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First Posted: 5/22/2013
DALTON- Oil painter, MaryLou Chibirka, featured in 13 solo exhibitions and 14 group exhibitions will add another to her resume.
Chibirka will premiere “Portraits, Landscapes & Florals” at The Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Misericordaa University. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. June 8 and will run through July 31.
She paints using live models and photographs. She featured her three daughters, Cristina Cox, Mollibeth Cox and Laura Cox, in several paintings.
“Depending on what it is, I’ll paint models or photographs. A live model is wonderful to have because you get true skin tones and shadowing. There is a lot of small details you can capture versus a photograph. There is more of an essence from light that it feels alive.”
The Dalton resident who was educated at Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, Painting, 1973, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1977 and Arts Student League, New York City, 2001, has been a professional commissioned artist since the early 1990s.
Chibirka will show about 30 oil paintings mostly on linen, but a few on canvas, varying in size with the largest at 5 feet by 6 feet.
Oil is the only medium Chibirka paints. She said she likes the consistency and the richness oil paints offer.
“You can manipulate and push paint around,” Chibirka said.
Chibirka currently resides on her family farm; she said the area is serene and quiet, which brings her inspiration.
“An artist is nothing more than a great observer,” Chibirka said.
Showing in the MacDonald Gallery are Todd Jeffreys: ‘Wheel Thrown Clay Works’ and Tim Weaver: ‘Recent Watercolors.’
Two of Chibirka’s daughters, Cristina and Mollibeth, will perform on violin at the reception.
Gallery hours run 10 a.m. To 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. To 5 p.m. Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.