The Return of Art Events
Good news on the horizon! Events cancelled last year are starting to show up on calendars for later in 2021.
one event I've especially enjoyed is the Monterey County Artists Studio Tour. The actual tour of artists studios
will occur on October 16 and 17, 2021. Meanwhile, the Studio Tour organizers are holding an exhibition of
a feature piece for each participating artist. That event will be held from April 2 - 29, 2021, at the
Pacific Grove Art Center.
"Eucalyptus", Oil - 40 x 30
My featured painting for the exhibit and tour catalog.
Cheryl Kampe
My Art
I started painting with watercolors using a variety of subject matter.
From my earliest efforts in painting I have sought to develop my skills with the medium
and to bring out distinctive characteristics of the subject.
After moving to Pacific Grove, CA, the surrounding area provides an incredible range of material.
The mood and character of the Central Coast provides a major inspiration for my work.
I seek to use a combination of detail and abstract regions to produce a painting that appears photorealistic
from a modest distance, yet on closer view is abstract over large areas and
in perfect harmony with the more realistic elements.
A series of more realistic watercolors called "As I See It" included many of the Trees
plus several Coastal Scenes in my galleries. Those led to a series of abstract paintings
called "Elements of Nature". Though this form was new for me, these paintings are
also inspired by the same aspects of the coast, especially the waves
meeting the shore in an endless variety of patterns and moods. I
am pleased to have received 1st place at the Los Gatos show for my
painting titled "The Wave".
I began to paint in different media to get different effects —
acrylics allow a more abstract and textured element such as the Urban Landscapes.
Pastels bring a softer feeling and a tactile experience for many of
my Coastal Scenes and Familiar Surroundings. Oils have been the perfect medium for
California Landscapes. Recently, I have focused on oils and plein air painting. In a sense,
it is a return to the classic elements of painting - form, values, and color based on traditional techniques.
Once more I find the Monterey Central Coast the perfect source of inspiration.
Coming Shows
Open Studio Tour, October 16 - 17, at the studio in Pacific Grove. Looks promising after pandemic restrictions!