DEMYSTIFY
EXPLORING THE WAYS ARTISTS WORK

December 3, 2020 - January 22, 2021
Featuring artworks by Pam Black, Virginia Donelson, and Becky Parrish

DEMYSTIFY explores the process of painting. While you may appreciate the beauty of a well-executed portrait, how much do you know about what it takes to transform blank canvas and raw color into the final product? This exhibition examines how these three artists work, the relationship between two teachers and their student, and how learning to truly see can open new possibilities.

ABOUT
THE EXHIBIT

DEMYSTIFY: Exploring the Ways Artists Work focuses on how artists create their masterpieces from start to finish, and features artworks by three Orange County-based artists: Pam Black, Virginia Donelson, and Becky Parrish. All three of these artists prefer to use oil paint as their medium, but each has their own unique way of creating.

The idea for the exhibition theme came after interviewing each of the three exhibiting artists. A few years ago, Virginia Donelson began taking painting classes with Becky Parrish, and eventually began learning from Pam Black as well. Over time, Donelson’s individual style has solidified, and she now often creates multiple studies at her easel before creating the final work. Black often creates sketches before using her fingers and palms paint on her canvas. Parrish typically goes straight the the canvas, applying thick layers of paint that she then skillfully manipulates. These different approaches result in incredibly varied artworks, connected by these artists’ relationships with each other.