Artist's Statement
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I love to create paintings that are engaging and beautiful, paintings that awaken feelings of pleasure, fascination, curiosity. I'm particularly drawn to the landscape. I strive to record the parts of the world that I've seen in a way that its essence and spirit can be discerned and appreciated. Trees swaying in a fresh breeze, the morning light casting shadows onto butter-colored stone, the assertive clap of a boat sail catching the wind, a quiet harbor at sunset - these are the moments I try to capture in my paintings.
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I was drawn to the luminosity, transparency, and spontaneity of watercolor paintings long before I began my own artistic journey. With watercolor, the various colors can mingle in soft, smooth passages, and starkly contrast with strong lights and darks in other areas of the painting. I work with creamy pigments that give smooth, rich color. My favorite brushes are soft and supple - thirsty for water and paint - they are beautiful tools to handle. The paper I use has a texture that lets me make a range of marks - soft, hard-edged, rough - bringing variety and interest to my paintings.
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I'm not a solitary artist. I like sharing my paintings with others, and discussing why and how I created each one. I also enjoy teaching watercolor workshops, where I can share what I've learned with fellow artists, and also learn from them.
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Biography
| I was born, raised, educated, and married in
New York City. During my technical career, I taught
electronics and systems theory at Polytechnic University
of New York, and managed circuit and software development
at Bell Labs, AT&T, and Lucent Technologies. Before moving
to Arkansas, my wife Jeanette and I lived in New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts, and finally Ohio, as well as doing a
two-year stint in Saudi Arabia. We have three adult
children and a grandson, all currently residing in the
Columbus, Ohio area. I am a private pilot, and I built a
Glasair airplane that
Jeanette and I have traveled in extensively. |
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After retiring in 2001, Jeanette and I moved south
to Hot Springs Village,
Arkansas, where I began my art studies at National
Park Community College in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with Ovita Goolsby.
I have also studied watercolor painting in workshops presented by
nationally known artists including Jan Kunz, Ted Nuttall,
Joseph Fettingis, Sterling Edwards, Richard Stephens, Alvero Castagnet, and Tony Couch.
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| My paintings have won many awards, including first place in both
the 2005 and 2007 Diamond National Juried Exhibits and the Gold Award in the Mid-Southern
Watercolorists 2007 Annual Exhibit. My paintings have been featured in both
the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Arkansas Artists Calendars published by the Governor's
Mansion Association. My watercolors can be found in private collections in 26 states
and six countries, and in the permanent collection of the Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs.
I am a signature member of Mid-Southern Watercolorists. |
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| My paintings are on display at
Artists Workshop Gallery in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and occasionally in
other regional venues. I teach a Watercolor Painting Workshop and a Design for Painters Workshop,
which you can read about on my Workshops page.
I maintain two art websites: this one, with its related blog at
www.jimoberst.blogspot.com, and
www.weeklywatercolor.com with its blog at
www.weeklywatercolor.blogspot.com.
My art activities can also be followed on
Facebook
and Twitter.
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