AASJ’s Replicating the Masters Rakes In More Than $12,000

Edie Johnson presented a Gauguin inspired painting.

The Artists’ Association of St. John raised more than $12,000 at the second annual Replicating the Masters Show and Auction on Friday evening, January 12 — the group’s most successful fund-raiser to date.

More than 200 people crowded the second floor of The Marketplace to watch 31 artists present works inspired by, or in the style of, various late masters like Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse and Paul Gauguin.

While the evening was a huge success, AASJ members will be tweaking things next year to make the event even better, explained AASJ president Bob Wilkinson.

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The show attract a large crowd to the association’s gallery at The Marketplace.

“Significantly” More Sales Than Last Year
“The show was more successful than last year, with more people and significantly more sales,” said Wilkinson. “We also learned a lot. Next year  none of the work will be covered and the gallery will be open early for people to preview the pieces before they are presented.”

The evening is as much fun for the artists as it is for the audience, according to Wilkinson.

“The artists enjoyed having to paint a bit differently stylistically or in a different medium in some cases,” Wilkinson said. “They also enjoyed researching the artist they replicated and making their presentations. A number of the artists provided the audience with information they might not have known.”

While Wilkinson and his wife Claire Wilkinson spent long hours preparing for the show, the AASJ president gave the artists all the credit.

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AASJ President Bob Wilkinson looks on while Bente Hirsch holds Kristen Maize’s rendition of Edgar Degas’ “Two Bathers on the Grass” during the art show.

Credit To Artists
“I really want to thank the artists,” said Wilkinson. “They did a phenomenal job. The entire evening was really a collective effort and the culmination of the enthusiasm of the artists.”

Looking ahead to next year’s Replicating the Masters, there might be a surprise in store, Wilkinson added.

“We intend for next year’s show to be bigger than this year with a surprise wrinkle,” said Wilkinson. “We are trying to get a well-known artist from the states to participate.”

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Liz Ford presented her interpretation of Henri Matisse’s “Blue Bowl with Oranges” during the Artists’ Association’s Second Annual Replicating the Masters show and auction.

AASJ members also recently wrapped up a week-long workshop led by Sean Dye which focused on water soluble oil paint, traditional oil pant and plein air landscape painting.

Dye, the author of “Painting with Water Soluble Oils” and the “Mixed Media Sourcebook,” instructed participants in the finer points of landscape painting with excellent results, explained Wilkinson.

“Everyone did excellent work, but especially Michelle Winnie’s Cinnamon Bay painting,” Wilkinson said. “Michelle is a portrait artist and this is her first landscape — it’s incredible. The  piece will be on display in the gallery as soon as the paint dries and it can be framed.”

With the popularity of the Dye workshop, keep an eye out in the future for additional guest artists leading classes.

Life Drawing Session Opening Feb. 9
Up next for the AASJ is the Life Drawing Session opening at the group’s studio in the Lumber Yard complex, where Solo Arte used to be located, on Friday, February 9, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The opening will feature both male and female nudes from AASJ’s life drawing classes which the association has been offering for more than a year. Water color and oil paintings, as well as charcoal and pastel drawings will be featured in the show.

Space is still available in the life drawing classes, which are offered on Wednesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. with a Thursday evening class possible in the future, Wilkinson added.

The AASJ also has open studio space available for rent at the Lumber Yard at the bargain basement price of $200 a month. For more information contact the Wilkinsons at the AASJ gallery at 774-2275.