Kacey's Blog: LBCC Art Teacher Analee Fuentes

Walk through an LBCC art gallery and you will be sure to find some art work from the one and only Analee Fuentes.

Analee is a typical American who has accompanied her inspiration for her art through her family members, and close personal friends. She first got interpreted and interested in art by her maternal grandfather who was a painter in his spare time. Her inspiration is from her mother, who herself was a potter, and had a level on creativity skills.

As a young child living in San Diego, California Analee got to see all the different aspect of ethnic diversity on a community. She saw the graffiti on the streets, to the different murals of the community.

Analee became more aware of art in the 1960's when feminism, and civil right were always in the media. The Vietnam war was also a major impact. Even though she didn't have any family or people of close relation in the war she still saw the affects that the war has on families. This had her thinking about the nature of Art, war and politics. It was right then that she started to become more associated with art.

In 1981 Fuentes moved to Oregon and in 1990 she attended Lane Community College. In 1994 she earned her B.F.A in painting at the University of Oregon, and later on earned her M.F.A in painting and drawing at the University of Arizona.

Her education has lead her through teaching at different schools from Arizona back up to Oregon. She started out in an internship with painter Robert Colescott in Tucson, Ariz. was also a part time instructor at Western Oregon University in Salem, and Lane Community College in Eugene, and eventually resides here at Linn Benton Community College here in Albany.

Fuentes considers herself lucky. She believes that "art" and "teaching" are both creative acts, and she is just on of the lucky ones that get to mend the two together.

"I decided to teach art because I have always believed that art has the power to change lives," says Fuentes, "I also teach because I truly enjoy students!"

Her students that take her classes all seem to gain a new inspiration for art, and what Analee takes personally to her lifestyle.

Sydney Altson of San Francisco, Calif. was a student of hers last fall in Drawing 115. She took her class to explore the aspects of art that she had never experienced before.

"I like how kind Analee is, and how passionate she is about her teaching." says Altson, "Due to Analee's teaching I almost changed my major to art."

Some of Analee's artwork that she has done has been put into many different places. She has had articles in newspapers like the Albany Democrat Herald, The Corvallis Gazette-Times, and the Oregonian. She has also had some interviews with the KLCC radio station, and Cable 97.

Some of the bigger projects that she has done are some of the photographs from "Teatro Milagro" or "Day of the Dead". This invitational occurred in Portland. Some of the pictures she does for her interpretation of Day of The Dead include "Bona Lisa" and "Santa Muerte".

One of her most recent photos that is her personal favorite is called called "Mi Compañera", meaning my companion in Spanish.

"I like Mi Compañera because it really communicated what I was feeling at the time." says Fuentes.

For sales Analee's most successful painting would have to be the Fish Series, they include the Brook Trout, and the Rainbow Trout. These painting are up close to the scales of fish. They are colorful to the extent that most people don't see the real beauty of these creatures.

With arrays of pinks, and greens and focused on the scales of differnt fish in different seasons, the fish series have captured the attention of artists all over Western Oregon.

For improvements in her art Fuentes would like to work on her watercolor medium. This is one of the mediums that she enjoys to do in the summertime, but it is also very difficult.

With Analee's creations there is always something unique to see. In the future we will probably see more of her heritage, and of course her honor to her art.