By Kathryn Purcell
Managing Editor

Portraiture and Paris are slated to be in the subject matter as part of this month’s Madison Artists Guild-sponsored First Friday exhibit, as two local artists – Joanie Bruce and Livy Scholly – will be sharing their work.

Bruce paints in a self-described “realistic” manner, especially portraits, using primarily oil, as well as acrylic, pen and ink, pastel, clay, pencil and charcoal, but is working towards becoming more “impressionistic” with her landscapes.

“Most of the paintings I do are commissions, so I paint the person, the landscape or the scene that I’ve been given to paint,” Bruce said, in e-mail correspondence. “However, when I’m painting for fun, I try to choose the reference material that I like to look at myself. It’s fun to observe the way the light falls on the point of interest, and I enjoy capturing that in my paintings.”

Further, she is inspired by the challenge that painting provides.

“Trying to capture the personality of everything I paint keeps me motivated and excited,” Bruce said. “It makes starting every new painting a challenge and an adventure.”

Those planning to attend the First Friday event may have seen Bruce’s work before, as she has been in several prior art shows, including The Portrait Society of Atlanta’s “Drawings Only” Exhibit at the Art Station at Big Shanty in Atlanta, The Portrait Society of Atlanta’s Spring 2006 and Spring 2007 Juried Exhibit at the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, “Pleasure of the Palette” at Reynolds Plantation, the 2007 Local Artists Exhibition at the Pecan Orchard Gallery in Greensboro, the Second Annual Artists Exhibition and Gala at the Hampton Fine Art Gallery and numerous other local exhibits and juried shows.

“I think it’s a wonderful experience, and I’m looking forward to exhibiting all the paintings I’ve been working on this summer,” Bruce said, of the opportunity to show her work in the First Friday exhibit.

Throughout her experience painting, Bruce finds that she paints not only for herself, but for her subject.

“Painting is a pleasure for me, not only because I can use the talent that God has given me for the enjoyment of others, but because I enjoy capturing the personality of my subject and bringing it to life with just canvas and paint,” Bruce said.

To view more of Bruce’s work, visit www.joaniebruce.com.

Scholly believes that her photographs are simplistic, but understands that viewers often find complexities within them.

“Mostly I just shoot what I see, although sometimes I try to create a certain mood or image by using a different angle or perspective,” Scholly said, in e-mail correspondence.

Scholly recently took a trip to France, and found herself and her camera in  both Paris and “Le Perche,” the country. Much of this work will be part of the First Friday exhibit.

“Generally I photograph animals, but in France, although I was able to capture a few dogs and horses, I took things that were interesting to me or that I thought might be interesting to others and images that captured the French culture,” Scholly said.

Scholly has had work in several local shows, most recently the “In the Company of Horses” exhibit.

“Hopefully, this is a good chance for more people to see my work,” Scholly said, of being part of this month’s First Friday exhibit.

A reception and opening of the September First Friday Art Exhibit, sponsored by the Madison Artists Guild and The Shops at the IceHouse Underground, will be held on Friday, September 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Shops at the IceHouse Underground, 271 West Washington Street in Madison. Light refreshments and wine will be served. The show is slated to remain on display though the month during business hours – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.