40 years of magic making for Greenbank Artists

This room is where magic happens, as sailboats greet sunsets and bald eagles spread their gallant wings over crashing waves. Here, a lone tree can be the beginning of a million emotions, all wrapped together in the bristles of a paintbrush.

The Greenbank Artists is an informal group of artists who get together every Tuesday to create art. They meet at the fire station on Race Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Currently, there are approximately 20 members.

“We paint every week and have a good time,” said Rainy Lindell, who specializes in oil painting. The diverse art media range from oil, watercolor and acrylic painting to pastels, collages and colored pencil creations.

Despite their name, the Greenbank Artists come from everywhere between Freeland and Oak Harbor. The group has been around for close to 40 years. It began at the Greenbank Progressive Club, but in 1993, part of the group moved their meetings to the fire station.

“I think it’s neat that we don’t have a big organization. We just paint and have fun and there are no dues,” said Marie Thornton.

The attitude of the gathering is relaxed. The small group chats amiably while relishing this time to let their passion for art evolve. During lunch, the artists critique each other’s work. They’re working hard for their art show and sale at the end of June.

Thornton prefers oil and acrylic painting. This day, she’s working on a painting of a sailboat from a photo she took. In the painting, dark clouds swoop across the sky over an intensely blue and purple sea. However, Thornton only follows the photo until her imagination can fill in the rest.

While paintings like that can take over 100 hours of work, Thornton whips out smaller paintings in one or two hours each. She has done over 100 miniature five by seven inch paintings.

“The miniatures are really reasonable. Instead of spending $100 or more, these are around $25,” Thornton said. The artists also sell bookmarks and cards.

While there will be many Whidbey Island scenes at the art show, the Greenbank Artists don’t limit themselves to any one category.

“We paint predominantly landscapes, but there’s a lot of floral, some animals and portraits, and a little bit of abstract,” Thornton explained.

Living on Whidbey Island can’t help but inspire nature paintings.

“We’re surrounded by beauty here,” Thornton said.

Lindell added, “It’s very inspirational for artists.”

Lindell is inspired by sunrises and sunsets, especially at Ebey’s Landing. She started doing art in junior high, but working took precedence after she got married.

“Real life set in,” Lindell said.

But after moving to Whidbey Island, Lindell began painting full-time again.

“You have the desire, then it’s just finding the time and opportunity,” Lindell said.

Others in the group didn’t realize their talent for art until later in life.

Pat Brencic took up art in retirement. Now, she prefers using watercolors and pastels, especially for portraits.

“I love portrait painting. People are more interesting; the slightest change in expression changes the whole mood. Capturing it is a challenge and a pleasure,” Brencic said.

The mixing of colors and how to apply them takes great skill, according to Brencic.

“The way you paint in watercolor is almost the exact opposite of the way you paint in oil. If you do art when you’re young, I think it’s inherent, but when you’re older, you have to learn it,” Brencic explained.

For these women, learning and using their art skills is very enjoyable. They are eager to share their fun.

There are no men in the group right now, but there have been in the past.

“We enjoy them and think they enjoy coming. We’d certainly welcome them if they want to come. They’d be a good balance and have good input, since they see things differently than we do,” Thornton said.

It’s easy to join the Greenbank Artists. Just show up at the weekly meetings and enjoy creating art. There is no charge for joining.

Members participate in an annual art show at the Greenbank Farm. This year, the art show will take place on June 27 from noon to 5 p.m., June 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on June 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Only artwork that has been created during the weekly sessions will be accepted. Artists will be doing daily demonstrations at the show.

There’s no admission at the show. Donations from the annual shows have helped the fire department buy two heat-seeking cameras.

From mountains frozen in acrylic to the imprint of the wind among colored pencil leaves and waves, the Greenbank Artists know what it takes to create art even more breathtaking than the real thing.

For more information, contact Leslie Born at 360-678-5558, Judy Skinner at 678-5795 or Lindell at 678-0960.

Whidbey News Times Reporter Liz Burlingame can be reached at eburlingame@whidbeynewstimes.com or 360-675-6611.

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