The Byrne Galleryis proud to present “Nature’s Palette” our new exhibition for the month of June celebrating the joys of summer. This month, Craig Arnold, Charlie Evans, Jeffrey Kibler, Liz Miiller, and Carolyn Marshall Wright will exhibit their paintings showcasing the enchantment of the natural world. The exhibition will be open from June 3rd - June 28th. Please join us for a reception for the artists’ on Saturday, June 13th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Gallery hours are Monday and Tuesday by appointment only, Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Additionally, all are welcome to join us for a gallery talk and reception for the artists on Sunday, June 28th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. All receptions are open to the public, and everyone is cordially invited to attend. 

Craig Arnold

When I paint landscapes, I’m looking to capture the vast beauty of a scene. But when painting closeups of a single flower, I get the chance to explore and capture so many minute wonders about that flower--the gradations in color and light, the delicate textures and furls of the petals, or the intricacies of the flower’s reproductive parts. Gazing at nature’s beauty feels just as awesome whether looking at something big or small. Mother Nature doesn’t skimp on details and I feel privileged to reflect that in my paintings.

Charlie Evans

Growing up in semi-rural Australia, I spent a lot of time in the bush painting and drawing. I am both honored and thrilled to be presenting my work at the Byrne Gallery. I have always been inspired by Mother Nature as a subject matter, in particular birds. “Nature’s Palette “is the perfect vehicle for my work, I hope you enjoy my whimsical contributions.

Jeffrey Kibler

I am always looking at my surroundings, I focus on details, a close-up of a flower, a portion of the human form, portraits, hands, the collision of the sea, sky, and sand where all meets. The detail of shadow in fabric, a leaf, the body all make the art come alive. I primarily work in oils and charcoal. Three years ago, I painted my first flower, an Iris from our garden. I love Van Gogh’s Iris paintings, so this was natural to do first. I have continued to paint more concentrating on details. Flowers are short lived and beautifully delicate with many variations in color and texture … a painting captures that image in time forever.

Liz Miiller

The Shenandoah Valley will always hold an important place in my heart. Bookended by rolling mountains and filled with lush old forests and soft expansive farmland, it is a deeply special place. My formative years were spent in Berryville, VA. At the end of high school, I moved to Manhattan to study art and obtain my BFA in Traditional Animation. Having lived and worked in NYC, it wasn’t long before I felt the need to come back to focus on art that moves me. 

     Although I worked in the animation world, illustration is where my work shines. The subjects I gravitate to are almost always animals and people. My hope with this series of paintings is to honor some of the area’s most iconic fauna with a distinct illustrative line and rich palette second to nature itself.

Carolyn Marshall Wright

Painting flowers and gardens is a never-ending challenge and source of joy to me. I love their beauty, of course, but equally their tenacity and resiliency; even though fragile, they exhibit such strength. Their re-birth each year is amazing, their loveliness arising from unassuming lumps of roots, corms or bulbs. When I paint them, I react emotionally, expressing delight in their mystery and hope. The painter Georgia O’Keefe once said “Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small – we haven’t time – and to see takes time…” My paintings invite the viewer to take time, to look harder through layers and veils of color, to use their imaginations, and truly see these awe-inspiring wonders.