A meet-y event

Freed Gallery presents “Meet the Artist”

Sister and brother artists, Regina Atwood and Bill Hamilton, will show how their mutual love of nature and art are translated into two distinct styles when the Freed Gallery presents the fourth show in the “Meet the Artist” series this Saturday, August 5.

Hamilton began his career as a commercial illustrator and graphic designer after graduating from Oregon Technical Institute. He started at Westinghouse with ink-line drawings then advanced to drawing and painting for various aerospace and research companies. His work included conceptual drawings for the products the engineers wanted to develop.

The detail required in his “day-job” shows in his realistic paintings of landscapes and wildlife.  As a child, he spent a great deal of time in the forests and mountains. 

“I consider myself a regional artist,” he said. “I paint what I know.” 

Atwood had dabbled in various types of painting over the years. After raising a family, she pursued formal training and began painting professionally.

“Regina has always had a passion and natural ability to paint,” Hamilton said.

Atwood, like her brother, has the same love of nature and the outdoors and has a passion for plein air painting.

“There is an excitement in painting outdoors,” she said. “The unexpected can happen, like the time I was painting, when this beautiful horse wandered over and was looking over my shoulder.”

Atwood’s slightly impressionistic style can be seen in her landscapes and cityscapes, all inspired by special photo memories or painting en plein air.

Meet the artists begins at  2 pm at the Freed Gallery, located at 6119 Hwy. 101 in Lincoln City. For more information, go to FreedGallery.com.