Abstraction Exhibit - A+ Art Series

The Cultural Arts Alliance Presents 

Abstraction: An Adventure into the Imagination

The latest in the A+ Abstraction Exhibit Series: An Adventure into the Imagination, presented by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) in partnership with Northwest Florida State College, is a unique collaboration of abstract art by local artists who masterfully create works that draw the viewer into an experience of color, shape, and texture through various mediums. Artists exhibited are Donnelle Clark, Juan Francisco Adaro, Joanna Ellington, and Didon Comer.

This thought provoking and insightful exhibit runs from January 25th through March 17th at the South Walton Campus of NW Florida State College, 109 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 during normal business hours.

Join us for an opening reception on January 25th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm to help kick off this exciting exhibit and enjoy the creative talents of our local artists.

About the Artists

Francisco Adaro

Juan Francisco Adaro is a contemporary painter born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is currently living in Santa Rosa Beach.  Starting as a street and mural artist in his early twenties, he has developed a fast way of painting without thinking. This builds a strong sense of spontaneous living of the art making.

Today Adaro is known for his large abstract and life size portraits. He uses recycled materials and natural textures. His paintings merge the worlds of art and science, depicting natural forms and biological structures in vivid color and imaginative detail. Throughout his abstract images, the artist has developed and expanded his interest in the natural world. Adaro’s work has been shown in exhibitions around the world.

Donnelle Clark

Donnelle Clark is a local mixed media artist. In her works, she uses acrylic mediums, ink, watercolor, and gouache. Clark writes, “I love glazes to get layers, acrylic paste, and gel for texture. Sometimes I add cheesecloth, gauze, homemade papers, string, sand, and pastel crayons.” Clark enjoys working with palette knives. She paints fast and loose, developing impressionistic painting with heavy texture. She often works on three paintings at once.

Clark is inspired by the sunsets on the Emerald Coast.  “I often photograph the changing shades of color where sky meets the sea and the sunsets that seem to melt.” She adds, “I want my paintings to show my love and freedom of expression.” Clark’s work is being shown in several local galleries. 

Didon Comer

Didon Comer, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, moved from her home in Atlanta, Georgia to Seagrove Beach, Florida in 1979.  Here she paints from her seaside studio overlooking the gulf.

Her skills and interests include acrylic painting, photography, clothes design, furniture design, pottery, and sculpting. Comer is a self-taught artist who began painting in 1993 and has become well known in the local art community.  Her art has been featured in several galleries, and she has participated in ArtsQuest in Destin and the Eastern Shore Art Show in Fairhope, Alabama. Comer was also named artist of the year by Otto’s Gallery in Ellijay Georgia.   

Joanna Ellington

Joanna Ellington is a member of several watercolor societies.  She has won numerous awards as an exhibiting member. Her art has been shown in galleries around the country. Ellington’s works are on display as permanent collections in museums in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Hong Kong. 

Ellington writes, “My art is who I am, it comes second nature. Like breathing.  I paint because it is what I feel and what I can’t express with words. It’s what is inside of me… my creative expression.  To my viewers, enjoy this expression...linger awhile.”