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Different Strokes at Door County's Gallery Ten
Art opening, live demonstration Saturday, June 12 in Gills Rock
June 6, 2004
by Steve Kastner
GILLS ROCK, WI - Two
Wisconsin painters, Deb Mortl and Joan Stanich are the featured artists in the next exhibit at Charlene's Gallery Ten
in Gills Rock. On Saturday, June 12 you are invited to meet them at a wine and cheese reception from 5 - 7 PM.
Their work will be on display through July 16.
Deb Mortl specializes
in landscape and figurative work, employing a combination of texture, color, and light to evoke moods. Her "earthy"
love of nature is evident in all of her work.
"I grew up in suburban Milwaukee and moved to the 'country' five years ago," explains Deb Mortl. "The
change of environment was dramatic. The miles of open farmland were both mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. However,
in the five years I've lived here, the farms have been disappearing to construction and I feel an almost frantic
need to document the essence of the color, space, and sky that I see before it all disappears."
Her works reveals a strong preference for warm colors, "My palette is a mixture of rich browns, earthy yellows
and mossy greens."
Deb's painting technique is classical, consisting of slowly building transparent layers of color. And, like the
old masters, she tries to, "find beauty in everyday objects and paint(s) them in a way that transcends the
ordinary."
It follows that her favorite paintings are from the 19th century by Classical Romanticists like Waterhouse and
Leighton. She says, "There is timelessness to classical traditionalism; like classical music, it is unpretentious,
perfect."
But, Mortl breaks from the classic convention by using collage to open up some of the space in her paintings, adding
a visual texture and removing the predictability that can be a characteristic of some landscapes.
She also loves to read, and finds that sometimes one single sentence will convey such a strong visual impression
that she must write it down, to remind herself to render her impression of it later.
"In a way, it's like coming up with a title for the painting first." She explains. "In 'I Never
Saw the Roses,' I wanted to express how our lives are so full and busy that we can no longer stop and take notice
of things that are right there before us - we are blind."
Lately, Deb has transitioned into more figurative work, combining elements of text and collage to introduce symbolism.
In effect she attempts to, "decipher what the subject is thinking or feeling, then weave(s) a collage of paint
and meaning by adding transparent layers of imagery and word to subtly define the feeling."
Artist Joan Stanich
has been attracted to England's beautiful countryside for most of her life. In the year 2000 she and her husband
finally made her dreams of touring the market towns and ancient castles of England come true. She managed to capture
the splendor of everything she saw, from stately homes to humble cottages, in her photographs.
Upon her return she set out to translate the photos into oil paintings as a way to share that joy with others.
"The magnificence of this country and its antiquities has inspired me to create this collection of memories,"
Joan states. "I don't know if it is possible to love a country, but, for me, when it comes to England, it
comes awfully close."
She has an unbridled desire to create and share beauty wherever she can and feels a need to use her talent to enrich
the lives of other people.
"I regret that I am only one person, because I have so many goals and desires for my life," says this
mother of 3, grandmother of 12, great-grandmother of 2. Somewhere amidst a professional career that includes interior
design and real estate advertising she managed to become Mrs. Wisconsin International in 1999 and then added modeling
to her professional roster. Any time left is devoted to church leadership and public speaking, representing an
international Christian ministry, competing in USTA tennis (WI Senior Olympics Tennis Champion 2002, 2003) and
gardening.
Her exhibit entitled, "English Cobbles, Cottages and Countryside," opening at Gallery Ten will include
a live painting demonstration on the gallery grounds, Saturday, June 12, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
| Charlene's Gallery Ten represents the work of over 100 artists in a gallery
collection that is contemporary, original and eclectic. |
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GT Coffee, complements the gallery, serving espresso
drinks and Bea's ho-made pie-by-the-slice daily from 7:30 AM to 5 PM. The gallery is open daily from 10 AM to 5
PM at 12625 Hwy. 42 in Gills Rock, Wisconsin. Telephone 920.854.9907 for further information or visit on-line at
www.GalleryTen.com.
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