{"id":543,"date":"2008-06-30T11:28:00","date_gmt":"2008-06-30T11:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.johnokeefe.net\/blog\/?p=543"},"modified":"2023-02-14T17:51:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T17:51:29","slug":"2008-summer-exhibition-by-lyme-art-association","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.johnokeefe.net\/blog\/2008\/06\/30\/2008-summer-exhibition-by-lyme-art-association\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Exhibition by Lyme Art Association (2008)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Lyme
Lyme Art Gallery,
Old Lyme, Connecticut<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Summer Exhibition by Lyme Art Association<\/a> was my second group exhibition. This significantly boosted my confidence because I was a newcomer to the Connecticut art scene. All of this was new to me, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit I was very nervous. Therefore, I was grateful to have Jennifer at my side, encouraging me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Reception (6-27-2008) – Summer Exhibition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Summer Exhibition by Lyme Art Association held the opening reception on the 27th of June, 2008, from 6:00-8:00 PM, and over 200 guests attended the reception. Jennifer and I had the opportunity to meet and talk with David Leffel<\/strong> and his wife, Sherri McGraw<\/strong>. Specifically, we discussed my painting that they accepted into the exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The
“The Field’s Edge”<\/em>\u00a0by\u00a0John O’Keefe Jr.<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

“Excellent graphics. I love the contrast between light and dark. Unanimously accepted.” ~<\/em> David Leffel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting other Artists – Summer Exhibition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Later, I met Graham Scott<\/strong>, Photographer, and Advertising Director for ‘The Art Guide.’ Graham was the one who directed me to the Lyme Art Association after viewing my work several weeks ago, and his compliments and encouragement led me to join the association as an Associate Member. Thereafter, he introduced Jennifer and me to Diane Aeschliman<\/strong> (Elected Member and Board of Directors). Also, Anna Grenier<\/strong> congratulated me on being accepted into the exhibition. Anna is the Managing Director of the Lyme Art Gallery. Additionally, she said, “This was a tough show to get in. Out of more than 200 submitted paintings, the number accepted was 60.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jennifer and I met Barbara Lussier<\/strong> (Elected Member and Vice President of the Board of Directors). And before the reception ended, we had an opportunity to meet ‘Smiling’ Don<\/strong>, a lovely older gentleman who had previously modeled for artists. We had a friendly conversation about our previous careers (before art), and he wished us success on this adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, we met the Director of Sculpture for the Hudson Valley Art Association<\/a>. Subsequently, We discussed the steps required to become an elected member, and he said he would help start me on that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall the evening was inspiring and fun, and I received many commendations for my work. And people said they looked forward to seeing more of me and my paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Judges – Summer Exhibition<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"David
David Leffel<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

David A. Leffel has been internationally recognized as a “20th Century Old Master,” an honor that very few living American artists achieve. If we travel back to the 17th century Dutch Masters, most notably Rembrandt, who casts a powerful shadow on Leffel’s work, not only the shades of history but the artist’s immediacy that awakens us to his brilliance. Leffel is said to be a true master of chiaroscuro, not only with his shadow and light but with brilliant visual concepts. David Leffel is highly sought after not only as an artist but highly respected as an “Artist who Teaches.” Lyme Art Association is proud to welcome Mr. Leffel. 1, 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Sherri
Sherri McGraw<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Sherri McGraw is a highly accomplished artist who firmly believes in developing as an artist through observation. She doesn’t encourage any mechanical means, such as measuring systems, to provide the artists to capture a likeness or the essence of an object. The artist must observe through visual relationships for creative expression. Ms. McGraw was born in Wichita, Kansas, and raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She is considered a highly accomplished painter and master draughtsman. Her serious art studies took place at the famous Art Students League in N.Y.C. after five years of college. She is also a practitioner of Chiaroscuro’s “way of seeing.” She has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Also, she is the author of “The Language of Drawing from an Artist viewpoint.” The Lyme Art Association welcomes Sherri McGraw. 3, 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Footnotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Image of David Leffel from www.oldmastersmaroger.com<\/small>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Bio information for David Leffel as printed on Lyme Art Association’s 2008 Summer Exhibit event brochure.<\/small><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Image of Sherri McGraw from www.oldmastersmaroger.com<\/small>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Bio information for Sherri McGraw as printed on Lyme Art Association’s 2008 Summer Exhibit event brochure.<\/small><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The Summer Exhibition by Lyme Art Association was my second group exhibition. This significantly boosted my confidence because I was a newcomer to the Connecticut art scene. All of this was new to me, and I would be lying if … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[114,110,111,107,109,108,86,113,112],"yoast_head":"\nSummer Exhibition by Lyme Art Association (2008)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The opening reception for the Summer Exhibition by Lyme Art Association was being held on the 27th of June, 2008.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnokeefe.net\/blog\/2008\/06\/30\/2008-summer-exhibition-by-lyme-art-association\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Summer Exhibition by Lyme Art Association (2008)\" \/>\n<meta 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Jr.\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.johnokeefe.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\"},\"description\":\"Hello, My name is John O'Keefe Jr. I was born and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, where I raised my family with my wife, Jennifer. While I am comfortable working in most mediums, I specialize in landscape oil painting, similar to the famous Hudson River School and Victorian-era artists. ART IN MY EARLY LIFE Like every other artist, I have loved viewing and creating art for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I always drew with pencils, colored pencils, watercolors, and just about every medium I could get my hands on. I received formal art training during my primary school years. When attending elementary school, I received specialized training at the Paier College of Art in New Haven, Connecticut. The first formal recognition of my artistic ability happened in elementary school when I won an award, placing me in the top five of a statewide student art competition. During my middle school years, I was invited to attend college-level art classes one day a week at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Also, during this time, I studied watercolor painting with Connecticut artist Kathy Singer. However, my most beloved art teacher was my Aunt Ann Fucich, who instilled in me a love of art when I was a small child. John O'Keefe posing with a drawing outside of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, New York, when he was seven years old Outside the Museum of Natural History (NYC) at 7 Years Old. (My Aunt Ann Fucich took pictures) My love for art led me to seek a career in mechanical drafting. As new technologies emerged, I advanced to more sophisticated 3D CAD modeling systems, new product development, and, eventually, project management. Throughout the years, I completed many university courses and job-specific training to advance my mechanical design\/engineering career. Even though my work was very technical, an artistic element was involved in designing new products and the associated documentation processes. My love for creating art did not stop at drawing and painting. As a teenager, I started pursuing musical skills. My first love is the guitar, and I ran a small recording studio out of my home for a time while also playing guitar in a few bands. The computer soon became another outlet for creating art. With my computer skills and 3D modeling experience, I began to develop a sophisticated DC-9-41 add-on cockpit package for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The project focused on the Scandinavian Airline Service (SAS) DC-9 airplane OY-KGR. There was extensive programming and many computer-generated renderings and image files assembled in real-time when the game was running, giving the person playing the experience of sitting in a real DC-9 cockpit. A RENEWED LOVE OF ART In 2007 my wife, Jennifer, rekindled my zeal for drawing and painting. Her encouragement and support motivated me to create O'Keefe Arts and take up oil painting as a professional artist. Jennifer also enjoys creating art, and we are working together to promote the business and my paintings because of our shared love of art. I sell original works, accept commission work to create custom landscape paintings, and offer a variety of high-quality pigment prints, i.e., Giclee, reproductions of my artwork. (Websites: www.okeefe-arts.com and www.johnokeefe.net) John and Jennifer O'Keefe outside of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, New York, when he was thirty-seven years old Outside the Museum of Natural History (NYC) at 37 Years Old. My paintings have been well received in the art community, allowing my works to be displayed in prestigious exhibitions and art shows. In my home state of Connecticut, the Lyme Art Gallery, Mystic Arts Center, Cate Charles Gallery, and the Mill House Gallery have exhibited my artwork. My paintings have won awards, and I have been a featured artist in a group exhibition at the Lyme Art Association's \\\"17th Annual Associate Artists Exhibit\\\". In April of 2009, I was elected onto the board of directors of the Cheshire Art League in Cheshire, Connecticut, and I created and managed the league's website until the fall of 2011. Organizations that I belong to are Oil Painters of America, Lyme Art Association, The Salmagundi Club of New York City, Mystic Arts Association, Cheshire Art League (until 2011), and Landscape Artists International. In 2012, Jennifer and I created Painting Frames Plus, where people can purchase high-quality reproduction painting frames. 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While I am comfortable working in most mediums, I specialize in landscape oil painting, similar to the famous Hudson River School and Victorian-era artists. ART IN MY EARLY LIFE Like every other artist, I have loved viewing and creating art for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I always drew with pencils, colored pencils, watercolors, and just about every medium I could get my hands on. I received formal art training during my primary school years. When attending elementary school, I received specialized training at the Paier College of Art in New Haven, Connecticut. The first formal recognition of my artistic ability happened in elementary school when I won an award, placing me in the top five of a statewide student art competition. During my middle school years, I was invited to attend college-level art classes one day a week at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Also, during this time, I studied watercolor painting with Connecticut artist Kathy Singer. However, my most beloved art teacher was my Aunt Ann Fucich, who instilled in me a love of art when I was a small child. John O'Keefe posing with a drawing outside of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, New York, when he was seven years old Outside the Museum of Natural History (NYC) at 7 Years Old. (My Aunt Ann Fucich took pictures) My love for art led me to seek a career in mechanical drafting. As new technologies emerged, I advanced to more sophisticated 3D CAD modeling systems, new product development, and, eventually, project management. Throughout the years, I completed many university courses and job-specific training to advance my mechanical design\/engineering career. Even though my work was very technical, an artistic element was involved in designing new products and the associated documentation processes. My love for creating art did not stop at drawing and painting. As a teenager, I started pursuing musical skills. My first love is the guitar, and I ran a small recording studio out of my home for a time while also playing guitar in a few bands. The computer soon became another outlet for creating art. With my computer skills and 3D modeling experience, I began to develop a sophisticated DC-9-41 add-on cockpit package for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The project focused on the Scandinavian Airline Service (SAS) DC-9 airplane OY-KGR. There was extensive programming and many computer-generated renderings and image files assembled in real-time when the game was running, giving the person playing the experience of sitting in a real DC-9 cockpit. A RENEWED LOVE OF ART In 2007 my wife, Jennifer, rekindled my zeal for drawing and painting. Her encouragement and support motivated me to create O'Keefe Arts and take up oil painting as a professional artist. Jennifer also enjoys creating art, and we are working together to promote the business and my paintings because of our shared love of art. I sell original works, accept commission work to create custom landscape paintings, and offer a variety of high-quality pigment prints, i.e., Giclee, reproductions of my artwork. (Websites: www.okeefe-arts.com and www.johnokeefe.net) John and Jennifer O'Keefe outside of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, New York, when he was thirty-seven years old Outside the Museum of Natural History (NYC) at 37 Years Old. My paintings have been well received in the art community, allowing my works to be displayed in prestigious exhibitions and art shows. In my home state of Connecticut, the Lyme Art Gallery, Mystic Arts Center, Cate Charles Gallery, and the Mill House Gallery have exhibited my artwork. My paintings have won awards, and I have been a featured artist in a group exhibition at the Lyme Art Association's \"17th Annual Associate Artists Exhibit\". In April of 2009, I was elected onto the board of directors of the Cheshire Art League in Cheshire, Connecticut, and I created and managed the league's website until the fall of 2011. Organizations that I belong to are Oil Painters of America, Lyme Art Association, The Salmagundi Club of New York City, Mystic Arts Association, Cheshire Art League (until 2011), and Landscape Artists International. In 2012, Jennifer and I created Painting Frames Plus, where people can purchase high-quality reproduction painting frames. 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