Fine artists working in paint, clay, glass, metal, fiber and other media will converge on Rock Eagle 4-H Center near Eatonton Nov. 23-24 for the fifth annual Art at the Rock. The juried art show and crafts market attract more than 75 artists each year.

This year’s featured artist will be Dan Garcia of Hampton, whose painting won best-of-show in the 2012 Art at the Rock artists’ competition. A self-taught artist, Garcia became interested in painting as a young man after seeing paintings by wildlife artists such as Maynard Reese and Robert Bateman.

He did his early work in oil. However, as an executive in the retail industry, he had limited time for painting and eventually switched to faster-drying acrylic paint. He subsequently discovered that thin layers of paint created the effects that he was looking for,

When Garcia discovered colored pencils, his love of drawing and layering colors was a natural fit. His crisp colored-pencil renderings and strong composition bring the viewer back for a closer look.

Garcia is a member of The Society of Fine Art of Fayetteville, Arts Clayton and the Colored Pencil Society of America. His paintings have received numerous local, regional and national awards. Garcia was a finalist in the Maryland Duck Stamp competition, and his works have twice been selected as State of Georgia Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Prints.
Art at the Rock’s juried show, including Garcia’s work, will be on display in Rock Eagle 4-H Center’s Senior Pavilion.

The event also will feature music, food and an outdoor marketplace for locally grown and made products.

Art at the Rock will run from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 and 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24. Sunday visitors are encouraged to come early for brunch in the dining hall.

For more information, contact Tina Maddox Owen at (706) 484-2873, tinam@uga.edu or go to www.rockeagle4h.org/ART.

— Content from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.