Blue Rain Gallery is proud to announce a show of new paintings by Doug West. The show, titled “Sacred Places,” is scheduled to be on-view June 15 – June 30, 2018 with an artist opening night reception on Friday, June 15th from 5-7 pm.

This new body of work delivers the impressive landscapes that West is known for. West’s skies, clouds, mountains, rivers, and flowers capture the grandeur of New Mexico and the Southwest that enchants visitors and locals alike. His masterful use of light enhances the magic of every scene.

West, who was well-known for his silk screen prints earlier in his career, became allergic to his serigraph inks and has been creating only oil-on-canvas paintings for about twelve years. His original oil paintings retain the striking graphic quality inspired by his experience as a printmaker. “At the core of who I am is my reverence for solitary experiences in nature, those moments in time that are pure,” West says. “I’m still chasing after that deep space, educating myself on capturing the quality of light through oil paints”

Born and raised in Riverside, California, West spent his youth engaged in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and swimming, forming a life-long love for the natural environment. After having earned an art degree at the University of Southern California, West moved to New Mexico in the mid 1970’s and began working as a full-time artist in 1979. West spent much of his life and career in New Mexico and in 2012, he was selected to paint an image for New Mexico’s stamp commemorating 100 years of statehood. His paintings are in numerous private, corporate, and museum collections.

Any fan of art or nature is sure to revel in the splendor of Doug West’s newest creations. Blue Rain Gallery is honored to represent this quintessential Southwestern landscape painter who reminds us all to appreciate the majesty of nature.