As the winter season hits full swing, the Quinlan Visual Arts Center is preparing for its next round of exhibitions.

The newest exhibition will include a Georgia Art League juried show, the University of North Georgia DoVA exhibition, artist Diane Speight “re:constructed” and artists Ann Goble and Amanda Lovett “Ranchlands: Embracing the West.” The exhibits will open at 5 p.m. Dec. 10 at 514 Green St. NE, as a part of Quinlan’s cycle of winter exhibits.

Today, the Quinlan tries to remain true to its roots by featuring local artists.

It is “one of the things that is close to our mission,” Quinlan Executive Director Amanda McClure said. “And it’s important we are providing artists this opportunity … this is a good group of local artists who are active in the community.”

Georgia Art League

Giving back to the community is important for the Georgia Art League as well, whose membership stemmed from Quinlan artists.

Founded by an artist who sought to provide other artists an opportunity to network and share art, the Art League provides a safe place to talk about issues, such as building a portfolio or entering juried shows. In a juried show, artists submit pieces to be judged first for inclusion in an exhibit. Then the art is judged for prizes.

The Georgia Art League also helps artists who started their career later in life learn the nuances and requirements of creating and going to shows.

The Georgia Art League and Quinlan are teaming up to give artists “various ways of showing their art,” McClure said.

Quinlan issues a biannual call for artists who want to submit their work. The exhibitions accept pieces ranging from photographs and still lifes to oil paintings. For a juried show, all pieces must be less than 24 inches in any direction, which can be a limiting factor for artists.

“It is a good process for artists to subject themselves to (knowing there is) possibility for competition,” McClure said.

Winners of a juried show earn gift certificates or “Quinlan bucks” to use in the gift shop or for paint and other art supplies.

UNG faculty artists

While Georgia Art League focuses on area artists, the University of North Georgia’ multi-campus Department of Visual Arts focuses on student needs.

The department creates an environment of quality education, service, inquiry and creativity. And the staff has created a diverse work to be displayed at Quinlan.

The exhibit will celebrate the various talent at UNG by encompassing media such as mixed-media, sculpture and traditional painting.

Artists include John Amoss, Stanley Bermudez, David Clifton, Isabell Daniel, Chris Dockery, Paul Dunlap, Adam Fischer, Jennifer Graff, Julianne Hogan, Jo-Marie Karst, Stacy Koffman, Alex Kraft, Vivian Liddell, Benjamin Lock, Jennifer Manzella, Michael Marling de Cuellar, Erin McIntosh, Jon Mehlferber, Aimee Miller, Craig Wilson and Kate Windley.

Diane Donaldson

Morton Vardeman and Carlson art director Diane Donaldson, whose mediums are graphic design and assemblage/collage work, will have some of her pieces on display at Quinlan. Her exhibit “re:constructed” is meaningful to her because she reuses old materials to craft the pieces.

Her goal is to “create the suggestion of a family album that is both universal and deeply personal.” And it invites art lovers to experience an intimate look into their own lives through reflection on her pieces.

Both assemblage and collage work has been seen in Southern Home Magazine and a number of regional shows. Her design work also has won several regional ADDY awards and a Golden Pyramid award for achievement in promotional design.

Ann Goble and Amanda Lovett

Rounding out the winter exhibitions is the combined project of Ann Goble and Amanda Lovett. Titled “Ranchlands: Embracing the West,” the exhibit was born out of a journey the two friends took to a workshop in Ranchlands, at The Zapata Ranch, Colo.

Led by highly esteemed artist Jill Soukup, the two women were part of an intense week of training. Goble and Lovett rose before the sun to paint, and they critiqued and shared their works with workshop participants late into the night. The environment at the ranch allowed them to use real-life models for their pieces, which included watching horses and bison roam the land.

“And that’s the best way to learn,” Lovett said.

Ideas for the exhibit grew on the plane ride home from Colorado as Goble and Lovett wanted to share their majestic experience with the world.

Both artists noted the workshop made them better at their craft.

It was an opportunity “worth five lifetimes!” Lovett said.