Featured Artist of the Month - Stock Schlueter
Stock Schlueter has always loved the adventure of discovery and finding new places. Plein air painting involves all of the things he loved so much as a youth. His wife Rachel is also a painter and they like nothing more than to take off for parts unknown seeking the landscape for weeks at a time. It is also a refreshing change from the sedentary life in the studio. Hauling their gear all over the place hiking around, setting up, and standing for hours in the wild is a lot of exercise. Schlueter says, “It is a wonderful experience and sometimes we get some good artwork out of the deal.” Much of the plein air work is what is called alla prima, meaning it is completed on the spot, in one sitting, with no revisions. These works are by necessity smaller works; there is a sense of urgency. Schlueter explains, “I try not to use photos for this kind of work relying on memory and the experience of being there.” For some of the larger work he will go back to the same location at the same time every day until he is finished. Occasionally he will work on a painting in the studio that he started on location and use photographs as a reference of his experience there.
Schlueter reveals, “Artist statements are as varied as the artists themselves. And they change, as they should, as the artist matures. Like many young painters I was more interested in having something to say and trying to make a difference, than in the work itself. I have found through time that the body of work and the life of observation have become the most important thing. The journey is the destination. The act of painting is the message. All I want to say is. “Look around and see the world we live in.”
Stock Schlueter grew up in Willow Creek and after high school, attended College of the Redwoods and went on to the University of Northern Colorado, where he received a B.A. in fine arts. In 1973 he started showing in the galleries in and around Humboldt County. At this time he was primarily a watercolor artist, and was selected in the California Statewide Water Color and Drawing Survey Exhibition in 1982 through 1887. In 1985 he started working in oils. Since then he has been in galleries in Washington D.C. Indiana, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, and throughout California. He is currently showing at Sewell Gallery in Eureka from May 1—27.
Schlueter reveals, “Artist statements are as varied as the artists themselves. And they change, as they should, as the artist matures. Like many young painters I was more interested in having something to say and trying to make a difference, than in the work itself. I have found through time that the body of work and the life of observation have become the most important thing. The journey is the destination. The act of painting is the message. All I want to say is. “Look around and see the world we live in.”
Stock Schlueter grew up in Willow Creek and after high school, attended College of the Redwoods and went on to the University of Northern Colorado, where he received a B.A. in fine arts. In 1973 he started showing in the galleries in and around Humboldt County. At this time he was primarily a watercolor artist, and was selected in the California Statewide Water Color and Drawing Survey Exhibition in 1982 through 1887. In 1985 he started working in oils. Since then he has been in galleries in Washington D.C. Indiana, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, and throughout California. He is currently showing at Sewell Gallery in Eureka from May 1—27.
Gallery Information
Tuesday - Saturday
10am to 6pm
Sunday
noon to 5pm
Closed Monday
423 F St, Eureka, CA
707-269-0617
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