Paint to preserve beauty

Grouped along three walls in an alcove nestled toward the back of the gallery at Roger’s Gardens is a series of plein-air paintings depicting local Orange County landscapes.

Those paintings will be on public display for the first time in Orange County, when Roger’s premieres its new Fine Art Gallery today.

Gallery manager Theresa Marino said such scenery throughout California is disappearing quickly, but the 11 artists whose work will be featured in the seasonal show, “Reflections of Spring: California Masters of Plein-Air” are preserving the beauty those areas reflect by painting them.

“There are still open spaces — the hillsides and coastline in Orange County — amid all the development,” Marino said.

“Plein-air artists go on location to someplace beautiful, immerse themselves [in the setting] and capture that moment.”

The term “plein-air” refers to painting that is done in an outdoor environment. Canvases are typically completed in a single sitting because artists are trying to capture certain elements of light.

Marino is the former executive director of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn., which has more than 500 members, so she’s well-versed on the availability of local talent. For each of its seasonal, quarterly shows, Roger’s will feature rotating artists.

Robin Hall, David Damm, Glenna Hartmann, W. Jason Situ and Daniel Aldana are the five permanent gallery artists whose work will be displayed year round.

Hall grew up in Newport Beach, and has painted a lot in the area, but hasn’t had an opportunity to show her work in Newport Beach until now.

“This is a great venue for people to see and hopefully purchase artwork,” she said.

In the gallery, the paintings are small, and hang “salon style,” meaning they are positioned from ceiling to floor in a grouping on the wall.

Marino said the inaugural show is still a work in progress, and she had no particular formula in mind as far as what she would hang, or how many paintings she would display for each artist.

“I am always prepared to bring in fresh new paintings and keep this a rotating exhibit,” Marino said.

David Damm thinks the show is a great opportunity for people in the area to see plein-air art, and said the concept of a gallery and the plein-air paintings fit really well at Roger’s Gardens.

“I like that there will be different types of shows, and the concept of a rotating theme will keep it interesting,” Damm said.

“People will be able to get some of what we felt, and that fits in with Roger’s, which has all those outdoor areas.”

This show will run through June and is coinciding with Roger’s Gardens annual spring open house Saturday and Sunday. Several of the artists will be painting on the grounds Saturday, and with more than seven acres of landscape available, the painters can pick and choose whatever location inspires them. Shoppers can do the same, Marino said.

“The customer is being exposed to a completely new facet at Roger’s,” Marino said. “He or she may be coming in to buy plants or something else, and now they’re also being exposed to artwork they may not have had a chance to see before.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery opening and Spring Open House

WHERE: 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar

WHEN: The Gallery opens at 9 a.m. today. The Spring Open House is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Several of the plein-air artists will be painting on location Saturday.

COST: Free

INFO: Call (949) 640-5800 or go to www.rogersgardens.com for information on all the featured artists and to view their paintings.

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.