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Capturing the great outdoors on canvas

| 20 Aug 2014 | 02:54
    Photos by Anya Tikka Marie Mohila from Dixon City near Scranton comes to the group driven by her husband John who says he likes to be outdoors as well although he's not an artist.
    Photos by Anya Tikka Marie Mohila from Dixon City near Scranton comes to the group driven by her husband John who says he likes to be outdoors as well although he's not an artist.
    Lisa Peet and Lori Gearhart chose a spot at the back of the old, converted barn that's now a garden center for painting.
    Lisa Peet and Lori Gearhart chose a spot at the back of the old, converted barn that's now a garden center for painting.
    Lisa Hannick who's a professional artist is painting a dead tree seen from the hollow below the main center. It's in stark contrast to the other trees and flowers in full bloom all around — although the artist could not say why she had chosen that particular spot.
    Lisa Hannick who's a professional artist is painting a dead tree seen from the hollow below the main center. It's in stark contrast to the other trees and flowers in full bloom all around — although the artist could not say why she had chosen that particular spot.
    Kathy Caracilo is an art teacher from Lake Wallenpaupack. She likes to be outdoors and to meet other adult artists.
    Kathy Caracilo is an art teacher from Lake Wallenpaupack. She likes to be outdoors and to meet other adult artists.
    Lisa Hannick painting.
    Lisa Hannick painting.

SUSSEX, NJ — A dedicated group of artists has been meeting now for 17 years to paint outdoors in ‘plein air’, mostly in Pennsylvania but also in Fair Acres Garden Center by High Point in nearby New Jersey.

The group, "Come Paint With Me," was started in 1997 by Joan Polishook who lives in Lords Valley, Pa. an artist who works in acrylic, oil, watercolor, pen and ink, as well as writing her memoirs. She does not give formal instruction, but at each session, ‘gentle feedback’ is given by the members of the group.

When the Courier visited the group, the members present had scattered around the beautiful surroundings of Fair Acres with plenty to choose from as subjects for painting, from flowers to the inspiring landscape, perfect in the sunlight.

“There are just too many things to paint!" Marie Mohila exclaimed. "I want to paint just everything!”

She comes with husband John from Dixon City near Scranton, who likes to take part in a relaxing day outdoors and shared company. He jokingly called himself “the chauffeur."

“This is about as far as we come,” Marie said, referring to the group’s meeting places.

All the others are in Pennsylvania. The sites this season include: Dorflinger - Suydam Sanctuary in White Mills; The Ledges Hotel in Hawley; Grey Towers in Milford; 109 Regiment Armory in Honesdale; Lukans Farm Resort; Settlers Inn Gardens in Hawley; Lake Region Visitors Center in Lake Wallenpaupack; Promised Land State Park; and Lackawaxen Bridge Area on both sides of the river.

Marie started to paint after retiring two years ago from her job as an Executive Secretary at a college, and enjoys the outdoors and meeting others in the group.

Kathy Carachilo usually teaches art to school kids in Lake Wallenpaupack, and finds it a pleasant change to mingle with other adult artists. Another art teacher who’s now retired, Lori Gearhart from South Sterling has been in the group for six years — she was painting the old dairy farm covered in vines that’s now a garden center.

Two professional artists came on the day — Judith Bodman from Blooming Grove who’s primarily a print maker, and often works from photographs. She sells her work in art shows mainly, and has been an artist since 1974.

Lords Valley’s award winning Lisa Hannick explained she’s made her living selling her arts for 20 years.

“I’m a professional artist, and I sell my work to galleries and individuals,” said Hannick.

Her work has been in the Blakeslee Galleries, Red Bank, N.J., and Bernardsville, N.J. among other, fetching prices between $500 to $3,500 depending on the size, although she doesn’t get to keep all of it if the galleries sell the work.

The group plans two group shows this year, of current work at the Gallery at Chant Realtors LV in September and the annual holiday show at Grey Towers in December.