About the Artists

jeff Bye

Artist statement

For this exhibition my subject matter is on interiors and the urban environment.

The focus has remained the same in the pursuit of creating artwork that has a presence and impact that is powerful and relevant. These paintings range from abandoned theaters, factories, schoolhouses, to Mom & Pop storefronts and the urban cityscape. These works of art represent the essence of what they stood for in their community and their cultural value of the ever-changing American Landscape.

This has been a passion of mine as an artist to be cognitive of my surroundings and to absorb this friction between the past and present, to recognize the beauty of what was and to see it in its natural surroundings of today. It’s not only nostalgic, but the impact it has on the transformation of who we’ve been and how it links us to the present.

My latest body of work focuses on capturing these wonderful structures before they are erased. My love for textures is a constant presence in my work and the rough surfaces are vital through the ever-changing layers of graffiti and grime.

For this body of work, I continue to go to these locations at different times of the day viewing how the mood and light changes depending on the weather and season. I observe from different perspectives and create drawings, watercolor studies and take photographs to capture the color and tonality of the variety of surfaces. From there, I take those drawings and references of experiences back to the studio to create a series of paintings. I feel that this body of work has its challenges for me as an artist both consciously and subconsciously. I try to keep the process open in terms of allowing changes to occur while keeping the painting breathable with the energy of the paint through the brush strokes, palette knives or my fingers. I will use anything at my disposal in order to achieve my goals. This process is intrinsic from the very beginning of the painting and for me creating a work of art and not just documenting a scene.

My urban cityscapes whether its New York, Philadelphia or small town America are special places where I’ve worked and lived. This personal connection is what inspires the interest of these places and allows my perspective to be true and real. Time is a huge factor because of developers razing these wonderful structures for modern building that have no reference to historical aesthetics to the surrounding dwellings. It’s been a passion of mine to be vigilant before they vanish forever.

About Jeff

Jeff Bye (b. 1971) is a painter. He attended The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for his undergraduate degree and spent a year abroad in Italy under the European Honors Program. He received his MFA in painting from The School of Figurative Art (New York Academy). He is still the youngest Master to be indoctrinated into the Copley Society of Boston at 26 years old where he was given his first solo show.

Although Jeff’s subject matter has varied over the years, he has been consistent with his smart use of color and composition. Currently, he has been drawn to capturing and preserving images of our country’s urban decay as well as the people who inhabit the environments. Having lived in Brooklyn, New York for 15 years has definitely fed this ongoing intrigue. Jeff seeks to demonstrate the beauty in the forgotten in a society where, new industry draws our attention away from it. Represented by galleries in New York, Boston, and Maine, Jeff’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is part of collections all over the world.

You can see more of Jeff’s work on his website www.jeffbye.com

Julie Riker

Artist Statement

I consider myself primarily an observational painter, painting mostly from life, and often outside ‘en plein air’. Painting in one session, “Alla prima” keeps the surface fresh. I like to hunt for interesting compositions and often don’t know what I will choose to paint until I get to a location. Sometimes what attracts me is simply a light effect and, though my work is representational, it is often the abstract patterns of light and shadows that get me excited. I paint a vast range of subjects from both the natural world and the man made world, and am interested in interaction between the two. I am always looking to challenge myself. For me, painting is less about expressing myself to others and more about learning what the world can express to me.

About Julie

Julie Riker is a native of central Pennsylvania and a graduate of the University of the Arts. She has worked as a decorator in the historic restoration of the PA State Capitol, where she was involved for five years replicating original decorative painting, stenciling and applying gold leaf and ornamental plaster finishes. In 1996 Julie started her own decorative painting business creating artwork for individual homes and businesses. Working out of her Camp Hill studio she specializes in custom art, decorative painting, murals and faux finishes for walls and furniture. She has traveled from New York to Florida for commissioned projects.

When not working for a client, Julie enjoys painting outdoors. Often these plein air paintings serve as inspiration for larger studio pieces, but some stand on their own as observations of the beauty and variety of nature. She has participated in many national plein air events and won several awards. Some recent accomplishments are Artist’s Choice Award at Adirondacks Plein Air, First Place at Paint Annapolis, People’s Choice Award for Quick Draw at Finger Lakes Plein Air, Plein Air Salon Finalist, and Feature Artist juried into Plein Air Easton. Her paintings have been published in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine and she is featured in an article in the Feb/March 2018 issue of Plein Air Magazine. Southwest Art Magazine recognized her as an “Artist to Watch” in their October 2018 issue.

You can see more of Julie’s work her website www.julieriker.com