"Afternoon Burst" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Afternoon Burst
22x32x1.5" oil on panel
Bernie Rosage Jr
2011

It's been a tough summer for painting...

My jealous paint box has been screaming for attention! Seems I've been spending to much time with T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, John Cheever, radicals, radicands, polynomials, Mendel, Eukaryotes, Genotypes, and Darwin this summer. Can't wait for this semester to end! However, in the absence of painting... Eliot, Hughes, and Cheever have kept me sane... can't say to much for the others... :)

Bernie

Two weeks left to see the "Life, Light, and Pigment" Exhibit by Bernie Rosage Jr.



"Morning Has Broken"
by Bernie Rosage Jr
24"x48"x1.5" oil on panel
2011

Close up

“Life, Light, and Pigment”
June 5 - July 29, 2011

Baysden Gallery ~ Council for the Arts
826 New Bridge Street
Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540
910-455-9840

“Life, Light, and Pigment” is a collection of oil and acrylic paintings from the past two years by artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. Most of the 40 paintings in the exhibit were painted from life, either in the studio or on location en plein aire. “Painting from direct observation really hones the artist’s skills and develops the art of seeing”, states Rosage. The exhibit also shows how Rosages’ work has evolved over a two year span. “I have moved beyond just capturing what my subject looks like to something deeper”… “I am striving for the divine and sublime as I paint now”, added Rosage. Bringing everyday objects to life in fresh and artistic ways by capturing light, mood, and atmosphere are goals he is consciously and consistently achieving.

"Life, Light, and Pigment" video...

"Old World"... “Life, Light, and Pigment” Exhibit thru July 29th.

"Old World" by Bernie Rosage Jr.
32x17.25x1.5" Oil on Panel
2011

“Life, Light, and Pigment”
June 5 - July 29, 2011

Baysden Gallery ~ Council for the Arts
826 New Bridge Street
Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540
910-455-9840

“Life, Light, and Pigment” is a collection of oil and acrylic paintings from the past two years by artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. Most of the 40 paintings in the exhibit were painted from life, either in the studio or on location en plein aire. “Painting from direct observation really hones the artist’s skills and develops the art of seeing”, states Rosage. The exhibit also shows how Rosages’ work has evolved over a two year span. “I have moved beyond just capturing what my subject looks like to something deeper”… “I am striving for the divine and sublime as I paint now”, added Rosage. Bringing everyday objects to life in fresh and artistic ways by capturing light, mood, and atmosphere are goals he is consciously and consistently achieving.

100% Cotton... "Life, Light, and Pigment" Exhibit thru July 29th

100% Cotton by Bernie Rosage Jr
22x32" oil on panel
2011

“Life, Light, and Pigment”
June 5 - July 29, 2011

Baysden Gallery ~ Council for the Arts
826 New Bridge Street
Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540
910-455-9840

“Life, Light, and Pigment” is a collection of oil and acrylic paintings from the past two years by artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. Most of the 40 paintings in the exhibit were painted from life, either in the studio or on location en plein aire. “Painting from direct observation really hones the artist’s skills and develops the art of seeing”, states Rosage. The exhibit also shows how Rosages’ work has evolved over a two year span. “I have moved beyond just capturing what my subject looks like to something deeper”… “I am striving for the divine and sublime as I paint now”, added Rosage. Bringing everyday objects to life in fresh and artistic ways by capturing light, mood, and atmosphere are goals he is consciously and consistently achieving.

What a NOVEL idea!

Last August I received this email from Paul Ferris, an author from the UK...

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

Dear Bernie,

I am in the process of having my first novel published. I came across your painting of Half'penny Bridge on the internet and would like to consider using the image as the front cover of the book. Please could you let me know if this is acceptable to you? The novel is entitled 'An Irish Heartbeat' and contains a lengthy passage between the two main characters (Cormac and Bernadette) which takes place on the bridge. Thank you for your consideration of this request and good luck with your excellent work.

Kind Regards,
Paul Ferris

Today I was pleasantly surprised by a package that arrived for me... when I opened it I found a signed copy of Paul Ferris' new novel An Irish Heartbeat... with my painting as the cover! I can't wait to read it!

An Irish Heartbeat
by Paul Ferris

Inside flyleaf...

An Irish Heartbeat
by Paul Ferris
ISBN 978-1-907652-26-4

From gallery walls, to wine bottles, to book covers... I'm thankful and humbled.
Thanks Paul for the gift and pleasant surprise!
Bernie

Bernie Rosage finds purpose, peace in painting... Recent Interview reveals Bernie's purpose for painting...

Bernie Rosage Jr., artist
Photo by John Althouse

Bernie Rosage finds purpose, peace in painting...
May 29, 2011

Article by ANIESA HOLMES, Jacksonville Daily News

With each stroke of a brush, Bernie Rosage, Jr. learns that his painting is evolving, both in technique and in purpose.


That purpose is to help make a difference in the lives of others.


With more than 600 pieces of art in his working portfolio, Rosage will present 40 for public viewing during “Life, Light and Pigment,” his second solo art exhibit hosted by The Council for the Arts through June and July.


The exhibit officially opens with a reception on June 5 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. with the opportunity to meet Rosage and purchase paintings until July 29. Proceeds from each sale will benefit the support other local artists through the Council for the Arts and benefit local families affected by the April 16 tornado through Operation B-4.

The Onslow County native often finds country roads, marshlands, barns and water — from Onslow County to Ireland — the subject of his work, attracted to their hues and shapes.

“Bernie is doing new paintings new subject matter and going different,” said Connie Wenner, executive director for the Council for the Arts. “As an artist you want your art to be out there. It’s not an inexpensive deal being an artist to give up 50 percent of his painting price ... I think it’s a wonderful thing he's doing for a worthy cause.”

“Life, Light and Pigment” is a collection of oil and acrylic paintings from the past two years. Most of the paintings in the exhibit were painted from life, either in the studio or on location en plein air. Rosage believes in bringing everyday objects to life in fresh and artistic ways by capturing light, mood and atmosphere.


“Most came from painting direct observations from life — still object or landscapes — and I love the way light plays on things and I like pigments naturally because they are paintings,” Rosage said. “Painting is my passion … as my paintings evolve in style I try to go beyond just what something looks like from observing it to something deeper, maybe sublime or divine.”

Rosage has dedicated several years to promoting art in the community through participating in local art shows and interacting with other artists to create a network of resources for those who are interested in finding their own passion for art. His first amateur exhibit featured scribbles of crayon on the walls of his bedroom as a young boy. It was a skill that was passed down from his father, but Rosage didn’t fully embrace painting until he became a teenager. He describes his training in art as being “self motivated to be taught.”

“My actual first public display was in 1979 in the Council for Arts for the high school student show … It was a painting of a sunset,” Rosage said. “I mostly do landscapes because there's something that draws me to them, there's peace, there's beauty.”

Since 2004, Rosage has split time between full time painting and working in his family’s business, Audio Plus in Jacksonville. In 2007, Rosage helped to create the Onslow Outdoor Painting Society, or OOPS. The group allows artists to gather once a month and set up easels outside to paint their own renditions of local sceneries.

“We’re in our fourth year now and that has brought some great friendships into my life and my art has grown since then from being around artists and talking to them about where my art has gone,” he said.

He and fellow artists Stephen Greer, Mitchell Morton and Dean Remington have formed a unique bond through painting in OOPS and every other Monday night to paint still paintings of objects. Rosage has found a deeper connections and stronger motivations for painting after the tornado that devastated communities in Jacksonville on April 16. After learning of the Operation B-4, a group of Onslow County Residents who teamed up to raise money for families affected by the tornado, he wondered how he could become a part of their efforts.

“That tornado was one mile from hitting my house, so one mile difference means that I would be depending on someone helping me,” Rosage said. “What I like is that they're keeping the money here to help the people in our hometown and I hope they raise a lot of money.”


Rosage said that it was a recent church sermon that inspired him to turn his art show into a charity event to help his neighbors rebuild after the storm.

“When I'm out painting landscapes I'm savoring God's creation firsthand,” Rosage said. “They have been doing a series at my church called ‘Dare to be Great’ and the idea of giving profits away to a worthy cause didn't enter my mind because this is how I make my living. But I felt inspired to do something for the tornado victims and the B-4 project appealed to me.”

Rosage has also set his sights on a new way to give back to his community through education. He just finished his first year teaching certification at Coastal Carolina Community College and currently taking online courses to earn his bachelor’s degree in education at East Carolina University.


“I just started college at age 49 to become an art teacher because teaching and art are both my passions. I like to encourage young artists to stick to it because art is so valuable to our society and to individuals,” Rosage said.

After decades of growing, exploring and discovering new paths in his artistic career, Rosage said that mastering the skill of painting cannot be achieved by a certain age, but continues throughout the life of an artist.

“My goal by the time I was 50 was to become a master painter. I'll be 50 in August,” Rosage said. “Now that has switched to being a painter for the Master. I don't know if I'll ever master painting, but I can make differences through my work if I'm doing it for the right reasons.”

Read the whole Daily News article HERE...


WANT TO GO? The “Life, Light and Pigment,” art exhibit featuring Bernie Rosage, Jr. will be hosted by The Council for the Arts in June and July. The exhibit will officially open with a reception on June 5 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 910-455-9840.

Click HERE to go to First Baptist Church's website... from there click the JAXCAST link at top and look for the "Dare to be Great" podcast sermons by Pastor Jason Brinker. You can download them as a mp3 podcast or video for FREE!

This is COOL... "Brain scans reveal the power of art"




"A Mother's Love"
7x5" oil on panel
Bernie Rosage jr.

Key points from a recent article about how brain scans reveal the power of art!

• Works of art can give as much joy as being head over heels in love, according to a new scientific study.
• The artworks they considered most beautiful increased blood flow in a certain part of the brain by as much as 10 per cent – the equivalent to gazing at a loved one. 
• "What we found is when you look at art – whether it is a landscape, a still life, an abstract or a portrait – there is strong activity in that part of the brain related to pleasure.  

Click the link to read the whole article...  Brain scans reveal the power of art

The Octagon House

Check out my Art Appreciation Project: The Octagon House

Olivia and I plein air painted at the Octagon House in Cedar Point last October.



Bernie plein air painting at the Octagon House
October 2010.



Bernie's painting from that day... "View from the Octagon House".



Olivia painting the view from the Octagon House.
October 2010.

Olivia, Tami, and Raye Raye taking a stroll on the grounds at the Octagon House.
April 2011.