Blue Moon to host reception for guest artists

GRAYSLAKE – The Blue Moon Gallery announced its first guest artists of 2022. They will show their artwork at an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. March 26.

Darlene Bock of Lindenhurst has a bachelor’s degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has earned Signature Status with the esteemed Pastel Society of America and the Chicago Pastel Painters. Over the past 15 years, Bock’s artwork has been juried in multiple national and international fine art competitions and she has earned numerous awards and recognition. She shows her work in solo and group exhibitions in galleries throughout the Midwest.

The gallery is presenting an exhibition of Bock’s pastel paintings featuring figurative, landscape and still life compositions. Bock’s exploration of the use of backlighting as a key element in her subject matter has produced stunning effects.

Janette Hill is a children’s book illustrator, graphic designer and mixed media fine artist from Great Britain living and working in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She has always loved “putting marks on” any substrate.

Hill’s preferred mediums include watercolor, micron and acrylic pens and markers and graphite. Hill is self-taught with a style that has evolved over the years. From children’s book illustration to photo realistic pet portraits to abstract work, each represents Hill’s unique visual expression and each style influences the other. The result is an explosion of vibrant colors, intricate mark-making and a joyous positive mood. Hill is presenting a collection of mixed media abstract watercolor paintings.

Kathleen Gallo of Gurnee is a recent BFA graduate from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Her specialties include human anatomy, forensic art, post-mortem facial reconstructions from archival skulls and the study of anthropology. Her preferred mediums are oil and graphite.

Gallo completed her first post-mortem facial reconstruction at The New York Academy of Art. She has created reconstructions for the Pima County Police, Penn Museum, Mutter Museum and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Images of her post-mortem facial reconstructions have been published in Expedition magazine and The New York Times.

Continuing her focus on human beings as a subject, Gallo’s exhibition presents an intimate collection of tonal oil paintings and graphite drawings featuring the inherent beauty of diverse faces and figures.

The opening reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Patrons may bring a favorite beverage to enjoy around the gallery’s fire pit. The gallery is at 18620 Belvidere Road in Grayslake. Parking is free.

For information, visit thebluemoongallery.com or call 224-388-7948.