Place

“Although I’ve long admired the work of such painters as Henry Percy Gray, it’s taken me a while to see myself as a tonal painter. But if I objectively look at my work, I realize I do have a lot in common with that fine tradition. Rather than emphasizing the brightest brights or darkest darks, I play up the middle tones and pull away from any sense of photographic precision. My aim and meaning is carried by design and atmospheric effect. I love to look through trees and lead the viewer to pause before tranquil vistas and luminous skies.”

In one large triptych, a depiction of Indian Island, Kathy succeeds with all of these elements of fine painting to leave us with an experience greater than the sum of its parts, as subtle as the temperature of the very air and as delicate as one of Humboldt’s bright, diffused, gray days. Expect a lively reception for the artist at Piante Gallery: November Arts Alive!

Sewell Gallery features Linda Mitchell in November, an artist who, as is often said, needs no introduction. Her fascinating show is titled All Within a Mile, and since she lives in the heart of Eureka, the work is very local. “I do a fair amount of traveling. When I come home, I look forward to encountering familiar sights, knowing I can wait for the light or weather condition that will allow me to paint them with renewed affection and experiment with new color pallets,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell’s new oil paintings for this show offer a fresh take on some of Eureka’s iconic places: The Shanty, Brick and Fire and E Street — all within walking distance of her studio. “A pure landscape doesn’t do that much for me. I need a building, a boat — some manmade element to spark my engagement,” she said. “The scale and variety of the buildings of Eureka’s Old Town enlivened with the energy of the people going about their pleasures and chores is an endless source of inspiration for my art.”

Definitely a must-see, and a great way to experience a sense of place this Arts Alive!

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