Entering the Gallery you will be greeted by a village of small hand-built ceramic pieces ready to house your brushes, pencils, flowers or other decor. Linda Manning works magic with clay, from small decorative pieces to large sculptural artworks. This little neighborhood features zen doodle patterns, faces, birds and abstract compositions.
Relatively new art terms, zen doodle, or zen tangle, is a unique and meditative form of drawing that involves creating repetitive, structured patterns, usually in black and white, using simple curved or organic shapes. Nancy Yarbrough worked with stained glass for years, developing a great appreciation for light interacting with glass, but transitioned to watercolor to avoid health risks of working with toxic chemicals.
Discovering a love of painting, she deduced that fused glass offered her a safer way to “paint” with glass. After two decades of taking workshops with several accomplished glass artists and glass painters, she has mastered the technical aspects of fused glass, producing impressive fine art compositions.
Yarbrough describes her works to be “abstracts of layered light and color.” She emphasizes the importance of a focal point that guides the viewer through the piece, particularly enjoying the interplay of rich dark colors enhancing the lighter areas.
“Most of my pieces do not begin with a specific meaning intended for the viewer,” she said. “Usually during the process a title or thought will present itself.”
Yarbrough typically starts with a cruciform composition, drawn to that shape on multiple levels. Often viewers are intrigued by stunning interaction of colors.
Upon closer inspection, the viewer begins to appreciate the depth of layers, perhaps surprised that these works do not contain actual paint. Yarbrough actually “paints” with ground colored glass mixed with a medium that burns off during the firing process.
Her glassworks include a striking range of sizes, from a large free-standing sculptural triptych to impressive wall hangings and tabletop pieces. Her ever-popular “love letter” hearts have become collectors’ favorites.
She is genuine in her remarks, stating, “I am always so rewarded when my work brings someone joy.”
Gallery 195 of Boerne, 195A S. Main St. Details: 830-331-9904 or: www.gallery195.com.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and visit our website often: www.hccarts.org. Send inquiries to [email protected]. HCCArts develops and enriches an environment that supports and promotes awareness, appreciation, education and access to all the arts.
CELEBRATING THE ARTS
PAULA HORNER
HCCA PRESIDENT
Comment
Comments