Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 38

OF THE
MOUNTAINS
MICHELLE WATERS
LEFT TO RIGHT: Ralph Cale: " My 'warm realism' is
created with harder and softer leads, offering the
control, the values, the tones and the details. "
Nichole Westfall: " My art reflects what I find
interesting and beautiful at a specific time-a little
snapshot. "
can Impressionism paintings " is not on
capturing specific details of an image,
but more about sharing the emotion
of the painting experience. Depending
on someone's mood on any given day,
without precise details, they may view a
painting differently than the day before.
To me, the brushstrokes are the soul of a
painting, making them as interesting up
close as they are at a distance. "
LaGue works in oils, acrylics and watercolors
with an eye toward " choosing
the right medium for what I want to say.
For slow drying acrylic, which is rather
thin, the paint allows me create a more
careful and focused design. Oils are usually
best on location, using the texture and
roughness of the paint to express things
like wind, sound, distractions, etc. Watercolor
is about setting up and painting
quickly. The fun is in the push and pull
of getting the paint to do what I need, yet
letting its expressive nature work magic
38 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
with loose marks, runs and puddles. "
He also has a variety of spaces to create
including his studio, a workroom, a
drawing table in the house and " several
favorite spots on location. One of those
is the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you can't
find a view to paint there, then nature's
probably not your thing, " LaGue adds
with a smile. His works can be found
in several galleries in Virginia and in
private collections in the United States,
England and France.
Moving forward: " Painting is a great
excuse to go outside and play, but call it
work. I've been very fortunate that I've
never experienced a 'creative block.'
There always seem to be more ideas available
than I'll ever find time for. I really
have no interest in doing anything else.
Not something every adult gets to say! "
brettlague.com
WEST VIRGINIA
Ralph Cale, Morgantown.
" An old rusty car covered with patina is so
much more interesting to me than a shiny new
one. People are no different... they have textures
and a story to tell. You can see it on their faces.
You can see it in their eyes. "
There are artists among us who have
a gift for capturing " the extraordinary "
within what some might consider " the
ordinary " -a face in a window, a fishing
lure, an old vehicle. Ralph Cale is one
such fine artist. And in doing so, he tells
us a story.
Cale's inspiration is found in " things
that are worn, weathered and old, and
have a history that is unique to them. A
history that is all their own. An old rusty
car covered with patina is so much more
interesting to me than a shiny new one.
People are no different... they have textures
and a story to tell. You can see it on
their faces. You can see it in their eyes.
" Going through school, kids used
blank paper bags to cover their books, "
Cale shares. " My friends would ask me
to draw things and I had a little side
hustle drawing designs on their covers
for a quarter, " he recalls with a chuckle.
" As time went on, I developed a certain
style and honed my skills. My first experience
of being officially recognized for
my drawing was an 'honorable mention'
award for a portrait of my niece, April,
in a local art exhibit. "
Artists
http://www.brettlague.com http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024
