Holiday Fun at The Riverside!

Here are some photographs of our Holiday Stroll Night. The "No More, No Less" Holiday Show will be on display until the end of the month, so stop by and take advantage of some great Holiday gift ideas! All work in the show is priced at just under $50. The Studio & Gallery is usually open from 10–2 p.m., Mon.-Fri. or by chance. 

Don't miss out on the Holiday fun TONIGHT!

Still Accepting Work!

Yes! We've extended the dates! You still have time...Stop by and submit your work to our First Annual "No More, No Less" Holiday Small Works Show at The Riverside Artists Studio & Gallery. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to display and entice new patrons with creative and affordable art! All media is accepted! Stop by and see Ian this Friday, 11/28 and Saturday, 11/29 from 10-2pm. Remember, space is limited so HURRY!

Opening reception coincides with Westerly's Holiday Stroll on Dec. 3rd from 5-9 p.m. The Riverside (along with the businesses in the building) will be hosting wine tasting, special holiday shopping/discounts, live music, and kid activities. It promises to be a good time! 

$49.99 No More, No Less – Small Works Show

The Riverside Artists Studio & Gallery is inviting local artists to participate in our First Annual $49.99 No More, No Less – Small Works Show opening Dec. 3rd. Work will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis on Wed., Nov. 26th. An entry fee of $10 for the first 2 pieces and $5 for each additional piece is required. No more than 4 pieces per artist, please. Artwork should be framed and no larger than 11"x17". All sculpture and jewelry should have appropriate displays or stands. Artists will retain 100% of sales! Don't miss out on the opportunity to show in this bright, new venue. Our goal is to bring together the best talent this area has to offer while providing attainable and affordable art to our patrons. Be sure to spread the word. Please feel free to stop by the studio if you have any questions. You can also e-mail milliedonovan@sbcglobal.net.

For One Night Only!

For ONE NIGHT ONLY Millie Donovan will be displaying some of her work at one of Westerly's trendiest clothing boutiques, Anya Blu! Stephanie, owner and proprietor of Anya Blu, has opened her doors to area artists and is partnering with the Westerly Artists Cooperative and The Riverside Artists by opening her doors during the monthly Art Strolls in downtown Westerly. Millie will also be showing some of her "work in progress" at The Riverside Artist Studio & Gallery. Look for the blue ART banners and balloons! Be sure to stop by Anya Blu Boutique and say hi to Stephanie and Millie this coming Wednesday, Nov. 5th from 5-8p.m. Refreshments will be served! For more information on Stephanie and Anya Blu contact info@anyablu.com or call 401-315-0700. Anya Blu is located at 38 High Street, Westerly, RI.

November's Featured Artist – Susan A. Anderson

Artist's Statement

"After living on Aquidneck Island in Newport, RI for nearly three decades, I have developed a sincere love of the ocean and the natural environment that surrounds it. During this time I have also rediscovered my childhood passion for art. This has evolved through attending studio classes at URI, classes and workshops at the Newport Art Museum, and plein air workshops with talented local and national artists. 

As an artist, I enjoy both the realistic and abstract beauty of the Island which is rich with subjects for me to study. Art is my vehicle to share what I see and love in hope that the viewer will love it also."

Mediums: Watercolor, Acrylic, Oils, Printing, Encaustic

• 2004 Best in Show, Art on the Lawn, Newport Artists Guild
  
• 1999 Honorable Mention, Newport Art Museum Members Show
  
• Past President, Vice President and Secretary, Newport Artists Guild
  
• Member, Wickford Artists Association, Newport Artists Guild – Newport Art Museum, Portsmouth Artists Guild
  
• Accepted into many juried art shows
  

Join us in welcoming Susan back to the Westerly area during November's Art Stroll, Wednesday November 5th from 5–8 p.m. See you there!

Our Best...

One of the most important parts about having the studio and gallery has been the ability to meet with people that are truly committed to working in this industry. Even as we all lead lives full of obligations to family, work, and community we are all committed to bringing thought and clarity to our artwork through discussion and promotion. Encouraging our fellow studio mates to explore and create has been one of the qualities that we most cherish in each other. In keeping with this mission, the artists at The Riverside are going to be encouraging our patrons and fellow artists to participate in upcoming events hosted by us which include evening workshops, lectures, and critiques. We hope to bring to the gallery visiting artists and we will be working to create work priced just right for the holiday season. Be sure to stop by during October's Open Studio Night. We look forward to meeting you as we show off our best work. Open Studio Night is Wednesday, Oct. 1st from 5-8pm. Bring a Friend!

This Month at The Riverside...

It has been a hectic August with school starting in a week and all of us trying to eek out the last few days of summer before its inevitable end. The artists at The Riverside have been very busy collecting images and ramping up for the new work that we hope to create through the fall and winter months. So in celebration of the coming season our resident watercolorist and landscape artist, Ian Newbury, has been preparing to be the Featured Artist of the Month for September. Ian's images will allow us to remember the warmth and sun of summers on the beach. His works will remind us of the times spent along the shore in quaint little towns such as the Stonington Borough in Connecticut, Weekapaug in Rhode Island and the shoreline. Be sure to stop by and see some of Ian's past as well as some of his new works. Our next Open Studio night will be Wednesday, Sept. 3rd from 5-8pm. See you there! (Print shown is by Ian Newbury- titled "Days End-Weekapaug 6"x9", Ed. 100 s/n Gicleé)

Spotted by the Westerly Sun

We got "Spotted" twice in one week! It was an active week for The Riverside Artists. Ian and Millie's participation in the Stonington Village Fair got them (and their artwork) spotted by the Westerly Sun on Saturday while Fran, Barbara, Marie and Susan Andersen were photographed by the Sun during the Westerly Art Stroll on Wednesday. Millie and friends (Rebecca, Kate and Dena) were also spotted casually reclining on the futon at The Riverside. Special thanks to the Sun for keeping us honest. 

Through rain and snow and even sleet...

Ian and Millie participated in the annual Stonington Community Fair today as Active Artists. The beginning of the day was glorious with sunshine and a cool breeze but impending storm clouds threatened to displace all activities for the Community Center's annual event. Around 12:30 vendors started to pack up their wears as thunder could be heard at a distance. Despite the weather, Ian and his family decided to stay on and were still there at around 2:30 as the rain started to come down. Good for him! It seemed like the artists, especially Ian, were well received. Business transactions were made and many people left happy with art in tow. Although not as brave as our dear Ian (Millie left right before the storm) both artists were happy to see new faces and many friends today. Special thanks to Barbara Plummer and Marie Laudini for taking the time to stop by and see their "studio-mates".

Featured in August

Watch Out for Artists Out and About...

On Saturday, Aug. 2nd both Millie Donovan and Ian Newbury will be featured artists at the Stonington Village Fair. The event will take place on the Stonington Borough Green from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Millie and Ian will be on hand to talk about their work and demonstrate their creative approaches. Each artist will have a viewing area and artwork will be available for sale. The event is also boasting a chance to WIN a piece donated by the artists. Stop by and hang out with some friends while helping to raise funds for the Stonington Community Center.

Fun at the Riverside - Open Studio Night

Upcoming Event!

This month's featured artist will be Fran Knapp of Westerly. I have known Fran for the past 3 years and have been lucky to have such an encouraging friend in my life. She is an energetic and generous person with a talent for looking at things and seeing their beauty. In her work Fran uses this ability to transform seemingly barren landscapes into beautiful and textural scenes that truly celebrate nature's beauty. Through Fran's interpretation of her landscapes the viewer can appreciate the rawness and subtle palettes of the natural world. Her brushwork is very expressive and she has a great respect for grand spaces. In some of her pieces she incorporates unexpected materials, like grass, adding textural references to the places she decides to paint. Stop by the studio on July 2nd during the monthly Westerly Art Stroll and see Fran's work for yourself. We have added a "works in progress" area and look forward to your comments. 

In the News!

The Riverside is in the news! The Westerly Sun has honored us with an article that ran on Sunday, June 22 in the Living section. The article, written by Marshall Williams, was published in anticipation of July's Open Studio which is coming up on the 2nd. Fran, Ian, Barbara and Millie were all on hand to meet with the photographer, Joshua Lebovitz, who was nice enough to take some beautiful photos of the studio/gallery and of the artists. Stop by on July 2nd and meet the artists yourself. Our featured artist will be Fran Knapp. See you there!

New Life for the McCormick

I was at dinner with some friends last night at the Griswold Inn in Essex and had the pleasure of catching up with a dear friend, Rachel. Rachel's family has a history in Westerly and she grew up exploring the McCormick Department Store. Come to find out, the space that the Gallery now occupies used to be the lingerie department of the store. Many residents of the Pawcatuck/Westerly area grew up shopping at the McCormick which closed its doors in 1992. Now the building houses a maternity shop, a coffee shop, several professional offices and 2 working artist studios. Although you may not be able to buy your daughter's first bra or your son's communion suit at the McCormick, you can certainly continue to enjoy many other pleasures and make some new memories. See you July 2nd at the next Stroll.

Other work you might see at "The Riverside"

Here are a few images taken from this month's showing at The Riverside Artists Studio & Gallery. The work shown here is by Fran Knapp - landscape painter, Marie Laudini - portrait artist, Barbara Plummer - fiber artist/mixed-media, and Millie Donovan - experimental painter/mixed-media. We will be rotating the work so that a different artist is featured every month. This month we have images by Ian Newbury. Welcome Ian!

Strollin' Through...

We were all in attendance last night at the monthly Westerly Art Stroll. The new location looked fabulous and we have Ian Newbury as a featured artist for the month. He has just moved into the space and is more than a welcome addition to the group. His precise use of watercolor and choice of local scenes as his subject matter really strike a cord with both the casual admirer and the serious art aficionado. At first glance, Ian's work draws the viewer in because the paintings are usually of recognizable places: beaches people have been to, places they have driven by, moments that they have internalized when passing through the area. Once drawn in you begin to realize the quality of his craftmanship. The fine brush work and delicate layers of watercolor are signature. His newest pieces are emboldened by expansive skyscapes and a dramatic use of light and dark which in my opinion is a complicated thing to do when working with the elusive quality of watercolors. He seems to be pushing the medium by trying to loosen his brush work and at times working just as well in miniature as he does in larger formats. I have overheard Ian saying that he wants to "loosen up", that he wants to be the kind of artist that slaps on paint with a 4" brush. I say that Ian is able to accomplish this same kind of expression by controlling his medium and working within the constraints the paints and brushes have defined for him. Please stop by The Riverside to see Ian's workspace. You will also see work by Barbara Plummer, Fran Knapp, Marie Laudini and Millie Donovan.

Welcome to The Riverside...

Set along the banks of the Pawcatuck River which divides the towns of Westerly, Rhode Island and Pawcatuck, Connecticut is a little studio on the first floor of the old McCormick Building where 5 very different artists decided to work in a shared space. There is an unconventional landscape artist who chooses to use her talent to depict scenery that evokes an emotional connection with the viewer. A portrait artist that seeks inspiration from the raw images seen in everyday life to those that capture worldwide headlines. A fiber artist that goes beyond quilting and uses needle and thread as swiftly as brush and paint. A watercolorist who captures the beauty of the Rhode Island and Connecticut seashore with delicate and precise brushwork. An experimental artist working primarily with abstract images and whose goal is to "not tell the whole story" in order to open a discussion with the viewer. All of them come from very different walks of life and work. Some are mothers and grandmothers. Some are fathers and husbands. There are teachers, designers, an ex-postal worker, a stay-at-home-mom, and a grandmother helping to raise her twin grand-daughters. Some are just starting out while others have had years in the business. All are together in one space in hopes of creating a work environment that gains its strength through community. Please help welcome the Riverside Artists: Fran Knapp- landscape painter, Marie Laudini- portrait artist, Barbara Plummer- fiber artist, Ian Newbury, watercolorist and Millie Donovan- experimental painting, to their new Studio & Gallery located on the first floor of the old McCormick Building (12 Broad Street in Westerly, RI). Stop by on the off chance that you might find one of the artists working or come and enjoy Westerly's monthly Art Stroll held every first Wednesday of the month.