Plein Air Paint Out
In my August 2 report, I included an image of JC Burleson painting the Alameda Theater as part of the Frank Bette Center for the Arts Plein Air Paint Out. This annual event brings artists from all over the United States to paint images of our fair city. Well, the event is over and all the beautiful work is now hanging in the Bette Center for everyone to enjoy.
I decided to try and visit some of the many places artists chose to paint to see how they saw our city.
I started at the east end of the island with a picture of High Street Station. I laughed when I saw that Yoriko added a turkey crossing the street. The only thing that would have made it even more authentic would have been to show a line of cars waiting for the bird to cross the street.
Next up was the big M&M statue in the window of Rocket Fizz that Greg Holzhauer found interesting. He also painted the peanut one that is in the other window.
The Alameda Theatre is always a popular subject, and I like Steven McDonald’s loose impressionistic style. What is interesting about this style is that the further you stand away from the painting, the more “detail” and less impressionistic the image becomes.
Both Jaladhi Pujara and Nutan Singh chose the corner of Park Street and Central Avenue for their subjects. I love the way Jaladhi used the muted terra cotta and dusty peach to create this really warm feeling of an otherwise hard streetscape. I cannot say enough about Nutan’s choice of subject and the unique perspective of having the people be the subject and capturing the motion. The long shadows and bright sky convey the timing of when this piece was painted. Excellent.
I never thought the Lincoln Market was particularly interesting, but Nathaniel Bice spent a morning or two creating this painting. Jessica de Jesus set up her easel late in the day and captured the muted colors of this story when the afternoon sun is behind the building.
When you visit the Frank Bette Center, be sure to notice the Best of Show painting hanging behind the desk. Arijit Dutta’s subject choice of one of Alameda’s signature Victorian-era residences probably made it a top contender to start with. I asked BarkGPT what makes this particular painting a show winner. Here is the response:
“The painting’s strength lies in its ability to suggest rather than describe, using loose, confident brushwork and a restrained, harmonious palette to create a scene that feels both immediate and atmospheric. Its balance of abstraction and recognizable form invites the viewer to complete the image, giving the work an emotional depth and sophistication worthy of Best of Show.”
Is she right? I would like to hear from the art critics.
These and many more works of art are currently on display at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street, until September 26. There is a mid-show reception on September 12 from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information about the Plein Air Paint Out, check out the Frank Bette Center website.
After seeing these paintings and comparing them to the actual locations, I wish I could see the world through a painter’s eyes.
Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda
Mouf and his human companion can be reached via [email protected]. Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/. All photos and videos by Jeff Cambra.
