February 2008 Meeting
Guest Speaker: David C. Gallup
David Gallup is an explorer. Not just of nature but of the introspective and spiritual connection man has with his environment. His life’s passion has become a quest for new interpretations of the natural world without leaving his roots in Plein-Air Observation-Based painting. Working in the style of the impressionist masters, David’s works are created on location in some of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating places. They often depict moments when natural elements obscure solid forms, such as fog, rain, glare, or darkness. These elements are used in Gallup’s work to visually represent the sense of awe and mystery he feels for the natural world.
Throughout his life he has been an avid conservationist. His passion for painting and his concern for the environment led him to seek out other artists with the same philosophy. His strong conviction that art can heal the environment led him to found two groups: Conejo Valley Painter’s Association, a regional group of plein-air painters dedicated to using their paintings to show California’s natural beauty and help conserve California’s wilderness for future generations and LUNA (Landscape United Nature Artists), a nonprofit group of eight nationally recognized Southern California Artists dedicated to using their paintings to record and preserve some of the world’s most scenic and unspoiled ecosystems through museum exhibitions and education.
In fall of 2000, the California Art Club recognized David’s contribution to the traditional art world, making him a full Artist Member. Gallup currently serves as Vice-President of the club and is a member of their Board of Directors. Gallup’s love for painting en plein-air has led him to explore the styles of French and California Impressionism over the years, drawing inspiration from both. He has a passion for capturing fleetingly beautiful moments in nature in a mixture of luminous color and dynamic brushwork that are uniquely his own. David’s paintings depict the ethereal nature of our world and are influenced by such artists as Claude Monet, John Twachtman, J. A. M. Whistler, Hiroshi Yoshida, and Emil Carlson.
View more images from David on his website.
