June 2023 - Wendy Wheeler Jacobs

Wendy’s artistic journey began with an inspiring high school art instructor, which led her to pursue a studio art degree in college. As a trail runner and backpacker, she finds herself surrounded by breathtaking subject matter, inspiring her to create stunning works of art. Wendy’s preferred mediums are watercolor and acrylic, and she also dabbles in Prismacolor pencil work. Her unique style is a mix of realism and impressionism, capturing everything from landscapes to “portraits” of trees, flowers, rocks, and other natural objects, as well as birds and pets.

In recent years, Wendy has become more involved in Plein Air painting, which involves quickly capturing a scene she sees while out on the trail. It’s like speed dating for artists, but with nature!

When it comes to the Dry Canyon Art Association, Wendy is a dedicated volunteer. She currently is the Lend Me Your Walls manager for Feast Food Co and has worked at the welcome desk at nearly all of the art shows. Her Plein Air experience could be helpful to others who want to get into it, as she can explain various setups and their benefits. Wendy is like the Swiss Army knife of the art world – always ready with a helpful tip or trick!

Wendy’s greatest accomplishment in her art is having one of her paintings selected to represent the Hardrock 100 mile run, an event she will be participating in this summer. (www.hardrock100.com) The painting is currently on posters for materials advertising the event, shown in the Denver Airport, and will be a gift for everyone who finishes the run.

Talk about a multitasker – Wendy not only creates amazing art but also conquers 100-mile runs! When it comes to staying motivated, Wendy doesn’t have any issues with motivation but rather with finding the time to paint. She still works two jobs and volunteers a lot, so finding time for her art can be a challenge. However, she did the most painting she has ever done during the beginning of COVID. Who said lockdowns were all bad?

Wendy is excited about the future of the Dry Canyon Art Association and encourages others to get involved. She believes that everyone should contribute to keep the organization going and help it grow. In her words, “This is their organization!” Wendy also hopes to participate in more First Friday showings and continue to engage with the local community.

Currently, Wendy is part of a show at the Josephy Art Center in Joseph, Oregon, which is a tribute to her high school art instructor and features some of his former students. The show will be there through July 22nd, and one of her paintings is also featured on the poster for the event.
Looking ahead to 2023, Wendy hopes to find more time to fit in painting and has many great subjects lined up. She will be in Colorado training and acclimatizing for the Hardrock 100 run for a couple of weeks in July, and when she’s not running, she hopes to have more downtime to do some Plein Air painting. She also hopes to participate in one more First Friday showing, but summers are always busy. It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole – but Wendy is determined!

To learn more about Wendy and her art, you can visit her website at www.thepaintgeek.com or
follow her on social media:

• Instagram: @thepaintgeek
• Facebook: the.paint.geek

Wendy encourages everyone to come out and participate in the Dry Canyon Art Association. Redmond is home to many talented artists, and they need to use the strength of their numbers and talent to engage the community and get recognized for the quality of what they do and their contributions to the culture. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and join the artistic revolution!