Warner Nienow holds memberships in the Santa Barbara Art Association (SBAA) and the Goleta Valley Art Association (GVAA)  He currently paints urban nightscapes, hauntingly lit interiors, and sunlit restaurant scenes.  His most recent show "The Dive Show" was a radical departure in subject matter.

GENERAL BACKGROUND:  Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1939.  BSEE with honors from University of Wisconsin in 1961.  Engineer and software manager at General Motors (mostly in Santa Barbara) for thirty-three years while

painting part-time. 

ART TRAINING: Three years of formal private training in Old Masters’ style oil painting from Claude Buck, a master of Poetic Realism, in Santa Barbara (1968-71).  Until 1998, all his paintings used the classical technique of monochrome underpainting and color over-glazing with subject matter and compositional schemes following those of Mr. Buck.  Then he was drawn to urban landscapes like those of Patricia Chidlaw, and to night renderings like those of Thomas Van Stein whose night class he took in Fall 1999.  Nienow’s resulting synthesis of learned techniques created a uniquely pleasing luminous new take on the urban landscape theme as he has expanded his locations beyond Southern California.  His work has attracted considerable buyer and critical interest over the past several years, including Santa Barbara Arts Fund’s award for Individual Achievement in Oil Painting in 2004 and a LACMA-ARSG show in summer 2005.

 

He and his painter wife Judy have run 2 NIENOWS STUDIO OF ART in Santa Barbara since its establishment in January 2000, creating quality artwork and welcoming visitors.

 

NOTEWORTHY EXHIBITS:

“The DiveShow”.   Warner Nienow one-person show of 12 paintings.   Santa Barbara Library - Faulkner Gallery West.   February 2009.  Show reviewed by Josef Woodard for Santa Barbara News-Press.

“Women’s and Men’s Legs in the Art at the Beginning of the Third Millenium”.  International competition and Exhibition.  Chateau des Reaux, Loire Valley, France.  Exhibit to commence in February 2009, show in Paris, then return to permanent art collection at the chateau.

“Inside/Outside”.  Warner Nienow one-person show of 18 paintings.  Santa Barbara Library – Faulkner Gallery East. March 2006

 “Doorways”.  Warner Nienow one-person show.  As recipient of the 2004 award for Individual Achievement in Oil Painting, The Arts Fund Gallery of Santa Barbara.  June 24 – August 5, 2005

Los Angeles County Museum Of Art – Rental and Sales Gallery exhibit included eight Nienow paintings.  June 17 – July 21, 2005. 

“Subliminal Celebrations: Mosaic Inspirations”   (6 artist show)  Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, Chelsea; New York.  April 2-27, 2004.

“Night and Day”.    Warner Nienow one-person show of 18 paintings.   Santa Barbara Library - Faulkner Gallery West.   July 2003.  Show reviewed by Josef Woodard for Santa Barbara Independent.

American Art Gallery (Deauville, Normandy, France) had Warner’s Southern California urban landscapes on display from July 2003 to June 2005.

“Santa Barbara After Dark”, co-curator and participating artist.  Fielding Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, CA.    March-June 2003. Reviewed by Joan Crowder for Santa Barbara News-Press and by Josef Woodard for Santa Barbara Independent.   An article describing the show appeared in Southwest Art magazine along with an image of “Chapala” by Warner Nienow. 

“Dark Hollywood”.  2 Nienows as Featured Artists of the Month at Gallery 113. Santa Barbara, CA.  24 paintings depicting night scenes of Hollywood Boulevard.  May 2002.  Favorably reviewed by Josef Woodard for the Santa Barbara Independent.

 

Contact information:

Email: arttnienows@gmail.com   Website: www.NienowArtWorks.com