Lompoc artists Tanya Schultz and Karen Davis-MacDonald have two very different artistic styles, yet they’ve a shared interest in painting what’s been a favorite subject of artists through generations: the female form.
“I suggested to her [Davis-MacDonald] that we collaborate since our styles are so different,” Schultz said. “I’m thinking both styles will work well together.”
The two artists teamed up to present “La Femme” as the featured exhibit at the Cypress Gallery in Lompoc. The acrylic artists’ goal is to let the viewer imagine the female both as art and artist.
“To me, the human form is absolutely gorgeous in any configuration,” Schultz said.
“People are so beautiful—and how they handle their body and how they speak, how they express themselves,” she explained.
For this exhibition, the inspiration was the female form. Schultz said she was struck by how the female form has affected art throughout history with women being the subject of so many
artists’ paintings.
“Females are beautiful, as are males,” she said. “Just the human condition is very, very beautiful.”
Schultz, an award-winning acrylic artist, evokes emotion in her work, portraying more than the representation of the figures she paints. Schultz said she’s been involved in art all of her life in some form or another. Then, in 2006, she began taking classes from Robert Burridge and Linda J. Fibich and began getting into painting. She also dabbles in such other artistic pursuits as sketching, knitting, painting, and gardening. She’s done some pottery and sculpting, and she’s also written a self-help book called You Can Balance Your Life. She’s currently working on a poetry and art book.
Davis-MacDonald is an award-winning acrylic artist, known for her stylized and mood-setting portraits of women. Her colors are bold and clear, and she gives a unique viewpoint of the human condition through her paintings.
Schultz said her inspiration comes from all around her. Her other creative pursuits often spark inspiration. Sometimes inspiration comes from nature, and some simply comes from the creativity that exists in her mind.
“I just let it happen, which sounds very dangerous—and sometimes it can be,” Schultz said.
Schultz said “La Femme” is sure to surprise and delight, but mostly she hopes it will give audiences much to talk about.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone likes surprises, delight, art, and talking. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 14-21, 2011.