Home of: Lorraine Cornelius

RONAN — Two local hobbyists had their paintings displayed in a professional fashion last week at the Sandpiper Art Gallery’s new show, “Faces. Places and More.”

The show opened last week, featuring watercolor artist Lorraine Cornelius’ works, alongside her friend and working partner, Nancy Millers watercolor pieces.

Ronan resident Cornelius showed several floral pieces, as well as some wildlife scenes. The artwork comes from a hobby she took up after retirement about ten years ago. Cornelius read up on the art, took several seminars and dug into the watercolor world.

Nancy has been at it a little longer, but is virtually self taught as well. She said her paintings are often inspired by nature as she likes to paint floral scenes, adding that she also takes pictures and paints off of the photographs.

Additionally, the show featured the photography of Ray Miller, Nancy’s husband, who’s photos shine interesting light on local landmarks.

Today, the pair meet weekly in Cornelius’ dining room west of Ronan to create the works over tea.

When they get together for a painting session, they come together to bounce ideas off one another and learn together. There’s some critiquing sprinkled in there too.

Cornelius insisted that despite the paintings hanging on gallery walls, she just does it for fun, and she never expected her paintings to end up where they are.

“Heavens no, I didn’t think I could draw a straight line,” she said of the time before her hobby took hold.

From “Peonies and Peaches,” to Cornelius’ favorite, a rendition of a pheasant, the soft colors of her paintings caught two peoples attention this past Friday, as two of her paintings were sold.

Though again, selling paintings isn’t the point for this hobbyist. Cornelius said she was happy so many people showed up to celebrate the opening.

“I think it’s just becoming an interesting thing there on main street,  a lot of people look forward to it,” Cornelius said.

Nationally-renown portrait artist Diana Neville Knowles is the fourth artist who has several pieces of work on display. Living with her husband near Dayton, Knowles does the bulk of her work on commission. At the show Knowles had several different mediums represented. Depending on the muse, she works with oils, pastels and watercolor. Growing up in New Mexico, she sold her first painting at 12, and has made a living through art since.

Knowles’ paintings made an impression on Cornelius.

“She was really, really a professional,” Cornelius said. “That’s a whole different ballgame, and we realize that, but it’s still fun,”

The two met at the show and exchanged compliments. Their paintings will hang together for several more weeks,  “Faces. Places And More” will show at the Sandpiper through May 2.

In the meantime, Nancy and Cornelius met again last week and got back to painting in the kitchen together, keeping it humble as always.

“I guess just that it’s an interesting hobby to do when you’re older, it’s something that anybody can do, who sets their mind to it,” Cornelius said.  “It’s just a fun thing for me.”