2023 Artist Workshops

Kenneth Yarus was raised in Kalispell Montana, not far from Glacier National Park. The landscape inspired him, along with many artists who encouraged his passion. Using the John and Anne Taylor Scholarship he was able to pursue an Academic Education at the Ashland Academy of Art and Grand Central Academy of Art. New York City taught many lessons, and a longing for the wilderness was one. Ken returned to the mountains of Montana to paint plein air and large landscapes, aiming to capture the immensity and value of the mountains.

“My personal love for nature and adventure inspires my art. I strive to communicate an emotional value about my subjects by exploring the nuances of colors and textures that make them unique. Balancing the realistic representation and the deeper emotional value is a constant struggle that will always motivate my work.”

For more about Kenneth Yarus, please visit: www.kennethyarus.com

Frank Eber is a professional fine artist, specifying in atmospheric watercolor, oil and other media. He has earned numerous awards and is a signature member in various art societies and groups.

“The Artist Statement is as impossible as the verbal description of a classical symphony or a moving song. I like the idea of conveying a subjective, emotional response to the natural world.​

Painting ​should go deeper than copying nature as it is. It should be a personal response and a characterization of what is before us and in harmony with it. I try to understand a scene, but not intellectually. I can paint it how it is, that’s ea​sy.​ The interpretation of the thing that’s underneath–what gives it life–I’d like to find. The energy that makes it. In essence I am trying to paint what cannot be painted.

Atmosphere and light are just the first steps. As shapes dissolve in patterns of value and light, the painting becomes more a poetic statement than a literal representation.

​Painting is my meditation, my refuge. It exists in a timeless state–an ego-less zone in which I feel whole, as though life actually makes sense. One day I may be able to paint something of significance.”

For more about Frank Eber, please visit: www.frankeber.com

Barbara Jaenicke loved drawing and painting as a child, but it wasn’t until her early teens where her stubborn determination launched her artistic journey. Barbara’s earliest training was with the late Juanita Crosby in Bordentown, NJ, who instilled a strong initial foundation of painting basics during her high school and college years. Eventually earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from The College of New Jersey, Barbara focused her early career on Advertising and Design. Though there wasn’t much time for painting during her time spent in advertising and marketing communications, she always knew she would eventually continue her original artistic passion, and was able to pursue her fine art career in 2002; “full steam ahead”.

Working in oil and pastel, Barbara strives to capture light-filled landscapes in a painterly, impressionist style. She holds signature memberships in various, highly-named societies and groups, and has accumulated a long list of awards, highlights and publications. Barbara continues to pursue her fine art career in Bend, Oregon, where she includes snow and mountains in her landscape subject matter. She is also a popular workshop instructor throughout the US, teaching workshops coast to coast each year.

“Painting isn’t just a job or hobby for me. It’s a passion. Maybe even an obsession. I try to paint experiences and emotions, rather than ‘things.’ To do this, I need to push beyond the basic mechanics of creating the work. No painting is ever easy for me. Each one challenges me to create the magic that goes beyond just a painting of a thing. That magic doesn’t always happen in every single attempt, but it’s those euphoric instances when the painting ‘hits’ that make it worth going through all of the painful ‘misses.’”

For more about Barbara Jaenicke, please visit: www.barbarajaenicke.com