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| Juan waiting for paint to dry. |
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Juan Peña has been teaching adults since 1971. In all these years of teaching he has tried to bring something new to each class. He always wanted to bring something new about color, design, technique, and drama. “New ideas have been my goal and now mixed medium is what I want to add to that mix,” proclaims Juan. Mr. Peña’s new ideas follow his former teachers basic advise. Each of his teachers reinforced this simple idea. “If you do not grow as an artist, you die”.
Mr. Peña is one of northern California’s foremost painters and is an avid proponent of transparent watercolor. So why add other aqua mediums to his workshops? “Clearly I respect the wonderful way in which a watercolor comes together. But—all the aqua mediums can be mixed. The idea that we need to grow and always look for ways to improve ourselves as an artist gives me the reason to work with other mediums,” declares Juan. Mr. Peña has been painting on-location with painters known as Plein-air painters throughout the western states. “I have learned from painting with many fine outdoors artists at these Plein-air events. Many of these artists paint in oils. I paint in watercolors and sometimes in oils,” explains Juan and continues. “Many events are competitions with time limits”.
The painting of ‘Cocktail Princess’ was to be in a competition. I began this painting at night and had high hopes for the competition with this night scene. Unfortunately I didn’t complete this painting in time for the judging. I completed it, from my imagination, in my studio, two weeks later.”
Prints are now available of the original. The original painting and prints are 16 x 20 inches.
You may see Juan’s original and prints at his studio in Auburn, California.
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