Judy Klement evokes Botke’s trademark bursts of color and love of birds with her works, “Blue Parrot” and “Hibiscus & Birds,” done with pastel and pastel-acrylic.“. . .Botke’s curvaceous style inspired me as an artist to capture the mood of these birds amidst the flowers,” Klement wrote. “I consider her a master. . .”Gunderson mixes styles of Botke and Douglas Shively with the watercolor, “Pond Lilies III,” noting “. . .woe to the artist who tries to copy her!”Some artists didn’t: Dolas Tubbs tackled her signature mixed media to create “Tapestry Peacocks” and “Herons, Cranes and Flowers,” works, like others, that would probably bring a delighted nod from the legendary Botke.A delightful “Spoof Oil” by noted artist Madeline Ricards, was inspired by two Botkes that she owns.Modern technology incorporating Botke style and subject matter was a great fit to create “Embossed Cockatoos” and “Parrot & Cardinal” by computer art guru Lynda Gruber.“. . .Botke paintings were everywhere when I was growing up,” noted Gail Pidduck, who shows the Botke love of gold with her lavish “Trumpet Vine & Locates.”Prints of Botke works, including “Cockatoos & Avocados” and “Egrets” are also on display, courtesy of the Hernandez and Gunderson collections.Botke would have been delighted to see what works her own inspired in other fine Santa Paula artists, whose works can be seen through Sept. 22nd.Admission to the museum is $2 for adults, $1 for children, free for COM members. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 933-0076.
SPSA’s ‘Inspired by. . .Jessie Arms Botke’ inspires artists and art lovers
September 13, 2002
Santa Paula News
“Distinctly Santa Paula: Inspired By. . .Jessie Arms Botke” featuring works by members of the Santa Paula Society of the Arts and watercolors sketches and bird studies by the world-famous Botke lives up to its promise of being the exhibit of a lifetime.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula Times“Distinctly Santa Paula: Inspired By. . .Jessie Arms Botke” featuring works by members of the Santa Paula Society of the Arts and watercolors sketches and bird studies by the world-famous Botke lives up to its promise of being the exhibit of a lifetime.The exhibit opened last month at the California Oil Museum with an artist-heavy reception sponsored by Hozy’s Santa Paula Grill.Held in the Keck Gallery, “Inspired By. . .Jessie Arms Botke” features art by SPSA members inspired by Santa Paula’s most famous artist as well as her own works, a unique look at the creative process of Botke, an internationally recognized artist.Botke (1883-1971) made a career of bold, decorative paintings of birds in oil and watercolor, many done in her Wheeler Canyon ranch studio. As her health declined and she was no longer able to paint, Botke made a gift of 20 watercolor sketches and bird studies to her good friend, Viola Allee.Allee, now a resident of Kanab, Utah, has donated this important collection of work to the SPSA, with the wish that another art society scholarship could be established for future artists of Santa Paula.“Viola wanted the Botke paintings to come back to Santa Paula for the people of Santa Paula to enjoy,” said SPSA’s Virginia Gunderson. “. . .when you get close you can almost hear her (Botke) think.”Society members were so Inspired by Allee’s gift that they assembled a selection of art from the members that was inspired by the art of Jessie Arms Botke. Some of the SPSA artists featured in the exhibit are Dolas Tubbs, Gail Pidduck, Judy Klement, Madeline Ricards, Alice Guerrero, Lynda Gruber and Virginia Gunderson.The Botke works donated by Allee include gouache (opaque) watercolor sketches, and are studies of birds from Botke’s beloved peacocks to penguins.Plain sketches, the more elaborate and the ultimate are all on display, done by Botke and the artists inspired by her.
