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Balboa Park Celebrated in Paintings at the Marston House Museum Shop
December 2016
By Bobbie Bagel
Looking for some sense of tranquility to carry you through the hectic holiday season and beyond? Treat yourself, or that very special loved one on your holiday gift list, to a stunning original oil painting.
The Marston House Museum Shop, which fills in the delightful carriage house, is featuring an exhibit of twenty original canvases by five talented and award-winning local plein air artists. You may recognize the work of Joan Boyer, Scottie Brown, Patricia McGeeney, Dot Renshaw, and Toni Williams, whose canvases have graced the Marston House. All of the paintings represent unique interpretations of the timeless beauty of Balboa Park, San Diego's greatest treasure.
(Left to right) Standing Tall, Scottie Brown; Cabrillo Bridge, Joan Boyer; Balboa Morning, Patricia McGeeney
Plein air paintings, which are created outdoors, are all about capturing the moment in light and color, in all their subtle and fleeting variations. The landscapes on view do this well, evoking different moods according to the time of day and season. We're showing you a sampling of just three paintings here; we hope you'll stop by to see the full exhibit.
Scottie Brown's Standing Tall, portrays a strong, elegant eucalyptus tree bathed in a soft white light, and casting purple shadows on the grassy slope below. Its branches lean forward, enticing the viewer to "enter" the scene. The dark frame accentuates both the painterly detail and deft brushwork. (Oil on linen, 18" x 15", $735)
The signature arches in Joan Boyer's Cabrillo Bridge are bathed in gentle translucent light; clouds swirl around the iconic California Tower and dome. Dense shrubs and foliage edge the sides of the canyon. It is heartbreaking to think that this exact historic view is in jeopardy due to the destructive and misguided Plaza de Panama parking plan. (Oil on canvas, 14" x 16", $390)
Balboa Morning is another delicate view of the tower and dome emerging quietly through the surrounding treetops. Patricia McGeeney's subtle color palette of greens, browns, and grays reflects a tranquil, cloudy day. Her flat, vertical brush strokes that define the sky are quite effective and the whole scene will transport you. (18" x 15", $560)
Make this holiday season one you and your loved ones will always remember by supporting a local artist and SOHO with a gift of enduring beauty and special meaning. The painting you enjoy today may well become a treasured family heirloom.
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