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Chester County Press

Local scenes and landscapes at the Chadds Ford Gallery

10/26/2015 11:14AM ● By J. Chambless

'Hitch Hiker' by Timothy Wadsworth.

By John Chambless
Staff Writer

The Chadds Ford Gallery spotlights four artists who have never shown together before this month, and the resulting show should quickly win over visitors.

J. Wayne Bystrom is exhibiting for the first time at the gallery, along with Don Shoffner, Timothy Wadsworth and Robert Stack. The exhibit is pretty, and features local scenes that you may recognize.

Stack's finest moment may be his sun-dappled view of an island inlet and scattered homes, titled “They That Wash on Monday Have All Week to Dry.” There's a lovely placement of a line of washing and some spectacular rendering of sunlight on the ocean surface. The pale blue/purple hue of the houses perfectly conveys the brilliant light of the scene. Stack's “Jack Be Nimble,” a loosely painted watercolor of forest floor and a single jack-in-the-pulpit, has a nice, spontaneous look.

In contrast, the microscopic details in Shoffner's “Flies, Nymphs and Other Deceptions” earns applause for its razor-sharp depiction of fishing lures. Both Shoffner and Wadsworth depict local farms, barns and homes in finely rendered watercolors. Wadsworth's “Little Elk Creek” has a mid-stream point of view that puts a nice spin on the view of a covered bridge, and his small “Morning Smile” gets maximum drama out of sunlight beaming majestically through tree branches.

Bystrom has earned accolades for his luxurious landscapes. The oils on canvas glow with warmth – particularly “Standing Out,” a summertime view of trees, rocks and pond that demands attention with its vibrant colors and just-right clouds.

Bystrom's backlit clouds in “Approaching Storm” are in many ways more arresting than the vast field of colorful flowers in the foreground. The flowers also get pride of placement in Bystrom's “Marlborough Meadow,” a summertime expanse of field with a thick treeline in the distance. In his “Field of Gold,” a gentle slope and billowing clouds have a striking interplay.

The artists work well together, filling the gallery with strong works that will appeal to plenty of local art lovers. It's well worth a look.

The exhibit continues through Nov. 9. The Chadds Ford Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 610-388-2412 or visit www.awyethgallery.com.

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