By Khalida Sarwari
The theme this month is figures and portraits at Gallery Saratoga. And plenty of those will be displayed in a new exhibit featuring the works of resident artist Jennifer Kretschmer.
An entire wall of the gallery will be dedicated to Kretschmer’s figure studies and portraits. The exhibit, titled “Figures and Portraits,” runs through May 5.
Kretschmer describes her artwork as “natural and colorful watercolor painting.” She uses mainly watercolors and pastels in her exhibited work, some of which is from photo references, and some from live figure drawing sessions in the studio.
“The paintings that are being exhibited were painted in the last 15 months,” Kretschmer said. “I spent all that time focusing on figure work with both live models and photographic, but primarily with live models.”
Visitors should expect to see some depictions of nude models, she said.
According to Kathy Keenan, an artist as well as a spokeswoman for the gallery, the show will also offer visitors a chance to see the work of about 24 other artists who use a variety of media, including oil painting, watercolor, silk painting and turned wood. Among the artists will be ceramicists, photographers, plein air and glass artists and even jewelers.
“Some are doing a combination of acrylics and collage,” Keenan said. “We try to keep it as wide as possible. The show ranges in styles from abstract to very realistic to impressionistic.”
A reception for Kretschmer will be held on April 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the gallery, 14435-A Big Basin Way Saratoga.
The event is open to all, and complimentary refreshments will be served. The reception and the exhibit are both free. The exhibited works, however, are available for purchase, with or without frames.
The next exhibit at Gallery Saratoga will be a joint show featuring the works of ceramicist Jeanne Redit.
Kretschmer is an architect from Los Gatos who joined Gallery Saratoga about a year and a half ago, but has been an artist most of her life. This marks her second year as a featured artist in an exhibit at the gallery.
Gallery Saratoga is a cooperative gallery that has been around for about 27 years and is owned and operated by local artists in watercolor, oils, acrylics, pastels, glass, pen and ink, photography, silk painting, turned wood, ceramics, jewelry, gourd art and more. About two dozen are involved in the operations of the gallery. To see Kretschmer’s work, visit jkretschmer.com.
Gallery Saratoga is looking to recruit about four additional artists. Information and an application form are available on the gallery’s website at gallerysaratoga.com. Interested artists can also stop by the gallery to pick up an application.
The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kretschmer’s figures, portraits are featured at Gallery Saratoga
