The Summer Solstice has long been a celebration across the centuries of the connection and relationship that mankind has with the Earth and the Sun. Combine this celebration with a garden of remarkable proportions along with our affinity to art and celebrate we will. For it isn’t often that the longest day of the year is combined with an incredible level of artistry both on the garden level and artistic level. A garden party that blends nature and the watercolor expressions of artist Brian Comber.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 a private residence owned by Lisa Flores and Rick Tallman, in the heart of The Highlands neighborhood in Denver open their home and garden to the Summer Solstice experience. This event begins at 7:30pm and is expected to carry on through the night engaging all senses and artist Brian Comber is the feature attraction.

As Comber explains, all the paintings are based on “natural forms, very poetic and they have a real good flow to them because the one thing watercolor is to me about, is that there is real spontaneity to the way the color works with each other. You have to work in some ways with speed but also with incredible accuracy, because there is no forgiving. Once its down its down. The effect that I am going after will be ruined if I continue to work it, however, it can be layered and layering is a good thing. Once the color is down, every color has to work with every other color that is going to go after it, so there has to be a conscious planning going on,” Comber pauses for a moment and continues “At the same time the way that the color flows has to have an effect that is also very spontaneous.” This approach and technique that Comber is creating locks in color and adds dimension and he stresses that “you have to know when to walk away, let it fully dry, and that may be it.”

Comber who is highly skilled in the mediums of oil paints, print making (etching) and drawing, has spent the last year exploring watercolors. “I worked first and foremost as a printmaker doing etching, which I still do and still love. Also as an oil painter which I still do and still love. I have seen what other artists have done with watercolor all my life and I have always loved the medium because done right, it has a real freshness and brightness to the color and a real organic feel, but I have always been afraid,” exclaims Comber. “It took me 40 something years to finally have the guts to try this. To me this is in many ways the pinnacle of all the other forms coming together. It took me all these years to do one piece. Now I am really enjoying it. Unlike the other forms, etching or oil painting, you can spend months on those, layering or painting over if I am not pleased, watercolors are not so forgiving and don’t get me wrong it can still take weeks or months to complete these as well.”

Comber is firm on the idea that “you go into it, (watercolors), with an intent, a real conviction and at the same time you can’t be worried about it. You have to take the risks.” Being open minded about the process is also helpful, which Comber agrees and explains further, “You have to be open to the process, exactly, because if you don’t take the risks with this then you’re never going to go anywhere with it. You will be so restricted that the beauty of the watercolor will be compromised and you won’t get any of the things that you want to get out of it.”

This exhibition will focus fully on the watercolor works that Comber has created. The setting for this Summer Solstice and artistic event is quite beautiful and part of the inspiration for the artwork that Brian Comber will present, with the other part of the inspiration being the preservation of nature itself. Tallman and Flores are creating a wonderland of exhibition areas that will include their basement which has been transformed to accommodate the artwork, some of which are in large format. The carriage house, now a guest home, will also showcase Comber’s work. And of course the garden will also be transformed for this delightful evening of celebration.

“The actual Solstice is at 10:30pm, that is when the Earth will be the closest to the Sun here in Colorado,” Comber states. “We want this to be an art show, experiencing garden and live music but also experiencing the longest day of the year.”

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 20, 2017 to celebrate Summer Solstice with live music, food and of course art. Lisa Flores and Rick Tallman open their home for an exhibition of enlightening proportions at 7:30pm, 2959 Perry Street, Denver, Colorado 80212. RSVP Required…RSVP HERE