The ink pen renderings above, based on well-known cartoon characters, were completed by Matt Douglas when he was a teenager. Like the rest of the family, he has always included expression of his artistic talent as an integral part of his life.

Douglas Family to be feature artists at July Logan County Arts show

[June 27, 2015]  LINCOLN - Is artistic talent a matter of nature or nurture? For the local Douglas family, the answer will clearly be “Both!” Five members of this multi-talented clan will be showcasing their works in the upcoming Douglas Family Art Show, which will run at the Lincoln Art Institute, 112 S. McLean St, next to the Post Office.

The exhibit will open with a reception from 5 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, with refreshments catered by Flossie and Delzena’s, 600 Broadway. The Art Institute Gallery will also be open from 12 – 4 pm on Saturday July 18 and Sunday July 19, during the Arts in the Park weekend.

The Douglas family has a long tradition of balancing full time jobs with their creative accomplishments. Margie Douglas, a Nurse Practitioner at Litchfield’s St Frances Hospital, will present works from throughout her career. A graduate of SIU Carbondale, she made time to include art studies along with her healthcare courses. Over the past 30 years, through periods of single parenting, working, and earning her Master’s degree, she has still managed to create her artwork in acrylics and pencil.

Mitch Douglas, a retired conductor for the Union Pacific Railroad, will be displaying an array of photos in both color and black and white. Mitch has been interested in photography since he was 15 years old, but turned to seriously expressing his ideas in the medium within the last ten years. Mitch and Margie are both members of Logan County Arts, so their work is familiar and sought after by local gallery goers.

Not surprisingly, Brant and Matt, Mitch and Margie’s sons, have shown their artistic talent all their lives and will have artwork in the show. They, however, have gone their own way in terms of style and medium, preferring to work with pencil and ink pen.

Another talented family member is Maureen Douglas, a retired school teacher who is a self- taught artist in acrylics and watercolor. Her work in the Calling All Artists exhibit earlier this year was very positively received. She will have a retrospective of 40 different pieces in the show.

Aside from Gallery open hours, the Douglas Family Show will also be available for viewing until August 8 by chance or appointment. Visitors may ring the doorbell, and if curator Moses Pinkerton is available he will open the gallery. For an appointment, people may call Pinkerton at 217-651-8355.

Also available at the Douglas Family Show will be information on the August, 2015 Logan County Arts exhibit, Abstract Expressions, which will open on August 13.

[Mitch Douglas, Logan County Arts/Lincoln Art Institute]