September 18, 2012 > Color and Light Color and Light Submitted By Renee Lorentzen Milpitas' Phantom Gallery announces "Color and Light," the solo exhibit of artist Hema Sukumar. Sukumar is mostly a self-taught artist and has been painting as a hobby for many years. She loves using various media including oil, acrylic, and oil pastels. Her artistic inspirations come from nearby coastal scenes and years of family trips to national parks, particularly Yosemite. Sukumar is also an avid photographer and her own photos often serve as scenic reminders to the landscapes that she paints. She identifies with the famous Impressionist Claude Monet who said, "Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment." Sukumar says, "The world is full of vibrant colors and bright hues and as a person and as an artist, I am drawn to color. California's colorful landscapes from the water's edge to mountaintops are a constant source of my artistic inspiration. My preferred style of painting is loose realism. Most of my paintings are rendered with the palette knife and strong brush strokes to create interesting textures. I love using vivid colors and texture to express the beauty of the scene I am painting." Sukumar is a standing member of Golden Hills Art Association and has shown her work in local art galleries including Pacific Art League, Palo Alto. She resides in Milpitas with her family. The exhibit runs through November 16 with an opening reception on Monday, September 24 beginning at 6 p.m. For more information call (408) 586-3210. Color and Light September 16 - November 16 Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Opening Reception Monday, September 24 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Phantom Art Gallery 455 East Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas (408) 586-3210