Trotter Tangle by Eloise Lovell

Artwork by River City Art Association member Eloise (Marietta) Lovell will be featured in an exhibit titled “Two Chicks From The Sticks Named Eloise” set for Sept. 1-30 in The Gallery at Clabber Girl Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Lovell, a resident of Rosedale, has collaborated with her friend – the other chick from the sticks, Delores Eloise Collings, also a Parke County resident – to present this fun-themed exhibit to the community.

A “First Friday” reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 7 coincides with Chef’s Night at Clabber Girl Bake Shop and Museum at 900 Wabash Ave.

An additional attraction to this event will be a special musical component provided by Dr. Tracy Richardson, a Wabash Valley singer-songwriter and keyboard player as well as Music Hall of Fame honoree, professor of music therapy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and daughter of Delores Collings.

It was in 1968 when Lovell moved to God’s country, otherwise known as Parke County, from her birthplace in Brownsburg, Indiana. Her home was just down the dusty road from the Collings farm.  When they learned of her interest in art, Collings and her friend, another artist, Lois Sciotto, invited Lovell to join their art group. Their encouragement meant so much that she soon became a member.

On several occasions the artists would meet and paint, one of the first being at a lookout point at Turkey Run State Park near Marshall, Indiana. Their children rode the bus together. Later when the children were teens, Collings’ daughter Tracy and Lovell’s son, David Marietta, would join together with a couple of friends to form a musical group they called Arizona! Collings and Lovell have remained friends throughout the years. So this exhibit is more than just a joint art exhibit, it’s a joint family affair!

Lovell’s favorite art form is drawing, whether colored pencil, marker, ink pen, or #2 pencil…all are fair game. Although, if the spirit moves her, she will pick acrylic or watercolor to complete her picture. She says, “I just can’t help it!”

Lovell has chosen some of her latest artworks for the Clabber Girl display. You will find an acrylic painting of an Iguana (one actually invaded their dock!), a colorful Hibiscus and her granddog Stella (both colored pencil), as well as a quick marker sketch of a bunch of fresh beets called “And the beet goes on.”

Lovell’s art background, though not formal training, has been diverse with lessons, workshops, live drawing, Plein Air and just plain drawing and studying for the enjoyment. She finds drawing tangles a favorite challenge and has included one in this exhibit.

“The “Trotter Tangle” was so different that it was hard to wrap my mind around this confusing concept,” Lovell said, “but when I finished it, I was pleased. Then, when I entered it in the fair and in a local show, I received a couple of nice ribbons.”

Lovell also is a member of the Wabash Valley Art Guild and an Associate of the Covered Bridge Art Association in Rockville, Indiana. On occasion she gives tangles and calligraphy lessons in Arts Illiana Inc. in Terre Haute. She can be contacted at eelovell@gmail.com.