September 25th, 6-9 p.m. through Saturday, October 24th,
The Quad City area has an admirer coming to town. "Iowa is one of my favorite places to paint," began wild life artist Jeff Gandert. "Painting in the natural world is an ambition that continually evolves." It began well before he ever picked up the artists' brushes. Born in Cincinnati in 1957, he spent a great deal of his early years exploring the woodland streams and abandoned farms near his home," said Gandert in an interview with Beréskin Art Gallery Director Pat Bereskin. I just began absorbing all that countryside with it's wildlife and finally began to spill over in my paintings." Starting with art classes in high school and then into self studies and studies with fellow artists, his work was soon being published on the cover of a number of magazines. "I divide my painting time between wildlife and landscape painting. My landscapes are painted on location. They are loose renditions of the scene capturing the essence of the day. Having a fun loving side, I am like a kid in a candy store with landscape painting. I can really let go. Knowing that I'll complete the painting in one or two sittings I can forget the details and capture the essence of the day. I have an absolute ball with this kind of painting, I can really let go and "make hay" with the brushes. I also have a serious side and that's where my wildlife painting comes in. Some of these paintings can take hundreds of hours to complete. I get totally submerged in the painting, striving for a believable realness and sense of depth. It's out of this type of painting that I get my greatest satisfaction," Gandert said.
Jeff has exhibited in a number of national shows including The Arts for the Parks National Show and Tour, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum Birds in Art Exhibit and World Tour, and The Great American Artist Exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. He is also a member of the Society of Animal Artists. Jeff has won numerous awards including three best of show awards in national competitions.
Gandert's latest creations of wildlife will be on display at Beréskin Fine Art Gallery & Studio from September 25th through October 24th. The community is invited to an Art Talk, by Gandert, on his work and process Wednesday, September 23rd at noon at the gallery, 225 E. 2nd St. Suite 102 & 104, in downtown Davenport. A public reception for the artist will be help on Final Friday September 25th, 6 to 9 p.m.
