Gualala Arts Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961
The Dolphin Gallery is pleased to announce an exciting exhibit of new works by Jacqueline McAbery. The exhibit will open on Saturday, September 7 from 1-3 pm and will be up through September 29.
“The spirit of the land, forest, sky, and water that is the essence of the northern California coast is very inspiring – at times it is comforting at times ferocious and dramatic. The wind through the trees, the rippling of the tall grass, the crashing of the waves, the flowing rivers, moving clouds, the ever changing light and amazing sunsets all infuse my love for this area and stimulate my paintings.
My paintings are about capturing the natural beauty, movement and the energy that’s ever changing in this environment with the use of color and light in an expressionistic and abstract style.The heart of nature’s beauty instills in me a sense of awe, wonder and fear as I am drawn into its world of mystery, power, depth, light and dark.
To make art is a gift as it is very centering and healing. It allows me a way to find my authentic voice, to get in touch with the present, connect with my intuition, and to experience moments of quietude and gratitude as well as frustration.” Says McAbery
Her versatile use of oil, acrylic, and mixed media, along with an array of unconventional tools—including hotel key cards, palette knives of various shapes, bowl scrapers, squeegees, trowels, twigs, and occasionally a marble—allows for a distinctive textural quality in her paintings. McAbery often initiates her abstract pieces with a collage layer, incorporating found papers or fragments from previous works, setting the stage for a rich, layered finish.
About Jacqueline McAbery
Jacqueline McAbery’s passion for art was ignited at age 17 during a visit to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Despite her initial love for painting, McAbery pursued a career in photography before returning to academia to earn a dual MA in psychotherapy and art therapy from Antioch University in San Francisco. She established a private practice in San Francisco and San Rafael. Yearning for more artistic engagement, McAbery later attained a BFA from The San Francisco Art Institute.