From far away they seem\u00a0like typical paintings of oceans\u00a0and cliffs, but as you get closer,\u00a0colors, textures and techniques
\nemerge from Sandra Smith-Dugan\u2019s\u00a0exhibit titled \u201cWhat I See.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe less blended paintings\u00a0look realistic and the more\u00a0blended paintings look dreamy,\u201d\u00a0said Norma Johnson, 25, fine arts\u00a0major.<\/p>\n
Smith-Dugan, who enjoys\u00a0nature and works at NASA, said\u00a0she picked the title \u201cWhat I See\u201d\u00a0because what she sees inspires\u00a0her to paint.\u00a0Many of her paintings are\u00a0landscapes of Santa Cruz and\u00a0Pacifica.<\/p>\n
The reception was held\u00a0Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Carmen\u00a0Castellano Fine Arts Gallery.<\/p>\n
The featured artist talked about skills she learned and uses in her\u00a0paintings, as well as the process of\u00a0getting art displayed and being a\u00a0professional artist.<\/p>\n
She also talked to art professor\u00a0Eve Mathias\u2019 beginning painting\u00a0class on Wednesday, Feb. 19.<\/p>\n
Smith-Dugan told the class that\u00a0she uses a palette knife to bring\u00a0out texture and add a 3-D effect\u00a0to the rocks and cliffs in her\u00a0paintings.\u00a0\u00a0She said adding specks\u00a0of blues and greens to rocks oddly makes them more realistic\u00a0than just using brown and\u00a0gray.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way Sandra lays colors\u00a0makes her paintings more\u00a0stimulating to look at,\u201d Mathias\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
The expert also discussed\u00a0framing, which is when an\u00a0artist determines the borders\u00a0of their landscape before\u00a0painting onto a canvas.<\/p>\n
\u201cComposition is key to\u00a0having a successful painting,\u201d\u00a0Mathias said.<\/p>\n
In painting, composition\u00a0refers to the placement of\u00a0objects, which includes\u00a0determining the borders, size\u00a0and scale.<\/p>\n
There were a few figurative\u00a0drawings of people made\u00a0with charcoal on paper or\u00a0canvas.\u00a0When working with\u00a0charcoal against a white\u00a0background, the artist said she\u00a0appreciates the smudges and is\u00a0against cleaning up a picture to\u00a0get the contrast.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn figurative work, I\u2019m more\u00a0interested in capturing the psyche\u00a0or emotion of the object,\u201d Smith-\u00a0Dugan said.<\/p>\n
She went through\u00a0the steps it takes to become a\u00a0professional saying, \u201cit takes a lot\u00a0of motivation and support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many careers involve more\u00a0than just getting a degree, students\u00a0need real life experience and\u00a0business advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to understand\u00a0business and do your own\u00a0promoting,\u201d Smith-Dugan said.<\/p>\n
For artists looking to take\u00a0the next step in their career,\u00a0Mathias recommends Art\u00a076, Professional Practices and\u00a0Portfolio Development.<\/p>\n
Smith-Dugan said \u201cit takes\u00a010,000 hours of practice to master\u00a0something,\u201d so students should\u00a0not feel discouraged. When\u00a0people start buying their art it will\u00a0be rewarding and validating.<\/p>\n
The reception was not as\u00a0enlightening as her lecture to\u00a0Mathias\u2019 art class, but free food\u00a0was offered and Smith-Dugan\u00a0was focused on selling art.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From far away they seem\u00a0like typical paintings of oceans\u00a0and cliffs, but as you get closer,\u00a0colors, textures and techniques emerge from Sandra Smith-Dugan\u2019s\u00a0exhibit titled \u201cWhat I See.\u201d \u201cThe less blended paintings\u00a0look realistic and the more\u00a0blended paintings look dreamy,\u201d\u00a0said Norma Johnson, 25, fine arts\u00a0major. Smith-Dugan, who enjoys\u00a0nature and works at NASA, said\u00a0she picked the title \u201cWhat I…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":88904,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"staff_name":[629],"class_list":["post-9235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","staff_name-justin-san-diego"],"yoast_head":"\n