The Casper Journal :: Casper's Community Newspaper

Got a bee in your bonnet? Caught between a rock and a hard place?

Hold on to your hat and join Michele McDonald as 18 of her students from three assorted art classes share their latest works on Sunday, May 18, from 2-4 p.m. at West Wind Gallery, 1040 W. 15th St.

Most of these artists have been painting together at the Casper Recreation Center for more than 10 years.

This one-of-a kind art show will feature paintings with several well-known clichés as titles. It encourages folks to match up common clichés with the paintings on display.

The person who correctly matches the most paintings to the cliché titles will win an original painting by Michele McDonald.

Dave Sneesby has been attending McDonald's watercolor class since January and joined her mixed media class in March.

One intriguing technique that Sneesby learned was realizing "when watercolor paper is wet, it can lead to amazing things."

Painting an average of two watercolors a week, he thinks good ideas are what make quality pictures.

The beginning artist has many future plans to create new works originating from photographs that he took while traveling to Rome and Belize.

Having one painting featured in the cliché contest and three others on display, as well, Sneesby is looking forward to his first art show.

Judi Van Rensselaer has been painting watercolors with McDonald for 10 years, taking 2-3 classes with her a year.

Broadening her artistic horizons, Van Rensselaer became interested in mixed media and collage work and considers herself an impressionist painter, using paint, paste, weaves and a variety of other textures to express herself.

She combines everything she loves in the process and finds that her art "comes from the inside out."

Featured in the upcoming cliché art show, Van Rensselaer will debut her latest mixed media pieces, which is a series of three doors that showcase different doorway expressions.

"We really support each other in Michele's classes, which give incentive to keep creating," Van Rensselaer said.

Painting with McDonald for three years, Teresa Cowan has delved into the watercolor, pastel and pencil art worlds.

Cowan has drawn with pencils for five years and favors portraits, being attracted to people's facial features.

"Everybody is different, and it is fun to try and read them," Cowan said. "I think people are beautiful."

Gaining encouragement and help from McDonald's classes, this artist believes the best part of the class is the critique.

"Different people see different things," said Cowan, who is excited for the show on May 18 and hopes there will be a good turnout.

McDonald describes these three students' style with a smile.

"Dave is a realistic painter, and Judi is abstract while Teresa is impressionistic," the instructor explained.

Fostering friendship while furthering skills as artists, it's clear this group's camaraderie helps them put their heart into it.

For more information about McDonald's art classes at the Casper Recreation Center, call 265-1518, or visit www.studiomichele.com.

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