My most successful paintings surprise me. While grounded in direct contact with nature, such as landscapes and people in action, it is when I experience a sudden lift beyond analysis and rationality that I am most excited about image making. Perhaps ninety percent of what I do as an artist consists of “plodding,” experimenting (often unsuccessfully) with the medium, or simply practicing skills in drawing, laying in color, and composition. Yet, upon occasion, and sometimes when I least expect it, visual poetry begins to materialize on a canvas and then I work as in a trance, reminding myself to stop before I ruin the image.

I am one of three partners in Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico. Maria Phillips and Giovanna Jackson are the other two. This is our third year in existence as a gallery. We are enthusiastically involved in community outreach through exhibitions that have educational as well as esthetic components. In addition to solo shows, we have hosted group exhibitions of fiber art, ceramics, and plein air painting. We produce an annual Chico Icons show during the winter holiday season.

I will show a collection of my paintings at Avenue 9 Gallery as part of Artoberfest. Showing with me will be Maria Phillips and Elizabeth Newman Kuiper who installs many of our gallery exhibitions.

www.doloresmitchell.com

www.avenue9gallery.com