Marilyn Barton Paintings Exhibited September, 2009
During late August and early September ripe prickly pear fruits add a splash
of crimson-purple; barrel cacti glow red or golden backlit by afternoon sunshine,
and sharp-spined agaves lend complex structure and symmetry to the scene.
That's a "viewed through the artist's eyes" description of a lovely
garden scene painted or photographed here at the Arboretum, and that's how
Marilyn Barton sees our gardens. The Gold Canyon artist's watercolor, pastel,
and charcoal interpretations were exhibited during September of 2009.
"The Arboretum has been such an inspiration, such a rich source for many
of my paintings since we landed in Gold Canyon in 2004," says Barton.
"I teach painting classes and have brought students here for Plein Air
outings where we paint together and work on technique surrounded by beauty.
On other visits I'll bring a camera to photograph subject matter that I'll
paint later. Works such as "Barrel Cactus", "Prickly Pear Fruit"
and "Cactus Love" were each painted from photos taken at the Arboretum;
in fact, one of the workshops I teach is specifically focused on how to take
photographs to use later for your paintings."
"Arizona scenery has brought such influence on
my painting. I use watercolors in a fluid and transparent way to evoke emotions
from the viewer, when I paint with pastel I use color in unusual and expressive
ways to bring life to the subject matter, and I have been experimenting with
portraits that are specific to Arizona life, such as "Modern Cowboy"
and paintings of Indians."
"Painting is an intimate art form. Viewing my
paintings means you see my innermost thoughts and feelings. My inspirations
are shapes and color, and I strive to interpret a three-dimensional physical
presence into a two dimensional rendering on paper. My vehicle is a brush,
a pencil, charcoal, chalk - anything that will let me capture that fleeting
moment in time and bring it to life. I strive to take an object, a picture,
or a person and transform it into another dimension; all I ask of you, the
viewer, is to take a trip with me and enjoy the ride!"
Barton attended UCLA, studying life drawing, illustration,
photography, painting, printmaking and art history; more recently she honed
her watercolor skills while living in Palm Springs.
Sonoran
desert flora and fauna are favorite themes for Barton's artwork. Traveling
around Arizona she captures the beauty of the region with her unique style
and colorations in both watercolor and pastel. Instructors compliment that
she is a true "colorist" by the use of color in a striking and stylistic
manner. Barton teaches art classes in watercolor and pastel, helping students
explore the magic of color, color-mixing, artistic techniques and a variety
of subject matter. She began teaching in 2007 at Central Arizona College,
with classes geared towards beginning and intermediate students. Her one-day
workshops center on a specific subject, such as color, composition or using
photos.
Barton may be best known
for "Cactus Flower," which won the Gold Canyon Arts Council's pick
for poster art to promote the 2006 arts festival - which was attended by thousands
of Arizonans. The painting was also featured on the cover of the Gold Canyon
Ledger. Her pastel "Agave" graced the magazine's cover again in
April 2007. Her works have been exhibited at venues throughout the East Valley
and in a solo exhibition at the Superstition Mountain Museum in August 2007
and again in May 2009. The artist is a charter member of the Artists
of the Superstitions, which she has served as treasurer and also website
coordinator; she's also among organizers for the popular November Studio Tour
in Gold Canyon, and the seasonal AOTS members' shows each fall and spring.
She coordinated the acclaimed Gold Canyon
Arts Festival in 2009 and was asked to coordinate the 2010 festival
as well.
Works seen on this page
include "Cactus Flower, "Skull 2," "Bright Agave"
pastel) "Bighorn Sheep" (pencil) and "Sedona Storm Clouds"
(also a pastel). Original works in the show are priced from $75 to $400; prints
from $15 to $95. To order prints or contact the artist about commissioned
work email m2barton@hotmail.com
or call 480-274-5500. View the artist's portfolio at www.artwanted.com/mmbarton
and
http://marilyn-barton.fineartamerica.com
for a more complete overview of her work.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is at highway 60 milepost
#223 near the historic copper mining town of Superior, a drive of about 45
minutes due East of Mesa. During September visitors are admitted daily from
8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and the Arboretum closes at 5:00 p.m. (during Spring
and Summer months the schedule is daily from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) New exhibits
begin each month and may be seen daily during business hours; the Arboretum
is an Arizona State Park and daily admission must be paid to enter the Visitor
Center where our gallery is found. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for
ages 5-12. Annual memberships at the Arboretum begin at $45, and include a
year's access, guest passes for your friends and family, along with many other
benefits. A membership may be purchased in the gift shop on the day of your
visit. To review other recent gallery shows from...
Gila Community College, July-August, 2009
Margie Porter, June- July, 2009
Deborah A. Lee May, 2009
Mesa Arts League April, 2009
Bud
Heiss March, 2009
Laurent Baig February, 2009
Timm
Chapman January, 2009
Paul
Kinslow December, 2008
Maggie Leef November
2008
Sharon
Sieben October 2008
Nicole
Royse September 2008
Gila
Community College Art July-August 2008
Judy Bottler
Photography May 2008
Bob Estrin Photography April 2008
Mary Isham Watercolors March 2008
Susan Strom and Cathy Franklin Lightning Photography
February, 2008
Arizona State Parks Plein Air Paintings
January, 2008
Carolyn Gray & Connie Thomas December, 2007
Jean Sullivan November, 2007 Sue
Cullumber October, 2007
Adriane Grimaldi September, 2007
Pima College print-making students July-August,
2007
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2007
Fred Charlton May, 2007
Paul Mudersbach March-April, 2007
Linda Kaiser February, 2007
Edith Kreueger-Nye December, 2006 - January, 2007
Cindy Carrillo October-November, 2006
Bob Rice September, 2006
Bud Heiss July-August, 2006
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2006
Sandy Tracey April-May, 2006
CJ Rider March, 2006
Jessica Green February, 2006
Steve Davidson January, 2006
Don & Carole Schupp December, 2005
Carolyn Gray November, 2005
Martha Burgess October, 2005
Boeing Photographers September, 2005
Lightning Lady Susan Strom July/August, 2005
Mesa Arts League June/July, 2005
Jeanette Bronson May, 2005
Tom Stanley April, 2005
Kathy McClure February-March, 2005
Pam Smyth January, 2005
Tina Faust December, 2004
