Por Linda Michael | Asociación de Arte de Foothills
The annual Wildlife in Art show, hosted by Foothills Art Association, is one of the longest running open/juried art shows in Southern California, approaching its 29th consecutive year this November.
The show awards approximately $2,000 in cash and merchandise for the best fine art of wildlife captured in the following media: oil, acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, mixed media, collage, pastel, graphics and non-functional sculpture. We are honored this year to have noted wildlife artist, Gary Johnson, as our Jurist.
“Being a painter is a way of life, you live and breathe art,” Johnson said.
Johnson takes this philosophy to heart. He has traveled to many wild areas of the world, from Africa to Belize to North America’s most beautiful wilderness areas, in his quest for a unique and inspiring image.
In 2005, Johnson won the Gold Medal Grand Prize in the Arts for the Parks Mini Top 100 competition, the highest honor one can receive for representational art in the United States.
“This honor validated everything I have done in my life for my artistic development,” he said.
Visit Johnson’s website at garyjohnson.com.
The 2018 Wildlife in Art Show is open to the public at the Foothills Gallery, 4910 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. It will be on display from Nov. 6 through Dec. 5. For more information, call 619-464-7167.
November demonstrating artist
“There is a studio practice of planning and executing drawings and paintings to attain an interesting still life,” explains Duke Windsor. His demonstration at the monthly meeting of the Foothills Art Association on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. will focus on this practice. Windsor will describe the masters’ techniques in still life; the variety and use of possible subject matter; mediums to explore; and how to set-up and arrange your subject matter and lighting for a great affect.
Windsor’s medium of choice is acrylic/gold-leaf. He also uses pastel, oil, watercolor, sculpture, and block print. His artistic genres range from plein air to representational to abstract expressionism. He has recently returned to offering art instruction and lecturing to his artistic activities. He teaches drawing and oil painting regularly at Art on 30th in North Park and conducts workshops at the Athenaeum in La Jolla.
Windsor is originally from Texarkana, Texas and he began drawing as early as age 5. He excelled in art classes and was president of his high school art club. He received the art, music, and drafting award and the title of “Most Talented.” He studied classical voice at San Diego State University and still pursues music and songwriting. He also served in the United States Marine Corps as a radio operator, combat illustrator, and drill instructor.
His paintings have been exhibited and received many awards at juried solo and group exhibitions and corporate venues in San Diego and Southern California. His work is held in private collections throughout the U.S. and Europe. He has also produced portrait commissions and military historical works.
Windsor’s studio is located on Mt. Helix. Visit his website at dukewindsor.net.
—Linda Michael is editor of Footnotes, the newsletter of the Foothills Art Association.
