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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fog blankets Rogue Valley ... Depression-era motel razed in Grants Pass to clear site for development ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 18, 1916 ... Fog blankets Rogue Valley ... Depression-era motel razed in Grants Pass to clear site for development ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 18, 1916 ... Four local artists collaborate on piece to challenge themselves Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 8, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 8, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News TALENT — A collaborative work that grew out of weekly meetings over coffee by four artists who decided to push beyond their own boundaries and limitations will be displayed Friday at a local gallery. The piece, titled "An Actual Brush," and other works by the artists will be displayed from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at the Bell House Gallery, 104 S. Market St. Painter Dan Verner, photographer David Lorenz Winston, abstract artist Peter Van Fleet and multimedia artist Bruce Bayard decided working outside their comfort zones would present artistic challenges. For Verner, who works in a highly observational style, the challenge would be giving up formal control of a work of art. The collaborative piece is his step into a new experience as the other artists modified his original work during two rounds of creation. Verner started the process with what he termed a “kid’s coloring book,” with outlines that included a mandolin, a portrait and other objects. “As we passed it from artist to artist, no one else could see it,” said Verner. There were no restrictions on what a succeeding artist could do, including obliterating elements if desired, and in the process contributors chose to preserve some features the other artists had created. Winston overlaid an old-fashioned oil can on Verner’s sketches, but Van Fleet cut the piece in half, then put the original Verner outlines in a new center, to which he added an actual paint brush. “That way it would just flow from Dan and David,” said Van Fleet. Bayard then added pink polka dots. “I wanted to have a nice range of chromatics,” said Bayard, who was seeing a largely monochromatic piece. “I was overwhelmed by the complexity of what I saw. I tend to be very selective,” said Verner, referring to round two, where he added coloring to objects. Winston put a black border around the outside in his second round to draw the eye into the piece, but Bayard removed the border. Winston also added words to the piece, but Bayard made them fainter. “I love having written expression in art,” said Bayard, who wanted to retain Winston’s wording. Bayard also added green polka dots, still feeling a need for more color in the final round. Van Fleet attached some of his father’s ashes to the brush handle in round two. His father, William, was also an artist. An artistic challenge for Bayard is performing solo music in public, while Van Fleet is challenged by being representational, and photographer Winston is uncomfortable outside the digital realm. Bayard did a solo performance at the Schneider Museum of Art. Van Fleet and Winston have yet to select projects to stretch their boundaries. The group originated after Bayard met with Van Fleet, who was recovering from a serious bicycle accident, at Downtowne Coffee in Talent. Bayard suggested Winston and Verner join them to discuss their art. The group decided to stay at its current size, because the men felt it facilitates easy and attentive interchanges. “We are able to carry on a solid conversation among the four us,” said Bayard. Margret Milnes, who is familiar with the work of all four artists, visited their studios to select pieces to complement the collaboration. The gallery is Van Fleet’s residence, which gets transformed for showings a few evenings each year. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 8, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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