The Ocean City Arts Center’s Gallery features one of its esteemed teaching artists, Gail Beckley, in a solo show during October. The exhibit, titled, “Inspirations” opens October 2 and runs through October 29. A “Meet the Artist” reception will be held on Friday, October 10 from 7pm to 8:30pm. The Gallery is located in the Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Avenue, 2nd Floor, Ocean City, NJ.
Gail Beckley holds a Fine Arts degree from Adelphi University, but her career path took an unexpected turn. She spent 20 years working in information technology as a senior program analyst in the casino industry, followed by roles as an IT programmer and instructor. Despite this shift, her passion for the visual arts remained a constant throughout.
As Gail herself puts it: “I credit teaching drawing and painting classes at OCAC, along with creating entries for local galleries such as Nashville North Studios in Linwood, the Ocean City Fine Arts League’s “Art on Asbury,” and, of course, the Ocean City Arts Center, with rekindling my passion for painting after many years spent in other careers. I’m truly grateful for that.”
This exhibit showcases Beckley’s remarkable versatility as an artist, with works spanning multiple mediums, including still-life paintings, colored pencil portraits, and photography.
In her still-life paintings, ordinary objects are transformed into striking works of art. The delicate drape of a lace tablecloth over a table, paired with apples and pears that appear almost lifelike, draw the viewer in and hold their attention.
As both a teacher and a portrait artist, Beckley has a unique ability to capture the essence of her subjects. Her gentle touch and meticulous attention to detail result in portraits that exhibit a breathtaking level of facial realism.
As a professional artist, Beckley typically works from reference photos she takes herself—often amassing thousands of images. Her photography is equally impressive; the vibrant colors she captures highlight her keen eye for detail and composition. Through her photography, Beckley establishes herself as a skilled and accomplished visual storyteller.
Clearly, Gail Beckley’s artistic journey, with its seamless blending of creative inspiration and technical skill, reflects the balance between the analytical and the intuitive, the left and right brain. That’s inspirational!
The show runs from October 2 to 29. The Ocean City Arts Center is located on the second floor in the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, New Jersey 08226. Hours of operation are 9am to 9pm, Monday through Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturday. The Arts Center is closed on Sunday. For further information, call (609) 399-7628. Check out the Ocean City Arts Center’s website at oceancityartscenter.org and/or on Facebook and Instagram.
This program is made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
