||| FROM CHRIS MORRIS for CROW VALLEY GALLERY |||
Crow Valley Gallery is thrilled to announce Carl Buttke’s new show “Celebrating 30 Years of Painting on Orcas Island.” The opening is this Saturday, July 1st from 4-6pm. The show runs through July 31st.
Carl paints primarily with watercolor from nature here on Orcas Island and from his travels throughout the U.S. and Europe. Carl began painting as a child in Wisconsin, followed by a career as a consulting transportation engineer. Thirty years ago he resumed his childhood desire of becoming an artist by studying at the Pacific Northwest College of Art continuing education program in Portland, Oregon, in the studio of James Kirk for over 15 years, and with Stephen Quiller.
Carl has painted extensively in villages throughout France, including Monet’s Giverny garden, Spain and Portugal.
“The watercolor paintings in this exhibition, a part of my ‘Reflections’ series, were created within the past year in a large format to explore and convey the mystery between the real and the imagined – the conflict between the seen and unseen. My intent by painting images of forest reflections on our waters of the San Juan Islands is to take the viewer into the depths of the forest with the unease of the
dark spaces and bring out the joy of the water reflections.
“My paintings are finished to display them without having to be framed behind glass thus eliminating glare of light on the artwork. To support the painting, I stretch and mount hot press watercolor paper on a wood panel. When the painting is finished, I spray it with an archival varnish to seal the painting and provide UVLS protection to minimize light damage. It is then sealed again with an archival wax, adding a unique texture to the surface of the painting. This coating results in protection against dust, moisture, and even water. I have used this process for paintings varying in size from 12 x 9 inches to 60 x 30 inches for more than 20 years.”
Come see Carl and his work at the opening on Saturday at 4pm at Crow Valley Gallery on Main Street Eastsound.
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