Emeritus artist’s regional paintings to be showcased at Library Writing Lab
The paintings of Emeritus student Jose D. Thomas will be displayed in honor of his artistic contributions to Saddleback College on Friday, April 20, at the Library Writing Lab.
The Emeritus Institute, along with Saddleback’s liberal arts division and the Writing Center, will host an artist reception for Thomas from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Village #8. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.
Thomas will be showcasing his paintings of state, regional and county parks throughout the Southern California region. The painting exhibition is entitled Plein Air.
Plein Air is a style of painting that gained popularity in the early 19th century when paint manufacturers developed pre-mixed oil pigments, which finally allowed painters to take their tools outdoor with ease, according to PBS.org.
The term takes reference from the French expression “en plein air”, which means “in the open air” when translated to English, to reflect the use of natural sunlight, as opposed to artificial light sources inside a studio, in rendering the paintings, according to About.com.