Figuring it out

Suzie Harrison

In celebration of artists and their muses, Laguna Plein Air Painters

Assn. is having a juried figurative show called “Meet the Muse”

opening Saturday.

“Everybody has an inspiration of some sort, sometimes it’s the

model, a family member,” executive director Theresa Marino said.

“We’re inviting the muses to come with the artists, somebody’s

inspiration.”

“Three times a week we have painting sessions and this whole place

will be full of artists and a model,” Marino said. “We will have

different models, lighting, set ups and different monitors.”

A monitor is an artist who does the set up and will create the

scene, using props and fabrics, and discern whether the model will be

in a chair, reclining or standing.

She said it’s the first time the Plein Air Painters Assn. has done

anything like this.

“We usually do several poses, which is nice for those who draw

real quick -- and usually have up to three to four poses in a three

hour setting,” Marino said.

One will be a long pose where painters can do sketches, usually

oil on canvas, charcoal, pastels or pencil.

“It’s really whatever medium they want to bring,” Marino said.

“We just opened last March and it’s really amazing for plein air

painters. What’s marvelous is that they can be outdoors and then come

into a controlled environment and they’ll create a beautiful

painting.”

Forty artists are participating in the show with 64 pieces chosen

by juror Betty Shelton, Chair of Fine Arts, Laguna College of Art and

Design.

Plein air association signature member Michael Obermeyer was

painting one of his muses, Tangerine Bolen, on Wednesday in the

studio. Three of his pieces were accepted.

“I paint quick -- I was in illustration for 10 years and love

drawing more than anything,” Obermeyer said. “I like to work quick

and like to get it on the canvas as fast as I can.”

He said he gets impatient working on a painting too long. He finds

figurative work to be more of a challenge.

“With a model I can’t cheat, the drawing, it has to be on,”

Obermeyer said.

He explained outside he can move a tree or something, but can’t

move the model’s leg to suit him.

“It’s a challenge, the color, edges and values, it’s a great

method of training,” Obermeyer said.

His painting has evolved over the last few years and he does about

70% landscapes and 30% figurative and portraits, with that percentage

growing.

While the artists appreciate Bolen as a model, she appreciates

them as well. Bolen loves the transformation working with artists has

caused in her life.

“I grew up here, I was a model, anorexic in high school and

weighted 88 pounds,” Bolen said. “I went to Northern California and

got into modeling and it restored what L.A. and fashion modeling

offered me.”

She became a model for artists, which gave her life back. It gave

her a recovering sense of beauty, a soulful sense of meaning and a

transcendent connection to beauty. The experience has capitulated her

into writing a book about her experience.

“‘Recovering Beauty’ is about how artists have helped me learn to

see, artists are my muse and one of the reasons I’m writing this

book,” Bolen said. “Working with artists reconnected me with my soul

and that reconnection literally did cure my anorexia.”

One of Obermeyer’s pieces in the exhibit is called “Tangerine

Dream,” and is of Bolen.

“It looks like an early pin up painting of the 50s with the stark

background and direct lighting,” Obermeyer said.

The room full of artists makes the event that much more

interesting to Marino.

“Everyone is absorbed in painting, it’s interesting to see one

model in all different angles, interpretations and styles,” Marino

said. “It’s very exciting, the only thing you can hear is the music.”

Marino has lived in Laguna Beach for more than 30 years and said

she hasn’t seen a show anything like this exhibit except perhaps at

Laguna College of Art and Design.

“Meet the Muse” will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday. The show will run through July 6 at Laguna Plein Air

Painters Assn. Studio, 3251 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite F3. The public

is invited. For information, call (949) 376-3635 or go to

https://www.lpapa.org.