Armand Cabrera has been recognized as one of the premier contemporary painters in the country by American Art Collector, International Artist (which featured Mr. Cabrera in a 10-page article earlier this year), and Southwest Art magazines. A dedicated painter, Mr. Cabrera's style is to paint alla prima, completing his paintings in one sitting, whether in the studio or outdoors. He is a regular guest columnist for outdoorpainting.com and a member of the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast.
Mr. Cabrera explains, "My goal as an artist is to convey the joy and awe I feel when witnessing the beauty of the world we inhabit. Alla prima painting presents the challenge to record my immediate experience of the land. Standing with an easel before the land – that’s when all the years of practice come into play – the discipline to record the fleeting moment on canvas before it disappears forever. We must be ever diligent to preserve this precious commodity for future generations to capture on canvas and enjoy."
Now a full-time artist, Mr. Cabrera spent 12 years as a successful production artist in the computer games industry, creating conceptual designs, background art, and special effects animation, and storyboarding. He currently resides in Warrenton, Virginia.
Kathryn Malany Ellis, of Half Moon Bay, California, paints en plein air. Her art is the product of an adventurous spirit and a lifelong love of the beauty and richness of the natural world. Invigorated by the energy, color, light, texture, and atmosphere of her surroundings, she strives to capture her subjects with vivid, rich colors in an impressionistic, painterly style. Ms. Ellis is a member of the Society of Western Artists, Peninsula Outdoor Painters, Los Gatos Art Association, Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association, and Oil Painters of America.
"This is my passion… painting en plein air in the beautiful California landscape," says Ms. Ellis. "I’m inspired by the beauty of our world and love the visceral experience of mixing colors. I enjoy the creative process surrounded by fresh air, ocean breezes, and sunshine; capturing the essence of the coastline, hills, valleys, and small towns. I’m fascinated by the challenge of describing a ‘moment of time’ before it disappears with the moving sun and changing atmosphere."
Ann McMillan is a pastelist and oil painter from Mountain View, California. She discovered her love for painting en plein air while working as a field researcher in the Sierra Nevada, following her graduation from the University of California - Santa Cruz with a Bachelors degree in biology and environmental studies and a specialty in science illustration. Ms. McMillan began oil painting in 1997 after studying drawing, science illustration, and watercolor painting since childhood.
Ms. McMillan studies the interaction of light and color in the tradition of California Impressionism. Her recent work emphasizes the intensity and subtlety of sun and shadow. Training with Jove Wang and Barry Raybould has taught Ms. McMillan to organize her painting around solid design and carefully mixed color. She always looks for strong and unusual compositions and color combinations, and tries to create art that reflects the vibrancy of nature and her love of close observation of the landscape.
Ms. McMillan’s art has received a number of awards. In 2006, Southwest Art magazine named her an “Artist to Watch.” She is a member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, California Art Club, Pastel Society of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and Los Gatos Art Association.
Andre Nobrega has been painting en plein air for more than twenty years. He began studying the plein air technique at the young age of twelve, and six years later decided to pursue painting as his profession. Originally from Brazil, Mr. Nobrega’s successful career started with a solo exhibit centered on plein air landscapes from his home state Pernambuco. He later traveled around Brazil and the United States to paint and show his work. Now a permanent resident of the United States, Mr. Nobrega recently moved to the San Francisco Bay area (La Honda, California), where he actively paints on a daily basis.
Mr. Nobrega is a member of the Peninsula Outdoor Painters, Los Gatos Art Association, Plein Air Georgia Association, Plein Air Florida Invitational, and International Plein Air Painters.
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