The Feeling of Red: Works by Bernice Harmyk & Susan Rosenstone Larrow

PUTNAM, Conn. - June 5, 2013 - PRLog -- The exhibit will be on display July 5 – August 18, 2013. There will be an artist’s reception Friday July 5th from 6:00 – 8:00pm and an intimate artist greeting with Bernice Harmyk as part of downtown Putnam’s First Friday event on August 2nd from 6:00 – 8:00pm.

Bernice and Susan, both local artists and acquaintances, were initially attracted to each other’s work because of similar color use and bold imagery. Their shared inspiration led to the desire to create an exhibit entitled The Feeling of Red because “the vibrant colors we use are the first element we want a viewer to respond to…the warming effect of the color red gives one a bit of excitement and stimulation to the senses.” They are hoping to spark a range of emotions in their audience that they experience themselves while creating the work.

The passion of paint is evident in Bernice’s work as the excitement and movement of the color and textures come alive on the canvas. “Seeing Bernice’s paintings is most definitely seeing a part of her, so lively, dynamic and vibrant” says Susan.
Susan’s work is especially captivating to Bernice, who feels that the intense color, detail, and design of Susan’s paintings work together to stimulate a powerful experience for the viewer.

Susan Rosenstone Larrow feels that “painting not only gives me a sense of fulfillment, but it also enriches and completes my life.” Susan taught high school art for 35 years during which time she painted off and on when life gave her the opportunity. Now retired, subjects that show life and expression like people, flowers and landscapes are her focus.  Susan paints the scenery both at home and on her travels, often painting outside on location.  “The places I visit become vivid canvases of color that attract the viewer’s eye. The most striking feature of my paintings is the vibrant colors and how they are on the edge of realism. I often work with complementary colors and I use a little bit of red to accent an area of interest. Recently, I have been adding textures to my paintings, which create more depth and interest. Adding this element also forces the eye to look even closer.”
 
For Bernice Harmyk, artistic inspiration from global cultures has been a lifetime pursuit. As a travel agent, Bernice has been able to evolve artistically by immersing herself in the rich textures of foreign lands. Her first medium was oil on canvas, using European impressionistic techniques. While traveling through the orient, her studies of Chinese brush techniques have given new depth and intensity to her abstract style. Bernice begins a painting intuitively, working with watercolors, inks and acrylics. She layers colors and texture on the surface and then creates markings into the painting, creating symbols that may or may not survive in the finished piece. For Bernice, art and travel have been a source of inspiration for the journey of joy and discovery in her life.

Silver Circle Gallery is located at 75 Main Street in Downtown Putnam, CT. Since 2008, Silver Circle has been a fresh, contemporary space where local and regional visual artists convene to show and sell their work, educate others, and inspire one another and the community. Silver Circle recently became a community partner with Windham Arts as the Regional Arts Center for northeastern CT. Visit www.silvercirclegallery.com for more information.