The Human Canvas

The Human Canvas

At the DeBlois Gallery from September 5 - 29, 2024
*Art Trolley Night Thursday September 5, from 5:00 - 8:30 PM
Opening Reception Saturday September 7, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Gallery Night Thursday September 12, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Our September exhibit features the work of painters Lisa Bliss, Jamie Derr, and Michele Hoben, and clay sculptor Allison Elia. The show’s title, The Human Canvas, suggests the ways in which these four artists consider the human form as inspiration not only for representation, but also for creative expression. DeBlois Gallery member Lisa Bliss says “I have enjoyed painting and drawing since I was very young. My mother was an artist, and it was inspirational to see her develop and work on her art. Although I love to experiment with different media, my favorite is watercolor. I love painting portraits, still life, and landscapes (especially plein-air). Several of the portraits in the show were completed as part of a portrait challenge ‘30 Faces 30 Days’ (@sktchy) where the subjects have the most interesting faces and expressions. I have also included some nontraditional portraits of my grandchildren’s well-loved bunnies.”

After performing as a vocalist/songwriter for over 20 years, painter Jamie Derr shifted to the visual arts as an additional outlet to express herself. About her work, Derr says: I am passive to the medium and the paint leads me. I don’t usually know what I am visualizing until I see it emerge on the canvas, making me an intuitive artist. … At the core, I am often inspired by organic forms. I enjoy brushstrokes that flow, and I tend to shy away from linear and rigid lines often seen in man-made structures. The roundness of human features to the flow of ocean water allows me to enjoy the freedom of continuous movement. Perhaps it is rebellious, but I don’t appreciate being restrained while capturing a form.” DeBlois Gallery member and clay sculptor Allison Elia says that her artwork aims to capture “sculptural snapshots” that reveal the transient internal experiences that are deeply embedded in the memory of an individual, without the limits of bodily endurance or the longevity of external blemishes and scars. Her sculptures are often constructed and fired upside down or at an angle that temporarily complies with gravity because she has experienced enough unforeseen circumstances in life to recognize the value of changing perspectives and moving onward, even when it seems like the ground fell out from underneath her. Her artwork reflects the ability to learn from the past and find new approaches, and, above all, speaks of resilience, breakthrough, and new beginnings.

Michele Hoben is a designer, painter, and sculptor with a prolific career as a makeup artist in the 1990s fashion circuit, which also fueled her passion for travel and photography over two decades. Formerly a Boston resident, she moved to East Providence, R.I. last year and maintains an active studio nearby. Her portraits, characterized by rich colors and bold strokes, reveal intention and courage, capturing the unique characteristics of her subjects.

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The DeBlois Gallery is located at 134 Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown and is open 1:00 - 5:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday. All welcome; ample, free parking! *DeBlois Gallery will be participating in the Newport Artists Collective Gallery Trolley Tours departing from Perrotti Park (near the Brenton Hotel) on Thursday, September 5, 6:00 - 8:30 PM. For more information on stops and times, email debloisgallery@gmail.com.