June 1, 2012 > June Guest Artist: Mark Mertens June Guest Artist: Mark Mertens Submitted By Sachie Johns The Fremont Art Association is pleased to welcome its June Guest Artist, Mark Mertens on Wednesday, June 6 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at The Fremont Art Centre. Mertens is a pastel landscape painter noted for draftsmanship, simple composition, and dramatic effect of light. The artist will demo his skillful techniques of painting landscape in pastel. This event is free and the public is welcome. Mertens enjoys painting the varied scenery here in Northern California. Though his subject matter ranges from the rugged coastline to the Sierra Mountains, his focus is on scenery closer to home where he finds tranquility in the midst of the urban environment. Mertens grew up in Western Montana where he was fascinated by the changing light and the dramatic atmospheric effects on distant mountains - he looks for similar effects in the scenery here in Northern California and it is his aim to reflect this in his paintings. He simplifies composition and emphasizes the essence of the subject rather than the specific subject itself, to draw the viewer into the scene. Over the past ten years, the artist has shown in group exhibitions and juried competitions, receiving many awards for pastel landscapes. His pastels are in collections in the Bay Area. Mertens is a signature member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, and a member of Group 95, California Art Club, Livermore Art Association, Hayward Arts Council, and ART Inc. Guest Artist Demo Wednesday, June 6 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. The Fremont Art Centre 37697 Niles Blvd., Fremont (510) 792-0905 www.FremontArtAssociatin.org Free