New plein air artists’ group to exhibit at BCL, highlight Binsley
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: October 24, 2012
The uniquely named Paaint (Plein Air Artists In Nature’s Theatre) will be exhibiting the original works of acclaimed artists, including Santa Paula’s Dorothy Orr and Pam Shelley at Blanchard Community Library.
A special memorial presentation of works by the late Martha Binsley, a founding member of Paaint, will also be featured in the exhibit.
Paaint is a recently formed group of artists whose plein air and partial plein air paintings and drawings will be exhibited on the Douglas Shively Memorial Wall at the library from November 1 through December 27. The public is invited to a reception for the artists that will be held Thursday, November 8, 5 to 7 p.m. at the library, located at 119 N. 8th Street.
Aside from works by Santa Paula’s Orr and Shelley, the show will consist of drawings and paintings by artists Nancy Beswick, Lois Bloom, Susan Lewis, Laurie McKnett and Dani Willis of Ventura, and Melanie Hirdler and Cathy Smith of Ojai.
According to Orr, an acclaimed painter and retired Ventura College fine arts professor and instructor, art works categorized as plein air “are started and finished on location using natural light only. The artist must deal with all of the gifts and surprises that nature has to offer at that time and place.... Notable artists Claude Monet and John Singer Sargent loved working in this manner.”
Partial plein air works of art are started and taken to a point near completion on location. “They are then finished in the studio, with focus on compositional adjustments and detail refinements.” Orr noted, “American artist Georgia O’Keeffe loved both methods of working, and embraced that which suited her objective at the time.”
Blanchard Community Library is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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