Current SWA Exhibit February 1 - March 23, 2012 Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1st Place - Anne Osberg "The Great Hunter" Watercolor
ANNE INGER OSEBERG was born in a small village near the beautiful fjords of Western Norway, surrounded by spectacular scenery consisting of mountains, waterfalls, fjords and woodlands — all an inspiration for her art. The lasting impressions of massive mountains, sheer cliffs, fishing boats and pastoral farms set against abackdrop of expansive sky and water form the basis of her art. Anne finds the watercolor medium ideal for capturing the dynamic vistas of her native country. Anne immigrated to the United States in her early 20's. Focusing on raising her family, and her nursing career, there was not much extra time to spend on her interest in art, despite her joy in creating since she was a small child sitting with her grandparents and parents making things, using colored pencils, writing, reading and storytelling.
Anne started to experience watercolors in 1999. She is self-taught as a watercolorist and considers herself a colorist, catching the moods of special places and moments. After experiencing a serious illness, the joy of creating with colors helped her tremendously. “Colors create relationships, harmony and emotions. I like to paint with spontaneity, strong and free without inhibitions. To catch the viewer's attention, I like to create a focal point where I have the strongest contrast, brightest colors and details — the most interesting spot. I find watercolor the ideal medium to capture dynamic vistas. While sitting amidst nature, I enjoy capturing my impressions of nature's natural beauty." Her art has been exhibited in many places, including a recent exhibition at the Norwegian Seamen's Church in San Francisco; and her work is found in privatecollections in both the US and Norway.
Artist’s Statement: I visit Norway every summer, where I like to travel & hike to places that have special meaning & memories. I capture my images to communicate the feeling that expresses my emotions about the world the way I see it. I aim to catch the moods of my childhood experiences and views. I am constantly looking for places here in the United States that have similarities to my homeland that stimulate my imagination and inspire me with memories of my Norwegian heritage.
Anne can be reached at (650) 321-1720
2st Place - Tom Ayers "Grandfather's House" Watercolor
Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Tom now resides in San Mateo, California with his wife Rosalie. Their two children live close by in Redwood Shores and Half Moon Bay. An Architect for nearly 50 years Tom started painting after retirement in 2006. His education in art includes College of San Mateo watercolor art classes with Kay Carnie, Palo Alto Adult education art classes with Ferenc Besze, and workshops with John Salminen, Cheng-Khee Chee, and Jane Hofstetter.
Tom continues his education through membership in various watercolor societies, studying with local artists, and attending demonstrations.
The background in architecture and his love for the outdoors guides his paintings toward city scenes and landscapes. Painting en plein aire provides the venue to capture the feel and atmosphere of the outdoors for many of his paintings. While painting outdoors Tom endeavors to feature the rich and vibrant colors he sees and feels. Tom has also provided class demonstrations and assisted in SWA’s School Art Program at the local high school Art and IB class, and the San Carlos Fine Art’s group
AFFILIATIONSThe Society of Western Artists, California Watercolor Association, Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society, San Carlos Fine Art Association-Board member, Transparent Watercolor Society of AmericaAWARDSThird award-Watercolor-Society of Western Artists-May/June 2009 Gallery ShowHonorable Mention-San Carlos 2010 Gallery ShowSpecial Award-Society of Western Artists April/May ShowSecond Award-Watercolor-Society of Western Artists 60th Annual ExhibitionAccepted to Society of Western Artists 2009, 2010, and 2011 Annual Gallery ShowAccepted to Society of Western Artists Oct/Nov, & Nov/Dec 2009 Gallery ShowsAccepted to Society of Western Artists Nov/Dec, Feb/Mar, & Apr/May 2010 Gallery Shows Accepted to Society of Western Artists Feb/Mar, Apr/May, Oct/Nov, 2011 Gallery ShowThird Award-Watercolor-Society of Western Artists Dec/ Jan 2011 Gallery Show First and Second place ribbons in 2011 San Mateo County FairThird Place Best of Show-San Carlos 2011 Gallery ShowFirst Place category C-Landscape/Seascape watercolor – San Carlos 2011 Gallery ShowAccepted to the Kansas Watercolor Association National Exhibition 2011Second Award-Society of Western Artists Dec/Jan 2012 Gallery ShowSecond Award-Society of Western Artists Feb/Mar 2012 Gallery Show Tom can be reached at: (650) 349-1719
3rd Place - Will Maller "Davenport December", Oil
Will is a career artist from California where he specializes in the Western and Coastal Landscape, Plein Air and Figurative Traditions.
"I have had a love of the visual creative experience since childhood, with art being first a way of getting into trouble, then a way of staying out of trouble, then just a natural part of who I am. My work has always begun with observation and a representational impulse. Then on to the challenge of line, shape, value, and color, blended with design principles and varying degrees of abstraction to arrive at yet another compelling visualization. A new reality is created, one which begins with observation but proceeds in its own unique direction. My artistic efforts define a body of work that has a very personal reality. Fused into the drawing and paint media are both my struggle and delight in the creative process. Each painting begins as an invitation, proceeds as an adventure, and ends as a gift—whether a joy in itself or a lesson learned, whether just for me or to be shared with others. Then I wait patiently for that next invitation."
