Q & A – Questions and Artists

The Peninsula Pulse has teamed up with the Door County Art League (DCAL) to reprint portions of interviews conducted by Randy Rasmussen, a DCAL Member-at-Large, with various artists. Featured in this issue of the Pulse are interviews with Sarah Bradley, Lynn Gilchrist and Ernest Beutel, all of whom work at Artists Guild in downtown Sturgeon Bay. To read the interviews in their entirety, to sign up for DCAL’s monthly newsletter or for more information visit http://www.doorcountyartleague.org.

(Left to right) Sarah Bradley, Ernest Beutel and Lynn Gilchrist.

Despite the construction on historic Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, the Artists Guild remains busy. Recently, I had the pleasure of doing brief interviews with a few of the artists that work there, including Sarah Bradley (owner), Lynn Gilchrist and Ernest Beutel. It is obvious that not only do these artists – whom work in a variety of mediums – enjoy helping other artists, from beginner to professional, choose and understand materials at the store but that they also enjoy each other’s company, sharing insights, critiques and support during the course of a day.

Artwork by Sarah Bradley.

Randall Rasmussen (RR): Sarah, what mediums do you enjoy working in and what subject matter do you prefer?
Sarah Bradley (SB): I prefer working with pastel, doing drawings, and also painting in oils and in watercolor. My special interest is the human form.
RR: When did you come to Door County?
SB: I came to Door County in 1999, knowing it was a place where we could raise our children and ultimately retire. I had come here on vacations, and the landscape reminded me of my home in New Hampshire.
RR: You were an art teacher?
SB: I was an art teacher and a mom.
RR: And always an artist?
SB: I have always enjoyed art, and it is an important part of my life.
RR: How do you view the art “scene” in Door County?
SB: I think the interest in art and creativity in this area is high, and specifically, I am encouraged by the interest in art I see in the youth. We have good programs in the schools, which I think encourage creativity.
RR: Do you show your work regionally?
SB: I have been in shows at the Francis Hardy Center for the Arts, the Fairfield Art Center and various sites in the Midwest. I display my work at Artists Guild as examples of various mediums, but my main concern is to create it, not to sell it.
RR: Sarah, why do you draw?
SB: I draw because it gives me pleasure. The challenge of doing the human form is never-ending.

RR: Lynn, what is your educational background?
Lynn Gilchrist (LG): My major at Oberlin was art – a combination of studio art and art history.
RR: How did you decide to live in Door County?
LG: I thought I was moving to Madison, and I ended up in Namur. (Lynn laughs.) After a summer off I could only afford to go as far as Sturgeon Bay. The town grew on me, and I love it.
RR: I have seen your fine work in pastels and you are now also working in other mediums?
LG: I’ve been working a lot in oils lately. Working at Artists Guild with these two painters inspires me to try new things. I mainly do landscapes and figurative work. I was originally a studio painter, but now, much of my work is done outdoors.
RR: The readers will be able to see some of your new works at an upcoming show?
LG: Yes, I exhibit at Woodwalk Gallery and will have a two-artist show there with Lizabeth Maltman during July and August. The gallery is located at 6746 County Road G, Egg Harbor, and the opening reception is Sunday, July 13.

RR: Ernest, I had the pleasure of painting with you at the Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard station in about 38 degree temperatures with a 30 mile an hour wind.
Ernest Beutel (EB): Very, very cold. Did you say “pleasure?”
RR: Actually it was terrible…You worked that day in crayon which I found fascinating. Is this one of your favorite mediums?
EB: I do like working with crayon; I enjoy its spontaneous feel. I also paint with acrylics on canvas and often add layers of pencil, inks, etc.
RR: How do you describe your work?
EB: It could be called abstract representationalism. Bits of my work can be looked at individually almost as small abstractions. As to subject matter, I often use animals and people as points of departure.
RR: And you came to Door County as a result of…?
EB: Vacations and the fact that my father’s side of the family had property here.
RR: Can you describe where art is going in Door County?
EB: There seems to be a resurgence of art interest in all ages. I think there is a feeling of energy. It’s a good creative place to be.
RR: Where can the public see your work?
EB: I show my work at the Flying Pig in Algoma, Wisconsin. I also have an upcoming show at the Fairfield Art Center’s b2 Gallery in September. The opening is on Tuesday, September 2.

Randall Rasmussen is a DCAL Member-at-Large” and a Charter Member of the Peninsula Plein Air Painters. His work can be seen at http://www.penpap.com.

Bradley, Gilchrist and Beutel can be reached at the Artists Guild, located at 117 N. 3rd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. The store is open 9 am – 6 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 – 4 pm Sunday. For more information call 920.743.9900 or visit http://www.artistsguildonline.com.