Wild Reflections: Art Inspired by Nature

This September, Columbia Arts presents two shows capturing the natural world through the eyes of artists deeply connected to their environments and taking inspiration from the flora, fauna, and landscapes of the Columbia Gorge and beyond.

OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, Oct. 4 from 5pm to 7pm

LOBBY FOR LOCAL ART

CHRISTINE KNOWLES & KAREN WATSON

The landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge inspire Christine Knowles's pastel abstracts. She loves pastel for its vibrancy, immediacy, and ease of application, and sometimes combines them with watercolor, sumii ink, and gesso to enhance composition or texture. 

Christine is a signature member of the Northwest Pastel Society, has won awards from the Pastel Artists of Oregon, and has studied with some of the best pastel masters in the country, including Albert Handel, Richard McKinley, Stan Sperlak, and Diana Sanford. 

As an active member of the Columbia Gorge arts community, Christine has served as a board member of Columbia Center for the Arts and Gorge Artists Open Studios, is one of the founding members of 301 Gallery in Hood River, and has taught at the Hood River Art Club. For many years, Christine focused on plein air painting, joining other gorge artists in creating at locations throughout the Columbia Gorge.

Currently, Christine is primarily a studio painter, creating images from her memories of the light, color, and shapes of the landforms she loves.  She is a “process painter” who sees her work as an interaction between the artist and the surface she is working on.

For this show at CCA, Christine has pushed herself to create new work that is bolder, stronger, and looser. She believes in the importance of art as part of a healthy community and the Columbia Center for the Arts as part of that mix.

Karen Watson

Contemporary images created with a variety of soft pastels on toned sandpaper. Using loose and playful application of pastel strokes and color my intentions are to paint fresh and energetic pieces. I prefer to layer the pastel adjusting the pressure to get the desired results and enjoy the “painterly” quality of the finished piece. I work in my studio from photo references and in plain air. My inspiration is derived from experiences, travels and the Pacific Northwest.  In addition to participating in fine art fairs throughout the country and gallery representation, I teach pastel workshops at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River. OR, through community Education programs in the Dalles and Hood River.