Art Throb
Erik Abel is making waves
By Claudia Pardo 01/24/2013
Paulo’s palette
Ruvalcaba’s digitally rendered images for his work as illustrator are fantastical renderings that contain a subtle innocence. In contrast, his oil portraits demonstrate a mature painting style. He focuses on four elements: shapes, value, edges and color. With subdued colors — mostly monochromatic palettes — within loose but determined brushstrokes, he captures the poise and personality of his subjects in a manner that shows a strong mastery of the medium. He recently gave a demonstration on portrait painting for the Santa Paula Society of the Arts. To learn more about Ruvalcaba, visit www.pauloruvalcaba.com.
Erik Abel is making waves
Waves for Water’s Hurricane Sandy Relief Initiative struck a chord with Abel, whose travels have gained him clear insight about the world along with abundant artistic inspiration. Each print is a very limited edition of 25, with 15 percent of sales donated to Waves for Water. Additionally, Abel will donate 5 percent of sales from art on his site to reach his goal of raising $5,000 for the cause.
Abel’s efforts to use his art for a good cause have resulted in meaningful partnerships with a variety of organizations, including Surfrider, SurfAid, Save the Waves and Heal the Bay. He is currently exhibiting his work at the Sandbox Coffe House and West Side Cellar in Ventura, and at the popular Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., for which he designed the official artwork.
If you aren’t yet convinced about why you should support Abel’s cause, take a minute to read his blog. It is chock-full of original art, works in progress, cool vids and a very honest look at the artist’s journey. Go to www.abelarts.com/w4w or www.abelarts.com/blog.
Following the White Rabbit
The cafe is showcasing artwork by various local artists on a monthly rotation. Last month, it featured two dozen works from the Channel Islands College Art Club on the walls, some of it for sale. A portion of the commission earned from the sales will be donated back to the club. For more information, visit www.whiterabbittruck.com.
ArtThrob is a monthly column by artist Claudia Pardo, who is interested in what quickens an artist’s pulse and keeps him or her producing work despite less-than-ideal circumstances. If you’re a Ventura County artist, send her an e-mail and introduce yourself.
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