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SPOTLIGHT
ON THE ARTS - May 2005 by Deanna Mascle Setting the Scene Tapley has titled the painting, a 24-inch x 22-inch oil on panel, “Festival Picnic.” It features a timeless picnic scene, with the trademark blue glass pitcher often seen in the artist’s recent works. It also includes a selection of antique brass instruments, from the collection of virtuoso trumpeter Vincent DiMartino. The labor-intensive process of sketches and miniature paintings necessary to perfect the painting’s composition and color required Tapley to spend weeks in the studio on behalf of the Festival. The painting will appear within a graphic framework donated by John and Dana Dixon of Danville’s Dixon Design. This pain-staking attention to detail and process is typical of Tapley’s working methods. “Usually I work on one painting at a time. My paintings take a fairly long time, because I work carefully and revise a lot. Usually they are preceded by preliminary studies. For this one I did a small oil painting, about eight-inch square, which helps me work out the composition and color palette. I prefer to keep them simple, without a lot of detail, since I use them as sketches. Both the preliminary studies and the larger finished paintings are done mainly from life – that is, from direct observation. I set up a still life in natural light – no artificial light. My studio has large north-facing windows which provide the steadiest light throughout the day, so that the shadows don’t move. Sometimes, when I am dealing with perishable items like food, I take some photographs for reference, but I never just copy from photographs. The final painting is a synthesis of direct observation, imagination, and memory.” Tapley, a resident of Danville and professor of art at Centre College, is a nationally recognized artist. His paintings are held in museum, academic, corporate, and private collections across the United States and he regularly speaks at art events and judges competitive exhibitions. New York City’s Tatistcheff Gallery regularly exhibits his work and his vivid and energetic still-life paintings traditionally sell in the five-figure range. In 1998 Tapley was honored with an Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council and The New Yorker reviewed his 1998 show at Tatistcheff Gallery in New York City, commenting that the “works are intelligently composed and executed with polished skill.” American Artist published one of his paintings on its cover in November 1999 and included a feature article inside which asserted that “Tapley masterfully blends hard-earned classical technique with a vision that is thoroughly modern and personal.” At the beginning of his career in the early 1980s, Tapley was a printmaker and abstractionist working with bold colors and textures. Gradually, he returned to the direct observation that made his first experiences in art exciting. A desire to describe his own surroundings led him to paint the landscape, making modern realist images that won wide praise in a series of exhibitions at Linda Schwartz Gallery. In the mid-90s, the artist changed his focus again, creating the energetic still-life images for which he is now known. “I’m fairly eclectic in my tastes, which may account for variety of objects that show up in my still-life pictures. When I get interested in looking at something, I paint it. That may lead me to make something besides still-life paintings in the future.” Tatistcheff is the exclusive representative of his works, so the gallery always has some of his work available. He also welcomes visitors to his Danville studio. “If anyone is coming to Danville and wants to visit my studio, I would be glad to meet them. I love having visitors. “There will be a special local exhibition of the painting I did for the Great American Brass Band Festival poster in Danville this June,” he added. “The painting will be exhibited at the Danville Community Arts Center during the festival, where it will be available for purchase. The posters for the festival will be available in the spring.” “The Great American Brass Band Festival is honored for Sheldon Tapley to have taken on this labor of love for our community,” said GABBF Steering Committee Chairman John Albright. “Not only does his work capture the timeless essence of the Festival, but it will allow people to take home more than just a memento, but a piece of real art.” Deanna Mascle is a
staff writer for The Lane Report. |
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A commissioned work by nationally-known painter Sheldon Tapley will introduce the first-ever series of fine art commemorative posters at this year’s Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville. The original art will be exhibited at Danville’s Community Arts Center and posters will be sold to the public before and during the June 11-12 Festival.