Sapere Art is Proud to Present this Special Exhibition

By: Krystal Baugher

Kathleen Newman sees color in the gray. As a plein air style painter—Newman focuses most of her pastel and oil paintings on nature in its own lighting, including Chicago in all its different moody shades.  “Nature has its own color palate, its own wonderful balance,” Chicago-native Newman says, “Nature has taught me to see and simplify; to organize the value patterns, shapes, edges and color.” Her new series “Open Air, Open Waters “ will be running March 1 through the 26th at Sapere Art/Intuitive Works. Located amongst 3 dozen artist studios and galleries in the historic Flat Iron Arts Building in the Chicago neighborhood of Wicker Park, Sapere Art specializes in contemporary art from Chicago and Midwest based artists.

“I’m excited to bring the bright lights and colors of wonderful sailing weather into the gallery, especially at the end of a cold winter in Chicago,”Sapere Art/Intuitive Works gallery owner Gary Marr says. The series will focus on one of Newman’s favorite painting subjects, water. As a sailor herself, Newman spends plenty of time in the elements responding to the currents. “Water is my favorite thing to paint because of the lighting and the idea of a body of water and its substance, its reflective and translucent qualities that make it so challenging to capture.”

Newman has been a professional studio artist for twenty years, studying at both the Chicago’s American Academy of Art and The School of the Art Institute. She is skilled not only in oil, but in watercolor and pastel as well. The plein air style takes Newman out of her isolated studio and into the fresh Chicago air. “I just love being outside”, she says, “When you spend three hours on site, the neighborhood walks by you.” People are always coming up to Newman while she’s painting outside and though it can be a distraction she always finds it rewarding. “I love educating the public about what artists do, answering their questions; overall it’s been positive, people like meeting artists.”

“Open Air, Open Waters” open March 1 and runs through March 26, 2010. Opening Reception Friday, March 5, 6 PM-10 PM during the WPB FIRST FRIDAY celebration at the Flat Iron Arts Building in Wicker park

The More You Look the More You See: The Art of Kathleen Newman