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The San Luis Obispo Tribune, Central Coast Living
September 6, 2009

The Best of 'BRUSHSTROKES' Painting Exhibit in Morro Bay

AN OTHERWORLDLY VISION TAKES THE BLUE RIBBON AT THE EXHIBIT IN MORRO BAY
Lee Sutter, Special to The Tribune





Amidst rugged mountains and cliffs, under a stormy sky, an old woman fearlessly marches, stark naked, a silver cord connecting her to a small figure in a hospital bed.

"Her spirit's sort of wandering out of her body and beginning to explore the next dimension," said Georgia Sanford, in discussing her oil painting. Palm Desert judges Judith Cook and David Einstein were taken by Sanford's dark scene in nocturnal tones, selecting it as the Blue Ribbon winner.

In making this decision and others, they bypassed many colorful cheerful paintings in the annual "Brushstrokes" juried show.

The 21st annual show involves 35 members of the Oil, Pastel and Acrylic Group through the San Luis Obispo Art Center.

Winner Sanford's title, "That Lonesome Valley," is from the folk song of the same name, which says, in part, "You've got to walk that lonesome valley, you've got to walk it by yourself."

It's a subject that gets more consideration as one ages and deals with the death of parents.

"I've been interested in sort of occult things or mystical things for quite a while," said Sanford, especially questioning what happens after death. Sanford said she has painted a number of pieces with similar themes that she hopes to eventually show and call "Between the Worlds."

Some people envision themselves as being youthful or in their prime in the afterlife, unlike the figure with the sagging flesh in Sanford's painting.

"She still thinks of herself as an old woman, so her spirit body is also old," Sanford explained. "She hasn't gone very far in the transition yet."

Although the artist incorporates landscapes into her work, figures are her main thrust. Finding an elderly model willing to show her unclothed body to model for the painting was no problem for the Grover Beach artist.

"Actually, I posed for the figure, just to get the anatomy right," said the 79-year-old.

The painting is based primarily on Sanford's own mother, who died 10 years ago at age 104.

"I wouldn't mind living that long, as long as I could keep on painting," said Sanford, who began studying art at age 17 at the University of Denver. She has been actively painting since then.

Sanford, who is fond of cliffs, had to do some searching to find the ideal setting for "That Lonesome Valley." She found the perfect scene across from the landfill on Highway 227.

Relying on borrowed cars limits her traveling to seek out landscape elements, said Sanford, who doesn't participate in any outdoor painting groups. Like the subject of her painting, she is something of a loner and prefers to paint alone.

"I like to pick my own places."