CPPS 2020 Members Showcase

Virginia Belser

State College, PA

Michelle Bereczki

Doylestown, PA

Solace

During the early days of the state lockdown. I found solace from the chaos by walking through the woods and parks near my home.

Bayside

Sunset from North Cape May beach

Rainy Sunday

I came upon this scene after getting caught in the rain while hiking in late October. The colors of the season were muted by the falling rain.

Deborah Cowder

Cumberland, Maryland

Suzanne Desarbo

Centre Hall, PA

Jill Foster

Pleasant Gap, PA

Marianne Fyda

Troutville, PA

...no sleep till....

The pastel represents our COVID masked grandsons, Max and Henry, outside a Brooklyn Coffee Shop on their last day in NYC. Our son purchased the NYTimes at my request and I did the pastel on the front page. This gives the artwork a place in time. The family was moving to California, note the boys hats.

The idea for working on a newspaper came from an old American Artist article featuring artwork on non archival surfaces. Jimmy Wright, current president of the PSA, worked on phone book pages. By mounting and priming this page it becomes somewhat archival, or at least stable.

How New York

This painting was done from a photo I took of my husband in September of 2019. One month later, he had a heart attack. I worked on a study for this piece as he recovered and went through rehab. The study was therapy for me. Later I worked on this more detailed version.

The caption on the sign is real and this picture represents a special New York moment. Listed under the caption are all the things I have missed in New York during the pandemic.

Kim Gates Flick

PA Wilds: Northern Frontier

These mixed-media works (ink, pastel pencils, watercolors) created in response to a daily advent verse; were the ones I carried with me into 2020 for their message of Hope…

“But if we hope for that we see not, do we with patience wait?”

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope:

for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?”

“Rejoicing hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,

And rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Susan Nicholas Gephart

Bellefonte, PA

These four pastel demonstrations were created during Covid Online Zoom teaching for the Art Alliance of Central PA. I had been teaching face-to-face classes to a wonderful following of local artists. But last winter Covid forced me into opening my mind to the idea of zoom teaching and making videos. I accepted the challenge and began teaching in my attic pastel studio. Prior to Covid lockdown, I had made plans to travel to Virginia to be with my daughter Jamie for the first grandchild to be born in April. This meant I would need quarantine to stay in place there in Virginia, and then set up Zoom teaching a new location. There was a lot to learn and it was challenging, but very rewarding. I must admit, the biggest challenge was working with my declined eyesight with cataracts. I’m pleased to say that after two surgeries my vision has improved with great details and enriching colors! Who knows where this will lead my winter pastel painting time!

Peggy Gladys

Covington Township, PA

My Companion

We adopted our dog Heidi in March of the pandemic. She has been a source of joy and fun during this challenging time and the impetus for my painting. She has made the dark days a little brighter for us.

Willows At Cayuga Lake

We took a day trip to Cayuga Lake in Ithaca New York this past summer. The day was as bright as the painting and for a few hours lived in the moment and left the pandemic far behind.

Teresa Lazo

Camp Hill, PA

After the Storm

I have been painting for two years now! I like this piece because it is moody instead of a bright blue sky day.

Stacy Mayou

Rochester, NY

These past several months have been really interesting. I’m incredibly grateful that my family is taking all of this seriously and has been safe and healthy so far! I have learned I can love them just as well through phone calls and zoom as I can in person, though I miss hugs a lot! I miss live art shows, theater and music, but I’ve enjoyed the pause, time to be in nature, and explore places I’ve been meaning to go. With these pieces I have tried to convey the beauty of the ever changing landscape and it’s importance to all of us.