SEPTEMBER 2011 – SUSAN LUCKEY HIGDON AND JANICE DRUIAN

The effect of light on the landscape takes center stage in our September show, Light Play. Janice Druian’s newest works in oil, are full of rich, warm light, and evocative of the Tonalist painters’ work from the late 1800’s and early 20th century. This style of painting emphasizes atmosphere and shadow—the “golden hour” which is the first or last hour of sunlight each day. Druian, who is passionate about plein air painting, juries into plein-air events and was named “Best In Show” at the annual Los Gatos Plein Air Show. Most recently she was awarded “Honorable Mention, Judges’ Choice” at the 3rd Annual Deschutes Land Trust and Forest Service Plein Air Paint-Out.

Using acrylic and soft pastels Susan Luckey Higdon’s interest in “natural abstractions” has led her to paint the effect of light on two otherwise non-descript aspens, interpreting layers of pattern upon pattern with color and value. Five large canvases are interspersed with soft pastels of light-filled Central Oregon landscapes. Check out the recent OPB Oregon Art Beat segment about her art.