On the Verge Gallery: Tonilyn Callahan "Graceful Movement" Exhibit April 16th

Greeneville, TN – March 19, 2011 – On the Verge Gallery showcases the fluid paintings of Tonilyn Callahan in a one-woman exhibit entitled “Graceful Movement”. The exhibit will open on Saturday, April 16^th with a meet the artist reception from 4pm-7pm. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend. The exhibit will run through Saturday, May 21^st. Please call 423-218-2052 or visit our website www.onthevergegallery.blogspot.com for more details.

Tonilyn Callahan was born and raised in Florida. Her childhood home was located across the street from the Jacksonville Zoo. Her earliest childhood memories are of visits to the zoo and a pencil in hand. Her Uncle Bill gave Tonilyn her first “magic” drawing pencil at a very early age. She believed him when he told her the “magic” pencil could draw anything. Callahan probably drew every animal that lived in the zoo. Hence, both Uncle Bill and the Jacksonville Zoo had a very strong influence on her artwork.

Callahan says “He (Uncle Bill) was so creative and always transported me to places all over the world in my mind. My first drawing with the pencil was of his dog and he said it looked just like him.”

Tonilyn went on to study commercial art in high school. During the class sessions, she would draw portraits and animals instead of tending to the assignment which might have been writing ads for the newspaper. She says she was called out on this by the teacher many times! Today, you won’t find her writing ads but doing what she loves - drawing portraits and animals. What got her into trouble in high school has become her love and vocation.

Callahan enjoys working in all mediums and finding their secrets. She works in graphite, charcoal, ink, watercolor, oils, and pastels. Often she mixes her mediums to create paintings that portray reality to a striking degree. Her work is highly detailed yet it has a graceful movement and fluidity. Tonilyn loves capturing a moment in time of someone’s life in a portrait. She has a very emotional connection with her artwork and revels in the challenge and richness of creating a new piece. While there is much joy for Tonilyn in completing a piece there is also some sadness in leaving it to move on to another.

The exhibit will include Tonilyn’s current works of ballet dancers. Callahan captures the dancer’s expression in their forms and presents them in a uniquely different perspective. Her collection is as varied as the mediums she uses and will also include historical pieces, portraits, and works which represent farm life.

As Tonilyn subscribes, “ I am loving the journey, after all that is what it is about…”

Please join us on Saturday, April 16^th from 4pm-7pm to view the wonder of her journey in Tonilyn Callahan’s gracefully fluid paintings. She will awe you with the beauty that she captures on canvas and paper.