Movie Teaser... SAVE the Date August 2, 2009... Read more...

An artistic journey to the Emerald Isle as seen through the eyes and palette of American Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. The entire "Enchanting Ireland" collection (40 paintings) can be seen on exhibit at the Baysden Gallery, Council for the Arts, Jacksonville, NC, August 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2gDeWcZOSo

Mark your calendar for the artist reception and the opening of "Enchanting Ireland" on Sunday, August 2, 2009 from 2:3o-4:00 PM at the Council for the Arts.

The Council is located at 826 New Bridge Street, Jacksonville, NC 28546.

The exhibit will run from August 2 -28, 2009.

Save the Date... August 2, 2009 and meet Bernie at the artist's reception.

Hope to see you there...

"Hatteras Red with Bread" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Hatteras Red with Bread"... 11x14" Oil on canvasboard, alla prima from life, 2009.

PRIVATE COLLECTION

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I painted this still life from life at one of our (the four brush-ka-teers) Tuesday evening paint outs. This one went straight to a private collection... my mom's... Hatteras Red is her favorite of the Duplin Winery wines.

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Love ya mom!

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Bernie

Bernie's Ramblings: An apple for the teacher... Did you know?....

I'm not only an artist but an advocate for the arts... with that said... I believe that introducing the arts to children is of the utmost importance. Today is the last day of school so I thought it appropriate to ramble about these important things...

Did you know?
~ The arts teach kids to be more tolerant and open.
~ The arts allow kids to express themselves creatively.
~ The arts promote individuality, bolster self-confidence, and improve overall academic performance.
~ The arts can help troubled youth, providing an alternative to delinquent behavior and truancy while providing an improved attitude toward school.

Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are:
~ 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
~ 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools
~ 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair
~ 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance
~ 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem

Recently... I did an art demo in my daughter Olivia's, second grade class. I have done one of these demos in her classes since kindergarten. I set up a small still life and the children watched me paint an apple from life. We talked about painting and the arts in general. We also discussed the things they are doing in school right now that may be helpful in the career of an artist... things like the importance of each subject they are taking and how that relates to being a successful artist. They offered some GREAT answers and insights. Olivia was in rare form as she was helping every step of the way... after all... she is my painting buddy! In fact... we reached a point where I painted and she answered the questions. The kids were more interested in her as an artist... asking her questions like... "When did she start painting?"... "What does she love to paint most?"... I enjoyed seeing her and the class interact... a GREAT day in making memories!

"An Apple and a Pear for Mrs. Davis"... 5x7" Oil on panel, painted 2009, alla prima from life as a demo for Mrs Davi' second grade class.

Here I am pictured with Mrs Shirley Davis (Olivia's second grade teacher), Olivia, and my granddaughter, Savannah. Mrs Davis' second grade class was awesome... we opted for an apple and a pear this year (2009).


Olivia and Mrs Tyson (her 1st grade teacher)...


"An Apple for Mrs. Tyson"... 5x7" Oil on panel, painted 10-31-2007, alla prima from life as a demo for Mrs Tyson's first grade class.

Olivia and I pictured with Mrs Davis' kindergarten class. Livie is holding a painting she did when she was four.

"An Apple for Mrs Davis"... 9"x12" Oil on panel, alla prima from life, September 27, 2006. Painted as a demo for Mrs Sandra Davis' kindergarten class.

Memories indeed! To be continued next year with Liv's third grade class!

Thanks for dropping by... feel free to comment... would love to hear them.
Bernie

A couple of great articles about the importance of art and children can be found here:

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ATTENTION PARENTS: A little art is not enough for our kids...

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All Children are Born Natural Artists.... and Painters!

"The Morrell Farm"

"The Morrell Farm"... 12x24x1.75" Oil on Wood by Bernie Rosage Jr. 2009

SOLD... Thanks again Jonathan!

Knoxville, TN

"Impressionistic Azaleas" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

This original oil painting "Impressionistic Azaleas" by American Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. is available for purchase... click on image to enlarge.


"Impressionistic Azaleas" by Bernie Rosage Jr. 12x6" Oil on canvas board painted alla prima from life.

$95 USD plus $6 shipping and handling in US...
Email Bernie about purchasing details HERE...
please include the paintings title in the subject line.

Every other Tuesday night I paint with three other artists... we call ourselves the "Four Brush-ka-teers"... Our only rule... we paint from life. We set up a still life and paint alla prima for approx two hours. This one was done on one of our Tuesdays in April when the azaleas were in their glory... a beautiful site in Eastern North Carolina.

Bernie's Ramblings: "It's IN him and it's GOT to come out!"

I love the Blues... not the color as much as... the MUSIC...

Everything from the acoustic toe tapping riffs and raw vocals of Lightnin' Hopkins to the twenty minute electric stratocaster jams by Jimi Hendrix. However, if I had to pick one favorite blues artist it would have to be John Lee Hooker (1917-2001). I did this portrait of him as a tribute.

My artistic release is much like a line from one of John Lee Hooker's songs, "Boogie Chillen"...

"I heard Papa tell Mama "LET that boy boogie-woogie! It's IN him and it's GOT to come out!" And I felt so goood! Went on boogyin' just the same!"

"It's IN him and it's GOT to come out!" ... that's exactly how I feel about creating artwork! God put the desire and passion in me to create my artwork... there's a sense of completeness and fullfillment when I do.

Image:"The Bluesman"... 8"x10" Oil Pastel on Gessoed Panel, 2003. Private Collection

Thanks for listening and looking...
Bernie

"St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland"... 30x15" Oil on wood by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

Tami and I thoroughly loved the old city of Kilkenny... it's old world charm was enchanting. The architectural treats like this one seemed to lurk down every alley and around every corner. We would have loved to have had more time to explore this medieval city in detail. Check out the links below for virtual tours...

St. Mary's Cathedral

Kilkenny: Ireland's Medieval City

A Kilkenny, Ireland Photographic Tour


NOTE: Bernie is currently working on a series of paintings inspired from a recent trip to Ireland. The series is titled "Enchanting Ireland" and will be on exhibit in August 2009 at the Baysden Gallery in Jacksonville, NC and in September 2009 at the New Bern Artworks Gallery in New Bern, NC. Read about his adventures and see the progress of this series at Enchanting Ireland.

"Ha' penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland.." by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Ha' penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland.. 16x20" Oil on stretched canvas by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

This is the best known of Dublin's bridges. It was built in 1816 and was the first iron bridge in Ireland. It is a single span structure with cast iron railings and decorative lamps and crosses the River Liffey. It was originally named the Liffey Bridge but is now called the Ha'penny because until 1919 to cross it there was a half-penny charge.

Tami and I must have crossed this Dublin landmark a hundred times (for FREE) in our three day stay there. It was so strange to see it finally get dark around 11 o'clock at night... this was painted from a photo I took... proof that we really stayed out LATE that night.

As you cross the Ha'penny bridge you enter the Temple Bar district through the Merchant's Arch which can be seen in this painting. The Merchant's Arch is a formal entry point to the area and dates from the days when ships sailed up the River Liffey to dock here and trade with local merchants.

NOTE: Bernie is currently working on a series of paintings inspired from a recent trip to Ireland. The series is titled "Enchanting Ireland" and will be on exhibit in August 2009 at the Baysden Gallery in Jacksonville, NC and in September 2009 at the New Bern Artworks Gallery in New Bern, NC. Read about his adventures and see the progress of this series at Enchanting Ireland.

Video of HA'PENNY BRIDGE Dublin Ireland set to U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday"

"Carolina Marsh" plein air by Bernie Rosage Jr.

This original oil painting "Carolina Marsh" by American Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. is available for purchase... click on image to enlarge.

"Carolina Marsh"... 5x7" Oil on panel, en plein aire, 4-2009.

$65 USD plus $6 shipping and handling in US...




We had a great location and day to paint outdoors last Sunday. We... as in OOPS!... the Onslow Outdoor Painters Society I am a member of. A great bunch of artists who carry on the tradition of painting "en plein aire". Read about our outing HERE...

I'm pictured below painting this one...



This painting, on a gessoed panel with painted sides, is easily framed or displayed with a decorative easel.

All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces. "Certificate of Authenticity" included.

65 423091 Carolina Marsh

Bernie's Ramblings: Right-Brain vs Left-Brain

As long as I can remember art has been a part of my life. My favorite subject to draw as a young boy was sailing ships... from giant Clipper's to Pirate ships. AARRRGGGHHH!

I was one of the few people in high school who took art class seriously and didn't consider it a crypt course. I was fortunate enough to have a great art teacher, Blanche Johnson, who really worked with those who were serious about art. Unfortunately, growing up in the 70's where left brain thinkers seemed to rule... us right brainers were many times told... "Oh that's a pretty picture... but you have to get a real job if you want to eat". As a grown up I now realize I was caving into false teachings and letting someone else tell me what to dream. Today, thank goodness, there is a shift... the right brain revenge per say... logical and precise, left-brain thinking gave us the Information Age... now comes the Conceptual Age - ruled by artistry, empathy, and emotion. With all that said... I think the Right-Brain vs the Left-Brain needs to give way to a new order of Whole-Brained thinkers out there. For that to begin... schools need to give equal weight to the arts, creativity, and the skills of imagination and synthesis.

Balance and Harmony are fruits of the Whole-Brained thinker. I welcome your thoughts on this subject.

In Faith, Bernie