Published Thursday, June 27, 2002
Herald Staff Writer
The members of RT Company met as friends, but have had an impact on each other beyond just their social lives.
The group of artists meets once a month to critique each others' work.
"It's a support group," said Alice Tomko.
Ellie Steines said the critiques can be "pretty harsh" and "brutally frank," but always help the artist improve the work.
The group members will point out that two colors do not go together, there are too many or too few flowers, or if they just don't like something.
Ms. Steines said the objective opinions point out things that the artist overlooked because the work is no longer fresh to her.
"We're real constructive that way," said Judy Griffiths. "It helps just to be with other artists."
The influence of the critiques sometimes goes beyond one work.
"We're always evolving into something else," Ms. Steines said. "Sometimes, we evolve into something someone else used to be."
Ms. Tomko, of Warren, is working on a series of bird nests, a subject Ms. Steines previously tackled.
RT Company, which was formed 20 years ago, pursues group shows, such as the one that opens Friday at Sharon Jewelry and Art.
The members all lived in the Warren, Ohio, area when the group started, but Ms. Steines, a Farrell native, has moved to Shenango Township.
Eight members of the 10-artist group are original.
"We still consider our three move aways to be part of the group," said Ms. Griffiths.
The artists paint and draw and make collages, pottery and weavings.
"We planned to be diverse," Ms. Steines said. "We tend to appreciate all kinds of work."
The show is predominantly paintings.
Ms. Steines focused on a spring theme for the show with landscapes and florals in acrylic, oil and watercolor.
Ms. Tomko contributed a setting sun landscape and an abstract figure study, both in oil, to the show.
"I tend to work more Impressionistic now, and more colorist," said Ms. Griffiths, of Weathersfield, who creates wildlife scenes, landscapes and florals with acrylic paints and colored pencils.
Others artists showing works are Shirley Wolanzak, who made collages out of cardboard and found objects, and painters Judy Waid, Elaine Greene and Marie Dippolito.
The show will open with a reception from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Sharon Jewelry and Art, 141 E. State St. It will run for six weeks. The and the gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at
jpinchot@sharon-herald.com