BY PAULA MONTGOMERY

Special to The Pilot

Four painters and a sculptor showcase their work at the Campbell House Galleries for the months of November and December.

Painters Jane Casnellie, Tony Corcoran, Diane Kraudelt and Karen Meredith all work in a variety of styles and media. They are no strangers to the Campbell House Galleries, where their work has been featured in past shows and the Fine Arts Festival.

On the other hand, this will be sculptor Morgen Kilbourn's first showing at the Campbell House, and her three-dimensional pieces will add another element to the display of artistic interpretations.

The creative process has always played an important role in the life of Jane Casnellie. A self-taught artist, Casnellie began to devote time to oil painting upon moving to Pinehurst, eventually opening the Hollyhocks Art Gallery more than 10 years ago.

Casnellie continues to create work that reflects her love of nature.

"I enjoy painting colorful European landscapes, expressive florals and unusual still life," says Casnellie. "Beautifully rendered pet portraits are also an important part of my portfolio, because my love of animals has given me an insight into capturing their inner spirit."

The diversified nature of Casnellie's work has garnered numerous awards, many commissions and corporate installations.

Tony Corcoran retired to Pinehurst in 1994 and began to pursue his artistic abilities in earnest. Having studied industrial design and the basics of art at the Pratt Institute, Corcoran's work reflects a solid grounding in design along with his love of all natural things. Some of his favorite subjects are detailed renderings of fish and three-dimensional sculptures, and mobiles made from driftwood and other items found on the beach.

"I am the consummate sketcher," says Corcoran. "I sketch every moment while traveling, and to date, I have completed 13 sketch books as 'artistic diaries' for my children and grandchildren."

Morgen Kilbourn is a full-time sculptor who specializes in equine portraiture. She strives to capture a likeness and to infuse that extra spark of character into the piece. She also enjoys giving the most static pose a feeling of movement. With each sculpture, her aim is to go beyond the accuracy of biomechanics to infuse vitality and vigor into her work.

"I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawing, painting or up to my elbows in clay," says Kilbourn. "I've been very -fortunate to have a family that both encouraged and taught art in collegiate and private settings. My grandfather was a lead repousse sculptor, and my father was a -commercial sculptor who worked full time and freelanced for such companies as Coleco, Olin Ski, Disney and Hasbro."

Diane Kraudelt has been drawing and painting for most of her life. Trained as a commercial artist, Kraudelt continued her training with university classes and specialized workshops. Primarily an oil painter and an instructor, she also works in pastels, acrylics, and pen and ink. Kraudelt's style is primarily impressionistic, and her work spans a wide variety of subjects, including landscapes, portraits of people and animals, still life studies and whimsical, colorful renderings of all types of animals.

"I have been fortunate to receive many awards and accepted into national shows," says Kraudelt. "My paintings are exhibited in local and regional galleries, businesses and private collections."

After a career in public health, Chapel Hill artist Karen Meredith decided to devote more time to her lifelong love of creating art. She works mostly in oil and sometimes in watercolor. She is primarily self-taught, but has taken numerous workshops with internationally known artists. Meredith's work has been juried into numerous shows.

"When creating art, I have the intent of emphasizing mood and celebrating color and light," says Meredith. "I especially enjoy painting 'en plein air,' which provides me with the full range of sensory experiences. I am most fascinated with images showing reflections in water and shadows on structures. When the weather is inclement, I set up a still life and paint in my studio."

"Jane Casnellie & Friends" opens Friday, Nov. 4, with a reception to meet the artists from 6 to 8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. The exhibit is on display through Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The galleries will be closed on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day, and on Nov. 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving. The Campbell House Galleries are located at 482 East Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines.

For more information about the Casnellie & Friends exhibit, contact the Arts Council of Moore County at (910) 692-2787, or visit the website at www.mooreart.org.