COFA fills August with art

"Autumn Harvest," an oil painting by Ellen A. Erzen, is one of the entries in the 2015 COFA juried art show.

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The works of 35 artists, amateur and professional, were accepted for judging and display at the 16th annual Community of Fine Arts, a juried art show presented by the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council. COFA is open for public viewing now through Aug. 29 at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, during library hours. The nearly 80 original works are one of a kind and have not been previously exhibited in this show.

The entries are accepted and judged in five categories: Oil/Acrylic; Watercolor; Drawing/ Pen & Ink; Charcoal/Pastel; Photography. A $100 cash award is given for best in each division/category and a $50 cash award for second place in each division/category. Honorable mention ribbons and/or gifts are also awarded as determined by the judges.

The three judges for the 2015 show are Paula Blackman, Bill Kufahl and Patricia Hanahan Sigmier.

Blackman, who has an master of arts degree from Kent State University, has been granted seven public art commissions in the Cleveland area. She has participated in over 60 art exhibitions including solo shows, invitational and juried exhibits and is currently on faculty in the fine arts department at Lakeland Community College.

Kufahl has painted portraits as his full-time occupation since graduating from art school in 1967. In addition to his extensive list of portrait commissions and subjects, Kufahl taught at the Cooper School of Art and in 1983 began offering classes in his Westlake studio, fostering the careers of many skilled artists.

Sigmier, who teaches painting at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood and for Case Western Reserve University's continuing education department, won the North Coast Award in the Ohio Watercolor Show in 2005. In 2010 she earned signature status in the OWS. Sigmier teaches watercolor painting, botanical painting, life drawing, portrait painting and plein air painting (a style of painting produced out of doors in natural light).

On Saturday, Aug. 29, the public is invited to a “Meet the Artists” reception to be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The mission of the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council is to bring art to the public in a non-commercial setting. With the cooperation of Porter Library, the Community of Fine Arts is free and open to all.