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Ossa’s art exhibit on display at 4S Ranch Library

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4S Ranch Library patrons had an opportunity on Tuesday afternoon to meet the artist whose oil paintings grace its walls.

Maria Ossa’s art exhibit went on display in January and can be viewed through Sept. 30. Her 10 paintings of landscapes, flowers and ocean views are also available for purchase.

Joining Ossa’s paintings in the library are six paintings of people and other scenes by her teacher, Renee Corwin, a Mira Mesa resident and the Portrait Society of San Diego president.

The 76-year-old Ossa lived in 4S Ranch for seven years until moving to Carmel Valley a couple years ago. Prior to moving to the area after her retirement, Ossa worked at the University of California, Berkeley, where her administrative career included working in the president’s office. Her son, Jaime Ossa, also lives in 4S Ranch.

Ossa said she was always interested in painting, but did not take up the hobby until 20 years ago. Her preference is for impressionism, using a brush and palette knife to apply oil paint to the canvas. Using both tools gives her the ability to create textures.

“I like how (with oils) I can mix colors so beautifully and whatever I don’t like is fixable,” Ossa said. “With watercolor you have to be extremely perfect and I can’t do that.”

Ossa said perhaps her love of painting is in her genes because her paternal great-grandfather painted the ceiling of the opera house in Genoa, Italy.

She said painting is “freedom (because) you don’t think of anything else when painting.”

Her inspiration varies for the subjects of her paintings, which sometimes she begins outdoors, then adjusts the colors in the studio. Other times Ossa said she uses photos she has taken when working on a piece solely in the studio and at times uses elements from several photos to form a composite.

“(I paint) what attracts my eye,” Ossa said.

The 4S Ranch Library is at 10433 Reserve Drive. For hours, call 858-673-4697 or go to www.sdcl.org.

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