Impressionistic oil landscapes by Chella Gonsalves

"On Kiernan"
8 x 10 inches plein air oil

This image of a typical early California farmhouse is one of my most successful plein air paintings. It illustrates what I am saying about this area, the Central Valley of California. It's lively, strong and full of energy. Also, the fine qualify of paint shows strong usage of the art elements . . . sharp contrasts in color and values, variety of shapes and forms, dominance of light and shadow and unity of design. Created while participating in our Valley Sun Catchers "paint-outs" last year, it is now ready for competitive shows and exhibitions.

"A family homestead, a tank house, a San Joaquin Valley dairy, a beautiful, majestic eucalyptus tree, or a lovely hillside, all are soon to be destroyed to make way for the construction of business parks, new subdivisions, a parking lot, or a major superstore. As a witness to this urban encroachment and seeing the rich valley soil of our ancestors vanish, my emotions compel me to record visually the landscape of our forefathers. These sights, lights, shadows, sounds, smells, colors, and moods must be preserved. Someone must speak for the land. This is my mission. I am speaking for the land."

Chella is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. She came to California in 1956, and over the past 40 years, while teaching, also exhibited and won many awards with her own work in competitive regional and national art shows. Her works are in many private collections.

This Indiana Hoosier is an accomplished artist in various media and styles including non-representation and abstraction, but she prefers "en plein aire" oil painting, working in ag-related subjects that is part of the vanishing landscape. She also has illustrated a cookbook, poetry book and is periodically an illustrator for an international professional essay journal. With two well-known local authors, she illustrated story books for Modesto's historic McHenry Mansion.

Chella was two-term president of Central California Art Association/Mistlin Gallery, Modesto. Served as president of both the Modesto Branch of the National League of American Pen Women and Beta Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. As an active aide in two youth art contests, she continues to work as a strong art educational advocate in various other community agencies.

As an associate member of Oil Painters of America, Chella has studied with nationallly known artists I Rice Pereira and Margo Hoff, as well as California artists Art Sherwyn, Brian Blood, Bob Gerbracht, Stan Goldstein, E. John Robinson, Gerald Brommer, Dan Petersen, Alexander Nepote, Peggy Knoll Roberts, Robert Burridge, William Scott Jennings and Gil Dellinger.