On Saturday, January 31 at 3 pm, artist Richard Schloss will present a gallery talk and tour of his solo exhibition Painting the Light: California Landscapes of Richard Schloss at the Museum of Ventura County. The UCSB-trained artist will give a firsthand account of how he began landscape painting in an era of abstract art (the 1970s), and how his plein air technique has developed over time. Schloss is a founding member of the famed Oak Group artist collective, formed in 1986 to raise awareness (and funds) for nature preservation along the Central Coast.

In honor of his roots as an art student and later an art instructor, Schloss will gear this talk toward art students, who will be admitted free with a valid student ID. For the public, admission to the gallery talk is included with museum admission.

To RSVP, please contact Tina Nielsen at (805) 653-0323 x330, or tnielsen@venturamuseum.org to attend.

The Museum of Ventura County presents Painting the Light: California Landscapes of Richard Schloss, an exhibition of more than thirty-five paintings from this prolific painter.

The oil paintings of Richard Schloss are a testament to the beauty of the land and sea that surrounds us—traditional, impressionistic and yet always unique in the genre of landscape painting. His exceptional and dramatic treatment of light creates and captures a moment in time that evokes memories of an unspoiled California. Quoting artist and co-founder of the Oak Group, Ray Strong, “there is light, and then there is Schloss light.”

Richard graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a Master of Fine Arts in 1979 and a BA in Italian in 1981. Following his graduation, he lived and painted in the Santa Barbara area for many years. It was during those years that Schloss became part of a movement of landscape painters known as the Oak Group. This group of artists was committed to preserving open spaces by bringing public awareness to preservation efforts in areas throughout California, including the Channel Islands, Santa Barbara, the eastern Sierra and Marin County.

Featured in the exhibition are works culled from private collections and galleries throughout California as well as four new works created recently which have never before been exhibited.

Richard Schloss is recognized as one of California’s best landscape artists. He is part of a tradition of California plein air painters and Impressionists, reminiscent of the early twentieth century artists including Edgar Payne, Maurice Braun, William Wendt, Granville Redmond and others who, over one hundred years ago led the way. These artists, whether classically trained academic painters or self-taught artists, chronicled the scale, the scope and the picturesque expanse of California’s incredible vistas. Today, Richard Schloss continues that same dedication to his subject matter in the form of his light-filled canvasses and awe-inspiring natural landscapes.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5.00 Adults (18 years & older) $3.00 Seniors (65 and older), Students & AAA members with ID, $1.00 Children (17-6 years old) Children 5 years old & younger are FREE. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, and the first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.