Spotlight On…Portico Gallery

“Highest quality is the most important,” said Portico Gallery
Fine Art owner Jordan Pope. With clients ranging from weekend
tourists to longtime residents, Pope keeps her five-year-old
Montecito gallery stocked with original works from nationally
known, living artists, taking great care to select artwork from the
most premiere shows around the country. Five of the featured
artists — John Budicin, Jacobus, J. Le Grue, Michael Obermeyer, and
Pope, herself a painter — submitted work to the juried show Oil
Painters of America, which only includes 2,000 artists in the
entire United States. Five from one gallery is rare.

Highlighting familiar landscapes such as Butterfly Beach, the
Mission, and the foothills, the gallery’s showcased works include
plein air California panoramas, figuratives, and still-life scenes.
Styles range from Dirk Foslien’s Old World master technique with
precise realism to Budicin’s loose but detailed canvases. Pope also
favors Russian-trained Vadim, a transplant to California who has
taken full advantage of the warm climate. Pope’s personal artwork
falls between plein air and studio painting, a loose, romantic
brushstroke focusing on the effects of light.

A veteran gallery owner, Pope managed her Seattle gallery for
eight years before moving to Montecito in 2001. With her blonde
hair and pleasant personality, Pope easily suits the Golden State
landscapes hanging below a white-columned arcade along the wall.
Although narrow in theme, Portico’s artwork maintains a
professional excellence and stylistic variety sure to fit your
fancy. Portico is located at 1235 Coast Village Road. Call 695-8850
or visit porticofineart.com.

—Stephanie Cain