Concord artist Susan Lackey will open her studio process to the public on Sunday, Aug. 9, with a free demonstration of her "layered expression" underpainting technique at Clearwater Arts Center & Studios.
The two-hour demo, running from 2 to 4 p.m. at 223 Crowell Drive NW, requires no registration. Visitors can drop in to watch Lackey build two very different paintings, a whimsical pet portrait and an intricate patterned piece, using the same foundational approach.
Though the finished works look nothing alike, Lackey uses intentional underpainting as the structural backbone of both, according to the Cabarrus Arts Council's event listing. The event appears on the council's calendar but takes place at Clearwater, not at the council's Union Street location.
Lackey's process involves layering translucent acrylics with heavy impasto, collage and often embedded objects, according to the Clearwater event page. She holds an art degree from East Carolina University and has earned two North Carolina Arts Council grants. Her work has appeared in national, state and local juried exhibitions and is represented by galleries in the greater Charlotte area.
On her website, Lackey describes her style as "expressive abstraction" and says she strives to suggest rather than tell the whole story. "I leave it open-ended so you can connect with my paintings on a level that is meaningful to you," she writes in her artist statement.
If you go
- What: Free art demo, "Layered Expression" with Susan Lackey
- When: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2 to 4 p.m.
- Where: Clearwater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord
- Cost: Free; no registration required
- Contact: 704-920-6600
Upcoming community events
For more arts programming in Concord and Cabarrus County, including exhibitions, workshops and performances, visit the Cabarrus Arts Council's events calendar.
