Nickel Plate Arts to feature “The Portrait Collective” in Stephenson House this month

Nickel Plate Arts is welcoming The Portrait Collective: paintings and drawings by Simona Buna, Brad Fields, Lesley Haflich, Anthony Schillaci, and Stephanie Spay among its three artists of the month in December. Details on The Portrait Collective as well as information on the December artist exhibit dates and receptions are available below.

Stephenson House
The Portrait Collective

Come see the opening of The Portrait Collective: paintings and drawings by Simona Buna, Brad Fields, Lesley Haflich, Anthony Schillaci, and Stephanie Spay. The pieces in this show are all results of the Hamilton County Artists’ Association’s open studio figure drawing night that occurs most Thursdays at their gallery at 195 S. 5th St. in downtown Noblesville.

The group has been investing time each week for the past three years painting and drawing from live models. These artists use their time with models, usually members of their own community, to hone their observational skills. Throughout their time together, they have found that the more sensitively they could observe the human form, the more inspired they could become in other areas of their work.

Painting and drawing directly from life have put them right in front of a visual language that a camera simply cannot translate. The only thing between these artists and their subject is the air between them, and because of this, there is always an inevitable connection. These artists must use their eyes to interpret instead of relying on the camera lens. Honing their skills this way has been a worthy journey and has resulted in the beautiful work that they will be sharing in this exhibit.

The full The Portrait Collective exhibit can be seen in the Stephenson House Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can meet the artists at the Nickel Plate Arts December First Friday event from 6 to 9 p.m. and during their free public reception on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Stephenson House on the Nickel Plate Arts campus.

Meyer Najem
Jerry Mannell

See Mannell’s full exhibit, Points of Reference, in the Meyer Najem 2nd floor gallery, located at 11787 Lantern Road in Fishers, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Dec. 29.

Four Day Ray
Shelley Feeney

Feeney’s full exhibit, Traveling Through Texture and Light, can be seen at Four Day Ray Brewing, located at 11671 Lantern Road in Fishers, Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. now through Dec. 29.

About Nickel Plate Arts
Nickel Plate Arts (soon to be Noblesville Creates) champions the arts as an essential element of the economic health and cultural vitality of Noblesville and central Indiana. As Noblesville’s local arts agency, Nickel Plate Arts catalyzes opportunities for the arts and local creatives of all skill levels to thrive and lead in central Indiana. Nickel Plate Arts is also the Region 7 Arts Partner for the Indiana Arts Commission, serving the six counties at the center of the state. Nickel Plate Arts cultivates classes, events, programs, and services for art-lovers and artists of all backgrounds and experience levels. Start your creative journey with Nickel Plate Arts: they’ll help you connect and flourish. Learn more at NickelPlateArts.org.