Yaquina Art Gallery Spotlight Wall Show featuring the artwork of Angela Thomas and Tim Benjamin – September 3rd to September 16th
In a two-week Spotlight Wall Show from September 3rd to September 16th, the Yaquina Art Association will be featuring the artwork of Angela Thomas and Tim Benjamin. The Yaquina Art Association Gallery is located in Nye Beach at 789 NW Beach Drive. Hours of operation are 11 am to 5 pm until Labor Day, September 6th, then the hours of operation are 11 am to 4 pm every day.Angela Thomas says: I was born In El Paso, Texas at an Army Hospital in the year 1961, and raised in a suburb of Sacramento till I was eleven, I found peace and adventure in nature. Having a vivid imagination as a young child, my paternal grandmother gave me art supplies including brushes, oils, pastels, and the like giving me opportunity to explore. School art classes gave me a foundation and to simply create. I recently heard the term “intuitive” painting and it cliqued, “That’s it.” I would observe, grab colors, and experiment putting the brush and colors to work.
There were decades when art was dormant. And then the opportunity and timing came to me.
My first class in August of 2012 was at the Charleston Fire Station with Linda Luckini, Carousel of Colors from Toledo, Oregon coming each month to teach. This class gave me the instruction of the how-to-dos.
Retiring early from teaching elementary school in 2013, I was invited to join my artist friend, Nan Axelton from North Bend, Oregon to paint with the Bay Area Artists Association (BAAA) Plein Air Group in Coos Bay. The local artists I painted with were loving and kind and took me under their wings encouraging me, helping, me, and most of all showing me compassion as I struggled with memory and up and down times. Thank you, Charles, of Charlston, Dutch Mostert, Joan Goodman Fox, Nan Axelton, and all the rest of you.
I find great joy and peace in painting. Many different mediums are used in my creations- oil, acrylic, colored pencils/water soluble pencils and/or a combination of them & varied techniques. I have had fun with my mom, creating art with Gourds. I had the joy of attending Creative Painting, Las Vegas and had the privileges of taking classes from amazing artists’ Robert Warren, Bill Bayer, Rose Starling, Kevin Hill, Marco Antonio Aguilar, and Gini Denton.
After moving to Newport, Oregon, I joined the Yaquina Art Association (YAA). I am supported and encouraged as an artist here. I so appreciate YAA for all we do for our community. Our free art classes are available for all and it’s a great place to come and explore art and get help and grow as an artist.
The reason I paint is to tell you a story – A story of the possibilities available if you dare to join the adventure. I’ve had the opportunity of learning from exceptional artists and my hope is you’ll enjoy the story in each piece.
Interested in becoming a member of the Yaquina Art Association? Please visit our gallery in Nye Beach to fill out a membership form. Annual membership dues are $40 and only 30 staffing hours a year are required to take part in an active gallery with a wonderful group of artists.
