SOMI FINE ART GALLERY
Nov 12 Update: Electricity has been restored to the general area and this week duCret School of Art is back to it's usual classes, Open Studio's and monthly workshops. Though the image to the left seems daunting, we were very lucky that the few trees that did fall, fell away from the building and there was only minor gutter damage. Most everyone affiliated with the school were without power for quite some time. While there was a curfew in the town of Plainfield, luckily, students and teachers alike, fared fairly well through it all and all classes and Open Studio's this week are running. This week 'NJ Musicians in the Park Meetup' group will play on Tues Eve, Portrait Open Studio. The Caras and Colleagues 85th Anniversary Show and Sale, which was postponed, will be on November 17th from 6pm - 9pm at the Middletown Arts Center. The center is located at 36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07060. Click here for more details on the upcoming show.
Monday Nov 5 Updated Storm Information: Power is restored
to duCret School of Art and the school is officially open as of Mon., Nov. 5th.
However, due to Plainfield's 7pm Curfew Law that is in effect, and with darkened
streets and numerous downed trees making night driving hazzardous, please take
note of this week's class and night activities cancellations:
CBS Living Large TV features homes that most of us can only dream of. Yet some individuals such as artist Christine Myshka, an instructor at the duCret School of Art, are afforded the experience of walking within the ‘larger-life’ reality, sans having to carry the hefty mortgages that go along with it. How could this be, one might ask? For several years, Christine has been contracted via a mural design company ‘Three Designing Woman’, to paint fantasy scenes in lavish and luxurious homes throughout the tri state area. Last year she spent most of her summer on scaffolding, painting scenic trees on 24 foot walls. These were not outside walls mind you, but were the interior walls of a NJ mansion, whose heights could match the panoramic perspective of a three story building rooftop level. Her job was to artistically enhance a huge foyer and stairway entrance of a $14 million dollar home in Colts Neck, NJ. By summer’s end, trees that would tower the average home had manifested in full bloom within the mansion. The job didn’t end there. According to CBS 2’s ‘Living Large’ host Emily Smith, who gave TV viewers a virtual tour of the home that was broadcast recently, several other areas of the home were touched with Christine’s artistic renderings as well. This included an eye catching stairwell and basement hallway that resembled a large Broadway theatre mezzanine, which leads to an actual theatre within the home.
Christine credits the vivid writings of Edgar Allen Poe as her childhood inspiration to become an illustrator. It is often said that the dreams of a child tell the soul what to do in life, if one but follows them. Apparently, Christine was listening carefully, for her work as a career artist now enables her to constantly explore and paint as many fantasy images as she likes, while getting paid quite nicely for it. As part of her professional training, Christine attended Parsons School of Design, where she earned a BFA in Illustration. She continued her studies at Parsons Paris, Du Cret School of Art and Grand Rapids Community College program in Greece. Christine has been freelancing as a professional artist since 1982. Her clients have included Davis Publishing Inc. Ideal Graphics Inc, The Home News & Tribune, Suburban Golf Club, Arcola Country Club, Rockaway River Country Club, T' Leon Advertising and EJs Bar and Grille. In addition to editorial, architectural and advertising illustration, Christine continues to be commissioned to paint murals. She is a long-time member of the Graphic Artists Guild. During the school year, Christine teaches ‘Life Drawing’, ‘The Business of Art’ and runs Wednesday Evening ‘Figure Drawing’ Open Studio’s at the duCret School of Art. This summer Christine will be teaching a one day course called ‘The Business of Art Boot Camp’ scheduled to run on July 6th and again on August 3rd. Those interested can download a Summer Art Workshop catalog and can register by walk-in, mail-in or phone-in between 9 – 4pm, Mondays – Fridays. duCret School of Art is also currently accepting registration for entry into Fall 2012 Semester. Visit www.ducret.edu or call 908-757-7171 for more info.
Aside from over 35 adult art workshops offered at duCret, the summer season also features several Open Studio opportunities. Local artists, beginners, art pro's and students (16+) can attend any of the four open studios running throughout summer; Open Studio's include: Takumi Ceramics and Pottery Wheel, Hand Building Ceramics, Portrait Painting & Drawing Open Studio and Figure Drawing Open Studio.