This week, our blog is focusing on the theme of artwork which presents animals; in both their natural environments and interacting with humans. A number of our member artists either specialize in producing pieces dedicated to animals, or it is part of the variety of pieces in different styles that they produce.
What we will be displaying here is just a taste of the wildlife-inspired works which we hold here at RSG. To see more of them, either come into the gallery for a visit and look about, or visit our website and search our Catalogue. Click the link and go to Style and search for “Animals” in the drop-down menu.
For forty years, Fran has been “observing, questioning, analyzing, and practicing visual arts as a graphic designer and as a painter”. Whatever the subject matter, for her it is foremost design of the main shapes and then color that rules. Her explorations and pursuits in painting are always driven by the need to understand and master the subtleties and complexities of both while maintaining control of the materials and methods of which she is using. This can be seen in her exquisitely-realized paintings of animals.
Third-generation Portlander Anna’s delightful and whimsical portraits of animals, created using thick brushstrokes and set on bold-colored backgrounds, are some of the most popular and most frequently-rented works in the gallery. It’s no surprise, as each and every one is filled with character! She says “I paint with the hope that each color or brushstroke will evoke emotions from those who view the finished product.”
Kym Ojala’s varied fine art pieces and murals all have one thing in common: a joy taken in color and portraying the rich and varied textures of the the natural world. Inspired by the world around her, Kym produces a wide range of work, including wildlife, floral, Western and landscapes, to name just a few. Here, the freshly caught fish and feathers of the hummingbird are so beautifully captured, one can almost feel their textures through the screen.
David has had a lifelong passion for drawing and art and works in a wide range of styles and mediums, winning awards and receiving wide recognition. His works have been hung in the Oregon Governor’s Mansion and the historic Pittock Mansion, overlooking Portland. This piece, ‘Branding Time’, which is packed with energy, shows another of his long-time passions: scenes of the old west.
“My art work is created in the still gap between perception and interpretation”, Arletha says, “I create because I have to. I have no choice in the matter. I invite you to look and enjoy the creativity, beauty, joy and aliveness that my work conveys.” The beautiful bird in “Keeping Blue’ is set against a vivid blue background and is a treat for the eyes, just as is the abstracted, near-Cubist background of soft, earthy tones of ‘Map To Survival II (Peach)’.
