Vanessa Rothe, Ode to Dior 2, oil on linen panel, 20 x 16"

Gallery owner and artist Rothe has a classical style with notes of impressionism. She takes on classical subject matter as well—from French countryside landscapes to still lifes and figures. Inspired by masters such as Van Gogh, Degas, Homer and others, Rothe excels at creating a dreamy atmosphere in her paintings. Imbued with wistful nostalgia, paintings such as Ode to Dior 2 harken back to 1950s couture when fitted dress suits, tiny waists and elegant cigarette holders were in style.

Dan McCaw, Anticipation, oil on linen, 24 x 18"

Rothe’s influences include Art Nouveau, as can be seen in Mucha vs. Klimt. This mixed tape of a painting pairs two icons of the Art Nouveau movement in a symbiotic way. Artists of this exciting period in history (1890 to 1910) evoked nature, symbolism and sexuality in their work. Mucha was known for his illustrations, richly patterned and lushly colored, depicting women as near goddesses. Klimt, famous for paintings such as The Kiss, used gold leaf and mosaic patterning to decorate his figures. Rothe combines a Klimt-like pattern with a Mucha-esque female profile. She even throws in a nod to Vermeer with a pearl earring dangling from the figure’s earlobe. 

Dan McCaw, Reverie, oil on linen, 30 x 24"

Dan McCaw explores the female figure through a different lens. The figure in Reverie is featureless, only an outline. She wears a full skirt with her hair back in a bun, thus evoking a past gone-by. One imagines a young society woman in the 1800s. Her dress shimmers with thick brushstrokes of white and lilac. The mood is one of anticipation. McCaw blends in abstract expressionistic elements such as a black rectangle framing the figure’s head as well as a flowing background to create a story, perhaps of a young woman at a threshold, about to step forward into a new phase of life. 

Vanessa Rothe, Mucha vs. Klimt, oil on linen panel, 16 x 12"

About his work McCaw says, “My primary interest lies in going beyond the technique in order to interpret the subject in different ways and expand on the interpretation to make a personal statement.”

Derek Penix, Koi with Lily Pads, oil on linen, 30 x 30"

Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Penix now resides in Laguna Beach. Fluent in many styles, Penix has won a plethora of awards for his work, including Best Signature Award of Excellence from the Oil Painters of America in 2021 and First Place in PleinAir Magazine’s Salon Art 2020 Competition. Penix relishes trying new styles and subject matter. “I never want to be stuck painting only one way or only one subject matter,” he says. “Variety is what is exciting.”

Derek Penix, Tall Towers, oil on canvas, 24 x 24"

The Triptych exhibition, which  can also be viewed online, features new and previous work by all three artists. Rothe says color harmonies and subject matter unite the diverse paintings. “The works can be hung together side by side in a singular collection, as they share a cohesion,” Rothe says. “None are too realist nor too modern.” The vibrant conversation between these Southern California artists is open-ended and inviting, qualities collectors will enjoy.  —