New Landscapes of the West by Janice Druian

Believing that studying one or two places intently improves the artist’s eye, Janice Druian has focused on two areas—Grey Butte/Smith Rock at different times of day and all seasons, and the dramatic landscape and clouds around Summer Lake, in her new series of paintings. Her show of new works opens November 4 from 4-8pm at Tumalo Art Co. during the First Friday Gallery Walk.

An award winning oil painter who is a frequent invitee to prestigious plein air events, Janice is best known for creating landscapes that capture the beauty of the isolated parts of Oregon, Arizona,  Idaho, Wyoming, California and other western locations. “Surrounded by the vast horizons, tumultuous skies and soul replenishing solitude of the remote west, I am compelled to paint.” She continues to honor the long tradition of western landscape painting through her work.

Janice’s oil painting, “Storm Over Summer Lake” is part of this series of landscapes from remote parts of Eastern Oregon, and was just chosen as one of 10 winners in The Artist’s Magazine’s Over 60 Art Competition. Award Winners will be published in the March 2017 issue of The Artist’s Magazine. Says Janice of her inspiration for the painting, “we were just sitting down to ‘dinner Al Fresco’ while camping with friends at Summer Lake when a storm started brewing. Every few minutes I would leap up and dash out and take photos from the best view I could find. The sky changed so fast and the light was so dramatic that I was up and down all through the meal.  The storm actually passed us by so we could remain outside long into the night.  Wonderful evening, wonderful memory.”

Tumalo Art Co. is an artist-run collective in the heart of the Old Mill District open 7 days a week. 541-385-9144;www.tumaloartco.com