Kona artist Depontes creates unique works on paper

Unique works on paper by Kona artist Ron Depontes will be featured this month in a show called “Pastiche” at the Wailoa Art and Cultural Center’s Fountain Gallery in Hilo. The exhibit opens with a reception for the artist from 5-7 p.m. Saturday in conjunction with the 14th annual Hawaii Photo Expo. This free event is open to the public.

Depontes uses a stippling needle, pencil and watercolor in a process described as “extremely detailed, time consuming and much like a metal plate etching, only it is paper.”

“My derived concepts require techniques that compliment my designs. I begin enhancing the paper by implementing one, or a combination of negative positive imprints, and also include a reverse optic perspective of the way I perceive an object defining, occupying, within or without space,” he said. “This time-consuming technique demands manipulation of selective sections of the design and paper with horizontal, vertical, diagonal, etc., dots and lines, with enough pressure to leave an indentation similar to Intaglio. That in turn creates subtle dimensions, planes, angles, and levels, by proximity, depth, size, density, texture, contour, tone, refraction and randomness.

“When this stage of the procedure is complete I have a choice to progress mathematically and continue with the same technique, or do intuitive adjustments.”

Wailoa Art & Cultural Center is administered by the Division of State Parks, Department of Land and Natural Resources. It is free and opened to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from noon to 4:30 p.m. Call 933-0416, fax 933-0417 or email wailoa@yahoo.com.