Renowned Plein Air Artists Featured at Catalina Island Conservancy Artist Salon

2015-05-04
Catalina Island Conservancy

The Catalina Island Conservancy will be hosting an Artist Salon on Sunday, May 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Castillo del Mar in Avalon. This event is a precursor to the Conservancy's Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show and Sale, which will be held in October.

This year's Artist Salon will feature the work of two renowned plein air artists; Jeff Horn and Michael Obermeyer.

Based in Costa Mesa, CA, Horn is a professor emeritus of Drawing and Painting at Irvine Valley College. The winner of numerous awards, his work has been featured at The Laguna Festival of the Arts for the last several years.

"I prefer to paint directly from nature and I love being outdoors where I can see, hear, feel, smell and even taste the scene around me," says Horn. "For me, the painting is a translation of nature and my experience of it."

Laguna Beach artist Michael Obermeyer received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at California State University, Long Beach. His twenty-year career in illustration includes work for Disney Studios, the Anaheim Angels, the United States Air Force and others. Michael recently won the "Collectors Choice Award" and "Fine Art Connoisseur Award" at the Laguna Beach Invitational Plein Air Competition.

"I enjoy painting outdoors," says Obermeyer. "I especially like to paint as much of the open space that I can, as it seems to be rapidly disappearing."

Both artists will be on-hand for the event to discuss their inspiration and processes. Proceeds from sales from the Artist Salon will be used to support the conservation, education and recreation programs of the Catalina Island Conservancy. To register to attend the event, please go to www.catalinaconservancy.org.