February 14, 2008

Cambrian Art League

Group fosters inspiration and camaraderie

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Stimulating artistic souls to paint can be a challenge, but not for members of the Cambrian Art League who find inspiration and camaraderie at their meetings.

Cambrian Art League President Flo Bey, center standing, takes care of business at the monthly meeting. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

“We promote art, artists and creativity,” said Flo Bey, Cambrian Art League (CAL) president. “We have demonstrations with a different artist monthly, art tours and paint outs where we visit different places to paint plein air [in the open air]. It’s a wonderful group of creative people.”

New Almaden artist Gillian Altieri presented a hands-on workshop on adding texture to watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings on Feb. 2. Some of the products are new to the marketplace and members used samples to familiarize themselves with techniques.

“I had a lot of fun and was rewarded by the many questions the members asked, so I must have piqued their interest,” said Altieri. “Some were asking questions I didn’t know how to answer, which told me they were thinking outside the box regarding how to use the materials I was presenting, which was great!”

Energizing CAL members as well are the monthly paint outs to scenic locals like Prusch Farm Park, Overfelt Gardens, Forbes Mill, History San Jose Park and Alvis Iris Gardens or San Jose Museum of Art with a docent-led tour of Miro paintings organized by Dennis and Mary Moran.

“We knew past CAL President Lois Halley,” said Mary Moran. “Lois asked me to critique the summer paintings brought to the September 2006 meeting along with Doug Wright. It seemed like a nice group and I joined after the first meeting. Dennis joined the next month. Both of us really love to go on site and paint. We hoped the commitment would get us to spark inspiration and schedule time to do this.”

Motivation is not a problem at the CAL monthly meetings. The group chooses an artist of the month voted on by the work brought in by them, which provides an incentive to paint. At the end of the year, the top three people who’ve won the most receive a certificate and cash award.

“It can be pen and ink, acrylic, oil, pastel, watercolor or prismacolor; really any media,” said Mary Moran. “Dennis won one month with his metal/wood rooster sculpture.”

After her presentation, artist Gillian Altieri presents a hands-on workshop for the Cambrian Art League members.

And many of the members have shown at Silicon Valley Open Studios, the Almaden Art and Wine Festival as well as at various galleries. The Almaden Community Center showcases members’ work. But this is nothing new for CAL.

CAL was founded in 1958 by Nels Eric Oback (1920-1979) who everyone knew as "Eric." Professionally, he usually signed his name "N. Eric Oback." He taught at San Jose State University where he was an influential teacher as well as a fine artist specializing in landscapes and environmental themes. Not much is known about the genesis of CAL but member Mary Morrison wants that changed.

“This has always been an easygoing club and a lot of the records have been mislaid or lost and of course; when the club started the computer was light years away,” said Morrison. “I have decided to interview as many of the older members I can reach and get some history on file.”

In fact, one member mentioned to Morrison that CAL, which now has about 60 members, is the oldest art league in Santa Clara Valley.

“The thing I like best about CAL is the members and the painting demonstrations that we have each month,” said member Diane Perovich who switched from oils to watercolors. “I have been painting off and on for 40 years. I love to travel and always take pictures that someday I will paint.”

Of course, all CAL members love art, creating it and looking at it. But there is another benefit that members enjoy.

“We’re an unusual art league,” said member-at-large Judith Brynda. “This is more like a family.”

The Cambrian Art League meets at the First Congregational Church at Leigh and Hamilton avenues the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m.