2017 art displays kick off with local artist Betty Scanlan
Watercolor by Betty Scanlan.
—The Paso Robles City Library will feature the water colors of artist Betty Scanlan as the January 2017’s artist of the month.
In her artist statement, Scanlan explains, “I paint mostly with transparent watercolor at studios on the park in Paso Robles, in my home studio, and sometimes on location. My training has been in adult education courses, seminars, and with various local master painters. After 18 years I am still in love with this wonderful medium and will continue as long as I’m growing and improving as an artist.”
She grew up traveling the world with her Army family. Her mother, an oil painter, had a strong influence on her daughter’s desire to one day pick up a brush and express what she saw. As a child, Scanlan won awards for animal sculptures, charcoal drawings, and paintings of insects and birds.
After raising her family and a long career as a nurse, Scanlan finally had time to take up her brushes and study watercolor. She has painted with many local masters, but the strongest influence on her art has been John Barnard. She loves his sense of freedom and whimsy. Her favorite old master is Cezanne.
Scanlan has painted watercolor for 15 years and enjoys painting landscapes both on the Central Coast and in the Sierra Nevadas. Painting brings a sense of peace and joy, she says. One never knows what will happen to the colors as the water has its way with it. While she loves the surprises that watercolor can produce, Scanlan sometimes enjoys the control of oil painting. Her style is bold with strong contrasts and is evolving to be more free and impressionistic.
The Paso Robles City Library is located at 1000 Spring Street and is open Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on library programs and events, call (805) 237-3870 or visit www.prcity.com/library.
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