Hoyt Institute exhibit features works by three local artists
The works all employ a method called plein-air.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts is featuring the works of three local artists in an exhibition that runs through Dec. 23.
Called "Outside Our Windows," the paintings were all done using an age-old method called plein-air.
"The word comes from the French, and can be interpreted as 'open air' or 'outside,'" said Kevin McLatchy of New Wilmington, who is showing about 30 of his works. "It is not really an artistic style, but a method of working. It requires rapid execution and lots of brush work. You have about a three-hour limit, because the light changes."
The French Impressionists of the mid-to-late 19th and early 20th centuries were also known for working outside and capturing light and shadows in their works. "Their approach was different, though," McLatchy said. "They applied broken colors to the canvas and let the eye do the mixing."
McLatchy said he has been working primarily with pastels lately. "I bought a box of pastels, and there were 100 different colors, which opened up new possibilities," he said. "Some plein-air artists who use oils limit their palette to three or four colors, then do the mixing on the canvas. It is a means to move faster."
Styles vary
The styles of plein-air artists may vary greatly, from the literal to the abstract. "I have drawn away from the literal," McLatchy said. "I use the outdoors as inspiration for color harmonies, a steppingstone."
Wendy Warner of New Wilmington, who has been painting 45 years and will have 15 to 16 works displayed at the exhibit, said she also does not paint what she sees literally. "I look for patterns and designs," she said. "I ride or drive around then find something that clicks. I pick out pieces of what I see, then add other things, like maybe a tree. I draw what my inner eye sees, using nature as inspiration. There are so many facets that can be focused on. The deeper you go, the simpler it gets, because you eliminate the detail."
Warner said she works abstractly all over the paper then the detail comes in later to pull it all together. Though Warner stays closer to home to work these days, many of her earlier works were painted in Wyoming, Montana and Arizona, as she traveled by horse through the back country. She will display oil paintings and watercolors at the Hoyt.
Ron Donoughe of Pittsburgh, will show about 25 to 30 of his oil paintings at the exhibit. He is the founder of The Plein-Air Painters of Western Pennsylvania, and has been using this method for about 20 years.
A prolific artist, he paints two studies a day, plus his full-size canvas works. He is an instructor at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, LaRoche College, and Touchstone Center for Crafts.
New association
In addition to the three plein-air exhibits, the Hoyt will also host the first showing of the newly formed Hoyt Artists' Association.
"There are 41 members so far, all professional artists, most from Pennsylvania, but some from Youngstown, and all from within 100 miles," said Patricia McLatchy, exhibition coordinator for the Hoyt.
The exhibit will include oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings; sculptures, drawings, photographs, and cultural mixed media, representing 25 artists from the group.
The works will be available for purchase.
An opening reception for these exhibitions in conjunction with the Hoyt's Fall Open house will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Admission is free.
The Hoyt is located at 124 E. Leasure Ave. For more information, call (724) 946-2798 or visit www.hoytartcenter.org.