Simple Beauty rendered in pastels at FMAAA's Art Center

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BY LORI ILLNER GREENE
Fort Madison Area Arts Association

FORT MADISON - This month’s Main Gallery solo exhibition isSimple Beauty, pastels by John Evans.The Opening Reception is Friday, October 8 from 5pm-7pm at the FMAAA Art Center located at 825 Avenue G in Fort Madison, Iowa. This exhibit will be on display all month featuring work masterfully rendered with a beautiful atmospheric quality.

Evans was influenced by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters. He uses pastels because they provide a wonderful link between drawing and painting, providing an integrity to the strokes while allowing for a lively range of colors. Evans uses color to great effect to convey light within his landscapes. He states, “It intrigues me how light elevates a commonplace landscape to an extraordinary one… lyrical accounts of that unique fleeting moment in time.” Evans further explains his intent is to, “convey an emotional and intuitive response to the mystery and serenity of the landscape in light and shadow.” With his overarching goal to provide viewers a sense of atmosphere and “the simple beauty around us.”

John E. Evans is an artist working primarily in pastel and colored pencil. He is a retired art teacher who spent 39.5 years in the classroom. A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in art education, John began his teaching career at Lynnville-Sully where he taught K-12 art for 19.5 years. He joined the staff at Pekin in 1992 where he taught Middle School Art, High School Art, Photography, Computer Graphics and was the yearbook adviser. John retired from education in the Spring of 2010 after 39 1/2 years in teaching.

During Evans’ time as an educator, he maintained a studio in his home developing a personal style in a variety of media. He is a charter member and Past President of the Iowa Pastel Society. Evans has received a variety of awards, including several at en plein air events, and has exhibited several times as a solo artist. His work can be found in many private collections.

exhibit, Fort Madison Area Arts Association, John Evans, Lori Illner Greene, October, Pen City Current, reception

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