Randall Sexton Demonstrates Painting a Portrait in Oils

Raised in rural Connecticut, Sexton moved to San Francisco, CA in 1980 after completing a BFA from the University of CT, Storrs. He has become nationally known for his bold use of color and expressive brushwork in his oil paintings of “everyday” scenes ranging from urban and rural landscapes, to still-life and portraits.

At home in the Bay area, he has earned a great reputation for being an educator as well as a fine artist. He taught classes in drawing, painting, and composition at the San Francisco Academy of Art until 2005. He now leads private workshops around the country and teaches as a free-lance instructor at Pixar Studios in Emeryville, CA. Last year he appeared on the grand stage in a dual painting demo with Jean Perry at the 3rd Annual Plein Air Convention in Monterey, drawing raves from participants.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT: My concerns as an artist have always been rather straight forward. The discipline of direct painting, both in the plein air experience and in the studio, has helped me to develop a loose handling of paint that speaks as much about the paint itself as it does about any given subject matter. I try to combine traditional methods of painting with a “sense of myself living in the present.” My paintings are a direct response from the world around me as I strive to be “in the moment” while I work. Nature has proven to be the most demanding and inspiring teacher…so I work from life, as often as possible, and try to remain open to new ideas and new approaches. The painting process is an exploration and an adventure. Each work is a simple sentence in an ongoing story that will take a lifetime to unfold. The tale is a compilation of images that reflect the magic of life itself: the mysteries of vision, light, and color. Painting has enabled me to be more appreciative of the beauty and richness in everyday life.

California galleries exhibiting his work include The John Pence Gallery, SF; Nancy Dodds Gallery, Carmel; and Epperson Gallery, Crockett. More information at his website: www.rcsexton.com.

The June 8 meeting will be held in the Garden Room of the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito. The evening begins at 7:00 pm with social time and a “mini art show” of members’ work. A brief business meeting is held at 7:30, followed by the speaker.

El Cerrito Art Association meetings are open to the public, and visitors and new members are always welcome. For further information about this program, contact Barbara Daniell at 510-277-6996 or bdaniell1943@gmail.com. For more information about the Association, see www.elcerritoart.org. The Community Center is handicapped-accessible.

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Calendar listing:

What: Randall Sexton Demonstrates Painting a Portrait from a Model in Oils
Where: Garden Room, El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito
When: Monday, June 8, 2015, 7:00 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: Barbara Daniell: 510-277-6996 or bdaniell1943@gmail.com