Voted Best Gallery

Lake Oconee Living Magazine conducts a survey each year of the Best in local "everything" and the voting determined that Art of Oconee is the BEST ART GALLERY!

Needless to say, we are thrilled and honored to receive this award.

We want to thank all of our supporters who voted for us and made this happen.

We are a group of local artists who feel passionately about what we do. We have worked hard to provide the Lake Oconee area with local art that speaks to the artist in all of us!

Thank you to all our supporters! (Present and future!!)

From all of us at Art of Oconee.

We Are All Winners

Why do people like the idea of giving during the holidays? Just think what it would be like if nobody gave, or got, during this particular season. When you give, you also get, because it makes you feel good to know someone else is the recipient of your gift.

That sentiment is the primary reason for Art of Oconee's Raffle this holiday season.

What did we give? Each artist designated one piece of art (and that art was worth up to $700) to be included as part of the selection, by the winner, for their prize.

What did we get? As a gallery, we know the money we raised for the St. Vincent de Paul Society is going to go to lots of recipients. As for the artists whose work was chosen, they get to feel good knowing the winners chose their work over all the rest, and that they helped to make our event a true success.

There is one thing we need to clarify. The parishioners of Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church participated by buying many of the tickets in an effort to support the efforts of all involved.

When you think of it, the real winner is the community of Lake Oconee. It takes a lot of people to make this work, and our community stepped up to make it happen.

Rita Nelson

The following was written by Jack Callahan, from the St. Vincent de Paul Society newsletter:

Thanks to the 14 artists, event volunteers, Maria and Dave Siffert, owners’ of Dress the Walls & Art of Oconee Galleries, and all the parishioners and friends for purchasing raffle tickets.

The Christmas Art Event raised over $1600, which will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s programs for Greene, Putnam, and Hancock Counties.

The second raffle winner of the Christmas Art Event drawn on December 21^st was Rita Nelson. Rita selected a framed photograph of an Italian village as her prize as shown to the right. The third raffle winner was Pat Frain. Pat received a painting from David Siffert.

The first raffle winner of the Christmas Art Event drawn on November 29th was Ellie Davis. Ellie selected Diane Davis' Black River Jug and Multi-Color Baker as her prize.

Happy New Year to all of us!!

And the Winner Is...

Ellie Davis with husband Jim

Our Raffle was a HUGE success.

LOTS of tickets were sold, with ALL the proceeds going to

St. Vincent's de Paul Society.

Our Raffle winner, Ellie Davis, chose Diane Davis' Black River Jug and Multi-Color Baker as her prize.

CONGRATULATIONS ELLIE!!

The truth is, we were so pleased with the turnout and the interest from our friends and customers in the community that we have decided to

extend the raffle and hold another drawing on

Wednesday, December 21st.

With so many pieces of art to choose from,

our artists thought it was a great idea!

We hope you do too.

So, Raffle Tickets are STILL AVAILABLE at the gallery.

Come by for tickets and look for the art with the YELLOW RIBBONS by them.

Those are the Raffle Prize choices!

Art of Oconee had a fabulous party to kick off the Holiday Season here at Lake Oconee!

Lots of friends, both old and new, came to help us celebrate the season!

Here are some pictures!!!

Our Bartenders, Hugh Vail and Peter Candler with Bob Cuddeback

Art of Oconee Artists
Front, L to R, Maria Siffert, Diane Davies, Tracy Hayden, Shannon Candler, Gail Vail
Back, L to R, Bobby Cresswell, Kelly Clower, David Siffert, Ked Murray, Cathy McIntire, Bob Fitzpatrick
Not Shown, Kendall Boggs, Ellen Cowne, Nan McGarity, and Debra Lawrence

Diane, Bill, Sara

David Siffert and Julie Nolan

Pat Cresswell, Tracy Hayden, Bobby Cresswell

Jack Callahan on the Right

Kelly and Bobby C

Kendall, Cathy, Diane

Holiday Party

It's time for us to show our stuff for the Holiday Season, so...

We're Having' A Party!

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 5 - 8 PM

At our gallery

106 Scott Oak Dr. (off Scott Rd.)

We're next to Dress The Walls

706-431-2046

Everyone has been busy getting ready by bringing in new art, and rearranging walls.

We've been working on new signs, too.

We should have a new sign on the street any day now, to make it easier to find us.

One thing we are very excited about is our

RAFFLE.

All of our artists have designated a piece of their art for this raffle.

The winner gets to choose from any of the artworks in the gallery that have a yellow ribbon beside it.

ALL the proceeds from this raffle go to Saint Vincent's de Paul Society

to help with their community mission charity.

Raffle Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20

Tickets are available at the gallery NOW and until our party!

The winning ticket will be drawn at our Holiday Party.

We hope to see you Tuesday!!

Art @ the Rock

From our own Diane Davies:
It is once again time to mark your calendars for Art @ the Rock, Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Just off Hwy 441 between Madison and Eatonton.

The show goes from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday. Can't wait to see you at ART @ the Rock, Annual Juried Art Show and Marketplace!  Diane will be joined by scores of other wonderful artists and crafters, including fellow artists from Art of Oconee, Cathy McIntire, David Siffert, and Gail Vail.
We have many new pieces that we are excited to show you. Another load of pottery will be fired this weekend or early next week and we will be ready for a grand weekend of camaraderie, fun and food at Rock Eagle.

Diane Davies
Maid of Clay Pottery
1691 Apalachee River Rd.
Madison, GA 30650
706-342-3859

Here's a sample of what you can expect from our talented Art of Oconee Artists!!

Diane Davies "Spirit Jar" Hand thrown pottery

Gail Vail "Poinsettia", Oil on Canvas

David Siffert "Summertime Blues" Gouache on Panel

Cathy McIntire "Searching Shadows" Oil on Panel

Come see us and have some "Fun @ the Rock"!!!

A New Way To Paint Your Sweetie

Bobby C "Lady", M/M on Door

Bobby C "Cool Trees II" M/M on Door

Support is what is referred to as the surface upon which an artist paints. Generally one thinks of paper or canvas, but a door? Yes, d-o-o-r, as in “Close that door when you come in the house!” This is unusual, for sure, and I had never seen a painting on a door until I saw Bobby C's latest work. It's a real painting, on a real door (minus the knob), and I wondered what made him think of doing this.

So I asked him.

I think his explanation gives a little insight into the way one artist thinks, and how that thinking ends up as a painting, or two.

When asked what was the inspiration for the painting, Bobby answered,
"The idea came to me while I  listening to the 50’s channel on XM radio; they were talking about 45 records with an “A” side and “B” side.  I wondered how I could do a painting with two sides and painting on wood came to mind.  I went to the store and the cheapest thing I could find was also the biggest and lightest…a door."

I asked if there was something in particular about the door that inspired him to use it as a painting surface. "Painting anything is exciting because I am very spontaneous and adventurous  when I do a painting. I have an idea of what I might want but no definitive plan on how to do it. I just start and then let the process evolve. I believe to a degree in improvisation.  So the bigger the surface (like a door) the more creative I can be. Also, big, bold, bright is what I personally like."

So what should we come away with, as your message, or meaning? "The  painting project was for fun. In order to get the proportions for “Lady” correct I had my wife lay down on the door in the pose I wanted and I traced her….that was fun!"

Sometimes a door is meant to be opened, or closed. But sometimes it's meant for fun.

Art That Speaks

If you see a painting and inside your head you hear that "Whoa!", "Awwwe", "OMG!", or other hit-you-in-the-face reaction, you can be pretty certain you are looking at art that "speaks" to you.

Speaks to you simply means it causes a reaction, good or bad, that makes you want to keep looking. Let's concentrate on the art that causes a positive, feel-good reaction. The right colors can make you just plain feel better, the right flower may remind you of how you feel on a perfect spring day, the painting of the lake suddenly takes you back to all the great vacations you've had with the kids, or when you were a kid.

That's what happens when art speaks. No direct words, just visual images eliciting emotional conversations. What else in your life can do that? When art speaks to you, listen. The next piece you see may not be able to do that. (That's just the way art works.)

Anyway, when you see a painting that speaks to you it means that is the one you choose to keep.

Perhaps you can hear one of these...

"Mexican Farmers", Digital Photo
Artist Tracy Hayden

"Red Beauty", Oil on Canvas
Artist Gail Vail

"Garlic and Onions", Oil on Canvas
Artist Cathy McIntire

"Tidal Zone Decanter", Hand built ceramic
Artist Diane Davies

"Laugh", Mixed Media
Artist BobbyC