For WILD BEAUTY. Artist Jan Rimerman.

“Watching animals on television is extremely different than seeing them in their own habitat.

Experiencing the fight for life and survival has given me a great respect for the wild animals of the Serengeti in Africa.

My safari group saw the animals hunting, being hunted and living together in a complicated environment.” Jan Rimerman

Lioness mixed media by Jan Rimerman

The defined muscles and grace of the lioness in the painting doesn’t even hint at the clever maneuvers that she designs to feed her family.

24″ x 24″ on panel

Watching the powerful discipline of the Lioness in the hunt allowed me to see the determination of survival. Experiencing the lives of the African animals was not always pleasant or beautiful.

Witnessing the patient dance of the hunt in the Ngorongoro Crater was both wild, beautiful and horrifying. Luckily an attentive zebra made the warning call and, although the cubs went hungry, a wildebeest’s life was spared.” JR

Cape Buffalo mixed media by Jan Rimerman

The wild beauty in this painting is exhibited in the wonderful shapes found in the animal’s distinctive physical characteristics.

24″ x 24″ on panel

The Cape Buffalo has an entirely different kind of wild beauty. This animal’s strength, shape and power is evident in its stare and stance. Although this 1,800lb. animal is a vegetarian, it can ward off lions, leopards, hyenas and African wild dogs.

It is considered one of the top most dangerous animals to encounter. The cape buffalo exudes power as well as a stubborn personality. The snorts and sounds of this animal’s hooves are a good reminder to stay in the vehicle. JR

Thomson’s Gazelle mixed media by Jan Rimerman

This painting captures the alert tension that is ever present.

24″ x 24″

The Thomson’s Gazelle has a beauty and grace of a different kind. They live in herds alongside the zebras and wildebeests. They have many predators so their acute senses of sight, smell and hearing work in their favor. They are the fastest and nimblest of all antelope and can reach speeds of between 40-60 miles per hour.

Observing a herd running across the plains is like watching a ballet of well-proportioned muscle moving in synchronized rhythm. The Thomson’s gazelles are known for their acrobatic leaps which confuse their predators and make them more difficult targets.” JR

Jan Rimerman studied art at the City University in London, at Willamette University, Portland State University and at the University of Washington. Her work is found in ten books. Her art pieces are all painted on top of an underpainting of powdered charcoal on heavy watercolor paper. Twenty-two layers of transparent fluid acrylic are applied to create a feeling of three-dimensionality and luminescence.

Jan is the Visual Arts Coordinator of the Lakewood Center, the Art Director of the LO Reads Program, the Director of Rock…Paper…Turtle…Art for Wetlands in partnership with The Wetlands Conservancy & the Director of the Rain Spark Gallery. Jan’s art is well known for unusual perspectives and narrative. She uses it for presentations promoting the arts and culture while raising awareness for the World Wildlife Fund and for clean water in Tanzania.

Fairweather House and Gallery

612 Broadway

Seaside

WILD BEAUTY exhibition

Through Nov. 24th

Featuring NW artists Leopoldine “LEO” Brew, Agnes Field, Patricia Clark-Finley, Dorota Haber-Leligh, Ron Nicolaides, Neal Maine, Jan Rimerman, and Vanessa K. Stokes.

Welcoming encaustic artist Claudia Fuenzalida Johns.

The strength of WILD BEAUTY lies in the detailed and multivariate perspectives each artist brings showing us a different viewpoint.

They all use WILD BEAUTY as the theme in their work but they use different techniques and the way they see it is distinctively unique.

“Nature can be beautiful in many ways. My life consciously includes travel adventures whether in my own backyard or abroad. The paintings for this exhibit include some of the wild beauty I was privileged to experience up close and personal in Kenya and Tanzania. Learning and understanding the animal hierarchy, the survival skills of each species and the interconnectedness of their lives allows their wild beauty to be even more vivid.” Jan Rimerman