Artsramble Archive

June 24, 2006
Painting with Jane
by Doug Stuber

Painting with Jane (Filer) works: it launches artists into
gallery representation, refine knowledge of the color wheel, and
rejoice in the positive life force that emanates, via paint, from an
accomplished artist who still revels in teaching, to the various
artists who take her class at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
The Carrboro Century Center's downstairs activity
room is housing the exhibit, which includes work from artists aged 35
to 80+. The art covers a broad range of subject matter, and
abstract works. The common theme is an excellent sense of which
colors work together. What a fitting tribute to their teacher,
who is well known for her own eye-catching color plays.
Chintana Melton's Partially Submerged I uses sewn-on
fabric to add texture to a green, yellow and purple coral scene that is
more an expressionist color splash than the mystical voyage Filer takes
us on. Still, the use of color is not by accident, and the
overall effect is quieting, like an aquarium would be, but without the
hassle of feeding any fish.

Partially Submerged I - Chintana Melton
Lisa Daley's work is the closest in feel, technique
and subtlety to Filer's, while her subjects at this show represent a
recent trip to Europe. Daley may not go to the front of the class
for stretching any conventions into new territory, but her technical
abilities should find collectors if she ever decides to sell her work.
Compare her two works with Filer's submission:

Tight lines and color blasts exude all over these works. While
Daley finds her path associated with the style of her mentor, Alex
O'Connor and Betsy Vaden seem to have picked up on the mystical subject
matter while painting in their own style. note that both use
contrasting color wheel colors (red versus green, orange versus blue)
to keep our eyes focused, while telling myths that are not easy to
interpret, but fun to look at long term.

Symbolism, folk art and doo-dads collide in O'Connor's playful work,
while Varden is willing to expose her own phobias in order to make a
good painting. It is always the case that people making stories
with art are allowed leeway to improve their painting styles, as long
as the stories stay good. O'Conoor already paints very well, and
it will be interesting to see the new ones that come along.
Varden has gained enough techniques to make consistent folk art, and
will have to decide whether she wants to tell a lot more stories, or
whether she wants to refine the perspective and details, which would
sacrifice the number of stories she could tell. O'Connor will
have to find better stories to keep his art fresh, or switch to subject
matter that explores more fully his ability to paint. Varden,
however, is at a level that is just right for folk art, and may be best
served to keep painting more and more of her inner narratives to see
how cool the stories can become. Raleigh artist Anna Podris has been
doing this for some time, quite successfully.

Blue and Yellow,
a well made copy of Irisis that Van Gogh or maybe even Gaugin would
claim, comes from the brush of Harriet Towne. It's not easy
to copy a well known artist, and makes for an excellent lesson.
More art from her own creative mind will test the skills she's
acquired, while pushing her to develop her own style in a way people
can relate to. The painting below sparkles in person.

Joey Howell has taken the pure colorist track, while picking subject
matter that is timeless. In "Fandango (Yellow-Orange Phrygian)"
color play and the commanding moving nude keep your interest, even if
the colors are a bit jarring in and of themselves.

Her mix of anthropology, personal expose, and art history have been a
treat to see for the past seven years. Eva has spent her life
around art, teaching art, and now making art that flows from an
intensly creative mind.
Judi Bauman's
"Contemplation" shows signs of an original style, kind of a post
paint-by-numbers style, but still, one that is also able to tell a
story effectively.

Peg Bachenheimer's "Beach Storm" shows some of the
most adroit technical ability in the show, while adding spice with
colored lines and contrast. The movement in the small waves is
evident, and as a colorist she gets a passing grade as well.

Lastly, the socially conscious, often funny, works
of Linda Carmel belie the fact that she's still within her first two
dozen paintings. Another student who took up painting later in
life (as in, "once the kids are at least teenagers") Linda paints in
thick lush colors that work well to fashion the statements she is
compelled to make. The Chosen certainly has its concept:

I think Carmel is trying to tell us that even if some folks are chosen
to escape this overcrowded planet, they will be so shoved into one
meaning of humanity, that the trip may not be worth it. if we
extrapolate form their, the corollary would be: why not save the
planet we're on, rather than working so hard to be part of the "chosen"
group. This may be way off, but the imposing buildings on the
side, crush of humanity and slim chance of making it through to the
other side crush back at us thanks to the good use of perspective and
haunting backs of heads. I guess, on the more daunting side,
these folks could have been chosen to be used as grist for the next
batch of "Soilent Green," at which point, Carmel has done it
again: left just enough ambiguity to keep us form running form
the room screaming, while still leaving room for making the most dire
of predictions, or stabbing social commentary.

If you have some free time on Wednesdays in the summer, Filer's
painting with Oils and Acrylics runs for four weeks from 10:00 am to
12:30 pm on August 2-23. You can register online at:
http://www.artscenterlive.org/ . it's clear that a lot of people
who come with an interest and a desire, spend more than one session
with Jane, and end up with, well, either second careers, or a batch of
well crafted art.
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2 Responses to “Painting with Jane”

Thanks for the thoughtful review. I appreciated your insights and am glad you enjoyed the show. This is my first show aside from the Student Show at the ArtsCenter and so, I was pleased to be included in your comments. Jane is a truly inspiring and supportive teacher and the painters I have met in her classes are as well. I encourage anyone who paints to take her class, if possible. Peg Bachenheimer
2. JUDY BAUMAN Says:
June 30th, 2006 at 10:43 am e

Thank you for including “Contemplation” in your review. Your review fully captured the wide range of styles and talent in the show and among Jane Filer’s students. It is such a pleasure to take classes from Jane and to learn from the other artists in her class as well.

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