Gwen Dean

 

Born 1938, Pomona, California. Gwen studied in the late 60's and early 70's under Kaffy Reinhardt, former President of the California Art Club and a student of Theodor N. Lukits and Sergei Bongart. During that time, Gwen briefly attended classes with Sergei Bongart in his Santa Monica Studio. Gwen*s early work was primarily plein air landscape, seascape and indoor still life. After obtaining a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Gwen innovated hospital programs in Southern California, and spoke at national conferences on dissociative disorders. Gwen utilized art therapy with many of her patients. .In 1992, while in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Gwen painted a series of plein air paintings. It was during this trip to Santa Fe that she began to "rekindle her passion for painting". In 1996, after moving to Tucson, Arizona, Gwen attended a few workshops at Scottsdale Artist*s School and one with the Plein Air Painters of America. Utilizing her business skills, in 1998, Gwen formulated and implemented the Tucson Plein Air Painters* Society and developed the first online painting society through TPAPS.com. Gwen is the past President and current Chairperson of Tucson Plein Air Painters* Society and Chairs the Plein Air Committee working directly with the Arizona~Sonora Desert Museum and other venues in Tucson to help educate the public and promote participation in plein air painting. Gwen*s work focuses primarily on all aspects of painting in the field (plein air). She considers herself a purist in that her most of her work consists of plein air work done in the field focusing on architecture & landscapes. Gwen is interested in documenting history through painting of historical sites. Currently Gwen is focusing on historical ranches throughout Southern Arizona and California.

Memberships:

Tucson Plein Air Painters Society, Inc. - Founder & Chairperson
California Art Club - Artist Member
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters - Artist Member
Oil Painters of America


Shows and Competition

October 2004 - "Women Artists of the West", Eric Firestone Gallery, Tucson, AZ
September 2004 - Mission San Juan Capistrano, Barracks Gallery, San Juan Capistrano, CA
September 2004 - Crystal Cove Invitational Exhibition, Crystal Cove, CA
April 2004 - Juried TPAPS Members Show, El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
Feb 2004 - RMPAP Invitational, La Mariposa Resort, Tucson, AZ
Feb 2004 - "Empire Ranch Show" - Juried Competition, Tucson , AZ
Dec 2003 - Karin Newby "Miniatures" Show, Tubac, AZ, "Honorable Mention"
Sept. 20-21 - 2003 - "The Images of Crystal Cove, 2003 Invitational Exhibition", Crystal Cove, CA
August-Sept 2003 - Soldier's Barracks Gallery, San Juan Capistrano Mission, Capistrano, CA
August - 2003 - 9th Annual Mission San Juan Capistrano Painting Festival Invitational,San Juan Capistrano, CA
August - 2003 - Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, Painting the Parks, Estes Park, CO
July - September, 2003 - "Toast Pasadena Culinary Artists", Pasadena, CA
June 3 - September 7, 2003 "Desertscape" Invitational - California Art Club Old Mill Gallery, San Marino, CA
Feb. - 2003 - "Empire Ranch Show", Invitational, Tucson, AZ
Dec. - 2002 - Rancho de la Osa First Annual Invitational Show, Tucson, AZ
Dec. - 2002 - Feb 9, 2003 - "Arizona~Sonora Desert Museum Plein-Air 2003", Tucson, AZ
Aug. - 23 - 31, 2002 - "Painting the Parks", Estes Park 2002, Estes Park, CO
Aug. - 12-18, 2002 - 8th Annual Mission San Juan Capistrano Painting Festival Invitational ,
San Juan Capistrano Mission, Capistrano, CA
July - 2001 - San Juan Capistrano Historical Building Art Show, Capistrano, CA
July - 2001 - Saks Special Fund-raiser Art Show, Mission Viejo, CA
2001 - LAPPA Member Show, Laguna Beach, CA
March - 2001 - Plain -Air Tucson 2001, Tucson, AZ
May - 2000 - First Annual Maurice Braun Art Festival, Julian, CA
March, 2000 - Plain -Air Tucson 2000, Tucson, AZ.
2000 - Two Person Show, Art Spirit Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2000 - Two Person Show, Murphy Gallery, Tucson, AZ