What’s on the walls at the Emerald Art Center in April

(Above: Serenity, by artist Shelley Roenspie, is part of a display of her work at the Emerald Art Center)

Edited by Randi Bjornstad

The Emerald Art Center features a show by Harrisburg artist Shelley Roenspie during April.

Variety is the Spice of Life is the title of the exhibit, which Roenspie describes this way:

Mt. Hood, by Shelley Roenspie

With each painting, I expect to express beauty through a style of color and form that will shine through in my paintings. I appreciate a large canvas. I enjoy making a bold statement. The goal of my paintings is to capture the uniqueness of each subject. When I have risen to this moment, I know I am finished. I love shiny, sparkly bright and unusual wild expressions. This showing includes huge abstracts, colorful small abstracts, eerie landscapes, florals, soothing ocean scenes, and sparkling trees! When Jim retired from teaching, Jim and Shelley became partners in this art project. I do the painting and Jim frames and glazes the art. Since Jim’s been glazing the art, it enables me to use glitter, gold leaf, and crazy wild colors with the exact look I wanted on my art.

In addition to the Roenspie show, there also is a selection of art by area youths in elementary through high school that were submitted too the Cascade Raptor Center’s “Raptor Art Challenge.” These pictures depict behaviors of osprey and turkey vultures that are plentiful in this area.

Rain Maiden #11 is one of Clair Coiner’s pastels at the art center.

Two members of the Emerald Art Center — Bobbie Soshnick and Clair Coiner — also have work featured. In Travelscapes, Soshnick, a retired high school art teacher, features places she has traveled in many of her paintings, while Coiner’s show, Art From the Heart, uses colorful wax pastels and her fingertips to create her images.

And, as always, new work from other members of the art center also will be on display.

On view at the Emerald Art Center

When: Through April 26, 2024; special artist reception 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12 during the Second Friday Art Walk

Where: 500 Main St., Springfield

Gallery hours:   11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday

Information: 541-915-9377 or online at emeraldartcenter.org