Post 1 - Introductory Post

Welcome to the Via Buena Art Gallery!!

 

Location:   The Gallery is located in beautiful Yucaipa, California; just 2 miles off of Interstate 10 heading east to Palm Springs.

Hours of Operation:   The Gallery is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and open from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Owned/Managed:   The Gallery is the vision of Robert G. McCray and is owned /operated by him today. 

Our Art:  The artworks and pieces that we proudly display are from all over the world. Every piece depicts an Oceanic scenery or an appreciation for aquatic life. Most pieces are on temporary loan to our Gallery for show while others might be from local artists for sale or consignment. The artwork ranges from acrylics on canvas to digital painting with different sizes, matting and framing.

We appreciate you visiting our blog posts daily as we will update and respond to any of your questions or concerns. At times we will also offer discounts and other great deals for our gallery on this blog spot.

Thank you again and enjoy!!

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Post 2 - Via Buena Art Gallery - Exhibition Introduction

"Aquatic Art Exhibition"

List of Artists

1. David Miller - Dolphins Cove
2. Robert Wyland - Backdoor Pipeline
3. Rich Waller - Curiosity
4. Jill Segal - Oceanic Magic
5. Ernie Gerzabek - Blue Landscape/ Seascape
6. Karin Snoots - After Hours
7. Corey Ford - Fossils
8. Carmen Small - Sea Life
9. Doug Barkley - Art Aquatic
10. Susan Clifton - Swim With Me

Exhibition Statement

  This exhibition is about aquatic life and the beauty it holds. Most people do not get to appreciate or enjoy what beautiful life forms the oceans and seas hold. Although the planet Earth is mostly made up of oceans and seas, only a handful of artists depict these beautiful underwater landscapes and creatures. I have loved the ocean since childhood and I truly find it amazing, vastly beautiful and serene.

  The Via Buena Art Gallery is a my Final Exam, one that I choose to do my best at. I have surfed the web looking for some of the finest artworks that I could, some are acrylic painitngs, some are watercolors while there is also a video art and digital painting. I hope that I have depicted the oceanic art to the best ability that I can and I hope that if any of these artists seen what I have done that they would be proud knowing that I chose them.

Thank you and please enjoy!!

Post 3 - Works Exhibited

"Dolphin Cove"

"Dolphin Cove"
Limited edition hand enhanced giclee on canvas, edition size of 99 signed & numbered pieces, image size 24" x 36"

Artist

David C. Miller is an internationally acclaimed marine artist who’s work has graced the covers of everything from greeting cards to jigsaw puzzles, but his best work has always been done on lexan and canvas. His use of acrylics have earned him acclaim from art critics as well as environmentalists. David’s personal pursuit has always been that of environmental preservation. His portfolio includes commissioned works for such prestigious foundations as Sea Turtles of the World, an environmental group protecting endangered sea turtles, and The Franklin Mint, part of the proceeds from the porcelain heirloom collectors plates goes to the Save The Dolphin program. His work is also shown in many prestigious Aquariums across the nation.

Bio  David’s talent as a colorist is exceptional. His extraordinary palette of colors is at once exotic, yet realistic of the habitat he paints. Certified for open water scuba, David has spent many hours diving in the beautiful waters of the Hawaiian Islands, Jamaica, California, and Mexico. Virtually all of his creations depict an aspect of the natural world. His eye-catching effects of color and light extol the artist’s sense of tranquillity and reverence he feels for marine life and is reflected in his exquisite portrayal of life both above and below the sea. He is known for his brilliantly colored tropical fish, sea turtles, and most of all his dolphins and whales frolicking just below the surface of the deep, clean blue ocean in his "above and below" pieces.  David’s art is shown in scores of galleries across the United States, Japan, Australia, and Europe. His stunning and distinctive images are highly collected through his superior quality prints which reproduce his artwork with breathtaking accuracy. We can immerse ourselves in his artistic vision of the hidden frontier --- the undersea world of shipwrecks and marine life, and his above the water scenes of lighthouses and tropical waterfalls.

  Coupling his artistic talent with a degree in technical drafting David began his career as a full-time artist in 1984, and received immediate recognition for his captivating marine subjects, portrayed with unique depth and three-dimensional perspective. In pursuit of excellence even the frames that surround his art are exceptional. They are exclusively produced and custom crafted by artisans at his Florida studio under the supervision of David Miller. Constructed individually, and often formed with multiple frames they feature hand wrapped linen liners, and each frame is hand marbled by the artist David Miller. His unique round and oval frames constructed of one piece of wood adds to the peek-a-boo glimpse of underwater vistas.

Artists Statement

I love to grow as an artist, every new painting is a learning experience. (taken from David's Facebook page)

"For I will see the rainbow in the cloud and remember my eternal promise to every living being on the earth." Genesis 9:16,17

Background

Dolphin Cove was completed after 8 months in the making. This limited edition print comes from the vivid imagination of David’s wife, Nancy. Stemming from her religious heritage, she envisioned the undersea world upon which Noah’s Ark sailed.

Connection

I chose David Miller because the first aquatic artwork that I had seen was by David Miller many, many years ago, when I was stationed in Hawaii as a U.S. Marine. The wall mural that I saw was a very beautiful scene of the ocean with dolphins and sea turtles. This mural was located at the Prince Ku'Hio Hotel in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. When I first saw it, I thought to myself, "how beautiful it is and how did someone capture such detail into one painting". His work is very similiar to Wyland's work of Hawaii.

Post 4 - Works Exhibited

"Backdoor Pipeline"

BACKDOOR PIPELINE 32" ROUND Giclee on Canvas (2012)

Artist

Robert Wyland - known simply as Wyland, is an artist best known for painting large, outdoor murals of whales and other ocean life.

Bio

  Renowned marine life artist Wyland changed the way people think about our environment when he started painting life-size whales on the sides of buildings in the 1980s. Wyland always thought big. And he never stopped.
 

  Today, the Wyland name has become synonymous with the new generation of awareness about environmental conservation. Through his unique marine life paintings, sculptures, and photography, Wyland has inspired a generation about the importance of marine life conservation. His life – like his art – can find him anywhere around the world, at any time, from the Antarctic ice shelf on a photo expedition to document climate change to a grassroots journey down the Mississippi River on a mission of conservation.
 

  The multi-faceted artist, scuba diver, educator, and explorer has hosted several television programs, including, “Wyland’s Ocean World” series on the Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet Network, “Wyland: A Brush With Giants” and “Wyland’s Art Studio,” a series for national public television. His mission of engaging people through nature-themed art and a more environmentally friendly lifestyle has led to strategic alliances with such notable organizations as the United States Olympic Team, United Nation Environment Program, and Walt Disney Studios, to name a few.
 

  Wyland’s 100th and final Monumental Marine Life Mural, Hands Across the Oceans, a 24,000-square-foot, half-mile-long series of canvas murals with student artists from 110 countries, was displayed in October 2008 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and honored by the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. In May 2010, the United Nations released six Wyland images for an international stamp issue celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
 

  Since 1993, the non-profit Wyland Foundation has set the standard for environmental outreach. In partnership with the United States Forest Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Wyland is actively engaged in teaching millions of students around the world to become caring, informed stewards of our ocean, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands.
 

  The enormous extent of Wyland public artworks (it is estimated that his murals are viewed by more than a billion people every year), his award-winning art galleries, and community service projects have made him one of the most recognized and beloved artists in the nation.He is considered one of the most influential artists of the 21st Century, with artwork in museums, corporate collections, and private homes in more than one hundred countries.

  As a child, Wyland started to have interest in painting dinosaurs and jurassic beings. He became an artist at the age of 3. One of the people who influenced Wyland was Captain Jacques Cousteau. Wyland (as a child) also wanted to be a scientist wanting to study marine life just like Captain Cousteau, which he is also doing today. Captain Cousteau is still the main influence in Wyland’s belief in caring for the environment. Wyland first encountered the adoration of whales when he saw a TV show hosted by Captain Cousteau about whales.

Wyland currently lives in California, Hawaii, and Florida when he is not traveling.

 

Character Statement

Your organization is making an invaluable contribution to effort to promote environmental awareness among our youth and to encourage them to continue their own efforts.

- Al Gore

 

Background

  Wyland and collaborator Steven Power give us a seldom seen glimpse into the other side of the surfing mecca known as Pipeline. But instead of showing world-class surfers pitting themselves against one of the world's most renowned breaks, Wyland reminds us that a kaleidoscope of life flourishes just below the surface.
  In "Backdoor Pipeline," Wyland presents two sea turtles cruising over the famed reef that has long spelled danger to unlucky surfers. "I spend a lot of time on the North Shore of Oahu," Wyland says. "The waves at Pipeline are among the most sought after in the world. But most people don't realize that underneath all that power is a pristine ecosystem teeming with life."

Connection

My connection with Wyland goes back to living in Hawaii. Robert Wyland has made Hawaii so dreamy with his paintings and murals that he has done all over the world. Wyland is one of the most sought out painters of our times and by looking at his work, one knows exactly why.

I just love his painitngs and sculptures...what a great artist!!

Post 5 - Works Exhibited

"Curiosity"

Curiosity - 10x6.75
Acrylic on Paper dtd. 2010

Artist

Rich Waller - Greenwood Village, Colorado Artist. Owner of Original Fine Art Aquatic Paintings and Studio.

Bio

Richard Waller grew up in Mission, Kansas which is a suburb of Kansas City. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1972, I moved to Denver to start a manufacturing business.
  I dabbled with oil paints occasionally in the 70’s but it wasn’t until mid the 80’s that I built my first serious studio. For the first couple of years, I created relief sculpture that was framed and wall mounted like a painting. This process required complex urethane rubber mold making materials and I cast the positives with very high psi reinforced plasters.
 
  In the later eighties, I began painting with acrylics, which I had been introduced to in college. Acrylics have been around since the 1950’s, but didn’t become a water soluble fine art medium until the 60’s and are now considered by archivalists to have greater overall longevity than oils.
 
  Besides painting, my other passion is playing guitar and composing and recording music. I have a Pro Tools based recording studio next to my art studio and tend to go through periods of time when I focus on music.
 
  Something that has surprised me over the years is how similar the process of creating a piece of music is to creating a painting, especially an abstract painting. I try to let an abstract approach just flow with no preconceived concept. I have found that if I try to plan an abstract, the lower chance I have of creating a successful painting.
 
  Please feel free to send any comments you might have about my paintings or even any questions you might have about using acrylics. I feel that over the years, I have come to a fairly proficient level of understanding this medium and would be happy to share anything that may be helpful.
  I have also included some techniques I have developed and used over the years so, if you are a painter, check these out and share any interesting techniques you may have tried or developed. I know there is a tendency in the art world to not share these secrets, but I doubt that there are very many techniques out there that can’t be figured out by artists experienced in that medium. Rich currently lives in Greenwood Village, Colorado with my wife, Carol, and two children, Jessica and Braden.

Character Statement

Creating a song (I’m strictly an instrumentalist) processes the same way. I may decide which key to start out in, but rhythm, chord structure and melody all flow through a trial and error process until it’s able to stand on its own.

Background  

For Curiousity, although I have experimented with water colors, oils and the newer water soluble oils, I always return to acrylics because of their versatility and my broader understanding of their properties. They can be used in both a watercolor and oil technique and are great for collages.
  While the quick drying time is both a curse and an advantage, I have used acrylics for so many years that I have little patience for the slow drying properties of oil or even waiting for a watercolor wash to dry.
  I paint on canvas, acid free Strathmore bristol board and 140# and 300# watercolor paper blocks. My paintings fall into three categories- underwater oceanic scenes with a variety of aquatic life, abstracts and landscapes.
 
  My landscapes tend to fall into beach scenes and mountain scenes with streams or lakes. I enjoy trying to capture water realistically and rarely paint anything that doesn’t give me this opportunity. Painting is really about catching light as it reflects off objects in different colors, and the challenge of painting water is magnified because it is reflecting surrounding objects above the surface while distorting objects to various degrees below the surface.

Connection

I chose Rich Waller because I felt he was the most seasoned artist in my gallery and one of the most well-rounded artist that I have seen. I just love his work and it is very comparable to Wylands work. Rich has many accomplishments but being my online gallery is a priveledge for me.

Post 6 - Works Exhibited

"Ocean Magic"

 11h x 14w

Acrylic on canvas dtd. 2008 

Artist

Jill Segal, award winning Canadian Artist, teaches classes in watercolour and acrylic painting from her studio in Thornhill (just north of Toronto) and also conducts workshops and demonstrations for art groups and schools across Ontario.

Bio

  Jill was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 1976. I received a B.A. degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy, from the University of the Witwatersrand, in 1974.

  She has been drawing and painting since childhood and have studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) and the Haliburton School of Fine Arts. I have also taken numerous workshops with many prominent artists, including: Margaret Roseman, Lila Lewis Irving, Brian Atyeo, Gerald Brommer, Mary Todd Beam.

  Jill presently teaches classes in watercolour and acrylic painting from my studio in Thornhill, Ontario - just a touch north of Toronto. I also conduct classes, workshops and demonstrations for art groups and schools across Ontario.

Character Statement

My hope as an artist is to connect with people through the visual images that I create, touching something deep within them.

For me, painting is a passion, an expression of the joy of life. My acrylic and mixed media paintings express my fascination with the natural beauty of the world around me. They are celebrations of all aspects of life, reflecting the inherent energy in and around us, and the interconnectedness of all things.

My style is bold, colourful and expressionistic, capturing the essence of the subject matter and producing for the viewer, a magical journey.

Background

In "Ocean Magic", Start pouring the paint one colour at a time ...

Connection

My connection was that this was a lighter piece compared to Wyland and Miller's artwork. I really liked that Jill uses acrylic in different ways and also incorporates watercolors into some her works as well. She is very taleneted and and it truly shows in her work.

Post 7 - Works Exhibited

"Blue Landscape Seascape"

699 Blue landscape / seascape
91x91cm / 36x36in, acrylic / canvas, self-framed

Artist

Ernie Gerzabek - Visual Artist (Northern Beaches, Sydney)
A professional landscape painter and abstract artist and sculptor. He was born in Budapest, Hungary and immigrated to Australia in 1958. Ernie started painting in 1970 while practising as a Chartered Architect. Following his retirement from Architecture in 1997, he commenced painting full time.



Bio

Ernie Gerzabek started painting in 1970 while practising as an Architect. He has exhibited in various group and solo shows ever since. As the popularity of his paintings increased, he retired from Architecture in 1997 to paint full time. His main inspiration is nature and the unique landscapes of Australia, in particular wilderness areas, wetlands, the unspoilt countryside, deserts and seashores.

Gerzabek's interpretation of natural phenomena is unique, surprising and unpredictable. His paintings not only encapsulate the essential elements, colours and features of a particular place, but also recreate the ambience and the 'feel' of being there. Typically, his work is exuberant, highly original, vibrant, confident and eye-catching. Most pieces are charged with positive energy, richly textured and overflow with dazzling colour. Other pieces are soft, meditative and introspective.

Gerzabek tends to create playful, decorative and inspiring images, which are both optimistic and spiritually uplifting. His paintings are sold in a number of commercial galleries in Sydney and hisworks are highly sought after by art lovers, interior designers and architects.

Gerzabek would like to connect with creative artists who are inventive and use their imagination - rather than just depict what the eye sees and relying on their technical skills only.

Character Statement

"I pride himself on being a self-taught artist as I do not follow in the footsteps of any teacher or master. I have a very broad range of original approaches, thus cannot be pigeonholed into a single ‘style’."

His main inspiration is Nature, the unique landscapes of Australia, the United States and Canada:- the unspoilt countryside, wilderness areas, deserts, wetlands and seashores.

"As to artists who most influenced me, I must admit I admire Vincent Van Gogh’s use of colour and his emotional intensity. I love Paul Klee’s sensitivity and deep insight into our inner beings. I marvel at Kandinsky’s exuberance and sense of composition. I am amazed at Picasso’s inventiveness and broad range of interests."

"As for Australian artists, I love John Olsen’s imaginative expression and playfulness, Fred Williams’ unique ability to extract the essential abstract elements of a landscape, and most importantly, I am most impressed by Emily Kngwarreye’s innate mastery of colour, structure and connection to Country."

  He is often told his interpretation of natural phenomena is unique, quite surprising and somewhat unpredictable. His paintings not only encapsulate the essential elements, colours and features of a particular place, but also recreate the ambience and the ‘feel’ of being there.

  Ernie tends to create playful, decorative and inspiring images, which are both optimistic and spiritually uplifting. Typically, his work is highly original, exuberant, vibrant, confident and eye-catching. Most of his creations are richly textured, overflow with dazzling colour and charged with positive energy. Other pieces are introspective, soft and meditative.

  Ernie believes that his artworks are not only collectable but also provide long term enjoyment and relaxation as a counterbalance to the stresses of everyday life. He had more than 26 solo shows since 1999 and have participated in countless group shows in commercial galleries and other venues.

  Ernie's artworks are sold in a number of commercial galleries in Sydney, they are highly sought after by art lovers, interior designers and architects. Apart from Australia, his works can be found in public and private collections all around the world, including the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Great Britain and many other European countries.

  He is a member of the National Association for Visual Arts (NAVA) and has had exhibiting memberships in Ku-ring-gai, Mosman, Hornsby and North Shore Art Societies and The Sculptors’ Society.

Background

In Blue Landscape/ Seascape, Ernie was aiming to create artworks which celebrate Nature, nurture the human spirit and provide stimulation and enjoyment to peoples lives. He believes that people need more than the simple necessities of food, shelter and security.

"We should also satisfy our intellectual curiosity, fulfil our aspirations and nurture our spiritual and emotional wellbeing."

The need to rise above the humdrum, the ordinary and the daily grind of survival. This is where the arts provide a relief. Encounter with literature, music, theatre and fine arts provides great opportunities if we want to satisfy our creative urges. At the same time we are rewarded with lasting enjoyment and satisfaction.

Connection

I chose Ernie Gerzabek not just for his great artwork but for his philosophy behind his work. Ernie has a true passion for his work and he loves to give that passion to people through his art. Ernie is a well-travelled man, being from a foreign country and seeing the world, his retirement years are some his best. His artwork is splendid and I am proud to bring his works to my online gallery.