Following the steps of the first impressionists who left the confines and isolation of studios to paint together en plein air, outdoors, the early landscape painters of Northern California traveled form the North Bay to Monterey and sometimes as far as Santa Barbara captivated by the light, colors, lines, shapes and movement of the land. Almost a century later, Mya Bruno and Lucy Coleman continue in this tradition. Side by side, they travel, decide upon a site and a view, set up their easels, then paint. Not until they are about to cease painting do they leave their own canvas to consider the other's. Side by side, in close companionship, the perspective of each painter unfolds. Unique to the craft of these painters is their use of palette knives rather than brushes to shape the painting. Rather than daubing and pressing down on the canvas, they caress it smoothly, mixing and applying paint. Initially began due to physical diffculties with grasping a brush, this technique gives greater fluidity to contour and shape. These two artists first met each other in art classes in local community colleges where they continue to paint and study together. As members of the Peninsula Outdoors Painters, they travel throughout San Mateo county and recently to the Monterey area, painting hills, meadows, forests, coastal areas and seascapes. While each artist has exhibited separately, this is their first collaborative project. This exhibition features several pairs of paintings, one from each artist, of the same view taken from these excursions. Visitors are invited to discern the different characteristics of each artist's perspective.

Top of This Page | Home | Mya Bruno's Resume | Lucy Coleman's Resume

Articles about the Artists

San Mateo County Times Article
San Francisco Chronicle Article

Write to me Paint26@cwo.com