When viewing Caldecott, a 36” x 36” oil painting on canvas, different sections of the painting come in and out of focus. Christian Ehrhorn invites viewers to let go of trying to find something recognizable in the painting and instead, enter the dreamscape presented.
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view a solo in-person show and virtual exhibit of abstract oil paintings by featured artist Christian Ehrhorn during December. Meet the artist at a reception in his honor Sunday, Dec. 5 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. where light refreshments will be served. This is the only time the Gallery will be open to the public. All COVID-19 precautions will be observed for safety. View his virtual exhibit through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries.
Ehrhorn said, “I am drawn to the abstract expressionist style because of the subjective component that takes precedence over an objective and figurative approach to a subject. In other words, the mood that a particular landscape or cityscape evokes can be expressed with color, spontaneous form and textural choices all coming together in a dreamlike composition that represents the memory of a place rather than an accurate representation of the subject matter.”
An Orinda resident, Ehrhorn will show seven oil paintings, each of which are abstract representations of Orinda and other local landscapes and downtown scenes.
Ehrhorn said his interest in this technique endures because his perspective is never static. He tries to employ a consistent style but also changes the way he represents what he’s seeing by layering different parts of the landscapes that inspire him.
Ehrhorn explains, “Viewers of Caldecott [a 36” x 36” oil painting on canvas] might experience different sections of the painting coming in and out of focus as they look at different parts of the canvas. They might ask themselves, ‘Are all the details symbolic?’ or, ‘Is that misty fog floating all over the canvas?’”
Ehrhorn’s main mission with his paintings is to showcase the innumerable ways to experience a time and a place.
“I try to represent my vision and experiences in a way that no one has seen before,” he said. “Accurate, recognizable and detailed representation of a subject is not important to me. I want you to look at one of my paintings and get lost in your own interpretation and sensory experience.”
To view more of his work, visit www.christianehrhornfineart.com, The Wilder Art and Garden Center, 20 Orinda Fields Way. Visit in-person Dec. 5 or virtually the rest of the month. Viewings by appointment are also available with Curator Aniston Breslin by emailing anistonbreslin@berkeley.edu.
Elana O’Loskey can be reached at business.orinda@gmail.com.
