Garry Oak Gallery’s February featured artist is Jeanne Sears Valdez, a painter whose style ranges from abstraction to realism.

“I cannot remember a time when drawing and painting were not my passion. My love for art was strengthened and deepened by my experiences growing up overseas where I had the opportunity to see firsthand the art and artists of the different cultures in which I lived,” Valdez said in a press release.

While Valdez wanted to pursue art as a career, college, jobs, marriage and family forced her to put art on the back burner until retirement, Valdez said.

“Now that I have the opportunity to follow my dream, I find art to be more of a magnet for me. It draws me in, makes me appreciate its many forms and causes me to contemplate on the majesty of what the human mind can create,” Valdez said.

Valdez works mainly in acrylic, watercolor, oil and mixed media. She does abstract art, realistic art and everything in between.

“I love abstraction because it comes from my imagination and allows me a certain creative license with the materials I may use in my painting. I love realism because it defines, it has boundaries and it challenges me to bring the thought or inspiration into focus for the viewer. I choose to paint subjects that inspire me or catch my attention whether it is a form, texture, animal, shape, or flower and I use color, shadow and light to define the features I feel are important,” Valdez said.

Valdez is a co-founder of Garry Oak Gallery and has received awards for her work in juried art shows in Washington and California. Her work is held in private and corporate collections in the United States, Canada and overseas.

Garry Oak Gallery is located in downtown Oak Harbor at 830 SE Pioneer Way No. 101. It’s open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information, call 240-0222, email info@GarryOakGallery.com or visit www.garryoakgallery.com.