Outdoor Central Oregon Issue 11 | May/June 2019 | Page 38

38 MAY/JUN 2019 ART| AMBER TURK Amber Turk is an acrylic artist based in Bend. Amber was born in Australia and moved to Bend with her Oregonian hus- band last year. Being surrounded by the beauty of the mountains has re-ignited the painter within her. Her love for art and be- ing creative has been lifelong. She received honors in Visual Arts and Photography in high school and then went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (majoring in graphic design)and pursue a Master’s Degree in Animation. She also worked as a graphic designer for many years, both in advertising and as a freelance designer. Amber just spent a full winter season work- ing in the mountains at Mount Bachelor. She said this has always been a dream of hers as she spent her whole life by the ocean. Amber was raised in a surfing fam- ily, living feet from the beach. Her mom and dad owned and operated local surf shops and she experienced many surfing holidays to island destinations, but it wasn’t until she came to Oregon, that she witnessed real mountains for the first time. “It was mind- blowing”, Amber says and expressed how grateful she is to be immersed in the magic of the moun- tains. “From sunrise to sunset, taking in the ever-changing color palette, watching the light and shadows move across the terrain, I am intrigued by the mystical snow laden trees and erratic weather systems rolling in and out bringing four seasons in one day”. When Amber is not painting or working at Mount Bachelor, she enjoys photography, going on hikes and exploring this beautiful part of the world. She says “creative inspiration in the Pacific Northwest is endless”, and often thinks to herself that one lifetime to explore and paint the beauty that surrounds her is not enough. Right now her focus is on landscape paintings, capturing and sharing the beauty of the mountains in the Pacific Northwest. She also has an interest in botanical portraits of native plants and wildflowers, which she is still currently exploring. She says her painting journey has only just begun and is excited that she is finally pursuing something she has always loved. Etsy: amberturkart.etsy.com/ Instagram: @amberturkart Facebook: @amberturkart Email: [email protected] 39