Each year, Santa Maria Valley artists get together their best works and put them on display for the community to see at the Brush and Palette Art Show. The event has been a favorite of the community and artists for more than a decade because of the variety of styles it showcases and the chance it offers for artists and community to connect.
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Marilyn Dover Benson is a member of the group and displays her paintings during the annual show.
“The Foxenwood show is special because it was our first show, and we got such a good response that we thought, ‘Let’s do this again,’” she said. “And here we are in our 11th year.”
More than 200 paintings will be on display. The artists represent a variety of genres, and their work features western themes, seascapes, abstracts, and English cottages. Participating artists include Dover Benson, Minnie Anderson, Vora Jean Souza, Barbara Shepherd, Beverly Hoebel, Robert Hoebel, Lamar Rowbury, and Jackie Seaman. Many of those artists have won prestigious awards for their work and have presented many gallery shows.
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Each year, the show draws quite a crowd.
“The public really seems to look forward to it,” Dover Benson said. “I think that people in Santa Maria really like the cultural aspect.”
Part of the fun of the event is watching the art demonstrations. Beverly Hoebel will demonstrate some of the painting techniques she uses, while Seaman will demonstrate some sculpting techniques. Rob Hoebel will demonstrate airbrushing techniques, and Anderson will present how she creates graphite portraits.
Dover Benson said Brushes and Palette is a tight-knit group of artists interested in helping each other succeed.
“I really like the camaraderie of the group,” she said. “We critique each other’s paintings, and we’re all extremely supportive of each other’s paintings.”
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The free event includes complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres and the give-away of a gift basket from Wine Country Gifts.
“This is a really special show,” Dover Benson said. “We paint every day, and for the artists, it’s really great to present that work.”
Arts Editor Shelly Cone writes every day. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 16-23, 2012.