Light has long been an object of fascination for award-winning artist Anette Power, informing both how and what she paints. There is, after all, light that can be seen and painted, and then there’s the joy and lightness of feeling that can only be conveyed through an artist’s choice of subject matter. In “Silver Linings: Journey of Light,” Power’s solo exhibition of 37 oil paintings at the Santa Paula Art Museum, the artist hopes that her art will inspire viewers to consider the bright spots in their own lives.
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“In my life and in my art, light is synonymous with joy and an antidote to difficulties and darkness,” says Power. “I’m always looking for the silver lining.” The artist has long been admired for her ability to portray the beauty in everyday objects and moments: old cars and boats, children at play, charming homes, and storefronts.
For this exhibit it felt particularly meaningful to Power to shine a light on family, everyday life, and ordinary activities – things that now seem extraordinary due to the pandemic. “Art has been such a gift to me in challenging times, helping me to process what I’m going through,” Anette adds.
One experimental approach that the artist has used in her most recent works was to start out with a “mess of color.” Instead of laying down just one paint color on her canvas to start, she would begin with a random assortment of colors. Creating an image out of this chaos of colors seemed like a tangible way to make sense of the unknown. Many of the pieces in the exhibit also showcase back-lit subjects. For Anette, placing a light source behind the subject was the closest thing to painting a silver lining.
Born in Finland, Anette Power spent more than a decade working in animation as a background painter for studios like Disney, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, and Universal. She is an artist member of the California Art Club and has been an active board member of the Westlake Village Art Guild for eight years. She maintains a working studio in Newbury Park, California. Power is well-known for her popular painting demonstrations and is a respected juror for art competitions. Her work has been shown in numerous galleries and museum exhibits and has garnered several “Best of Show” awards. Her paintings are collected widely throughout the U.S. and in Sweden. To learn more about Anette, please visit www.anettepower.com.
“Silver Linings: Journey of Light” is on view at the Santa Paula Art Museum through May 30, 2021. The exhibit is also available to view at www.santapaulaartmuseum.org.
