Jo Ellen Reinhardt, Dance in Charcoal.

Jo Ellen Reinhardt describes herself as a traditional realist, capturing all manner of subjects with an eye for detail and finding the beauty in ordinary places, people and things. Six years ago, she co-founded the New England School of Fine Art to share her passion and knowledge and forge a community of artists. Now that COVID-19 has forced her school to temporarily close, Reinhardt has started creating YouTube videos in order to keep teaching. "As an instructor I am used to doing several demonstrations per week," she said, "So it's been somewhat natural for me to film quick videos." Although COVID-19 has changed her life drastically, she's staying positive, and she advises others to do the same. "Turn off the news and pull out your paints, pencils, glitter glue, whatever you have," she said, "It doesn't matter your skill or level." Just as her work turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, she hopes her instructional videos can help bring light to those feeling hopeless. "I feel this is an important time to lift up spirits and painting is my way to share my talent with others," she said. "Hopefully I'm touching lives through my art." For more information about Jo Ellen Reinhardt and her work, visit her website at joellenreinhardt.com and the New England School of Fine Arts YouTube channel here.

Nils Johnson, Love That Dirty Water.

For painter and art teacher Nils Johnson, it's all about color. Skin and shadows don't just have one color, and to capture this, he uses his technique of "ghost images." Ghost images are what occur when one stares at a color for 30 seconds and then looks at a white sheet of paper. The after-image of color is a muted inverse of the original shade, and it's these "ghost colors" that Johnson uses in his under-painting. The over-painting does not completely cover the under-painting, allowing the muted tones to peek through and meld with the bright, vibrant over-painting, creating unique pieces that grab the eye. Though Johnson's summer plans of swimming, fishing and painting water are no longer possible, he continues to paint a series he calls "COVID canvases," beginning with a portrait of his grandson. He advises others to stay productive as well. "Stay vital by giving yourself a regular schedule during which you sit down, turn off the world and create," he said, "Stay disciplined, keep working." He believes this experience will show us what truly matters, and allow us to discard the things that don't. "I think a lot of the shallow stuff with which people fill their lives is going to seem a lot less important," he said. In this way, the pandemic might serve as our own under-painting, over which we can build something brighter with the new perspective this experience brings us. To learn more about Nils Johnson and his work, visit his website at nilsjohnsonartist.com.

Jeanette Fournier, The Sentinel, watercolor, 7" x 7".

Jeanette Fournier is a watercolor painter and graphite artist whose work is driven by a love of nature and the creatures that live in it. "The compositions of my work are meant to be intimate, close up portraits of the animals, birds and other creatures with which we share this world," she said. Too many animals face extinction, and Fournier aims to show the importance of these creatures to others and help us remember them if they ever go. Though Fournier's upcoming exhibits and events have largely been postponed or cancelled, she's using this time to work on her latest series. The collection consists of small paintings of birds she's seen around her studio and in New England's mountains. When she's done, there'll be enough to fill up a large wall. The paintings will show in the two-person exhibition "Northern Exposure" at the Gallery at WREN in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, from September 4–29. In the meantime, she now has plenty of time to spend outside like she enjoys. "I have been able to get outdoors and spend time out in nature for extended periods of time that I ordinarily wouldn't have," she said. In a time like this, nature is closer than ever. You may have seen the photos or videos of wild animals traversing human neighborhoods now that the streets are quiet, and there's now more time to stop and appreciate what might be right outside your door or just beyond your backyard. Fournier's artwork reminds us of what waits for us in the great outdoors, and what we might see if we were to take a look around. To learn more about Jeanette Fournier and her work, visit her website at jfournierart.com.

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