Artists work together to form one reproduction
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Rose Giamnalvo works on her piece of the Van Gogh landscape painting in the group of artists' recreation of the famous painting.

The Circle of Artists has no rules, just a lot of energy.

"You can paint alone in your house, but you don't get the vitality you get with the group of people here," said artist Virginia Krul.

The group of seniors meets every Tuesday and Friday for two hours, to paint or draw, using whatever medium they choose.

"Everyone here has different talent, different mediums, and different abilities," Krul said.

These differences are now being brought together as the group of about 20 artists work on a cooperative art project.

The artists voted on two paintings they wanted to recreate - one was from Monet's water lilies series and the other a landscape portrait by Van Gogh.

Each painting was then divided into eight to nine sections, and each artist was given one of these sections to interpret through a 16 inches by 20 inches oil painting.

When they are done, the pieces are then put together like a puzzle, each one reflecting the individual artist, but also representing the group as one collective piece.

"They have to communicate, and work together," said Joanna Draugsvold, who serves as the artistic advisor to the group. "They are not working in a vacuum."

The one part where there had to be consistency from the artists was at the edges, so they would blend into one another.

"Once you did all you could do, you lined it up with the next panel," said Krul.

Most of the panels were completed this week, but the formal art exhibit will take place the first week in November. After this, the group would like to donate the artwork to be displayed in the newly opened Town Hall.

Looking at the pieces put together as one for the first time, the Circle of Artists looked at them with awe and excitement at what they had created.

"We just did it. I am still amazed at how it came out," said Krul staring at the pieces.