See "Written in Paint"

Opening tonight at the Adirondack Artists' Guild is "Written in Paint", a new show by Jeanne Danforth, first prize winner of the Guild's annual juried show last winter.

It is fun, for me at least, to have a chance to enjoy the work of an artist with whom I was previously unfamiliar. Jeanne is quite versatile, both in medium and subject, though the overarching impression is of vibrant rural life.

Of the 21 pieces on the wall, nearly half are watercolors. The rest span several media: oil paint, pen & ink, Conte crayon, and soft pastel. Although the show flyer does not indicate this, in looking carefully at the artworks I wondered if some incorporate mixed media.

Her loose style verges on the unrestrained. Incidental splashes and strokes are incorporated into an overall composition - or not: sometimes they are allowed to stand as mute testaments to the artist's ebullient surety. Juxtaposed with these are precise delineations of shape, texture, and expression.

Birds and mammals seem near the artist's heart - as they are to mine. Beasts of one sort and another are amongst my own favorite subjects, and Jeanne appears to share this delight. From fly-wary bovines to curious kids, cozy nestlings to migrating flocks, she examines the emotional landscapes of our fellow critters.

Plant life is also studied carefully, as are human structures. Flowers, ferns, barns, and chicken wire all catch light and shine back feeling in Jeanne's paintings.

As I have written before, the members of the Guild know how to throw a reception. If you are in or near Saranac Lake tonight, do stop by - congratulate Jeanne on her splendid show, and socialize. Who knows? There might even be brownies!