Great Way to End the Plein Air Season

Scott Peterson of the Middlebury Land Trust presents Zufar Bikbov
 with "Best of Show" award.

14 Painters trekked to Brookdale Farm to enjoy a day of painting, free hotdogs and Dottie's donuts, and some beautiful scenery to paint.  The weather held until halfway through the judging/voting, but it was gratifying to see all the beautiful paintings lined up, and painters laughing, chatting, having a good time.  Congratulations to Zufar Bikbov of Watertown, who won Best of Show ($300), by judge Tom Adkins, and also got the votes for Artist's Choice ($100), and sold his painting.  Cathy Liontas, of Milford, rose to the top of the visitor's lists, and captured People's Choice ($200).   Congratulations and thank you for supporting the programs of POP and the Middlebury Land Trust.  Many thanks to our judge Tom Adkins, and to the MLT, LPOS and Rob Fenn for hosting this event in such an ideal location.  

It was great to meet painters who traveled to Middlebury to paint, and see old painting friends come out.  The weather was back and forth all week with rain predicted one day, then partly sunny the next.  Thank you to Cathy Liontas, Carolyn Currie, Arline Corcoran, Carrie Mecartney, Edward Magnotti, Tom Adkins, Lorraine Chapin, John Forgione, Frank Bruckman, Betty Ann Medeiros, Zufar Bikbov, Chuck Fulkerson, Liz Coyle, and Jill Nichols for coming out to try your luck.  Special thanks to Arline, John, and Carrie for helping at the sign in table.  

Cathy Liontas receives "People's Choice" award from
Scott Peterson, Middlebury Land Trust.

Scott Peterson and assembled Brookdale Quick Draw artists.

Best of Show winner "Approaching Fall" by Zufar Bikbov.

Malcomb Todt, Scott Peterson, and Ray Pietrorazio of the Middlebury Land Trust
and pumpkin friends.

UCC Southbury Hosts Small Paintings and Woodcarvings Show for Holidays

Southbury, CT -- For the final year, more than 16 artists in paint and wood will bring their creations to UCC's Fiftieth Holiday Fair, Saturday, November 19th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Artists from Pomperaug Outdoor Painters and Hat City Carvers are again setting up a pop-up gallery to showcase and sell small plein air, still life, and studio paintings as well handcarved wooden gift items.   

Following in the footsteps of the French Impressionists, John Singer Sargent, Homer and others, painters have taken their easels and paint outside to capture the beauty of the landscape.   Some painters paint only “plein air”. Other painters work in the studio to create universally beautiful scenes of still life, flowers, people, favorite memories.  This year's show will feature small collectible original oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings by:

•  Zufar Bikbov, 
• Ellie Boyd, 
• May Phillips, 
• Linda Salvagne, 
• Arline Corcoran, 
• Anita Gregorski, 
• Carolyn Bucha, 
• Shirley Michaels, 
• David Merrill, 
• Diane Dubreuil, and 
• Sandra Wakeen.  

Hat City Woodcarvers will bring carvings of Santa ornaments, wooden jewelry, small Santa statues, bottle stoppers, and other decorative collectibles.  Traditional woodcarving techniques are passed down from carver to carver and encompass many styles from Norwegian flat plane carving to relief, chip carving and carving in the round.  This year pieces will be shown and sold by Ellie Boyd, Marty Sprock and Dennis J. Taylor.

In addition to the popup gallery, the event offers 

• unique shopping opportunities--crafts, homemade baked goods and jams
• live and silent auctions with 100+ items (Silent Auction closes at 12:00) Be sure to bid on a $500 Gift Certificate toward the portrait of your choice by Ellie Boyd (Silent Auction) or a "Sip & Paint" Class for Four Friends, Project:  Handpainted Christmas Balls.
• a great raffle (1st Prize --handmade quilt "Women of the Bible"; 2nd Prize --Microsoft Surface Tablet; 3rd Prize --Amazon "Echo", 4th Prize -- $75 Gift Certificate to Newbury Place.  Raffle tickets are available for $2 each or a book of 10 for $20.  Only 2,000 will be sold.
• a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and 
• a delicious luncheon.  

A portion of all sales support UCC Southbury's wider missions.  UCC Southbury is located at 283 Main Street North in Southbury.  For more information call Ellie Boyd (203) 429-4356