Introduction

Nature's Happiness

Location: Highland,California

Gallery owner: Samantha Sanchez

Types of Work:

Watercolor paintings

Acrylic paintings

photopraphs

new aged photography

oil paintings

Exhibition Introduction

Happiness Through Nature

Artists

Marc Adamus
Camille Pissarro
Miles Morgan
Peter Lik
Thomas Moran
Ivan Aivazovsky
Marc Meunch
David Miller
Claude Monet
Francisco Hernandez


"Happiness Through Nature" aims to put its viewers in a happier, joyful mood throughout the experience. My pieces I have selected all catch a glimpse into nature and the happiness that is just waiting to be discovered there. Some of the pieces I have chosen are easy to see the joy within it, and some, you have to dig a little deeper to see the happiness hidden. My pieces are all connected, not only because they display nature, but because nature is such a beautiful thing in itself that no one can take away. That is why nature is and always will be a joyful thing to celebrate. I took a lot of time and extensive research to find artists and their pieces, that I felt connected to my theme and the idea behind this exhibition. All of the artists I chose, displayed a love and respect for nature and effectively showed that through their pieces.

Shades of Morning

Shades of Morning by Marc Adamus

Media: Photography

Dimensions: 16” x 24”

Created: 2006

·        Marc Adamus is a new aged photographer that specializes in landscape photography. He focuses on the moods seen throughout nature and effectively shows that through his work. Marc is most known for his ability to capture rare lighting and changes in the atmosphere.

·        “You can sense his love of nature and the wilderness, as he expresses it, his creativity in the implementation of his emotions, his passion and feelings; all this is reflected in his image.” – Jeffrey A.

·        Shades of Morning was taken in the Great Basin region in the Western United States. Marc wanted to capture a truly amazing photo during his stay there. The Great Basin was the best place because of its combination of open landscape and mountain ranges. This photo is one of Marc’s most popular and best selling photographs in his recent collection, partly due to the fact that it is one of the last places around that area that has remained untouched by man.

·        This photograph by Marc Adamus connects to my theme of finding happiness within nature because it’s hard not to feel a rise in your spirit when you gaze at this beautiful photograph. This piece belongs in this exhibition because the flowers and the combination of bright colors truly shows nature’s raw beauty, and that alone brings so much joy.

Sunset at Eragny

Sunset at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Media: Oil Painting

Dimension: 2’2” x 2’8”

Created: 1890

• Camille Pissarro was born in July of 1830. In his later years, he became a well known Danish-French oil painter. He is the only artist to have shown his work at all eight Paris Impressionist exhibitions. He also helped establish a society of fifteen aspiring artists and became the leader of the society, helping lead the way to key future artists.

• “It only by drawing often, drawing everything, drawing incessantly, that one fine day you discover to your surprise that you have rendered something in its true character.” – Pissarro

• This painting was created while on a trip through France during the spring. Pissarro intended to capture the beauty within the silence of the middle of the day.

• Sunset at Eragny is a special piece to me. I feel that I am happiest at the end of my day when I can go outside and see the sun setting. The sunset gives a feeling of closure and excitement for a new awakening day. 

The Blue Lagoon by Miles Morgan

Media: Photography

Dimensions: 26” x 34”

Created: October 23^rd, 2009

• Miles Morgan is a Portland, Oregon native. His father, Hank Morgan, introduced him to the world of photography at a young age. It wasn’t until April of 2009, that Miles found his love for landscape photography. He uses some Photoshop tricks and blending of exposures to add his own flare to his photos he captures.

• “An image I caught on my trip that I hope you will enjoy with me.” – Miles Morgan

• The Blue Lagoon was captured during a trip that Miles took throughout Iceland with some friends. This was one of the last shots that he took while on his stay there. This is among Miles’ most well known and highest selling photo.

• I chose this photograph, not only for its breathtaking beauty, but it evokes a sense of calmness and serenity that in turn evokes happiness. This happiness is purely caused by nature and its beauty. Sometimes being in nature and gazing at its splendor can give a sense of happiness and joy, which essentially fits into my theme and thought process behind this exhibition.

Whispering Winds of Change

Whispering Winds of Change by Peter Lik

Media: Photograph

Dimensions: 45 x 40 in.

Created: late 2005

• Peter Lik is a self taught fine art landscape photographer. Lik was born in Melbourne, but didn’t fine tune his photography skills until visiting the United States. On this trip, he discovered panoramic capabilities. His career took off from that moment. Since then, he has traveled the world in hopes to capture some of the most majestic sight seeing locations.

• “In late 2005, I visited Canyonlands National Park in Utah and captured this photograph- Whispering Winds of Change” – Peter Lik

• This majestic photo was captured during a road trip through Utah. Peter had no intentions of stopping here but decided to take a different route to do some sight seeing and discover what was on the other side. He was surprised to see how beautiful this landscape was, and it has become one of his highest selling pieces from his collection.

• This piece by Peter Lik is truly breathtaking and makes you stop and gaze at it. I chose this piece, not only because of its beauty within nature. I chose it because sometimes we need to all stop for a moment within our busy lives and see the beauty in what is right in front of us. 

Castle Geyser, Fire Hole Basin

Castle Geyser, Fire Hole Basin  by Thomas Moran

Media: Watercolor

Dimensions: 20x 26 in.

Created: 1874

• Thomas Moran was born in Bolton, England in February of 1837. He attended the Hudson River School in New York. This is where his artistic abilities really came to be. Landing a job as a chief illustrator for Scribner’s Monthly, launched his art career to a new level or prestige. He is remembered for being one of the premier painters of the American West.

• “Moran’s painting’s revealed the scale and splendor of the beautiful Yellowstone region more than written or oral descriptions.” – W.W

• The watercolor painting of the Castle Geyser in the Fire Hole Basin in Wyoming, is a landmark in the United States. Partly, due to Thomas Moran’s famous painting. Back in the 1800’s when this painting was created, not many people had the opportunity to discover this breathtaking location. It features natural geysers and water holes that were a rarity and a sight to see. Some didn’t come to believe that were even real until discovering this painting.

• Thomas Moran’s piece connects to my theme of happiness within nature, because when this painting was created, not many had laid eyes on this beautiful creation by nature. I have had the chance to see this particular place in person and have discovered the joy in seeing it first hand. It is remarkable to see the natural beauty in nature and how truly amazing it is. This alone, brings a happiness all its own.

The Ninth Wave

The Ninth Wave by Ivan Aivazovsky

Media: Oil Painting

Dimensions: 7’3” x 10’11”

Created: 1850

• Ivan Aivazovsky was born in Russia in 1817. He is a well traveled man, who learned much of artistic abilities throughout his travels to many different countries. He is considered one of the greatest marine artists in history.

• “It depicts a sea after a night storm and people facing death attempting to save themselves by clinging to debris from a wrecked ship.” – Unknown

• This painting is one of Ivan’s most famous pieces of work that was created in 1850. The title of this piece was chosen because it refers to the nautical tradition that waves grow larger in a series up to the biggest one, which is the ninth wave.

• I chose The Ninth Wave, not because it is particularly a happy painting. I chose it because sometimes you have to dig deep in order to find the happiness within. In this photo, the sun represents hope for the future. These men are struggling to survive, but seeing the sun makes them hope for the storm to pass. Life won’t always be happy and easy, but if we continue to search for the happiness in every situation we are thrown into, it can be a beautiful thing.

La Cumbre

La Cumbre by Marc Meunch

Media: Photography

Dimensions: 30 x 35 in.

Created: July 2015

• Marc Meunch was born in 1966 in the United States. He began to explore his artistic abilities at a young age, due to the fact that his mother and father were both established artists. Meunch is most known for capturing photos of sports and places in nature. He has graced top magazines, such as, Time, National Geographic, and Traveler.

• “This image was taken on an evening when I left my home office, threw the camera in the car and floored it all the way up the long windy mountain road to just make it in time for the clouds to turn color.” – Marc Meunch

• La Cumber Peak is a famous sight seeing location in Santa Barbara, California. There used to be a lot of bushes and shrubs that limited the ability to see the beautiful sunset each evening, until a fire came through and burned away all of the shrubs and bushes. This fire was a horrible thing, but it allowed for everyone to see and photograph beautiful sunrises and sunsets every evening.

• La Cumbre is a breathtaking photograph that you cannot help but stop and look at. The beautiful colors and stretch of sky is a calming picture. Feeling a sense of peace is a bit of happiness that is hard to find sometimes, and is essentially why I chose to include this piece.

Beyond Paradise

Beyond Paradise by David Miller

Media: Acrylics

Dimensions: 29 x 48 x 1 in.

Created: 2014

• David Miller is an internationally acclaimed marine artist. He is one of the best acrylic artists of our time. His works have graced the covers of greeting cards, puzzles, and has received critical acclaim around the world from other art critics. He is known for his exceptional use of colors. They are bright and fun, yet held to a realistic standard.

• “This unique body of work depicts various seascape and beach views from the vantage point of looking through an open window.” – David Miller

• Beyond Paradise is one out of 16 pieces in David Miller’s seascape panting collection. Miller creates each piece in the collection as though one is looking through an open window from their room to catch a glimpse of paradise from wherever they are. The three-dimensional image creates an illusion as though the window and view are actually real.

• This piece connects to feeling happiness within nature because you feel a sense of warmth and joy when studying this piece. I chose this piece because I was drawn to it instantly. The use of warm, bright colors gives me an instant mood lifter. I love that David Miller creates his pieces as though one is looking through an open window, because it gives people the guarantee of having a piece of paradise from wherever they are and whatever they may be going through. Everyone deserves a piece of paradise.

The Bodmer Oak Fontainebleau Forest

 

The Bodmer Oak Fontainebleau Forest by Claude Monet

Media: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 96.2 x 129.2 cm

Created: 1865

• Claude Monet was a French painted, born November 14^th of 1840. He strived to document’s one perceptions before nature. Monet was a very passionate artist who was very detail oriented. He is known for painting the same French scene on a countryside, in order to capture the change of lighting and of seasons over time.

• “A beautiful painting, and also an instructive example in the development of French art.” - Anonymous

• The Bodmer Oak Fontainebleau Forest was named after the Swiss artist, Karl Bodmer. Monet got the idea for this particular painting, in connection with one of Bodmer’s earlier works. The leaves that create a blanket on the ground of the forest, suggest that Monet painted this before he left Chailly-en-Biere. This was the last landscape painting done by Claude Monet for his collection at the time.

• This painting by Monet adds a bit of darkness to the exhibition and more of a heavy feeling. I wanted to add this painting to my exhibition to make it known that sometimes it’s hard to find happiness during hard times, but it is always there, waiting to be found.

Last Summer

Last Summer by Francisco Hernandez

Media: Oil Painting

Dimensions: 23 x 17 in.

Created: Summer of 2012

• Francisco Hernandez is a self-taught painter who was born in Spain in 1970. He always had a passion for painting since he began painting in his early childhood in school. Francisco combined his longtime love for nature and new found love for painting and quickly combined them into one. His work has been exhibited in Spain, Netherlands, Finland and England.

• “I have traveled widely with my paint brushes to see and paint landscapes,flora, and bird life.” – Francisco Hernandez

• Last Summer was created in the Summer of 2012 during Hernandez’s stay in his homeland of Spain, before his return to the United States. This was one of his favorite places to visit because he loved this spot in which he could go by himself and meditate.

• This piece connects to the theme of feeling a sense of happiness by being in nature, because it was created in hopes of capturing a moment in which someone felt a happiness that they never wanted to lose sight of. 

Conclusion

                Organizing my own exhibition of works of various artists from all walks of life was very challenging but rewarding. The biggest lesson that I learned, is that no matter the gap of time between artists and their work, they all seem to have a common love and connection emotionally with nature that in turn, gives them or the viewer a sense of happiness, making them feel as one with it. The most challenging part of this exhibition, was finding different artists that met all of the criteria for this particular exhibition. I found that making each individual artist’s overall theme of their pieces connect to one another, was the part of this project that came naturally to me. As a result of this entire process, I have profound appreciation and understanding of the job of a curator. I can see that the job of a curator is highly stressful and very time consuming. They must pay attention to detail and make sure all of the pieces and information that is presented is accurate. Through my research for artwork on feeling a sense of happiness or joy within nature by different artists, I found that it was easy to find artists from different walks of life and different time periods that connect to one another by their love and appreciation for nature, which is truly shown in their artwork.