Inspired by the beauty, diversity, the ever-changing atmosphere and environment of the Potomac River and its surroundings, pastelist Daniel Wise has created a series of paintings depicting scenes along the Potomac River. “383: Viewing the Potomac” will be featured at The Art League Gallery March 5 – April 6, 2009.
Wise grew up in Colorado, far from large bodies of water. Now that he lives in Washington, he’s drawn to render a different landscape. “The Potomac and the immediate surroundings are constantly evolving and changing… the colors, trees, wildlife, and the people. There is so much diversity.”
“I’m attracted to a scene or composition by light and how it interacts with the landscape. How the light effects the atmosphere, the fog, snow, or the sunset, and how the light interacts with different objects is particularly intriguing.”
Pastel is integral to Wise’s work. “I like to be close to what I’m doing, have my hands in it. Pastel is very tactile, and is such a versatile medium. It can be used to create drawings or paintings. My works are paintings. I go for color, value, and shape and approach a pastel painting like I would an oil painting. They are the same pigments that are in oil paints, minus the oil.”
“I want viewers to come away with a sense of the diversity of the landscape. I want them to get a sense of the many moods of the Potomac…. You can go back to the same spot, look at the same scene from the same vantage point and it will always look different. I hope viewers will come away with a love of landscape.”
383 is the distance in miles of the Potomac River. Rendering scenes along the river is a continual project for Wise. For his show at The Art League Gallery, viewers can enjoy scenes from Harpers Ferry, WV to Cumberland, MD to the DC area. Wise hopes to get from Fairfax Stone and to the Chesapeake Bay as he continues the project.
Wise is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Maryland Pastel Society. He is also a member of The Art League, the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association, Audubon Artists, and Allied Artists of America. His work is held in private, public, and corporate collections throughout the country.
In The Art League Gallery:
“383: Viewing the Potomac,” March 5 – April 6, 2009
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 12, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Meet the Artist and Pastel Demonstration: Saturday, March 21, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
NEW Art League Gallery Hours:
Daily, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, 12:00 noon – 6:00 pm
Open every Thursday evening until 9:00 pm.
Exhibitions and events are free and open to the public.
For further information on this show, please call The Art League Gallery at 703-683-1780.
Spring Registration
Spring registration is currently underway, we are accepting registrations for both classes and workshops! Feel free to enroll today to enjoy one of a myriad of topics. For example: Making Pots from Parts with Blair Meerfeld; Silver Soldering for Jewelry with Tina Chisena; Mixed Watermedia with Peter Ulrich; Landscape in Acrylic with Susan Herron; Japanese Braiding with Terri Flynn; Continuing The Search -- Working in a Series with Joyce McCarten; and Drawing 101 with Rick Weaver. Please browse all of our classes and workshops online, and then register. Call us at 703-683-2323 with any questions you may have. If you prefer to register by fax, through the mail, or in person you may print a registration form here. To view the catalog changes and additions, please click here for the addendum. Our new Fiber Brochure is now available for download, click here.
Mixed Media for Teens
Our teen Mixed Media class is having an exhibition of works! Drop by and show your support!
Just Announced!
Art League instructor Carol Dupre has been named Torpedo Factory Artist of the Year!
Teaching Positions
The school is currently seeking a stained glass teacher with excellent cold glass skills, and a silk screen teacher with varied printing experience.
For artists seeking teaching positions, applications should include several slides/tifs or jpegs of current work, a cover letter with statement of intent, and resumé. Applications should be addressed to School Director, Kathi Cohen, at The Art League School, 105 North Union St. Alexandria, VA 22314 or email kathic@theartleague.org.