Mother, Daughter Artists to Share Their Passion for Painting at Exhibit
5/6/2010
By NATHAN SHEETS • nsheets@muncie.gannett.com
May 6, 2010
MUNCIE -- Sprawled out on the floor of their home studio, brush in paint-smeared hand, 7-year-old Helen Whitesell juxtaposes her upright fellow-artist and mother, Lyn Waters-Whitesell.
"We probably paint together as much as most people would play catch, or Frisbee, or whatever," said Waters-Whitesell, local artist and designer.
"We probably paint together as much as most people would play catch, or Frisbee, or whatever," said Waters-Whitesell, local artist and designer.
Lyn and Helen, of Hartford City, will be sharing an exhibit starting today at The Artist Within in downtown Muncie, featuring some of their mother-daughter inspired work.
"It''s kind of she and I''s thing," said Lyn, "My parents always encouraged, and I wanted to make sure if my kids had a love for (art), that they got everything they needed."
Helen''s favorite color is baby blue and she prefers large canvases to her mother''s smaller 4-by-4-inch tablets, yet they share as much commonality as difference, when it comes to art.
"I like to paint more abstract," whispered timid blonde-haired Helen.
"What 7-year-old says more abstract?" Lyn responded, as she laughed.
"Flowers and a rock garden and one of a deer, ... that''s for Daddy," said Helen.
While sharing time painting, silence sometimes switches to dialogue, borne from inquiries both Helen and Lyn have for each other.
"She has questions and I don''t mind answering, and I have questions about her work and it sparks conversation," said Lyn, senior art director at CS Kern. "But, she''s actually had pieces where she''s like, ''I don''t want to talk about it.'' "
The exhibit will feature six paintings of Lyn and Helen''s, respectively, and will remain in place at the Artist Within, 313 S. Walnut St., through May 31.
"I''m really excited about the pieces I''ve seen," said Bob Hartley, co-owner of The Artist Within. "They''re both expressionistic, and I think it''s really neat to see this with mothers and daughters."
Fellow mother-daughter Heidi and Sarah Hale will also be featured at the exhibit titled "My Mom & Me."
"I think it definitely keeps us in contact with each other. We want to do things together, we want to explore together and paint together," Lyn said.
To which, Helen quickly added, looking up to her mother: "And, it''s fun."
Contact feature writer Nathan Sheets at 213-5821.
Contact feature writer Nathan Sheets at 213-5821.
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