Kevin Chadwick

Life's Tapestry

Ella W. Richardson Fine Art presents “Life’s Tapestry"  a new solo exhibit showcasing the work of Virginia based artist Kevin Chadwick. The artist will be in attendance for the opening reception on April 4th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. This will coincide with The Charleston Gallery Association’s First Friday Art Walk.

Kevin Chadwick returns to Charleston with an opportunity for his patrons to immerse themselves in his vibrant mixed media paintings. Kevin paints soulful figures in a southern landscape that tell a story. His technique of creating a tapestry within a painting tells of intimate history that highlights tenderness and joy throughout. He recounts tales of rhythm and energy that define southern life are not to be missed. His scenes are abstract and heavily-layered with patterned backgrounds pieced together with rubbed paint and detailed brushstrokes gifting a soulful moment. Each character engages the viewer and they often meet at a junction of life’s shared experiences.

Kevin pursued his artistic career as an illustrator while attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He would go on to work for a national glassware company illustrating for corporations such as McDonalds, Burger King, Hallmark Cards and Twentieth Century Fox. As his career as an illustrator developed, so did his interest and passion for painting. Kevin quickly fell for the medium of oil paint and expressive figures he was able to render on a canvas with it. His talent and skill have been recognized internationally and has been the recipient of several awards for his work.

In his artist’s statement, Kevin eloquently speaks to his unique perspective on how he connects to the world around him and how he wishes to translate that view to those encountering his work. “The faces and personalities of nearby strangers have always presented me with a rich and deeply nuanced subject matter. There is a great, imperceptible void between all people, whether a factor of time, place, or individual circumstance, that challenges us to understand the many peripheral worlds surrounding our own.” 

Richard Oversmith

Strolling Towards Spring 

For this show, Richard takes us on a stroll through serene landscapes and coastal scenes that hint at spring coming around the corner. “My recent work is reflective of leaning into original design with more studio time and working with new mediums such as acrylic and gouache over the last few years. The focus of these pieces is the time of day and shape of light that comes through at twilight and dusk.” says Richard. He expressed exploring and developing his techniques through various mediums including oil, acrylic and for the past 6 years gouache. It has been especially freeing in his larger works. A freedom to approach his scenes with a less literal interpretation and more opportunity to share the essence of the natural world. He hopes to guide the viewer to follow the curves of defined shapes that bring the entire composition together beautifully.

Along with large scale oil paintings, several of his gouache pieces that boast the work of his fine tuned skills will be shown in this exhibition. Richard shares, “Expect to see more defined shapes, bold colors and splendid skies bringing a sense of nature that fit organically on a canvas.” From arching Lowcountry clouds to mountain trees full of cherry blossom buds, there is a quiet stillness that has a moment of rest for each viewer to escape for a moment of pure peace.

Richard's purpose in painting is to provoke the viewer to interact with his pieces. His paintings are his voice, and stroke by stroke, he composes a whole that
relates his vision. Richard works in oil on linen, a medium compatible with the passion he puts into his creation. He strives to achieve a mood in every painting through the use of such visual stimuli as color, edges, value and drawing. He has
derived his style from the lifelong study of past masters, the influence of contemporary painters he admires, and elements that have evolved from deep
within himself. He allows the setting to speak to him, creating only as many brush strokes as are needed for the viewer's eyes to understand and connect.

Oversmith received formal training in Fine Art and Illustration at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While at Kendall he was invited to study at the Royal College of Art in London, England. There he gained experience
in Plein Air painting and found direction in his work as an oil painter. He graduated from Kendall College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1995 and moved back to his home state of North Carolina to pursue his dream of becoming a professional
artist.

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