Working in a new light

Suzie Harrison

Gallery owner Charlie Ferrazzi said Jacobus Baas’ work is so sought

after that ever since the artist started exhibiting at the Esther

Wells Collection he went straight to the top, and she expects his

solo exhibit “Here and Elsewhere” to be just as popular when it opens

Jan. 24.

“Some of the artists have been here since the early 80s,” Ferrazzi

said. “But when people see his work they go ‘oooh’ and that’s a good

thing. He’s always been one of our top artists, a favorite of a lot

of people.”

Baas has been exhibiting at her gallery since 1995. With this

show, more than 40 new works will be shown.

“His work is plein air style, he’s an impressionist,” Ferrazzi

said. “Jacobus has a real good feel for color and the response is

always excellent. He has a large collection base from all over the

U.S. and in England.”

Baas is not new to Laguna Beach, he has lived here since 1968. “We

came when I was growing up,” Baas said. “My parents used to bring me

to Laguna Beach and I always thought I’d live here one of these days

-- and I did.”

Born in the Netherlands, Baas was drawn to creating art when he

was a little kid, he said, but really started doing artwork in high

school.

“From there I went to Europe for a trip and came back and just did

painting sporadically,” Baas said. “I got into making bronze jewelry

and in ’68 was at the Sawdust Festival.”

He continued to paint and played and experimented with that medium

in addition to making jewelry. In 1972 he was accepted into the

Festival of Arts. He decided to enter his paintings in 1978.

“From then on I had both jewelry and paintings every year until

five or six years ago -- I quit making jewelry and just do painting

now,” Baas said.

Baas still owns Jacobus Goldsmiths in town, which he has had since

1975. “Painting ... it’s just a total passion,” Baas said. “It’s one

of those things ... if I don’t paint for awhile, I go crazy, I’ve got

to go out and paint.”

A trip to Santa Fe in the early ‘90s changed his artistic world.

“Painting outside, I fell in love with plein air style,” Baas

said. “It’s more spontaneous, you only have a small window of time

before the light changes. It’s the best office in the world.”

Though Laguna Beach is his home, he also splits his time between

Maine and Hawaii. He says each location gives him a different

perspective.

“The new show is an accumulation of work over the last four or

five months, places I’ve been and painted,” Baas said.

He spends a few months every year in Maine during fall.

“It’s just such a beautiful area, it’s so unique in it’s own way,

the East Coast is different and fun to go paint,” Baas said. “The

change of seasons alone is enough to turn any artist on that lives to

do landscape painting.”

Laguna Beach is his favorite place to be, especially Heisler Park

and the Montage and Crystal Cove area.

“What’s there not to like,” Baas said. “I’ve been here so many

years this is my home base with my business and my friends.”

His affinity for plein air painting has fostered the creation of

Plein Air Painters Assn. -- Baas is one of the founding members.

“A group of us got together and had been painting together for

quite awhile outside as a group, as friends,” Baas said. “You start

talking about things -- it’d be fun to get an organization going for

plein air painting. That’s basically how it started, very simple.”

He shares the distinction as one of the founders with four other

well-known local artists and their first goal was to do small shows

together and raise public awareness about plein air.

“Here and Elsewhere” will open with an artist reception from 5 to

8 p.m. Jan. 24 and will run through Feb. 21. The Esther Wells

Collection is at 1390 South Coast Highway. For more information,

call the gallery at 494-2497 or go to https://www.estherwells

collection.com.