Cool's exhibit brings spring into O.C. Arts Center gallery

By Ed Wismer, Ocean City Sentinel critic

OCEAN CITY- The March exhibit at the Ocean City Arts Center brings a breath of spring into the gallery.

The sunny and colorful acrylic paintings by Merryl M. Cool literally flood the exhibition space with brilliant color. Cool's subject matter ranges from architectural studies to figures, landscapes and still life. There is nothing ordinary about Cool's approach to painting. Her painting technique encompasses vivid use of color and brushwork, and palette knife application varies from thick and almost three dimesional impasti to thinner and subtle built up layers of pigment.

Many of Cool's compositions are expressed in a square format, rather than the more conventional vertical or horizontal rectangle format. Considering that a square shaped space can often be difficult and limiting, it is remarkable to note how successful she has made this unique approach her own. Cool says that her artistic inspiration comes from her travels and life experiences. She works as a speech/language pathologist and says this work helps her evoke the images she paints.

As you enter the gallery, your attention is captured by her square still life of appetizing looking produce titled "Veggies." The style is both impressionistic and semi-abstract, but each vegetable is recognizable without any stodginess. Another similarly themed work is of even more delicious looking assorted fruit, titled "Summer Symphony." Most of the paintings feature a free and loss technique but a few are tighter and more detailed. They testify as to Cool's drawing skill. A good illustration of this can be seen in her "Galway Fishing Boats" in acrylic but with an oil technique. If done correctly, a good acrylic and a good oil are difficult to tell apart. Another painting illustrating this is titled "Leah's Pumpkin," which is almost photographic in its intensity.

Two of Cool's landscapes titled "Providence I" and "Providence II" show understanding of how light can be used to make a subject seem three dimensional. Cool's florals are the kind that can bring the sight and almost the aroma of spring into any room.

One painting's title is intriguingly misleading. It is called "Watercolors" but is actually a scene of sailboats rendered in acrylic.

In her bio, Cool expresses gratitude to the teaching staff of the Ocean City Arts Center for their invaluable guidance. The Ocean City Arts Center is located at 17th Street and Simpson Avenue.

Source: Ocean City Sentinal, March 9th 2006