Wana Klasen: All will be positive with Sunday SPSA Demo of negative painting
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: February 06, 2013
It will all be positive when Wana Klasen, an acclaimed artist and member of the Santa Paula Society of the Arts, focuses on negative painting and other watercolor techniques as the Demonstration Artist at the society’s next meeting.
The meeting will be held Sunday, February 10 at the historic Depot, home to the SPSA Depot Galley and Gift Shop, located at 963 E. Santa Barbara St. (at the corner of 10th Street). The public is invited to the 2 to 4 p.m. meeting, where light refreshments will be served and guests will have a chance to take home some of Klasen’s unique art.
The artist said she is “excited by color and texture” in her work, and enjoys painting on a variety of surfaces. She has previously presented a demonstration at the Depot Gallery entitled “Water Color Painting on Canvas and The Use of Watercolor Ground.”
Klasen works in a variety of media. A retired Registered Nurse, she is a strong believer in the healing powers of the arts.
She also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration, and teaches art at the Fillmore Senior Center and at Perches Academy in Ventura. Klasen is a contributing artist with Artists for Trauma “where healing is an art,” a nonprofit organization founded by Laura Sharpe (artistsfortrauma.org).
Among Klasen’s mixed media work is her “Earthsong” collection, known for its boldly energetic, colorful tribal figures that bring a smile to those who see them seem to sing and dance across the wall. “Earthsong” has been featured as a solo show at Blanchard Community Library and at Harbor Village Gallery in Ventura.
Klasen’s art has been exhibited in Ventura and Santa Barbara county venues, ranging from the California Oil Museum and Carpinteria Valley Arts Council to the Vita Arts Center and Bell Arts Factor to the Buenaventura Gallery, among others.
An artist who describes herself as a “late bloomer to the joys of painting” has been in full bloom since she discovered her talent. Self-taught, Klasen works in mixed media, watercolor and acrylic.
An artist who enjoys “exploration through color and texture in my work,” Klasen’s love of interpreting the world with her paintbrush is wielded in both traditional styles as well as in her bold, colorful abstracts. “Painting,” she notes, “is an ongoing odyssey of discovery, a living Gestalt in my journey, a celebration of living!”
For more information on Klasen visit www.wanaklasen.com. For more information about the Santa Paula Society of the Arts call 805-525-1104 or visit the website www.thespsa.com.
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