Ariane Sarno Art Exhibit

Ariane Sarno, a Pittsburgh-based artist specializing in expressive watercolor landscapes, still lifes, and portraits is the featured artist at The Gallery at Towngate May 31-August 5, 2024.

An artists’ reception takes place from 6-8pm Friday, May 31. The event is free and open to the public.

About the Artist

Ariane Sarno graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007 with degrees in History of Art and Architecture, Studio Art, and Historic Preservation.

Ariane’s art has been included in the Aqueous Open International exhibitions for 2022 and 2023, as well as numerous shows in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, in which she is a juried member. Although she works large scale and produces pet and home portrait commissions, her favorite art practice is painting in her journal sketchbooks and creating art with her nephew, Max.
She lives at home with her supportive husband, Jared Butler, and their four cats, who are not allowed in the art studio.

Artist Statement

“For myself, painting with watercolor is more about the experience of creating rather than the outcome. Painting sessions can consist of carefully structured and controlled steps or complete chaos, depending on the subject. The way I approach my still lives and portraits, which are sketched and planned in detail, is very different than how I approach my landscapes, in which I use looser brushstrokes and encourage colors to blend into each other. One of the things I love most about watercolor is its dynamic and versatile nature, as it lends itself beautifully to both realistic and expressionistic art styles and subjects.

Regardless of the subject, once my brush (loaded with a deliberate ratio of pigments and water) hits the paper, I’m thrown into a rhythm of making brushstrokes, waiting for the right time to add more paint and for sections to dry. Timing is of the essence, and sometimes, particular pigment and water interactions can be unpredictable. Since I can only control so much, I have to find a happy balance between being at the mercy of watercolor and going with the flow and trying to control what the pigments and water want to do. Using watercolor can be an exhilarating experience, and I liken it to a sacred dance with my materials.

Besides nature and everyday life, my biggest inspiration is the medium of watercolor itself. I do not know who I would be, as a person or an artist, if watercolor hadn’t come into my life.

Whether you are more drawn to the structured still lifes or flowy abstract patterns, I hope that in seeing this exhibit, you feel the passion and excitement I felt while creating it.”

The Gallery at Towngate

Towngate Theatre is well known in Wheeling and its surrounding communities for community theater productions, children’s theater, concerts, ballet, film screenings, spoken word and other performing arts events. But did you know that Towngate is also an art gallery?

The Gallery at Towngate is a small space gallery that features the work of regional artists and focuses on community engagement, inclusion, and the mingling of visual and performing arts.

2024 Gallery at Towngate Exhibition Schedule:

January 20–February 25, 2024: West Liberty University Creative Arts Therapy Student Exhibition
March 1–May 19, 2024: Shoji Satake’s “Cornucopia” in conjunction with Ceramics Take Over Wheeling
May 31–August 5, 2024: Ariane Sarno