ADAM VINSON on 'We Love Your Custom' Painting

The vest in the painting is most likely from the Indus Valley of Afghanistan. It is decorated with intricate embroidered patterns and mirrors, and would have been worn for special occasions. In this context we see it draped upon a wire hanger with the distinct paper wrapping of a Western dry cleaning business whose thankful message to their patrons is “We Love Our Customers”.

However, here we see specific letters of this message obscured by the vest. If we were to read what is exposed in modern shorthand, we might decipher “we love your custom”. Herein is where I intended to juxtapose the relationship of two very different cultures and their current relationship in history. I prefer to leave the message vague and open to interpretation as it is not my intention to deliver any kind of concrete meaning.

                       Adam Vinson, 'We Love Your Custom', 34 x 26 inches, Oil on Panel

                       Adam Vinson, 'We Love Your Custom', 34 x 26 inches, Oil on Panel

Clearly from the buttons pinned to the vest we can see a few messages eluding to patriotism, cynicism, faith and pacifism. 

The wire hanger is intentionally not “hanging” on any sort of hook or nail. It is a painting and paintings can and should transcend reason. For me, this is a reminder that even though I spent so much time trying to execute verisimilitude with this picture, it is, after all, not reality. 

Spotlight: ADAM VINSON

Adam Vinson is a remarkable painter and one whose paintings barely have time to settle in the gallery before they are swept away to their new homes!  Here's a look at his most recent painting: Untitled, 9 x 6 inches, Oil on Birch Panel, 2015.

Adam has an ongoing dialogue with Taylor Holmes that will give you a view into his world, thoughts, and process: An Interview with Painter Genius Adam Vinson.

Painter genius, indeed!  It's exhilarating to show Adam's paintings to say the least.

Paint the Hill-- 30 Artists / 30 Locations / Lots of Wet Paint!

On Saturday, June 7th, we had the pleasure of hosting our first ever Paint the Hill Event with the Beacon Hill Civic Association!

The event was a smashing success!  Thirty artists painted around Beacon Hill from early morning until 4pm when all the paintings returned to the gallery for the evening Soirée and Reveal.

Participating artists were from around the greater Boston area, some with an intimate knowledge of Beacon Hill and some exploring the Hill for the first time.  All painted on private property accessible to the public. 

A big THANK YOU to our entire Paint the Hill committee and all of our sponsors who made this event possible: 75 Chestnut, Hampshire House, Fastachi, Beacon Hill Wine & Spirits, Sevens, Hingham Institute for Savings, Panificio, grosgrain & ink LLC, Boston Art & Framing, Beacon Hill Gourmet, The Boston Courant, Opus Affair, Soon Spoon, and Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.

A collection of paintings from Paint the Hill

If you see anything that catches your eye -- contact us!  A number of the paintings are still available for purchase in the gallery.

A Contemporary Mirror: Mary Sauer

Available in the April 2014 issue of The Artist's Magazine -- this fantastic interview with Mary Sauer offers a look into the techniques, materials, and process she uses to create her stunning portraits.  Having just observed Mary's work while she was in town to start a portrait commission -- this article is spot on, a MUST read! 

Below are three paintings by Mary that show different steps in her process.

Three New Additions: Greg Horwitch, Daniel Robbins, & Kelly Carmody!

We are excited to announce the addition of Greg Horwitch, Daniel Robbins, & Kelly Carmody to the gallery!  All three have very different backgrounds and styles, making them each a unique addition to our roster of artists. 

Greg Horwitch

Born in Boston, Greg received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and upon graduating, traveled to Italy with plans to continue his education.  He spent the next 12 years studying and then teaching at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence.  Greg recently moved back to the States and now lives in New York City although he pays frequent visits to Boston and mid-coast Maine -- even in the winter!  Greg's painting subject matter is diverse, but his first love is the human figure and narrative. 

"The subjects vary, but the vehicle is always light.  The Italian word chiaroscuro literally means 'light-dark.'  Light renders the world visible to the eye; darkness renders it captive to the imagination."

Daniel Robbins

Coming from an artistic background, Daniel graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006 with a BFA.  After participating in a number of shows in the Virginia & North Carolina area, Danny, who lives in Richmond, was featured in the Summer 2013 issue of Artists on Art Magazine.  Danny has been recognized for his talent on numerous occasions including receiving the Virginia's Finest Award at the Boardwalk Art Festival on multiple years in a row.

Kelly Carmody

We originally had the pleasure of working with Kelly last April when she was an invitational artist in our Back to Back Exhibition and are excited to announce that she is now a full time addition to the gallery!  She studied at the Massachusetts College of Art where she developed a strong love of the figure and continued her education ofter graduating by taking workshops and classes to further investigate her love of the Old Masters.  Soon after, she went on to study at the prestigious Art Students League in New York where she received a merit scholarship.  Her work has received awards and recognition from numerous associations and publications including the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Art Renewal Center, Studio Visit Magazine, Artist Magazine, and the Cambridge Art Association.  Kelly paints in a beautiful studio in the old Waltham Mill buildings along the Charles River.

We are delighted to have these three incredible artists join our roster at Sloane Merrill Gallery. Stop by to see their work in person, you won't be disappointed!