South Bay Art Association

Bellport, New York – Est. 1956

This past Wednesday evening, award winning watercolorist, Lorraine Rimmelin gave an inspiring tutorial to our South Bay Art Association membership.

Who is Lorraine Rimmelin?

Watercolorist, Lorraine Rimmelin

Lorraine Rimmelin is a New York based artist residing on the South Shore of Long Island in Mastic Beach.

Lorraine uses an explosion of colors and shapes to capture the likeness of flowers, animals and landscapes. As she finds juxtapositions in groups of flowers or in the shapes of a sunrise, she captures the essence of these images as she develops her paintings.

Lorraine is a much sought after educator who has a friendly & easy style of sharing her watercolor skills in the classroom.

Lorraine is a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society. She has had her watercolor paintings displayed in several prestigious galleries including a one woman show in the Windows Gallery in New York City which showcased her ‘Blood Flowers’ collection

Lorraine Rimmelin Original Negative Floral Watercolors. Left: Fancy Flowers, Right: Radiant Flowers

What Was The Focus of Her Workshop?

During her tutorial, Lorraine showed our members the steps she takes to create her gorgeous negative space floral paintings.

Shockingly enough, these beautiful pieces begin as just watercolor splatters on her 140lb, cold press paper. She then used a straw (yes you read that right, a straw) to create organic flowing bursts of color. Those bursts would then magically become a one of a kind piece, that could never be replicated.

Negative Floral – The Beginning
Filling in the negative space
Negative Floral – Finished Product

Lorraine explained how she gets lost in finding the shapes. As soon as she sees one flower, the rest just flow, and she becomes mesmerized in the process. Which was easy to see, as she had her audience of fellow artists captivated for her entire class!

What Makes a Successful Piece?

The key to this seems to be open to making mistakes. To not have a plan, but to develop the art as it appears to you. As she held her trusty squirrel haired/synthetic brushes, you could see other artists following at home, brushes in hand, eager to learn!

She also stressed the importance of color and its progression. How the palette really does set the mood for the artwork you are creating. A yellow and white floral will feel light and airy, while a monochromatic blue floral could feel moody yet mysterious. To create a successful negative floral, you need to focus on the lights, then progressively move towards darker hues.

What is incredible about Lorraine, well one thing at least, is how well she explains her craft. Even through zoom, you felt like you were right there in her Patchogue studio, having a one on one demonstration. Her love for what she creates is palpable and infectious.

How Can I learn More About Lorraine?

To learn more about Lorraine, and the workshops she teaches via zoom once a month, check out her website https://www.lorrainerimmelin.com/

To understand more about the basics of negative shape painting, view Lorraine’s YouTube Video below!

Have an idea for our Monthly Membership Meeting? LET US KNOW!

Email info@southbayart.org with your suggestions!

We are here for our members and the expansion of art in our community!

www.southbayart.org

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Loretta O

Long Island, NY born and based artist, Loretta Oberheim, has utilized art to express her emotions throughout her life. Her passion began at a young age and grew when she met an incredible mentor her Junior year of high school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She followed her love of creativity and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, where she graduated with a B.F.A. in Textile/Surface design in 2006. She began working in the high-end floorcovering sector of the interior design industry upon graduation. Some of Loretta’s designs graced the pages of such prominent publications as Vogue, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Interior Design, and LUXE. Then in August of 2013, a life altering event occurred, which left Loretta with permanent brain damage to her frontal and temporal lobes, along with other permanent neurological challenges. That split-second moment took art out of her life. Unfortunately to her dismay, nothing that was manifesting in her mind would translate onto the canvas or paper. All the love, the appreciation, the years of training; her hand was gone. Finally, in December 2018, after multiple personal losses and forced changes, Loretta drove herself back into art. In a moment of deep loss, but of necessary acceptance, she created the painting “11:04”. Behind the layers of oil paint are doctors’ notes, tests, accident reports, letters, photos, disability forms, and illusions of grandeur. In the process of this creation, of letting go, her ability to create returned, but in a new form she had never explored before. This creation of contemporary abstract expressionism, that was a far cry from her traditional textile with gouache training from college. Loretta’s pieces have been on exhibit in galleries in NYC and Long Island. Loretta has also been featured on TLC’s hit show “Unpolished” for her creative, one of a kind “Heart” sculptures. She has created custom commissions for private residences and businesses across the country. Yet out of it all, one thing especially important to her is working as a Traumatic Brain Injury Advocate to help those understand some disabilities are unable to be seen.