On this Fourth of July 2014, we take a moment to honor parks.
They are our nation’s treasures; preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
This month we feature original paintings showing the beauty of our local, state and national by Lola Dennis, an Oregon landscape artist.
“We are so blessed to enjoy parks. Whether enjoying a casual family picnic, or experiencing the Grand Canyon for the first time, parks provide wonderful opportunities to enjoy nature at its finest”, states Lola.
Meet Lola and see her paintings up close, at this month’s First Thursday celebration, July 10, at 5:30 pm in our gallery.
Plein Air Painting in our National Parks
As an artist, Lola is grateful for the opportunity to paint plein air in our national parks. Last summer she and her husband Terry visited several for the first time including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and Olympic.”
“What an absolute thrill it was to paint in the same spot where Thomas Moran painted. As I painted the falls of the Lower Yellowstone, I completed a bucket list item for myself. There I met a man from Guatemala who was also completing the trip as a bucket list item. He had suffered a stroke, couldn’t speak, and was confined to a wheelchair. I was touched by his tenacity to travel and see Yellowstone. I gave him the painting. What a joy to share art and life with other people!”
The Beauty of our Local and State Parks
Lola will show art from Lake Sacajawea Park to represent a local park. The three pieces will take you back to beautiful sunny days. She will feature state parks, including Dabney State Park near her home in Troutdale, Oregon. The following National Parks will also be displayed: Zion, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Glacier and Yosemite.
Lola’s Paintings
also on her website at LolaDennis Fine Art
Glorious Moment in Zion: Zion National Park, Utah
Glow Over the Canyon: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Lake Sacajawea in Spring, Longview, Washington
Mount Moran: Teton National Park, Wyoming
About Lola
Lola Dennis has been awed by the creative forces of nature her whole life. When she saw the Rocky Mountains after being away for a year, she cried out with tears in eyes, “There are my mountains!” Her childhood affinity with the majestic mountains has remained deeply ingrained in her consciousness. Her connection to the Western landscape has been a profound source of inspiration for her work. Working in oils, pastels, or acrylics, Lola produces picturesque paintings that evoke feelings of serenity and wonderment.
“In nature, I see the hand of the Creator and God’s love for us. God has created such a beautiful place for us to live, not only where we are now but worldwide. Everywhere you go is fascinating. Everywhere you go there is beauty. It is impossible to capture it all. But if I can capture a glimpse of God’s creative power and transfer the joy that I experience onto a canvas, then it becomes a work of art,” Lola Dennis. Her fascination with color guides her hand as does her former career as an interior designer.
Lola’s first introduction to oil painting was with Joanne Oliver. With Joanne’s guidance and dynamic personality, Lola developed a love and passion for creating art. She continued her private schooling with the well-known and admired Sedona, Arizona artist Williamson Tapia and then briefly in Albuquerque with Southwest artist Peggy Pitts. Her work first appeared in Prescott, Arizona’s Gallery Beyond Words in 2003. Since that time she has been in numerous shows and exhibits, winning a few awards along the way.
In 2010 Lola moved to Troutdale to be near family. She found the change of scenery refreshing and interesting, and is finding her place in the art community. Her work was shown in 2010 – 2012 in The Columbia River Gallery. In 2013 she began volunteering with ALSO (Adult Learning Systems of Oregon), she is currently showing in their gallery “Infusion” in Troutdale, Oregon. She is active with the Alla Prima group of plein-air painters, and The Oregon Society of Artists.
The following teachers have inspired Lola to keep on painting. With a thankful heart she gives them credit here. They are Joanne Oliver, Will Tapia, Peggy Pitts, Gretchen Lopez, John Cogan, Cody DeLong, Clive Pates, Clark Mitchell, Susan Pitcarin, Louise Eaton, Barbara Mueller, Kitty Wallis, Ken Wallin, Joan Porter, Craig Srebnik, Matt Smith, Thomas Kitts, Ned Mueller, Brenda Boylan, and Michael Orwick. “I have been blessed, by their willingness to share their love for art.”