[Coweta Arts Tidbits] NCAA Announces October Artist of the Month

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Composed By:  Forrest W. Schultz  770-583-3258  schultz_forrest@yahoo.com

 

October 3, 2007

 

NCAA October Artist of the Month Announced

 

Paintings Displayed in Newnan City Hall

 

City Hall's Artist of the Month for October

Shirlene Ogan is named Newnan-Coweta Art Association's Artist of the Month for the month of October at the City Hall of Newnan, Georgia.  Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, she received her BA in Commercial Art from the University of Tulsa.  . 

                                                           

A move to El Paso, Texas, brought about an early retirement as an Office Administrator for a church in Tulsa, and allowed her to pursue her art career by learning new watercolor techniques and other painting mediums.  She met weekly with a group of artists to paint at a gallery/frame shop and also exhibit her artwork.  It was in this setting that she gained confidence to paint in public.     

 

Another move brought Shirlene and her husband to Columbus, Georgia.   This opened up even more opportunities for her to pursue her art.  She was the Artist in Residence at a local hospital's coffee shop for a year and gained more exposure to painting in public.  A new art gallery co-op (the Joseph House Art Gallery) was formed and Shirlene had the privilege of being a part of its early beginnings, as well as serving in various positions on the Board.  She continues to display her artwork there.  As a member of The American Pen Women Organization, Shirlene had opportunities to contribute pen and ink illustrations for the books, Shout Them from the Mountain Tops, and Rivertown Poets and Storytellers.  The American Pen Women is a National organization for professional women writers, musicians, and artists. 

 

Shirlene has enjoyed teaching small classes of Beginning Watercolor for a variety of groups.  One of the more interesting classes was for a group of Japanese women, whose husbands were in Columbus for 2 to 3 years on a work assignment.  Most of the women could speak very little English and Shirlene doesn't speak Japanese.  However the art class enabled the women to practice their English in a comfortable setting, and to learn some new words while learning to paint.  It was a very interesting and rewarding experience.  As a member of the Columbus Artists' Guild, she presented a talk on "Sketching" that involved the member's participation. 

 

Last year, Shirlene and her husband moved to Newnan.  It didn't take long for Shirlene to discover the Newnan-Coweta Art Association and other art venues.  At her first exhibit at Espresso Lane Coffee, she won the Best of Show award for her watercolor, "Sunny Jonquils."   The Spring Show, "Art on the Square," brought 2 more awards.  She has found a group of artists that meet weekly to paint.    

 

Shirlene likes to work in a variety of media and favors watercolor, pen and ink, acrylic, pastel and oil pastel and enjoys the challenges that each presents.  She is noted for using bright, clear colors, as well as pastel shades.  She likes to paint landscapes, floral, and other subjects, and commissioned house portraits in pen and ink with watercolor.  Her painting style ranges from representational to impressionistic.

 

Shirlene is a member of the Newnan-Coweta Art Association.  Shirlene is married to Jerry Ogan and they have 2 children and 3 grandchildren

 

The NCAA meets the third Thursday each month (from September through May) at the Harriet Alexander Art Center on Hospital Road at 7:00 PM.  Visitors and new members are welcome.  An art demonstration is presented each month.  Come and join the fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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