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Located on the lower level of the St. Cecilia Music Center building, the Terryberry Gallery showcases area artists throughout the year, making it a unique and beautiful space for hosting small receptions or as an overflow space when renting the Mika Music Library.
For room rental availability for your special event, please contact Event & Facility Director Carla Messing at 616.459.2224 (ext 204) or carla@scmcgr.org.
M. JOY LEMON
About the artist...
After I earned my BFA, I was producing decent work but felt I lacked skill and refinement in a way I could not clearly define. I had heard "a good painter is a good drawer" and I wanted to be a good painter, the best I could be. The need to produce and sell work was pulling against a deep desire to really learn how to draw and paint.
In the spring of 2020, I began to research artists and art practices and came across classical atelier art training, a form of rigorous, intuitive study focused on developing an artist's eye for accuracy with proportion (shapes), value (light vs. shadow) and color to a very high degree of sensitivity, while developing refined control of materials and without relying on external measuring devices or tools.
Cubanella Pepper II - oil
Seeing the potential for improvement, I decided to start the process for myself. Using graphite, then charcoal and chalk, I worked with Bargue plates, plaster casts, and ultimately still life, all through direct ovbservation. Now I am integrating that training with various classical pianting techniques to inlude; multilayered indirect, direct, scumbling & glazing, alla prima and master copies.
Many years later, I am in awe of what this traning has opend up for me not only in technique, but also in resilience, patience and a thriving daily studio practice. I feel more connected to the lineage of artists from the past, have the ability to continually develop my skills, and am able to create work with confidence and purpose.
Having experienced this for myself, I desire to teach other artists who may be searching for more, as I was. If you are interested in learning how to draw and paint at a higher level, you can reach me through my website or check out my workshops at the Franciscan Life Process Center in Lowell, MI and local classes with the Forest Hills Fine Art Center.
Upright Whelk - charcoal and chalk
ARTIST RECEPTION
There will not be a reception for the May exhibition.
Throughout the artist's residency, select pieces are available for purchase through St. Cecilia Music Center. Contact Event + Facility Director Carla Messing at carla@scmcgr.org for more information.
