August/September Art show Julie’s Alameda
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PEDESTRIAN VIEWS
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new work by Arty Johnstone
THE WORK:
Recent plein air paintings focused on everyday life in the East Bay. Many of the acrylic on wood paintings began with live observation of subjects. Some finished in one sitting, others refined back in the studio while referencing photographs.
ARTIST BIO:
Arty Johnstone is a part-time barista (at Julie’s!), part-time paint sketcher. He roams the street on bike and foot looking for strong views. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, he has lived in Oakland for the last three years. Arty is available for commissions and live portraiture at events.
You can browse more of his work at: http://arthurjohnstone.tumblr.com/
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I approach paintings like a hunter-gatherer setting out with my backpack loaded with the tools necessary to catch the elusive scene. While on a plein air hunt, I bring:
Primed wood panel
Tupperware palette (to keep the paints wet)
Grip of acrylic paint tubes
Several paintbrushes
Paint rag
Jar of potable water (it’s thirsty work)
Jar of paint water (doesn’t taste so great)
Headphones
Cellular device (for audiobooks and photographing)
I am looking to craft a “there-ness.” To capture the scene as it is, as it feels to inhabit it at that point in time. I create these scenes in the hopes that it will stir a reaction of specific placement in the real world. Whether it was hot or overcast, noon or sunset. I strive to achieve a viewer response of “Oh yeah, I’ve been there before.” That being said, there is some trickery that goes into establishing the “mood” of each piece. If I was feeling pumped or groggy, content or overheated, these and other situational factors determine the color palette and the subject treatment.
Show runs through October 10th