By John Chambless
Staff Writer

There's a quiet charm to the works in Reenie Chase's solo show at Bookplace in Oxford this month. There are more than 40 works in the show, which captures places and faces both near and far.

Chase's surfaces – feathery, layered pigments and a slightly sketchy style – have an interesting texture, becoming almost sculptural in the abstract “Sedona Sunrise.”

There are three works that capture some of the speed and energy of horse and rider, particularly “Point to Point” and “Blue Team.” There's a tranquil view of boys playing in a stream (“Amish Rafting”), and an adorable painting of a toddler artist mulling her next paint choice (“Petite Painter”).

Chase gets a lovely reflective quality to the puddles in “After the Rain,” and there's a richly rendered sunlight in “Shadows,” a view of pedestrians coming and going.

Local audiences will appreciate the lovely “Market Street Oxford,” which gets to the heart of the borough's small-town appeal.

Chase also captures small, intimate moments of interaction, such as “Solving the World's Problems” and “Political Discussion,” that are warm and non-confrontational. Her work overall has a nostalgic glow, tempered with gentle commentary, and it's consistently engaging.

Works by Reenie Chase are on view at Bookplace (2373 Baltimore Pike, Oxford) through the end of September. The store and gallery is open Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Visit www.bookplaceoxford.com.

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