South Africa RPCV Julie Fish studied painting with Benigno Gomez, one of Honduras' most prestigious artists, and Robert Burridge, winner of many award
Breaking the rules with canvas, steel
By The Record Staff
9/1/04 During September, Gallery Los Olivos will host Julie Fish and Diana Story as they combine their talents in a vibrant, colorful, "knock your socks off" show that has deep spiritual undertones.
Combining canvas and steel, Diana Story, a new and relatively untrained artist, loves texture, color, and breaking the rules. Born in England to an artistic family, her work is strongly influenced by her dreams, metaphysical studies, travels and training in the healing arts. Story is able to see energy patterns and colors that subsequently emerge in her paintings. Fascinated by the theories of time and space, her celestial paintings take on an "out of this world" quality. Story's painting, "Black Hole," shows pearls and crystals being drawn into the abyss. "Waiting" shows three figures, allowing the viewer to create their own story. In "String Theory," she has layered canvas and incorporated roes petals into the paint to create texture. Diana Story has already had two one-woman shows and loves her work being described as "edgy." Her studies include photography and sculpture.
Julie Fish was educated in India and served in the Peace Corps in South Africa. She studied painting with Benigno Gomez, one of Honduras' most prestigious artists, and Robert Burridge, winner of many awards. Fish also teaches art and is able to convey her vibrant style to the most timid student. Taking a blank canvas, Fish paints a variety of shapes and sizes and uses her imagination to see what the painting will become. Preparing for the show did not change her process. The results speak to Fish's philosophy that we make our own heaven here on earth. A woman's face becomes the sky as her hands blend into plants. Julie's painting reflects her intuition about heaven and nature. A tiny figure hands a lit sphere to an imaginary dotted bear beside a waterfall. Rays of flicked paint upon the guitarist are footprints, proof of spirit illuminating an earthbound musician. Julie Fish will teach her method of painting for American Artist Magazine's Art Methods and Materials Show in Pasadena, Oct. 14-17. This will mark her fourth year being invited to teach at a national art convention.
The show runs Sept. 1-30 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. There will be a reception for the artists from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 4.
For more information, call the gallery at 688-7517.
