Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 2016)
Backstreet show features juror Michael Wood Backstreet Gallery has announced that nationally acclaimed oil painter Michael Wood will be the juror for the 10th annual Little D i c k e n s Miniature Show in December, with a reception set for Saturday, Dec. 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. As an Army brat, Wood found his artistic bent early when he and his family traveled around Michael Europe. In one location, the then 8-year old Wood found an impres- sionistic painting in a storeroom. “Wow! That’s how I want to paint,” Wood recalled saying. After much early experimenta- tion with colored pencils mois- tened with a quick lick, then later with watercolors, Wood’s parents gave him a set of oil paints. He copied techniques of artists he respected, like Sargent, Wyeth and Parrish, developing his pres- ent technique of Impressionism. “The first impression is the heart of the scene,” Wood said. Observation is key in executing his signature style, where he cap- tures the essence of his subject bathed in luminosity. Wood paints “a la prima.” This is a technique where the artist paints wet into wet paint. Using a large brush, he mixes a combina- tion of rich color on the canvas, D EADLINE FOR C OAST C ENTRAL SUBMISSIONS : T HE 15 TH OF EACH MONTH . resembling his palette, quickly bringing chaos into orderly reso- lution with dramatic results. “Sometimes it’s painting, and then sometimes it’s painting,” said Wood. During high school, he started showing his work and had his first one-man show in junior college. In 1985, he took the giant step of becoming a pro- fessional artist. COURTESY PHOTO Discovered by Wood the director of the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, Calif., Wood was hooked. Since then, he has become a signature artist in Oil Painters of America, appeared in books and magazines and participated in many national exhibitions. He is nationally recognized for his land and seascapes, animal, and figura- tive works. Internationally, his work appears in private collections. View his work at the Vardanian Gallery, Old Town Coffee or on line at www.fmichaelwood.com, linking to the other national gal- leries that exhibit his art. Wood teaches what he calls, “Holisic” oil painting at Florence Regional Arts Alliance, where the student learns by taking in the whole of the subject matter. Classes are offered on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, con- tact Wood at fmwood@msn .com. An avid hiker, you may also see him and his dog, Alfie, “hik- ing” along Bay Street. Backstreet’s Little Dickens Show is open to the community. To enter, get information at Backstreet Gallery, 1421 Bay St. Entry forms are due Nov. 23, but Dec. 3 is the last day to deliver artwork. Backstreet Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Natural Science Illustrations on display COURTESY PHOTO “Sea Anemone and Mussels” watercolor by Joann Carrabbio COOS BAY — From Dec. 9 through Feb. 11, 2017, Coos Art Museum will be hosting Tidal Waters by the Oregon Group, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. The exhibition opens with a free reception for the public at the museum on Friday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. Thirty works by 11 artists will be on display in the Museum’s Clare Wehrle Gallery. Science Illustrators are artists in the service of science. They use scientifically informed obser- vation, combined with technical and aesthetic skills, to accurately portray their subjects. This compilation of artwork follows in the long tradition of scientific illustration where attention to detail and accuracy is paramount. The artwork allows viewers to observe the unobserv- able, the beauty of nature up close. The subject matter included in this exhibit focuses on species associated with the tidal water areas of Oregon. Some of the artists have interest in several fields of science, which are reflected in their subject matter such as plants, animals and insects that are painted, drawn or digitally pro- duced. Or they may specialize in specific fields of science such as botany, wildlife animals, insect, reptile and avian sciences. The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) — Oregon Group is a collection of about twenty artists, spread across the state of Oregon. They sponsor field trips, lectures and educa- tional workshops across the state and are affiliat- ed with the national GNSI organization. Information about the group can be found at www.gnsi-ore gon.org. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Museum admission: $5 general, $2 students, veterans and seniors, free to Museum members. Holiday Arts Festival set for Dec. 3 Holiday Arts Festival 2016 is the perfect place to shop for unique gifts for the coming holiday season. This show is presented by Florence Regional Arts Alliance FRAA) and opened Friday, Dec. 2, and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St. Meet craftsmen and artisans offering their latest creative designs and unique works of art in many genres. The Holiday Arts Festival is part of a special three-day event at the FEC that includes Empty Bowls and Holly Joly Follies. Come join the fun and enjoy a unique shopping experience. Artisans exhibiting in the Holiday Arts Festival will be donating 10 percent of their sales to the FRAA Art Center. Admission is free. For more information, contact Claudia Brown at 541-902-1933. This year’s artwork includes wood vases and other creations, stained glass, pottery, scarves, fused glass, paintings, pyrography, photography, knitted dog sweaters, intarsia and fractal art, mosaics, knits and quits, dolls, fabric and fiber art, painted clothing, fairy houses, felted scarves and bead and wirework. D E C EM BE R 20 1 6 • Ar t s & E nt e r ta in m e nt • C OAST C ENTRAL • 19
