At a glance
Four women...four backgrounds....four approaches to art, all meeting weekly to paint together, challenge one another, and laugh. All formerly or currently work in Belmont and paint together there after work. All started with some tole painting, but moved on. All are, mostly, self-taught, other than occasional weekend seminars, or one day classes.
The Painted Ladies—a group of artist friends—will exhibit a representational body of their work in the gallery at Hinkle Memorial Library, ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State College, this month.
Four women...four backgrounds....four approaches to art, all meeting weekly to paint together, challenge one another, and laugh. All formerly or currently work in Belmont and paint together there after work. All started with some tole painting, but moved on. All are, mostly, self-taught, other than occasional weekend seminars, or one day classes.
Often, they start from the same point, but end up with very different paintings. For the last several years they traveled together to the HOOT painting convention in Columbus, OH, taking classes from various national teachers, learning new techniques, and enjoying the time together. They mentor and heckle each other, but make sure everyone keeps on painting...at least once a week!
Each painter began with acrylics, and slowly has come to prefer oils. All play with watercolors, some enjoying it more than others. They chose the name for their group, Painted Ladies, in honor of the wonderful, colorful, stately homes in San Francisco. The group showed their art for the first time at the Wellsville Art Show in the fall of 2010, and collectively were awarded four ribbons.
Patricia Simard, a former child protective investigator (18½ years), is now taking classes in horse care and training weekly with her quarter horse. She lives with her husband and two Jack Russell terriers outside of Wellsville. She often paints elegant florals or birds, and dabbles in landscapes. She sells her work at the Cuba Garlic Festival.
Lou Conklin works for Allegany County, and lives with her husband and dog outside of Cuba. She is a perfectionist, paints the most realistic barns, and patiently makes every stroke count. She has exhibited and sold at the Main Center Gallery in Angelica and the Cuba Garlic Festival.
Carol Shaffer is a retired court reporter, and also lives outside Cuba, with her husband, dogs, cats, and farm animals. She paints wonderful wildlife portraits, and is currently working on plans for a series of murals for downtown Cuba. She enjoys time with her grandchildren now that she is retired.
Leslie Haggstrom is an assistant county attorney, and lives in Angelica with her husband and their cat. She has two grandchildren she spends time with whenever possible. She prefers oils and watercolors, and paints Allegany County landscapes. She is the least patient, and is struggling to paint more freely.
The Painted Ladies show opened at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State on March 3 and runs through April 1. It is open to the public during regular library hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 1-7p.m.; Sunday, 1-11 p.m. While the college is on spring break the week of March 13, the library is open only until 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.