April 2011: "En Plein Air"

Painting "en plein air" has certainly gained momentum in the past few decades, but the act of painting outdoors has persisted through several art historical conventions. Perhaps the most "famous" is Impressionism, as the method was championed by big name artists such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Berthe Morisot. But before I get too into examples and name-dropping, what is painting "en plein air" in the first place?

It is likely that you've heard the term, and if not, here's a quick explanation. "En plein air" is French expression which means "in the open air" and refers to the act of painting outdoors. For the sake of time and convenience, these paintings or drawings are often small to medium-sized, and take on a loose and almost "fresh" complexion. Impressionism, therefore, is the logical fit stylistically. Artists painting "en plein air" seek to document the essence, therein creating an impression of a moment or short amount of time. Now back to the fun stuff...

When I think of the "challenge" of painting outdoors, I immediately think of two very important subjects within Monet's repertoire - haystacks and Rouen Cathedral. These paintings vary from dawn to sunset, and while the subjects differ only slightly, it is amazing to consider the amount of persistence Monet dedicated to a subject even greater than the architecture and landscape he visited so often: light.

Claude Monet - Rouen Cathedral - 1892 - 94

In organizing our show this month, I chose three local artists who have well-defined and unique styles and practice painting "en plein air" often. The three artists featured, including Kathy O'Leary, Philippe Gandiol, and Paul Ferney, have ventured outside the confines of their studios to capture the essence of the Northern California landscape for this show. Check out some of the work on display below:


Paul Ferney - Golden Gate Lookout


Kathy O'Leary - Coastal Pine


Philippe Gandiol - Downtown Trip

The show runs April 2 - 28, 2011. If you're in the area, join us for Second Saturday on April 9th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM!

Join Us For Our Second Saturday Opening Of "Go Figure!"

Second Saturday - March 12, 2011 from 6:00 t0 9:00 PM

March 2011: 2nd Annual "Go Figure!" Invitational Group Show

This month we're featuring the work of nine figurative artists in our second annual group show: "Go Figure!"

New Bryan Mark Taylor Cityscapes

New paintings by Bryan Mark Taylor just arrived!



DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC | Oil on canvas | 11" X 14"



SUNNY STREETS | Oil on canvas | 11" X 14"



ALL THE WAY UP | Oil on canvas | 12" X 16"



UPS AND DOWNS | Oil on canvas | 12" X 16"



DRIVING INTO THE SUN | Oil on canvas | 24" X 18"



DRIVING HOME | Oil on canvas | 24" X 18"

Christopher Stott & Anthropologie

Christopher Stott was commissioned by the national clothing retailer Anthropologie to create five original paintings for a week-long web campaign that launched on February 21, 2011. His paintings featured items from their five primary sections including:

Clothes



Shoes & Bags



Jewelry & Accessories



Beauty




At Home

Turlock Journal

Turlock artist reflects local landscape in Sacramento show
By Sabra Stafford
sstafford@turlockjournal.com
209-634-9141, ext. 2002
POSTED Nov. 16, 2010 11:26 p.m.



A Turlock artist, who finds his inspiration in the lush and bountiful agricultural fields of the Central Valley, is having his work displayed at a Sacramento gallery.

John Karl Claes is the current featured artist at the Elliot Fouts Gallery in Sacramento. Claes is presenting a new series of paintings, titled “Vista and Horizons” that represent the San Joaquin Valley, as seen through his eyes.

“I paint my environment,” Claes said. “If I did not live in the Central Valley, my work would be of something else. I use this landscape as a departure point, and I distill what I have observed to make paintings that have a connection with the natural world. Even though I am strongly influenced by this landscape, I am essentially an abstract painter.”

Claes grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, earning a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Stanislaus and a Masters in Arts from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.

He has shown his creations locally and across the country and has garnered awards and critical acclaim for his paintings.

"I have painted the agricultural landscape of the West for nearly 20 years,” he said. “It is here, in this western landscape, that I have matured as a painter, and it is this land that challenges and inspires me.

“It is the formal elements of painting that are the most important. I use what I see and experience as an armature for my work. I pay closest attention to how the painting is put together, how the colors interact with each other and where those colors are placed. These elements are of utmost importance; for if these basic components fail, the painting will also fall short. I am successful when both image and paint become inseparable and fused together," Claes said.

Claes’ work will be on display through Dec. 2. The Elliot Fouts Gallery is at 4749 J St., in Sacramento. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.

November Bryan Mark Taylor Event

I'm very excited to announce that Bryan Mark Taylor is coming to the gallery on November 20th from 1:00 to 2:00 PM to give a special afternoon talk about his work, painting process, and experience as a painter.

Bryan is bringing over a dozen brand new originals for the talk, so it will be a great opportunity to see what's new and what's next.

Please take the time to watch this short video of Bryan painting below. You won't be disappointed! The painting featured in the video will be on display during the talk. Please call for further details.