2018 Juried Plein Air Exhibit

Juried by Bill Cramer

August 3 – September 1, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITION DATES:
August 3 – September 1, 2018

OPENING & AWARDS RECEPTION:
Friday, August 3 at 5-7pm

BILL CRAMER WORKSHOP:
August 4-5, 9am-5pm
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PAINT OFF COMPETITION:
August 2, 4pm-9pm
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2018 AWARD WINNERS!

Juried Plein Air Exhibition Winners

Best of Show: “Turbulence” by Jan Goldman

2nd Place: “Easy Living” by Sharon Abshagen

3rd Place: “Animas Valley” by Emma French

Honorable Mentions

Along the Florida River” by Lindy Ivie

On Fire” by Alice Crapo

The Gossips, Arches National Park, Utah” by Barbara Tobin Klema

Juried Plein Air Paint Out Competition Winners

Best of Show: “The Rochester” by Emma French

2nd Place: “Cross Currents” by Maryellen Morrow

3rd Place: “The Red Sunset” by Fran Mayfield

Growing up in southern California, Bill always had an interest in exploring nature and creating art. As an experienced rock climber, he spent much of his youth enjoying the more vertical places of the American west.  This gave him a perspective of the world that few others would ever experience. He received a fine arts degree from California State University Long Beach in 1989, and later moved to Prescott, Arizona with his wife Michelle to be closer to the scenery they both enjoyed. It was there that Bill discovered the joys and challenges of landscape painting, his outdoor experiences providing much of the insight and inspiration expressed in his art. Today with his wife and two daughters, Sarah and Megan, Bill divides his time between family, art and outdoor pursuits.

I truly enjoy the essential act of laying down paint, especially on location. I look for a balance between the actual scene and my reaction to it; not to paint precisely what I see, but to paint what I want the viewer to see. Any landscape worth painting is more than the obvious visual elements. The push of an evening breeze, the feel of sun baked sandstone, the scent of sagebrush or the sound of a raven suddenly overhead are examples of the many unseen elements that inform my work. I’m satisfied when a painting is as rich as the landscape that inspired it. My goals are to keep exploring the southwest’s wild places, search for new ideas and express what I find exciting about landscapes and about painting.

While viewing the excellent and varied work submitted for this show, I was looking for paintings that displayed both strong design and painting skills. All paintings are created using the careful application of values, shapes and edges to a given composition, all brought to a satisfying level of finish. In other words, paintings that look complete unto themselves, regardless of the media or style in which they are created. I found it to be a very satisfying group of paintings to look through! My thanks to all for sharing your work with me.”

Barbara Conrad Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday
10am – 5pm

Entry to Durango Arts Center galleries is always free.  The galleries are closed to the public on Sundays and Mondays.