New show at art club
By Casey Gillis on May. 01, 2008
From staff reports
Lynchburg Art Club’s latest show, Rural Reflections, is opening this weekend.
An opening reception is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, but art lovers can get a sneak preview when the club is open from 6 to 8 p.m. for First Fridays.
The show features the work of Lynchburg residents Zuby Newskyj and T. Ashby “Smokie” Watts.
Newskyj began pursuing art seriously after a near-fatal plane crash in 1984 ended her career as a commercial pilot. She fell back on her lifelong interest in painting and drawing, establishing a working studio in her home.
Best known for her landscapes, Newskyj enjoys capturing the atmospheric qualities of central Virginia landscapes, with its summer haze and distant mountains. She also enjoys painting wildlife, domestic animals and equine art (inspired by her Arabian mare, Serrangeti).
Lynchburg native Watts has also been painting since the 1980s.
He was first inspired by his daughter, Kent, who brought home an oil painting she had done in high school. Watts figured that if she could do it, he could, too. He began taking classes and soon discovered a passion for painting historic buildings and rural landscapes with old barns. Historic preservation is one if his interests, as well as photography, woodworking, biking, boating and fishing.
The work of Newskyj and Watts will stay up until May 18. The Lynchburg Art Club’s gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call (434) 528-9434.
COMMENTS