Nature Artist Louise Bacon-Ogden Showcases Evolving Techniques

Nature art by Louise Bacon-Ogden is currently on display at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, located at 569 South G St., Arcata, through December. The exhibition presents her intricate works that explore various artistic styles, showcasing her evolution from black-and-white detail to vibrant color.

Exploring New Techniques

Bacon-Ogden describes herself as a black-and-white artist, specializing in rendering intricate details using ink and graphite. She has also developed a fondness for ink wash, scratchboard, sumi-e (Japanese ink painting), and calligraphy. Encouraged by friends to explore color, she pursued classes in oil painting, colored pencil, oil pastels, and watercolor pencil.

Watercolor has posed the most significant challenge for her, prompting her to undertake numerous classes, including a plein air watercolor tour to Greece in 2018. “My love for detail kept me from producing convincing watercolor,” she explained. “However, the Greek trip was a ‘light bulb’ experience. Buoyed by a new sense of confidence, my watercolor improved.”

In addition to her experiences abroad, Bacon-Ogden credits her artistic growth to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Taking the ‘Art for the Young at Heart’ Zoom class — plus COVID self-isolation — propelled more experimentation,” she noted. “YouTube helped me discover a watercolor technique that is just perfect for me: loose watercolor.”

Teaching and Inspiring Others

Despite her evolving focus on color, Bacon-Ogden continues to create both black-and-white and colored images characterized by superb detail, enhanced by loose watercolor impressions. She has opened her mind to new styles and has embraced the role of an educator, offering art classes via Zoom during the pandemic and transitioning to in-person sessions afterward.

Her teaching venues are diverse, including the Center for Spiritual Living, OLLI (offered through Cal Poly Humboldt), and three local senior centers: Silvercrest and Alder Bay senior residences. She provides classes for participants aged 10 and older, emphasizing her goal to nurture creativity in everyone. “My goal is to turn anyone into a creative soul,” Bacon-Ogden stated.

For those interested in learning more about her work or classes, further information can be obtained by emailing [email protected].

Louise Bacon-Ogden’s journey as an artist reflects her dedication to continuous growth and a desire to inspire others to explore their creative potential.