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Peninsula Gallery Presents...
Realism Explored in Illuminated Detail
Showing August 1--23
For our August exhibition, we have gathered the work of four renowned painters — Raymond Burns, Howard Eberle, Damon Pla, and Steve Rogers — who depict realism with illuminating details. Together, the artists of “Precision and Perspective,” which is on display from August 1st to the 23rd, show a deep understanding of complex compositions and depth of field. They stick to observational renderings and ground their images in the science and mathematics of art. They all share a love for texture, detail, light, and shadow, transposing these skills onto their unique subject matter.
Washington D.C. area oil painter Raymond Burns has been exploring active railyards, railroad museums, and abandoned railroad lines in search of “good rust” for the last few years. Ray’s recent series depicts railroad equipment, engines, cabooses, boxcars, and railroad structures in various states of use and decay. These paintings, some of which are on display in “Precision and Perspective,” focus on details of the equipment alone and in the context of their environments. To the casual viewer, the display of utilitarian machines may seem unattractive, but Burns hopes to elevate the subject matter to allow the viewer an opportunity to explore the arrangement of shapes, colors, light, and textures to ultimately discover the beauty and character that exists within them. Alongside his train paintings, Ray also features tranquil landscapes and urban architecture.
Howard Eberle is a self-taught artist and has been painting in transparent watercolor since 1973. He started painting professionally in 1990 after a career in retail display. He describes his style as “abstract realism” and considers himself a portrait painter of objects, being drawn to simple, weathered subjects ravaged by time. Eberle’s process begins by finding interest in what others often overlook — the texture of peeled paint on an old, dry-docked boat, a dramatic shadow created by the hinge of a shutter. In his transparent watercolors, Howard crops an object to focus on its worn qualities. Rugged wood, chipped buoys, corroded machinery, a tattered flag, and an angry sea are brought to life through Eberle’s paintbrush.
Born and raised in South Florida, Damon Pla discovered his artistic calling at a young age. His exceptional drawing and painting skills, cultivated through high school portfolio classes, swiftly led to a career in commercial and private commissions upon graduation. For a decade, he undertook ambitious projects across Florida and neighboring regions, showcasing his largely self-taught talent. Seeking new inspiration, Damon relocated to Delaware, eager to explore its unique landscape and seasonal atmosphere. Today, Damon dedicates himself full-time to crafting timeless murals, expansive paintings, and limited edition reproductions for his devoted collectors. He and his wife Dana, along with their daughters, Maya and Zoey, call Dagsboro, DE, home.
Steve Rogers is an artist whose evocative work captures the enduring beauty of maritime life. Fueled by a lifelong admiration for the ocean and its surrounding culture, Steve paints working water vessels and fishermen's equipment. His boats are not pampered fiberglass yachts, but rather hard-bitten and overworked skiffs, steamers, and sailboats. His paintings capture the toughness and durability of everyday working boats and the beauty and terror of the weather in which they work. Steve’s depictions are incredibly accurate, down to the materials and construction of each particular type of vessel. His palette is rich with natural tones of ochre, umber, and rust.
Hours
Tues - Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 11 am - 3 pm
Monday closed
No framing consultations on Sundays
Peninsula Gallery Presents...
Familiar Scenes Crafted in Differing Styles
Showing August 29--September 27
Artist Reception: Saturday, August 29 from 5:00-6:30pm
In honor of our 30th anniversary, we have been inviting significant artists from our past to participate in exhibitions throughout the year. Our September show, “The Eastern Shore,” is one of these showcases, with returning artists highlighting how their work has evolved over the years. From August 29 to September 27, Carole Böggemann Peirson, Lynne Lockhart, and Kirk McBride will display artwork inspired by the DelMarVa region, presenting the area through their artistic eye. While each artist has their own technique and subject matter, their painterly style and sense of light unify the collection. These paintings aren’t realist or abstract; rather, they use impressionistic methods and tactile elements to give the beauty of our environment an aesthetic flair.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 29, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm, which is free and open to everyone. Join the gallery staff and exhibitors for an evening of fine art and complimentary food and drink. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with some of the show’s participating artists.
Dutch artist Carole Böggemann Peirson has been a professional oil painter since 2005 and is known for her East Coast landscapes. Her ethereal works in oil and cold wax are inspired by the idea that all living things are connected and that we are spiritual beings having a temporary physical experience. She enjoys creating harmonious abstracted landscapes on cradled boards that invite the viewer to explore the intricate layers of colors and textures. The process of applying layers of oil paint and wax and then uncovering previous layers results in an interesting balance between surprising effects and deliberate design. The paintings are meant to evoke emotions and memories through the use of intentional surface texture and a hazy, dreamlike finish.
The quiet observation of the natural world, both wild and tame, provides endless inspiration for Lynne Lockhart. Her work focuses on animals and landscapes, often combining the two. She lives on Maryland's Eastern Shore with a mutt and her husband, painter Kirk McBride, and she is a 14-year Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists. For this exhibition, Lynne has provided a variety of images featuring animals specific to our region, such as horses, cows, goats, and more. Her fauna are presented in both traditional portrait style and candid location-based scenes. The habitat works see friendly critters engaging with their natural environments — chickens roaming a yard, sheep being herded, dogs protecting their houses — while the portraits are emotive, showcasing the personalities of the different breeds.
After winning “Best in Show” at his first local art show while attending the University of Maryland, Kirk McBride decided to pursue a life as an artist. He has been at it since the 1970s, part-time while teaching and raising a family, and full-time since the early 90s. He has participated in many exhibitions and painting events and is a Signature Member of the Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association and the American Society of Marine Artists. Kirk is represented by nine fine galleries along the East Coast, and he lives in Berlin, MD with his wife, Lynne Lockhart. Kirk is known for the interaction of light and shadow in the images he portrays. The fleeting light of early morning or late evening creates a mood that unifies paintings of a variety of subjects. Viewers can see this on display in the 10 oil paintings featured in “The Eastern Shore.” McBride’s beach scenes are brought to life with the help of loose brushstrokes, giving an impasto that creates dimension and movement within the oceanscapes.