Artist's Statement
My artistic goal is to create paintings that are engaging and beautiful, paintings that awaken feelings of pleasure, nostalgia, fascination, and curiosity.
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I'm particularly drawn to the landscape and seascape. 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, the vivid colors and fascinating forms of flowers - these are the impressions 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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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. My wife Jeanette and I have lived in New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, Arkansas, and then back to Ohio, as well as doing a
two-year stint in Saudi Arabia. We have three adult
children and two grandchildren, 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 College in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
I have studied watercolor painting in workshops presented by
nationally known artists including Jan Kunz, Ted Nuttall,
Joseph Fettingis, Sterling Edwards, Richard Stephens, Alvero Castagnet, Joseph Zbukvic, Fabio Cembranelli, and Tony Couch.
We have recently moved back to Ohio, and live in Pataskala, just east of Columbus.
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| My paintings have won many awards, including two first places in
the Diamond National Juried Exhibit and the Gold Award in the Mid-Southern
Watercolorists Annual Exhibit. My watercolors can be found in private collections in over 30 states
and 7 countries, and in the permanent collections of the Ohio Arts Council and the Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
I am
a signature member of Mid-Southern Watercolorists. |
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| My paintings are on display from time to time at various local
venues.
You will find my art blog at
www.jimoberst.blogspot.com, and my art activities can also be followed on
Facebook,
Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and
YouTube.
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