The Fine Art Society of Carillon Lakes in Crest Hill opens annual art fair to the public

CREST HILL – Nancy Bugnits held up her rendition of Van Gogh’s “Yellow Buildings” for the other members of Fine Art Society of Carillon Lakes to critique.

Bugnits had painted her sky a deeper blue than the original – nearly purple – and skipped the trees.

“I think I did the colors pretty good,” Bugnits said.

Everyone agreed. However, Bill Baykan, a former member and retired professional artist who still attends an occasional meeting, suggested a narrower viewing area to leave room for matting.

“Before you paint, you should move that in,” Baykan said, sliding his hands close as he talked, “so that when you mat, [the image isn’t] not half gone.”

The society meets weekly. Once a month, this 12-year-old art society holds a critique meeting, said Barb Tampa, a six-year member, often on a particular theme. July’s assignment was to reproduce a famous piece of art by imitating the artist’s style.

Later this month – on July 25 – the art society will have its annual art show. All pieces are for sale, Tampa said. It’s the first time the art show will be open to the public, Baykan said.

Most members work in watercolor, including Tampa, who dabbled in oil painting years ago before she began working and raising a family. Tampa mostly paints landscapes, florals and abstracts, although she chose a different subject for her critique.

“I did a piece based on Jackson Pollack because I was doing some research on him and was inspired by ‘Reflection of the Big Dipper,’ ” Tampa said.

Tampa was happy to see Baykan at the critique meeting because members value his feedback.

Baykan said he worked as an art director for 40 years at companies such as Gillette, Quaker Oats and Wilson Sporting Goods. Baykan said he did graphic design as well as production.

After he retired, Baykan took classes in watercolor painting.

Because Baykan participates in monthly shows with the Naperville Art League and the DuPage Art League in Wheaton, he decided in May to step back from the Fine Art Society of Carillon Lakes.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t help when he can.

“I pretty much pass what I learned onto the group,” Baykan said.

Members appeared open to feedback. Jim Schwandt showed two pieces. One was “The Old Mill” by Vincent van Gogh. Mary Walters admired his courage at choosing a complicated piece.

But Schwandt wasn’t above poking a little fun at his second piece.

“This is my Picasso parrot,” Schwandt said. “It was hard to figure out where to put the blotches of paint. The parrot did a better job than of me getting that in there.”

Depending on the painting, Baykan offered a variety of advice. He stressed the importance of paying attention to mixing colors and realizing – when working from a photograph – it’s impossible to replicate certain colors exactly.

Baykan also discussed the pros and cons of working from dark to light colors and vice versa.

“You’ve got to know what colors work together so you’re not just dropping colors all over,” Baykan said, “and what to do if you want one to stand out.”

To make something really pop, Baykan suggested emphasizing a few features and subduing the background, as Pat Young did with her dancer in Edgar Degas’ “The Star.” Baykan discussed adjusting horizontal lines and ways to create depth.

Still, the members’ proficiency showed. Mike Young, Pat’s husband, held up his version of a the Seine near Germany. Young had copied a Monet.

“That’s beautiful,” Walters said. “Do you have the original?”

“No,” Young said.

“Well, it looks just like that one,” Walters said.

Because members are learning, Baykan said he likes offering constructive suggestions for improvement.

Although different media have different techniques, and artists should express themselves, Baykan also feels artists should learn the fundamentals.

When artists fail to see their gradual improvement, Baykan encourages them to compare earlier pieces with recent ones. Often, Baykan said, the artists are amazed at the differences between the two.

“They may not realize every week when they are just kind of going along that they have progressed and are at a different stage,” Baykan said.

Not all of Baykan’s commentaries concerned improvement. June Sestak brought in her version of a Pat Weaver painting. Sestak said she likes the loose way Weaver paints. Sestak said she created her own undefined “trees” by using plenty of paint.

“You have some nice green in there,” Baykan said as he studied her work. “It didn’t come out of a tube.”

“I don’t do greens,” Sestak said. “I make my own greens. If they don’t turn out too ‘greeny,’ that’s OK with me.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

WHAT: The Fine Art Society of Carillon Lakes Art Show

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 25

WHERE: 21325 Carillon Lakes Drive, Crest Hill

ETC: More than 15 artists. Artwork for sale. A donation will be given to the art department at Richland Elementary School in Crest Hill.