Amy Richards – Sew In Love – First Friday June 6th

P1010596  I still remember the way it felt to run my fingers over the raised threads of the embroidery on the pillows of my childhood bed.  The bright orange and yellow flowers had been sewn by hand by my mother who would later teach me how to embroider and sew in the first grade.  I loved those pillows.
 P1010618
The embroidery used in this series pays homage to my Mom and her passing down this craft to me.  The content of the work is based on my continued fascination with, what I refer to as, “wedding culture.”  Illustrations are created based on wedding iconography such as engagement rings, cake toppers, and flowers and transferred and embroidered onto vintage pillowcases.  I chose vintage pillowcases as my canvas because of their intimate relationships to strangers.  Portions of the patterns on the pillowcases are also embroidered and incorporated into the composition.
 P1010619
Amy attended Kent State University where she earned her BA in Art Education in 2004.  She has shown in various venues throughout the triangle over the past eight years.  She has illustrated many coloring books including The ABCs of NC.  She is currently working on her first children’s book about a Boston Terrier with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Kerri Eckes – Flora – First Friday June 6th

Orchids: Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 30"x30"

Orchids: Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 30″x30″

Kerri Eckes grew up in Abilene, Texas, but moved to Goldsboro, North Carolina, when she was 16. She now calls Raleigh her home, having lived here for the last nine years. Ms. Eckes received her BA in Fine Arts from Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, North Carolina, in 1999. She completed her MFA in Studio Art, with a concentration in Painting, at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, in 2005. She is currently a Full-time faculty member at The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, where she teaches Foundations classes in Drawing, Color Theory, and 2d Design, in addition to Illustration. Ms. Eckes has also exhibited in solo and juried shows throughout Raleigh and Eastern North Carolina, and teaches workshops in Charcoal Portraiture and Pastels. She has been a studio artist at Litmus Gallery & Studios since 2005, where she has open studio on First Fridays.

Pansies: Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 24"x30"

The artist has been drawing since she could hold a pencil. As an adult, she found a box of homework and tests dating back to first grade, where she had drawn in every available empty space on the page. She took her first art class in high school, but had already begun to draw with realism. After initially declaring a Business Major as an undergraduate, Ms. Eckes quickly changed her major to the more “impractical” Fine Arts major. Even though she excelled in other disciplines, art and music were the only subjects that held her interest. She took her first painting course as a college freshman,and was immediately hooked.
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Calla Lilly: Charcoal on Watercolor Paper, 49″x34″

Kerri Eckes’ subject matter was portraiture until 2011, when she desired a new challenge. Teaching Color Theory inspired a passion for color, so the most obvious subject matter was florals. Her photo-realistic paintings are characterized by bright, saturated colors, and strong color contrasts. She prefers working on a medium to large scale, which helps create stronger visual impact. Her charcoal drawings are also realistic, and characterized by value – dark and light – contrast. The interest in realism is rooted in her passion for Renaissance art, while the emphasis on contrast is inspired by the dramatic light and dark paintings of Baroque art.

Melissa R. Campbell – Joy in the Journey – First Friday showcase June 6th

SacredBorn and raised in Grand Rapids, MI, Melissa received her B.A. in Art & Design in 2004 from Grand Valley State University. Melissa R. Campbell’s artistic focus is the relationship between emotions and concepts. Most of her inspiration comes from personal experiences. Melissa’s work reflects the journey of her life through the emotion she conveys in each piece. She works mostly in oil, acrylic, charcoal and mixed media because it adds an experimental element to her work. Melissa has presented in numerous exhibitions in the Grand Rapids region. In 2004, Melissa’s piece, “Landscape by Calder”, became part of the Grand Valley State University Art Collection in Grand  Rapids, MI. No WorriesHer piece, “Tickled,” was featured in the July 2007 edition of Art Business News. She was a featured artist in the August 2007 edition of the Grand Rapids Times. In 2008, “Reflection” and “What Does the Future Hold?” became part of the Grand Valley State University Art Collection in Allendale, MI. In addition, “Contemplations of a Queen” and “Tickled” became part of the Spectrum Health Hospital Art Collection in Grand Rapids, MI in 2008. Her piece “Sheer Bliss” was selected as part of the 2009 Celebration of the Arts Festival which represents one of the largest annual juried shows in the country. ConfidenceShe was also a participating artist in the 1st Annual International Art Prize Competition in Grand Rapids, MI in 2010 which represents the largest Art Prize in the world. Melissa is involved in the Haiku Middle Passage Commemorative Exhibit, a traveling artistic collaboration, inclusive of a poet, visual artists and composers. She currently lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband Philip. She is a member the Visual Art Exchange and RAW: Natural Born Artists organization. Melissa was a participating artist in the “RAW: Ensemble” art showcase in Raleigh, NC in 2012 and an exhibit coordinator and participating artist in the “WHO IS MRS ART?” art showcase in Raleigh, NC in 2013. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, personal travel and Basketball.