Artist shares her views

A new exhibit by Portland artist Kathryn Cotnoir opens this Saturday, April 2, in the Upstairs Gallery at the Newport Visual Arts Center.

“Intimate Views, Mostly Coastal,” features paintings and drawings, exploring mediums of acrylic on panel and canvas; graphite and charcoal on paper; colored pencil, ink and watercolor.

Based in Portland, Cotnoir exhibits studies of Oregon, all on a relatively intimate scale. Born in New England and educated in Pittsburgh and Connecticut, she met her husband, Erik Sandgren, in the MFA program at Cornell University. She has held her own while marrying into an artist family living in the West with their daughter Kate. She draws or paints in nature, wild and tended. Years of travel in and around the Pacific Northwest, North America and Europe have yielded many drawings and paintings. Her work has been exhibited regionally and is represented by the Portland Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery. She shows regularly at galleries across the Pacific Northwest and on various college campuses, including the University of Oregon, Clarke College, University of Portland and Grays Harbor College.

“My works are wide and deep spatial landscapes along with closeups from the garden,” Cotnoir said. “They all investigate the glories of nature and were made over the last several years on site and in the studio using drawing, color and composition in a variety of media.

“Intimate Views, Mostly Coastal” will be on display through May 28, with a public reception on Saturday, May 7, from noon to 4 pm, with the artist speaking at 2 pm.

The Newport Visual Arts Center is located at 777 NW Beach Drive. Visitors are recommended though not required to wear proper masks.