‘Artist of the Month’
Pewee Valley’s Logan
to be featured in May
She enjoys painting en plein air,
which she learned at U of L
LA GRANGE, Ky. (May 2013) – A sense of place is what artist Carole Logan gets when she paints en plein aire. A French term meaning to paint outdoors and at the scene, this is exactly what the Pewee Valley, Ky., resident likes to do best.
“I started painting en plein air because my professor at the University of Louisville did not want us to paint from photographs,” said Logan. “As a result, I spent a lot of time painting in parking garages downtown and on the streets of the city.”
 |
Photo provided Carole Logan says |
 |
A major challenge to painting in this style is “the weather and changing light,” she said. Logan can often be found with her portable stool, easel, canvas, brushes and palette capturing a scene on the streets of La Grange or a scene from one of many rural areas in the county.
“When I need a break from the geometry of the city, I retreat to rural areas,” Logan said. “This affords me the chance to paint organic forms which frees me from the more structured urban landscape.”
She thinks some of the most beautiful scenes in the world can be found in Kentucky. Logan has participated in various groups or solo shows from Lexington to Louisville.
She will be the featured May “Artist of the Month” at Gallery 104 in La Grange. The gallery is owned and operated by the Arts Association of Oldham County.
“Carole is a unique artist in that she predominantly paints “en plein air” versus studio work,” said Kathy Dowling, executive director of Gallery 104 and the arts association. “We have four plein air painters in Gallery 104, but many more Arts Association of Oldham County artist members who are also connected with the Plein Air Painters of Kentucky and other groups.”
Many in the community know Logan as a painter of recognizable Oldham County scenes, including downtown storefronts to the numerous trains that rumble through the downtown area daily.
“I enjoy painting buildings because of the strong shadows and reflections in the windows,” she said. “Many of the buildings I have painted have been razed, so for me, it is a way to preserve some of our Kentucky history.”
Dowling said that Logan has “painted most of the historic buildings in both La Grange and Crestwood as well as those of her travels. Her La Grange train paintings (modern CSX and old-fashioned steam engine) are big sellers as greeting cards, postcards and prints.”
“Carole has been on board with the gallery since its inception and her contributions have been non stop,” said arts association member Marion Gibson. “She has been a successful artist for many years and done many charming Oldham County scenes. She does a great job recreating county and city landmarks. I have a painting of a vintage locomotive on Main Street in La Grange that I treasure.”
Logan, originally from the Oak Park suburb of Chicago, is also a well known for her oil paintings. “I like oil paint because it is buttery and takes awhile to dry, so you can work back into it. It is very flexible.”
At age 50, Logan attended the University of Louisville and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
To expand her artistic endeavors, she has taken workshops with Guinevere Smith and Ken Auster. She has participated in three workshops in Italy under the direction of Mathew Daub.
Although Logan mostly paints Kentucky scenes, she has traveled extensively with her husband, Zack, and discovered many intriguing scenes in Italy, Mexico, Belize and Ecuador.
Her work can be found in galleries, exhibitions, corporate and private collections throughout Kentucky, Gallery 104 and Studio 146 in Pewee Valley. Logan has worked on commission for Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville’s Fund for the Arts and the Alzheimer Association. She also had the honor of painting a commission piece for the Development Authority of Louisville to be given as a gift for former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson upon his retirement from public office.
“Carole has been commissioned for unique personal paintings such as Duncan Memorial Chapel for a wedding anniversary gift, as well as large event paintings,” said Dowling. “Carole is one of our most willing volunteers at Gallery 104, Arts on the Green and various events. She and husband, Zack, are generous Arts Association of Oldham County supporters.”
In addition to being a member of the arts association, Logan is also a member of the Louisville Visual Art Association. “What a gift and such a pleasure to paint the beauty I see around me,” said Logan.
• For more information contact Kathy Dowling, at Gallery 104 at (502) 222-3822 or visit: www.gallery104.org.