Third Friday in June at Art du Jour Gallery Highlights a Book Signing by Richard McKinley and the Paintings of Artists Phyllis Gustafson and Anne Brooke

Art du Jour Gallery, 213 E. Main St., Medford, will host a Third Friday reception June 19, 5-8 p.m. for artists Phyllis Gustafson and Anne Brooke.  Also, artist/ writer Richard McKinley will be on hand to sign his latest and highly sought after book The Landscape Paintings of Richard McKinley , a must have for all artists, art lovers, and oil or pastel enthusiasts.

Venice, watercolor painting by Anne Brooke

Watercolorist Anne Brooke is well known in the Rogue Valley for her drawing skill and vibrant use of color in the landscapes, still lifes and figures that she enjoys painting.  She has created numerous commissions, which often include her calligraphy.

Using a limited palette and with a secure drawing, Brooke creates an underpainting to begin the process of creating a unique style for her works.  Her award-winning paintings have been displayed in Oregon, California and Nevada.  Brooke’s watercolor paintings will be displayed in the Salon through July.

Living in the Rogue Valley all of her life has clearly made an impression on the artwork of Phyllis Gustafson as she loves to be outside interacting with the natural world.    The study of nature has consumed Gustafson since an early age and has given her a keen appreciation of light and ”…how it plays on all of life from shining through the cells of a leaf to the shimmering reveal of the earth’s contours.”  The need to express this fantastic interchange can be seen in her amazing landscapes in oil and pastel.

Gustafson began gardening as a four year old, encouraged by her paternal grandparents who gave her a small garden.  Gustafson has traveled extensively through the United States and abroad to see gardens and plants in the wild.  In 2006, the field guide, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest, was published, written by Gustafson with co-author Mark Turner.   Her creativity and knowledge of plants shows in her artwork.

Queen Anne’s Hill, pastel painting by Phyllis Gustafson

The painting “Queen Anne’s Hill” demonstrates her love of plants and of painting plein air as the work shows a beautiful hillside along Dead Indian Memorial Road.  She states, “The interesting shaped flowers that dominate the painting are Queen Anne’s Lace, a member of the parsley family.  The huge flowers covered the hill almost pushing out the deep blue Bachelor Buttons and other small flowers.  I enjoyed the broken light from the pale blue sky with high passing clouds and weak yellow from the sun…old oak trees bent from the winter burden of wet snow carry many colors for the new and old growth…pastel seemed the perfect medium for this scene filled with light and air.”

Come meet these three wonderful artists at the Third Friday reception, June 19, from 5-8 p.m. at Art du Jour Gallery, 213 E. Main St., Medford, OR.  Regular gallery hours are 10-4 Tues.-Sat. and Third Fridays 5-8.   For more information, call 541-770-3190 or check face book.