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Early morning and late afternoon, when the light streams sideways and the shadows are long, for artist Joli Beal, these are the times of day to paint. Beal, who lives in Del Mar, is a plein air painter, “plein” being a French word meaning open air. The term refers to a branch of impressionist painting that attempts to represent outdoor light and air—an idea appealing not only to European artists of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth centuries, but to many California artists as well.
This is the tradition in which Beal works, and while Impressionism gave way to Cubism, Expressionism, and a variety of other abstract styles, more recently there has been a resurgence in figurative art, and the paintings of many early California artists are now highly sought after by collectors around the world. Their desire was to depict nature and natural light, and that is precisely what Beal does.
From the desert to the coast, from Sunset Cliffs to the lagoons of North County, Beal captures the color and light that is Southern California. But it is not mere beauty Beal is after. As she notes, “the real challenge is to create emotion,” and her paintings convey a warmth and appreciation for life that is immediately apparent.
Beal’s works have been displayed in numerous juried exhibitions around the county, and can also be found at www.jolibeal.com. On May 2, Beal will also be taking part in the Art in Pines Art Festival being hosted by the docents of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. For more information, please visit www.torreypine.org.
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