Double Take Begins

Double Take is the study of images from Italy through photography and as pastel paintings by Bonnie Ferguson Butler as she doubles up and combines her two primary fine art interests. Although her general use of photography supports her creation of pastel paintings, Butler's overall philosophy is that great photos should stand alone as works of fine art, elevated beyond interpretation in other media. As a result, Butler's exhibit, Double Take: Photographs & Paintings of Italy, covers Northern, Central, and Southern Italy in both media, which are displayed as pastel paintings, metallic ink prints, and on canvas.

Along with the Workhouse Arts Center, Butler exhibits at The Loft Gallery in Occoquan. Her works are displayed on her websites, bfbutler.blogspot.com and bfbutlerphoto.blogspot.com. She is a Board Member of Springfield Art Guild and Founder of the Pastel Society of Virginia.

Double Take runs from June 6 through July 1 at the Workhouse Arts Center, Rt 123 at Lorton Road in Lorton VA. The opening in Building W-16 is in conjunction with the Workhouse Second Saturday Gallery Walk on Saturday, June 9 from 6-8pm. Light refreshments will feature an Italian influence.

Pastel:

Oasis Near Bologna
16x20
soft pastel
Based on poor quality photographs taken across the inside of a moving train headed from Rome to Venice, Oasis Near Bologna joins sister paintings Villagio del Vino and Tuscan Harvest, which were developed the same way. Many thanks to the patient passengers on that train.

Photography:



 
Two Dips is a series of nine mix and match photographs based on gelato flavors and colors. It features the likes of a youthful Sophia Loren, the source of inspiration traced throughout.
Two Dips, Cherry
Two Dips. Mango
8x10
metallic ink photograph

PS - Look for Ciao, Roma in the calendar section of June's élan magazine.



Note that my page on the Workhouse website is temporarily out of commission as they are redesigning the site.