Local talent shows its stuff

Young Chang

Raymond Otis has traveled the world for the last 15 years. The visions

he has seen show up in his paintings of towns, parks, animals and

shadows.

Otis’ watercolor painting titled “Bodie” won first place at the

Newport Beach Artists Juried Art Show earlier this month.

One of two works he submitted, “Bodie” is a contemporary,

impressionistic portrayal of the Northern California ghost town by the

same name. The High Sierra town is part of the historic gold mining 49er

trail.

The show went up Nov. 1 and will stay through Jan. 7.

“I’m proud to be among this company of artists,” said Otis, a Corona

del Mar resident.

Thirty-four artists from Newport Beach are represented in the show,

said Hallie Strock, cultural arts coordinator for the city. The show

consists of 37 pieces of two-dimensional art, including paintings,

photographs, collages and prints.

“We have some really talented artists in this city,” Strock said. “We

were really pleased this year because we got a lot of new people.”

Otis received $400 and a blue ribbon placed next to his winning

painting. Ilma Cunningham won $200 for second place. Randall Zorn, who

won third place, received $100.

Zorn’s watercolor is a rendition of the Dana Point Harbor as seen from

a bluff about 250 to 300 feet high. The bay is a green-ish color and

scattered with 120-foot sailboats and a ship called the Pilgrim.

“I like vistas,” he said. “Meaning where a bird gets on a pole where

they can see far down. I like heights -- looking down. I [also] might be

down below looking the other way. It’s the view that I like.”

Zorn, 56, of Corona del Mar, has gotten some recognition from the

show. Acquaintances have come up to him and said they didn’t know he

could paint. During opening night, he met artists he otherwise would not

have.

“Let’s say I went to school with someone 20 years ago,” he said. “They

might not know that I paint. Some artists are kinda quiet about it, and

it goes unrecognized.”

Today, Zorn’s goal is to continue painting, to exhibit his work and to

keep teaching.

Otis, 63, was trained as an illustrator, designer and art director.

His work includes experience with advertising agencies making television

commercials and working on print campaigns, as well as making documentary

and animation films in Hollywood. He later formed his own consulting

company and produced multi-image slide shows for businesses and

industries in various states.

“But I love fine art,” he said.

Though Otis has painted and sketched since his junior high years, he

said he is just now getting “into it” on a full-time basis.

His goal is to participate in the Arts in the Park contest, a

traveling exhibit that hits national parks. This Thanksgiving he visited

Lake Arrowhead with his wife Nancy. It is all part of the couple’s

national tour.

“We’re traveling in our little RV,” Otis said. “And staying at

national parks. I’m discovering the uniqueness of each park.”

FYI

* WHAT: The Newport Beach Artists Juried Art Show

* WHEN: Through Jan. 7

* WHERE: The main lobby at Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.

* COST: Free

* CALL: (949) 717-3870