On September 4, 717 Gallery opens “Shapes & Harmony,” a solo show featuring new works by Louis Escobedo, a nationally-recognized artist exclusively represented by 717 Gallery. Meet the artist at an opening reception on September 4 from 5-8pm during Easton’s First Friday Gallery Walk. The show runs through October 31.
Escobedo was born in Sweetwater, Texas, and received a BFA in Advertising Art from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. During his time as an illustrator, he received a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York in 1981 and other awards from many organizations. In 1985, he shifted his professional focus, moving from illustration to fine art.
During his fine art career, Escobedo has exhibited in galleries across the United States, including California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, and Maryland.
Escobedo has received many awards for his artwork, including the 2014 Gold Medal in the 23rd Oil Painters of America (OPA) National Juried Exhibition Associate/Signature Division for his painting “Light Source,” which won from a field of 2,300 artists. The award included a cash prize of $25,000. He is one of only two painters to have received the OPA Gold Medal award twice in this division.
Escobedo will exhibit a painting in the first-ever Virtuosos of the OPA Exhibition to be held at the prestigious Salmagundi Club, one of America’s oldest art clubs, located in the heart of New York City. The opening reception is September 17, 2015, from 6-8pm.
Extracting extraordinary, often overlooked, scenes from within life’s busy pace is one of Escobedo’s fortes. How does he derive his diverse ideas? “It all begins with shapes,” he reveals. He begins by sketching shapes on a blank canvas, then adds color, ultimately blending to soft edges and a finished piece. “To me a successful painting is all about shapes and harmony,” he says. “I prefer to reach for scenes that convey a sense of synchronization. I strive to make paintings that look beyond the physical makeup of the subject, and excel with dramatic lighting and tremendous depth.”
Escobedo endeavors to capture the spirit of the moment in a painting. “A highly detailed painting that lacks feeling can leave me cold,” he admits. “I’d rather finish the painting at the earliest point, as soon as the essence becomes evident—at the exact place where a shape becomes an object. I’m not as interested in a literal representation; I’m more inspired by artistic harmony. I don’t want to just make a saleable painting; I want to evoke a feeling about the subject, even a very ordinary one. We are so busy these days that we miss a lot of what is happening around us,” he says. “I am fortunate to have the ability to put it down on canvas and make it interesting and appealing.”
Located at 717 Goldsborough Street, 717 Gallery is the gateway to the arts in Easton from Route 50. Additional parking is available across the street at the Country School. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10:30am to 5:00pm, or by appointment.
More information about Louis Escobedo is available at louisescobedo.com or at 717gallery.com and on Facebook. Or contact Yolanda Escobedo by email, [email protected], or phone 410.241.7020.
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