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Chester County Press

A one-stop shop for local art

11/27/2018 10:40AM ● By J. Chambless

'Winter Mist' by Paul Scarborough.

By John Chambless
Staff Writer

With the help of some additional pegboard walls and a lot of extra nails, the 2018 “Christmas in Miniature … And Moore” show of small paintings has returned to the Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery in Chadds Ford for another year. There will be an opening reception on Nov. 28 from 1 to 8 p.m.

Most of the art is indeed miniature – as small as three inches across in the oil landscapes by Victoria McNeil Levine – but it ranges up to the major woodland watercolor “Weeds” by John Wilkison, and the atmospheric winter scenes “Winter Gleaning 1” and “Winter Gleaning 2” by H.L. Benson.

In between those extremes are a few hundred original artworks that are priced to be holiday gifts. Some of them, such as Peter Sculthorpe's gem, “Snow on the Fields,” would be quite a financial splurge, but even if you're just browsing, the show is an every-square-inch exercise that takes some concentration, but richly rewards your effort.

If you have a favorite regional artist, you'll probably find them here, and you may well discover a few new artists you'll love.

Standouts include J.M. Standish's “Still Life Or Landscape?”, an egg tempera of a painting on a mantlepiece that's two artworks for the price of one, and splendidly detailed. Ray Hendershot's snow scenes and autumn woodland views are really fine, and packed with an almost photographic level of detail.

There are several originals by the late artist Paul Scarborough, including an atmospheric watercolor, “Winter Mist,” and a glowing green view of the Brandywine titled “Lazy Day Morning.”

Barbara Neville's pastel, “Sunlite Meadow,” has a wonderful light and just the right amount of texture. Timothy Wadsworth's “The Clearing” is a very nice watercolor of a field, woodland and a moody sky. “Hayseed,” by Steven White, captures a curious cow with an adorably bristly face.

The show extends to the workshop area of the gallery, where you'll find John Wilkison's watercolor “Almost There” among the small gems. But you can also admire Wyeth family signed prints, as well as unframed prints and posters by the dozens.

The stock of available works will change as pieces sell and are replaced, so repeat visits to the gallery would be a good idea. And you might spot something you missed the first time through.

“Christmas in Miniature … And Moore” will continue at Barbara Moore Fine Art (in the Chadds Ford Barn Shops, Baltimore Pike and Creek Road, Chadds Ford) through Dec. 31. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 484-776-5174 or visit www.barbaramoorefineart.com.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].