbara Lussier of East Haddam. She holds a bachelor of fine arts with high honors from the University of Hartford and also studied at Ringling School of Art, Harford College for Women and Lyme Academy. Her work has been exhibited throughout New England and internationally and she has served on various juries in New England.
Artists will be vying for several awards including the $1,000 Juror’s Choice Award, $500 Linda Percoski Memorial Award, four $100 Piedmont Awards, and four $50 Merit Awards. There will also be a number of honorable mention certificates awarded.
And, there is still more, at the end of the show, there is a $25 People’s Choice Award voted on by guests visiting the exhibit.
Connell noted that only some of the art will be available for sale.
The show begins Sept. 15 with an opening reception from 1 to 3 p.m. with awards presented at 1:30 p.m. Additional show hours are Sept. 19-21, noon to 4 p.m.; Sept. 22-23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sept. 26-27, noon to 4 pm.; and Sept. 28-29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It is free to view the show.
“We usually have up to 200 people go through the show, many of them out-of-towners, because of the quality of the entries and the many recognized artists who enter their pieces for judging,” Connell said.
For more information, visit the Cultural Commission section on www.somersct.gov.
