Plateau Creative Arts Center will showcase a dynamic selection of September featured artist Clay Orbesen’s work during its Gallery Opening Night reception Sept. 4.
Orbesen has enjoyed a 30-year career as a full-time professional artist.
“Known for his knowledge across multiple mediums, his Old Masters training, and his innovative experimental techniques, Clay brings a depth of experience and creative range to this exhibition,” said Amy Nichols of the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade.
The reception will be from 5-7 p.m. in the arts center at 451 Lakeview Drive, Fairfield Glade.
“This free event offers a great opportunity to meet Clay and mingle with other local artists while enjoying light refreshments, including wine and nonalcoholic beverages,” Nichols said.
For three decades, Clay Orbesen supported his family solely through his artwork — an achievement Nichols said he describes as both uncommon and deeply meaningful.
His early career centered on portraits and animal drawings, work that earned him recognition at shows across the country.
Orbesen’s formal training includes study at the Art Institute of Chicago, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, five additional art schools, and further study in Italy.
He apprenticed under a master whose lineage traces directly back to WilliamAdolphe Bouguereau, connecting him to one of the most respected traditions in classical art.
Orbesen’s work spans pastel, watercolor, ink, acrylic, and oils, each chosen for its specific expressive qualities. Pastels became his primary medium for many years due to their fully reversible nature, allowing precise corrections without the surface ridges common in oil painting.
“His watercolor technique is equally distinctive—pure watercolor, preserving the white of the paper through careful masking and deliberate negative space,” Nichols said. “His ink work includes striking self portraits, while his acrylic paintings allow him to work at a large scale.”
One of Orbensen’s most innovative contributions is his development of “visualization paintings,” works that shift and transform as ambient light changes, revealing stars, hidden imagery, and evolving tonal structures.
He also explores multiplearmature painting, creating pieces using both hands and both feet simultaneously, a technique he describes as early stage subconscious expressionism.
The exhibition will highlight Clay’s earlier and mid-career work, offering visitors a curated look at the foundations of his artistic journey. Featured pieces will include a 6-by-8-foot acrylic painting; selected pastel, watercolor and ink works; and examples of his multiplearmature experimental pieces
“While Clay is currently engaged in a monumental 40-year religious lifework — an expansive multi-canvas project featuring large-scale imagery and Old Masters techniques — this exhibition will focus on the work most representative of his evolution as an artist,” Nichols said.
Beyond technique, Orbesen’s art is driven by his faith, servitude, and purpose. He describes his creative motivation as an “electrical current,” grounded in caring for his wife and guided by spiritual conviction. This emotional foundation shapes both his artistic philosophy and his longterm projects.
Orbesen’s Featured Artist exhibition will be displayed at the Plateau Creative Arts Center from Sept. 4-Oct. 1.
Admission is free, and all are welcome to explore the gallery, meet local artists, and enjoy the creative spirit of the community.
Plateau Creative Arts Center is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The center is dedicated to teaching, learning and inspiring by cultivating the artistic talent and abilities of people, making all art accessible in a welcoming and enriching environment.
“Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or simply someone who believes in the power of creativity to bring people together, now is the perfect time to get involved,” Nichols said. “Membership opens the door to classes, exhibits, and friendships that grow through shared inspiration.”
Visit the arts center or go to plateauarts.org to learn more, become a member, and help keep the arts alive and flourishing in the region.
The Plateau Creative Arts Center/Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization and an equal opportunity provider. Information about art classes, exhibits, membership opportunities and events is available on the website and on Facebook and Instagram.