HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Artist Jessica Bindi works on a painting at the Pahrump Library, where she recently opened an exhibit of her work. Advertisement

Jessica Bindi, a local artist, and her husband, Walter, came to Pahrump in 2000 from Arizona to escape the heat and humidity.

She said "We had come here before and it really wasn't hot, so we decided to move here. It's only been really hot here once so far, really not that bad."

Bindi likes to do landscapes using acrylics. In her earlier years, she used oils but came to like acrylics due to their versatility. Her daughter, Maryann Hartley-Mairs, was an art major in college and encouraged Binol to paint and bought her a complete set of paint supplies.

"I got interested in painting because I was bored. After I'd been painting awhile, I got the bug to use acrylics, they blend so much better than oils, and you can create the same textured look by using brushes and palates," said Bindi.

She not only does landscapes on canvas but outdoor patio painting as well as on tiles. "I have a 45-foot mural on my back wall which is a city scene with buildings, people, sidewalks, streets, and more," said Bindi.

Bindi paints from photos taken at different locations, magazine pictures and anywhere else she sees something she wants to paint. Her painted tiles are those that can be used indoors or outdoors.

In looking at her paintings you see a variety of colors that give a melancholy tone up to an appearance of anger, which does vary from the mood of Monet, who is her favorite painter.

In her painting, "Emerald Elegance," she uses her favorite color, green, to wrap a woman in a long summer frock of bright hues. The background is also green, reflecting a meadow setting.

In contrast, a seascape which she says is "more difficult" is an angry sea with deep dark blues, white rolling foam on the waves and dark stormy skies.

Asked if her use of color reflected her mood at the time of the painting, Bindi said "Probably ... possibly."

Bindi does not sketch out her painting first. She just starts painting and ends up with beautiful work. Her future plans include the possibility of using watercolors.

Bindi's work is on display at the Pahrump Valley Library. If you are interested in having Binol do any landscaping or other paintings, she can be reached at 775-727-1084.