Coming on the other side of last week’s storm, the first Sunday of Spring 2018 brought sunshine and warm temperatures to King Gillette Ranch for an art show presented by Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore. The muddy parking lot dried up just in time for the outdoor exhibit, featuring 21 talented painters and sketch artists displaying their stunning interpretations of glorious land and seascapes of the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu shores.
Featuring works of local nature, Helen Groenekamp has been with the organization of painters for years—even before its current incarnation. The octogenarian artist mostly paints landscapes, many of which were displayed for sale at the show. She also teaches art. Groenekamp said she enjoys getting out and being in the countryside.
“It’s beautiful. Look at this. It’s freeing,” the artist described.
Creating art in the countryside, however, means sharing nature with animals and Groenekamp related a story of being startled nearly off her feet.
“We were at Solstice Canyon near the stream,” Groenkamp recalled.
“I heard this big noise behind me and a huge deer with antlers comes crashing down the hill right through the water right by us. It was over before you could pass out,” she said, laughing.
Another artist relayed a story about a brush with nature.
“I was out painting at Zuma Canyon with a group and was off by myself at the creek happily painting when I went to pick up my drink and there was a baby rattler coiled up about a foot from me,” Carole Garland recalled. “I didn’t move.” She said she stayed frozen until the snake slithered away.
Most of the artists exhibiting Sunday had years of experience, but one exhibitor, 76-year-old Linda Melber, is a newcomer who took up painting only recently during retirement. Four years ago Melber, who worked in the medical field, went to an art show, saw a demonstration of pastels and decided, “I want to do that.” Starting with what she called a “cheap set of pastels,” Melber got to work.
She said she learned a great deal about her art form by watching You Tube videos before finally taking a class. Learning next to professionals in class at first made her nervous, but she picked up techniques and Melber’s friends quickly took notice of her talent. She’s been selling her work ever since.
“I was born and raised here and love painting the ocean,” Melber said.
Calling himself a lifelong artist, Timothy Kitz said he’s been painting in watercolors for 15 years.
“This is one of the most vibrant plein air groups,” the 65-year-old told The Malibu Times. When asked if he had a favorite place to paint, Kitz answered, “The Santa Monica Mountains and seashore is like drinking from a firehose. You could paint anywhere.”
With its mission to promote appreciation of the environment through art and to support conservation and maintenance of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Allied Artists holds a monthly paint-out. Nearly two dozen plein air artists usually show up on the second Saturday of each month in varied predesignated locations.
“Lots of nice people show up. With everyone in the same place it’s safe. The camaraderie is great,” Groenekamp commented. The paint-outs—open to the public—are free. Usually an artist will do a demo with friendly critiques at the end.
Point Dume resident Elizabeth Anthony, who enjoys painting Lechuza Beach, uses oils and the dry medium of pastels. Anthony, an attorney by day, has painted off and on for nearly 20 years now, with “more increasing seriousness.”
“Painting is a great foil to the intellectual work of lawyering,” the artist said. “This is a top-notch group of artists—very talented. I feel I raise my game every time I paint with this group.” Anthony called the group’s monthly paint-outs a “great way to capture all these local beautiful places.”
A percentage of profits made from the sale of paintings from the exhibit goes back to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, State Parks and other environmental groups.
“We’ve probably given more money than any other arts group in Southern California on a regular basis. We’ve been doing this for 25 years,” Kitz explained. “We want to preserve the spectacular environment we’re painting. We like to say we’re painting it forward.”
