Artist’s Choice exhibit at Gallery One continues thru Feb. 28

The artists of Gallery One in Ocean View have selected their own favorite paintings for the Artist’s Choice exhibit.

After the busyness and sparkle of the holiday have worn off a bit, locals tend to find themselves reminiscing about summer and also appreciating the quiet joys of the beach in winter.

Laura Hickman’s pastel, “No. 2 Lifeguard Stand,” symbolizes the yearning for warmer days, depicting a beautiful morning in early June before the summer crowds arrive.

Of her mixed-media painting, “Beach People,” Mary Bode Byrd said, “My whimsical people are the early folks to the beach, getting a spot even before the lifeguards arrive.” Color and energy fill the canvas.

“Regatta,” an acrylic by Joyce Condry, brings back memories of summers in Annapolis sitting on the dock watching sailboat races on the bay. The crisp white sails set against a glorious blue sky pop with graphic energy.

For many, the birds that make their homes here for the wintertime provide comfort and joy over the chilly months. Lesley McCaskill’s oil painting, “Flight Pattern,” is an example. “I live on a marsh, and during this time of year the sky can be cool blues and lavenders juxtaposed against the golden winter marsh. The sky is often dotted with formations of geese in flight, their voices honking in rhythm as they fly overhead,” she said.

In Eileen Olson’s acrylic, “Cacophony,” she vibrantly illustrates the delight these winter friends bring her all season. “When I am outdoors, I hear and see them everywhere I go, and it is such a joyous sight,” she said.

Michelle Marshall’s jocular roosters in her acrylic, “Cock-a-doodle-duo,” are another happy sight. The roosters’ job does not take a break in the winter, and it’s nice to have a friend.

Dale Sheldon’s acrylic, “Smith Island Tranquility,” gives a glimpse of the peace and quiet that many miss during the hectic summer tourist season. Some find the cold a small price to pay for that healing solitude. “Peaceful and quiet, the islands in the Chesapeake Bay are known for their watermen and seafood. While losing land to rising sea levels, they are still hosting a variety of nesting seabirds as they have for decades. They are a treasure,” said Sheldon.

Gallery One is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day at 32 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View.

For more information, call 302-537-5055, email art@galleryonede.com or go to galleryonede.com.