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In artist Gail Ragains' figurative piece, a woman takes a breather on the beach. She reclines comfortably on a green chair, in a mix of gestural marks within a thought-out composition. The muted color combination allows the warm and cool shades to play off each other.

About the Artist
Artist Gail Ragains paints abstract figurative works defined by strong color combinations and intuitive mark-making. "I approach each creative process as an open-ended improvisation," says Gail. "It is an evolving journey without preconceived plans for a predictable outcome. I react to the materials at hand, stripping away the non-essentials to give a loose interpretation of form, movement, and human expression." Inspired by the physical gestures and emotions of people, the human figure dominates Gail's art. As a young person, Gail was active in dance, ice skating, and gymnastics and competed in triathlons in her 20s. While pursuing a career as a massage therapist for 25 years, Gail simultaneously attended art classes through community colleges, the local Art League, and workshops with artists she admires. Having lived in California her entire life, Gail is influenced by the California colors—golden hills, clear blue skies, swimsuits, and swimming pools. Today, her studio is in her backyard just a few steps away from the home she shares with her husband. “In this workspace, I have everything I need. Good light, music, fresh air, and my studio mate, Sadie, the cutest 14 lb. mixed-breed rescue pup.”

Words that describe this painting: figure, figurative, people, Richard Diebenkorn, gestural, expressive, colorful, beach, sand, paper, acrylicpaint, portrait, expressionism, people, acrylic painting, beige

Beach Chair...

Artist Comments
Artist Paula Martino offers a sunny view of a countryside home in the quiet rural district of Brazil. With the use of a palette knife, Paula captures the temperate scenery in vibrant warm hues. The same palette extends itself into the sky creating an orange and pink atmosphere. The landscape radiates heat while compositionally balanced by a refreshing flourish of vegetation. The colors beat the midday sun onto terra cotta roofs as surrounding trees cast sharp shadows below. A white truck peeks from the driveway beside a wooden fence. Pops of color in blue, green, purple, and yellow appear in the courtyard from pieces of laundry strung along clotheslines.

About the Artist
Artist Paula Martino paints impressionist scenes, especially of places with water. “They reflect the energy and emotions I feel when I see a compelling locale I visit,” says Paula. Using various tools, she applies thick layers of color with oil or acrylic paint and sometimes uses stencil work. With her palette knife technique, she unveils strands of lighter hues amidst her dominantly saturated palette, creating a semi-abstract element. Paula worked as a CPA for thirty-five years running her own tax practice while raising three children, with one having Down Syndrome. All the while pursuing art part-time in a studio her husband built for her in their basement. After retiring in 2020, she decided to pursue her art practice fully, studying in earnest with nationally recognized colorists, portrait artists, and landscape painters. “The experiences of caregiving and tax prep forced me to be very conscientious and organized with my time and efforts. I needed to be so completely organized for so long that it is a relief to be a little messy in my studio.”

Words that describe this painting: residential, trees, Brazil, truck, fence, laundry, oilpaint, grass, South America, impasto, warm, yard, courtyard, summer, trees, season, palette knife, house, home, facade, architecture, impressionism, architecture, impressionism, oil painting, orange

Laundry Day...

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Artist David Forks depicts a warm and sunny meadow filled with wildflowers, cacti, and trees from the northeastern region of San Antonio, Texas. "May finds fiel...

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Artist Suren Nersisyan uses vibrant color to convey mood and energy. In this piece the sun reflects the warm spring light on the farmhouse. The blooming almond trees...

Artist Comments
"Sundown is the best time of the day for light," says artist Benjamin Thomas. He paints a cyclist leisurely riding down a bike trail in Canada's wine country. T...