Elaine Dube Paintings Exhibited During January, 2013
A lifelong need to create emerged early with drawing and ballet as a child; Elaine Dube remained passionate about both. She taught dance as an adult and devoted post-graduate study to her watercolors. The Mesa artist has been an invited 
exhibitor at the annual Fountain Hills art show, and has participated in art fairs in CA, OR, WA, MT, MN, WI; Arboretum staff were pleased to showcase this Arboretum annual member's art work in our gallery with a solo show from December, 2012 through January 2013.
"Watercolor is my first love," she said "I'm a fast painter and watercolor works best for me. I love the Arboretum's Rose Garden, until I began to explore the gardens I didn't realize roses grow so well here in Arizona. The Children's Garden is a joy, that's my favorite place in the Arboretum. I have always needed to create, as a child I drew, but also studied ballet. I danced while young, then married and raised six children. Teaching dance was my job then, owning my own studios. When my feet said "No More" I began taking my art seriously. I studied with many noted watercolor teachers, both in workshops and in college classes. But mostly, I just read and tried everything I could to better my art. It is my passion. I belonged to a cooperative Gallery in Vancouver, Washington, for many years and honed my art through this period. I entered many art shows and won prizes, then started teaching art. Now those students are winning prizes.
I use photos most of the time for my references, and have built up quite a collection. It is easier with watercolor to work from photos and sketches. The first time I painted outside here in Casa Grande, the paint dried immediately -- which dictated a change of techniques! The balmy air of southern Washington State was no comparison to the arid surroundings here. But I am a fast painter, which has worked for my advantage.
we fell in love with Arizona. Sedona was the first region to capture my heart, and I took many photos of the sun setting fire to those craggy rocks. It took years of living here, and visits to Sedona before I tried painting those fiery rocks. I needed to soak up the atmosphere, the ambiance of Arizona before I could put it on paper. Light and shadow are the things I look for in choosing a reference. Late afternoon sun lends a glow to both the rocky shapes and the delicate blossoms of the cactus and wild flowers. Once I actually took all my bright red paints to paper and compared it to the startling Prickly Pear blossoms in my neighbor's yard. Then the wild flowers started blooming, and off into the desert we went, searching out Lupine and Mexican Goldpoppies. The colors here are so beautiful, helped by the clear skies - and no morning fog.
At the Arboretum, there are so many beautiful plants and trees, and changing exhibits. The seasons change and bring new things to enjoy. The Rose Garden brings memories of Portland's roses. The children's garden is a joy to see, and when I painted it, my little grandsons loved it. They really had never paid much attention to what I was painting, so this said something! Even on paper the Children's Garden is inviting!
Boyce
Thompson Arboretum is located at Highway 60 milepost #223, just three miles
west of the town of Superior - a drive of about one hour east of Phoenix or
two hours from Tucson (take Oracle Road North to Highway 79 past Florence
to Highway 60, then East for another 12 miles).
During Fall and Winter months exhibits may be seen
in the Visitor Center gallery daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Arboretum
is an Arizona State Park and daily admission must be paid to enter the Visitor
Center where the gallery is found.
Review other recent gallery shows from...
Bud Heiss Paintings, November 2012
Then And Now Historical Photos, October 2012
Paul Landau June-September, 2012
Legumes of Arizona March - May, 2012
Michael Madsen February, 2012
Bud HeissNovember-December, 2011
Mesa Art League September-October, 2011
Kim Hosey July-August, 2011
Pima College & CACApril, 2011
Jim Burns March, 2011
Kay Cummings February, 2011
Paul Kinslow January, 2011
Mesa Arts League September, 2010
Rick Cameron April , 2010
Nan
Lawrence March,
2010
Barbara AtkinsonFebruary,
2010
Nancy MatusJanuary,
2010
Barbara CoxDecember, 2009
Margaret WhittakerNovember,
2009
Artists of the Superstitions October, 2009
Marilyn Barton September, 2009
Gila Community College August,
2009
Deborah A. Lee June, 2009
Margie Porter May, 2009
Timm Chapman January, 2009
Paul Kinslow December, 2008
Maggie Leef November 2008
Sharon Sieben October 2008
Nicole
Royse September 2008
Judy
Bottler Photography May 2008
Bob Estrin Photography April 2008
Mary Isham Watercolors March 2008
Susan Strom and Cathy Franklin Lightning Photography
February, 2008
Arizona State Parks Plein Air Paintings
January, 2008
Carolyn Gray & Connie Thomas December, 2007
Jean Sullivan November, 2007
Sue
Cullumber October, 2007
Adriane Grimaldi September, 2007
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2007
Fred Charlton May, 2007
Paul Mudersbach March-April, 2007
Linda Kaiser February, 2007
Edith Kreueger-Nye December, 2006 - January, 2007
Cindy Carrillo October-November, 2006
Bob Rice September, 2006
Bud Heiss July-August, 2006
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2006
Sandy Tracey April-May, 2006
CJ Rider March, 2006
Jessica Green February, 2006
Steve Davidson January, 2006
Don & Carole Schupp December, 2005
Carolyn Gray November, 2005
Martha Burgess October, 2005
Boeing Photographers September, 2005
Lightning Lady Susan Strom July/August, 2005
Mesa Arts League June/July, 2005
Jeanette Bronson May, 2005
Tom Stanley April, 2005
Kathy McClure February-March, 2005
Pam Smyth January, 2005
Tina Faust December, 2004