Saratoga News Photograph by George Sakkestad Visitors to the Montalvo Gallery enjoy paintings in the Saratoga Community of Painters show. Saratoga Community of Painters on exhibit By Shari Kaplan "With art as my passion/And nature my muse/ Montalvo's the place/Where both of these fuse." So writes Los Gatan Ann-Marie Mix, a member of the Saratoga Community of Painters, a local group featured in the latest installation at the Gallery at Villa Montalvo. Mix's poem captures the exhibit's theme perfectly: All images are of Villa Montalvo or its scenic grounds. SCP, coordinated by Saratogan Judy Puthuff, is a group of friends who meet on Wednesday mornings and engage mainly in the plein-air style--painting outdoors using the light, atmosphere and surroundings present at the time. Members exhibiting are Karmen Askew, Dennis Augustine, Norman Dana Carter, Nancy Deweese, Jane Garrod, Donald Dominick Geoffroy, Mary Ann Henderson, Carol Heeter, David D. Hunt, Roben Martin, Ann-Marie Mix, Emma Mori, Nancy Patka, Judy Puthuff, Mary Ann Snedeker, Dan Tellep and Miyoko Whittelsey. Most reside in Saratoga; a few live in Los Gatos. The group formed several years ago when a handful of local artists, including Puthuff, met during an adult education watercolor class at the Saratoga Recreation Department. Limiting themselves to no more than about 20 members, SCP take painting trips together, compliment and critique each others' work, swap tips and learn about art techniques and history. The show at Montalvo is their biggest exhibition to date; Marjolaine Bakery in downtown Saratoga is one of their smaller, ongoing venues. "This group is not about selling or exhibiting art. Many of us come from very busy careers. For us [painting] is an intensely personal activity; we enjoy it. Art is like soul food for us," Puthuff says of how much the group means to its members. SCP spent a year painting and preparing for this exhibit, its members making many trips to Montalvo to capture its essence during different seasons and times of day. The most striking part of the exhibit is the title wall, which consists of 20 images of the Montalvo mansion--all based on the same photograph--painted in so many styles and color schemes that from afar it resembles a patchwork quilt. One is in monochrome and the rest are in color, with some color artists engaging the full spectrum while others favor only certain hues. One artist added a strolling couple to the scene, another added some inquisitive deer. Morning, afternoon, twilight and night--all times of day are represented, as are styles ranging from impressionistic to realistic to minimalistic. Other individual paintings of the Montalvo grounds include trees, flowers, fountains, statues, romantic nooks, outdoor temples, concerts and other artists at work. Next to the contributions from each SCP member are photographs of each artist and statements ranging from a few sentences to a few paragraphs. All are well-written and offer an intimate glance into the minds of artists engaged in the creative process they so obviously love. The exhibit runs through Dec. 6. The Gallery, located at 15400 Montalvo Road, is open Thursdays and Fridays, 1-4 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 961-5813. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, November 18, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.