| Artist's Statement · Art-Related Education · Selected Exhibitions · Awards & Recognitions · Professional Affiliations |
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I am a contemporary realist painter residing in the city of Eureka, on the north coast of California. Like many artists, my interest in drawing, painting and designing began early in life, and continued up thru my early years in college. However, my decision to focus on the commercial aspects of art in order to make a living brought about disillusionment with the whole field and I turned my attention to other studies, having a family and learning to run a business. During the hiatus from the practice of doing art I continued to love fine art and craft, and sought to always have it in my life. Once I began drawing and painting again I realized that I had retained much of what I had been taught, and was more excited by the process and result than I had ever been. So began my second career in art. I started small, while continuing with my regular job, studying evenings and weekends with local artists in the late 80's. By 1992 I was working full time at painting in a small studio at my home. First I started in watercolor, and pastel, then I discovered and fell in love with oil in 1994 when I moved to a large studio in the 'old town' area of my city. I live in an artistically rich community and have developed close ties to many of the fine artists who live here. These connections have provided opportunities to join other like minded painters on many painting excursions in our own region and beyond. Two years in a row I joined 10 other plein air painters, camping and painting in Yosemite for 8-10 days at a time. Thru sleet, snow, and sun we worked to capture the beauty, light and grandeur of the place - an intense and exciting painting experience. Being a California native, I think this state has the most beautiful and varied landscapes of any of the places I have visited. Since I consider beauty, the focus of my artistic expression, California has become the main subject matter for most of my landscape paintings. Painting in plein air (outdoors on location) is truly an enjoyable process for me. Being on location contributes an additional sensory and kinesthetic experience to the already intense process of painting, that I love. Outdoors, it is all about the light, and how fast I can capture the scene that drew me to paint it before the light changes. Some paintings come together quickly and are completed on location. Others needing further development, receive more time in my studio. In addition to working on location, I paint large studio pieces, from plein air studies, and my photography. I love the process of designing and working on a larger surface. I have recently expanded the perimeters of my large pieces to include a triptych format, one of which is constructed in the form of a large folding screen. This new format expresses my belief that the aesthetic of fine art, the beauty of a landscape, can be applied to what has been called the "decorative" arts. Although this three dimensional form doesn't fit the usual format, it, like sculpture, offers more aesthetic possibilities for a home, and is a unique way to display a piece of fine art. Painting large also gives me the chance to play with the elements of light, shadow, and form in designing the surface. The larger canvases allow me the opportunity to explore my impressions of a scene using larger brushes and more expansive arm movements. I like to play with line, and color, using the basic elements of the scene to juxtapose opaque and translucent applications of paint, try various brush strokes, and brush sizes. For this reason, some scenes are painted rather loosely, while others have a tighter line and brush stroke. Some scenes are very "tonalist", while others are painted using bright and complementary colors. Its a wonderful intellectual, problem solving process. My job, that of being a painter, is exhilarating and challenging. It permeates my life with beauty and purpose. And gives me the opportunity to show others the incredible beauty I perceive in the natural world every day. ART-RELATED EDUCATION 2004 - Ten Day Plein air Intensive, Scott Christensen, Instructor, Jackson,Wyoming 2003 - Plein air workshop, Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA), Colorado 1997 -1998, Studied portrait & figure painting with Pamela Benda 1994 -1995, Studied Oil painting with Stock Schlueter & Michael Hayes 1992 -1993, Studied Watercolor with Alan Sanborn & Bob Benson 1987 -1994, H.S.U., C.R. and community adult ed Watercolor, drawing, pastels 1965 -1967, San Jose State University, Fine Arts/Commercial Illustration 1963 -1965, Foothill Jr. College, General Ed./Fine Arts SELECTED ONE-PERSON & GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2008 Paintings in 2 group shows, "Sunrise", January 08, and "Sunset", February 08, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA 2008 Paintings showcased, Michael Hollis Gallery, South Pasadena, CA, March 2008 RAA Juried Exhibition, judge: George Rivera, Exec. Director/Senior Curator Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA, April 2008 One of 4 exhibiting artists, "The Water's Edge", Art & Environment Series, First Street Gallery, Humboldt State University, April 2008 Western Regional Juried Exhibit of Oil Painters of America, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, September 2008 Fifteenth Biannual California Art Club Exhibition "Natural Beauty", Pasadena, CA, July-November 2008 Two person show, Elliott Fouts Galllery, Sacramento, CA, August 2007 "Yosemite Revisited", Exhibition of 10 artists, from 2007 painting trip, Cody Pettit Gallery, Eureka, CA 2007 One Person show, "California Light", Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA 2006 Group show, "Extreme Plein Air", paintings of 10 day painting trip to Yosemite, Cody Pettit Gallery, Eureka, CA 2006 Group Show "Mad River 10", plein air painting, Coddy Pettit Gallery, Eureka, CA 2006-07 California Art Club, Images of Water, Pasadena, Ca 2006 California Art Club, "Celebrating 100 yrs Historic Landmarks", Pasadena, CA 2005 One person show, "Compliments of California", Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA 2005 "Godwit Days" Invitational Exhibition & "Best of Show" Award, Arcata, CA 2005 Plein Air Invitational, Cody Pettit Gallery, Eureka, CA 2004 One person show, "New Work", The Gallery, Burlingame, CA 2004 "Godwit Days" Invitational Art Exhibition, Arcata, CA 2003 "Godwit Days" Invitational Art Exhibition, Arcata, CA 2003 "Land & City Escapes" Invitational, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA 2002 Two person show, "Earth symphony", Elliot Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA 2002 One person show, "Recent Landscapes”, Piante Gallery, Eureka, CA 2001 Two person show, "Northern California Light", Elliot Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA 2000 One person show, "Vineyard As Landscape", Merryvale Winery, St. Helena, CA 1999 One person show, William Cody Gallery, Eureka, CA 1999 Landscape show, (One of 7 artists), Tower Gallery, Sacramento,CA 1998 Friends of the Marsh Art Exhibit, Invitational, Arcata, CA 1998 Humboldt County Juried Show, $50 Cash "Special Award", Ferndale, CA 1998 RAA Spring Juried Show, $100 cash award, Eureka, CA 1998 "Four Local Views”, Gallery Dog, June 2-27, Eureka, CA 1998 One person show, "Humboldt Bay Images", Los Bagels, May 1-31, Eureka CA 1998 Jaggard Clancy Gallery, group show, January, Healdsberg, CA 1997 Paintings & weavingsamp;, 2 person show, Humboldt Arts council, October 1-30, Eureka, CA 1997 "New Works" 2 person Show, Landscapes, June 1 - 31. The Art Center Gallery, Eureka, CA 1996 "Deal Me In" Invitational, 52 Artists create Deck of Cards, Ink People, Eureka, CA 1996 One person show, Plaza Design, Arcata, CA. October 1 - 31 1996 RAA Juried Spring Exhibition, Ferndale Arts Co-op Award 1996 Invitational, dual exhibitions, Ink People Gallery & College of Art, University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. One of 30 artists to exhibit at university in Ghana. 1996 The Art Center, RAL Exhibit. Eureka, CA 1995 Trinity Arts Council Annual Juried Show, 1st Place, Watercolor, Weaverville, CA 1995 RAA Spring Exhibit, Juror: Kenneth B. Shores, 1st place award, Eureka, CA 1995 Truchas Gallery, Los Bagels, Eureka, One Person Show, January 1994 RAA Spring Exhibit, Juror, Peter Brown 1994 RAA Fall Exhibit, Juror, Ann Ostheimer 1994 Acquisition Exposition, "A Multi Media Survey Competition", juried exhibition, 1-7 thru 2-26, Humboldt Arts Council, Eureka, CA 1993 One person Exhibition, Pacific Arts Center Lobby, December 93, Arcata, CA 1993 Two person Exhibition, "Two Journeys", with Barbara Pulliam, Nov. 1 - 30, Ink People Gallery, Eureka, CA 1992 Invited Artist, Julie Fulkerson Fundraiser, Arcata, CA AWARDS & OTHER RECOGNITIONS 2008 "First Place" Award, RAA juried exhibition, judge: George Rivera, Exec. Director/Senior Curator, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA 2008 "Award of Excellence", California Art Club exhibition, "Natural Beauty", Pasadena, CA 2007 "Eucalyptus Overlook" received June Beal award at RAA autumn exhibition, Eureka, CA 2007 "Granite Shine" in Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA 2007 Cover artist, Northcoast Regional Land Trust, Yearly Report, Eureka, CA 2006 "Red Canoe" Juried into California Art Club exhibition, "Images of Water", Pasadena, CA 2006 Juried into Alameda Paintout 3 day festival, Alameda , CA 2006 "Presidio Chapel" Juried into California Art Club exhibition, "Celebrating 100 yrs Historic Landmarks", Judge's Choice Award, Pasadena, CA 2006 Best of Show, Annual Juried Exhibition of RAA, Eureka, CA 2005 Cover Artist, Humboldt County Open Studios catalogue and poster, Eureka, CA 2005 Godwit Days Invitational, featured artist, and "Best of Show" award 2005 Finalist, Artist's Magazine, annual national competition, Landscape category 2004 September Calendar Artist, selected by The Artist's Magazine, annual national art competition 2003 Selected Artist to represent the 2nd Senate District in the California Contemporary Art Collection of the California State Senate. Painting on Exhibition for 1 year. 1999 Poster Artist, Humboldt Arts Council, annual fundraiser for the Arts 1998 Poster Artist, NorthCoast Environmental Center annual fundraiser, Arcata, CA PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Oil Painters of America, 2005 - present California Art Club, 2004 - present Women Artists of the West, 2004 - present |