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Landscapes, Landscapes, Landscapes of the High Country at the 31st Autumn Exhibition at Carlton Gallery

Oct. 14, 2013. The landscape in the High Country is comparable to the many landscape paintings found at Carlton Gallery during the 31st autumn exhibition. Traditional and abstracted styles in oils and acrylics by Kevin Beck, Egi Antonaccio, Jane Desonier, Linda Apriletti, Holt McLean and Andrew Braitman are rendered in a palette as dazzling as Mother Nature’s.

Local plein air artist Kevin Beck paints places for which he feels a deep connection. He is very inspired by coming face to face with the High Country’s mountain vistas and open fields in all their sublimity and glory. Beck renders his picturesque landscapes in either oils or pastels. 

artEgi Antonaccio is a versatile painter who is also inspired by the area’s woodland streams, waterfalls, flora and majestic mountains. His traditional works are painted using brushes, while his more contemporary paintings are rendered using palette knives. 

Painter Jane Desonier started her career after raising a family of four children. The color palette of Mother Nature is the inspiration for her landscape paintings. She is able to balance color and design in her work in order to capture on canvas the color harmonies found in the beautiful Southern Appalachian landscape. Desonier says, “my art is about communicating beauty. I love to paint and putting stunning colors together on a canvas is a constant source of pleasure.” 

New gallery artist Linda Apriletti is an avid outdoorswoman which suits her passion to paint nature everyday. She works primarily in oils and prefers to paint plein air when possible. Apriletti also works in her studio from plein air studies, sketches and photographs. Her plein air and studio paintings bring a fresh and accurate portrayal of the many moods, quality of light and clarity of color  of the changing seasons. Apriletti says “I want to draw the viewer into my paintings and perhaps rekindle a personal memory.”

Holt McLean paints the landscape in her signature palette of soft greens and browns with a well appointed light source. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a major in graphic design. After living in California for several years and studies in International School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture in Ambria, Italy, McLean is now in her home state of North Carolina where she enjoys capturing on canvas its beautiful scenery. 

A brilliant use of color and composition are the prominent components of the abstracted landscape paintings of Andrew Braitman. He employs obvious and aggressive brush strokes, a variety of textures and conceptual shapes to render oils on canvas with subtle details to catch the viewer’s eye. 

Braitman’s unique color palette allows him to incorporate subtle blue, green and turquoise with complimentary colors to create abstracted landscapes with a few strokes that hint of a familiar image, a barn or a cottage. 

Visit Carlton Gallery to view the many styles of landscape paintings and diverse collection of fine art in the 31 Autumn Exhibition which is ongoing through November 22. The “Sharing the Muse” exhibition of figurative, abstract landscapes, mixed media, and horses by Kate Worm, Vae Hamilton and Mary Dobbin can be viewed through October 22.  The following featured exhibition of visiting artists, Dennis and Carol Usdan will begin with an opening reception on October 26 – 2-5 pm and runs through November 19.

The gallery is located 10 miles south of Boone and 7 miles north of Linville on NC 105 in the Grandfather Mountain community near the entrance to Seven Devils. For information on artists, exhibitions or workshops, call (828) 963-4288 or www.carltongallery.com.