(Above: Grange Hall, gouache painting by Bets Cole, part of the Neighborhood Series)
By Randi Bjornstad
The latest show at Karin Clarke’s main gallery in downtown Eugene features nearly 40 watercolor and gouache paintings by Elmira artist Bets Cole, including 15 “mini-vignettes” that the artist painted while sitting in her car during the pandemic shutdown.
Chateau View, Rochefort-en-Terre, Brittany (France), acrylic by Bets Cole
Taken as a whole, this solo show includes paintings Cole has done of scenes in Oregon, France, Ireland, and Italy, highlighting the relationship between the built environment and the surrounding landscape.
Cole is known for her affinity for painting onsite in the plein air tradition, capturing landscapes in the moment as they alter with variations of light, shadow, and breeze, adjusting her choice of medium — charcoal, gouache, watercolor, or acrylic — to account for the conditions.
She studied first at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and earned her master’s of fine arts degree at the University of Oregon. Cole lives in the rural community of Elmira, west of Eugene.
Right Angles & Raw Edges: Buildings in the Landscape
When: Through July 10
Where: Karin Clarke Gallery, 760 Willamette St., Eugene
Hours: Noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Information: 541-684-7963 or karinclarkegallery.com
Bets Cole’s Ethereal Barn, in gouache and charcoal
