Feb 05, 2013

PRYOR GALLERY TO SHOWCASE OIL AND WATER EXHIBIT

Exhibit to Open Friday, Jan. 4

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Dec. 20, 2012) - - - Columbia State Community College's Pryor Art Gallery welcomes a new exhibit to kick off the New Year. "The Art of Oil & Water" opens Friday, Jan. 4 and features Chestnut Group members, Dean Shelton and William Brison.
"Dean Shelton and Bill Brison are incredibly talented artists," said Rusty Summerville, curator for the Pryor Gallery. "We encourage everyone to come out and meet them at our reception in February."
Shelton, an Arkansas native and current Tennessee resident, graduated from Arkansas Tech after studying under Stephen Naegle, who introduced him to watercolor and strongly influenced Shelton's painting techniques. After studying at the Art Center of Design in Los Angeles, Shelton worked as a freelance illustrator for more than 30 years in Nashville's publishing industry. In 2002, his focus switched from illustration to fine art.
In 2010, Shelton was selected to exhibit with the Tennessee Watercolor Society at its bi-annual exhibit. His art was also on display at the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional in 2008 and again at the American Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition in 2007.
Although he began painting in high school, Brison didn't pursue art until 25 years later. Privately studying under well-known and professional artists such as Charles Brindley, Lisa Towers and Anne Blair Brown, Brison began painting in both oil and watercolor.
The Pryor Gallery is in the Waymon L. Hickman building on the Columbia campus and is free and open to the public Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A free reception will take place Thursday, Feb. 7 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Pryor Art Gallery.
Photo Caption: In addition to the Chestnut Group, Dean Shelton is a member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society, the Tennessee Art League and the Oil Painters of America. He was a finalist in the 2006 Raymar Art Competition, won fifth place in the 2005 Watercolor Magic Magazine Competition and was a finalist in the 2002 Artist Magazine Competition.
Photo Caption: William Brison, whose work is inspired by travels with his wife, studied with Shelton for two years. Brison, along with Shelton, is a member of the Chestnut Group, a group of "plein air" (open air) painters who raise funds from creating art from historic and vanishing landscapes across Tennessee.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.