ART FROM CHAOS : PAINTER BLENDS MATERIALS FOR EFFECT.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

Each time Connie Tunick makes the first brush stroke on a blank canvas, she begins an experiment whose outcome is unknown.

``I'm guided by a sense of playing with the materials,'' said the Thousand Oaks artist whose work is on display this month in Ventura County. ``I use a variety of materials acrylics, watercolors, dyes, inks - and the painting evolves as I work. I can't predict how the chemicals will react or how the final work will look.''

Twenty-eight of Tunick's paintings, including watercolors, collages and mixed media works, line the walls of the Administration Building at the Ventura County Government Center. Tunick paints daily in her home studio and creates works marked by her use of color and textured surfaces.

Tunick learned her sense of play through her earlier work as a children's art specialist. Tunick, now in her 50s, taught children art for several years.

The painter's ``playful'' process means that a work sometimes evolves over a period of years.

``The only limit is my patience,'' she said. ``Sometimes I'll work for days on a painting, and then I'll just put it away. I'll come back to it a year later and be able to pull it all together.''

On mixed-media pieces, Tunick uses a thick paper stock that allows her to layer paint, pigments, dyes or acrylics. ``In one painting in the exhibit I've even added gold leaf to the work,'' she said.

Tunick also finds inspiration in her garden and what she calls the ``continual visual excitement of the world.'' Flower lovers are drawn to her paintings, Tunick said, especially to her impressionistic watercolors of spring blossoms.

Tunick's paintings can also be viewed on her Web page at http://www.iswest.com-atun.

Tunick's husband, Arvin, helped her set up the Web page about one year ago, and she's received about 300 ``hits'' per month since then.

Admirers from as far as England and Japan have e-mailed notes of appreciation to Tunick.

``Friends and relatives will always tell you what they think about your paintings,'' she said. ``But to have people you've never seen respond from so far away is very encouraging.''

Students also e-mail her questions about technique and materials.

``As an artist, you work in a vacuum on a day to day basis. Exhibits and the Web page are opportunities to hear how people respond.''

After her exhibit leaves the County Government Center, Tunick's works will be part of three-person show called ``Connection'' at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery from March 13-29, 2331 Borchard Road, Newbury Park.

EXHIBIT

Where: County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Paintings by Thousand Oaks artist Connie Tunick will be on display in the lobby of the Administration Building.

When: Through Jan. 30 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Paintings: Tunick uses a variety of water soluble materials including watercolor, gouache, inks, dyes, acrylics and collage to create ``watermedia'' works.

Awards: 1996 California Gold Coast Watercolor Society's Juried Competition - third place; 1996 City of Santa Paula People's Choice Award for Watercolor; 1994 City of Thousand Oaks Best of Show for two-dimensional art.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: (color) Connie Tunick says ``I can't predict how the chemicals will react or how the final work will look.''

Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News

Box: EXHIBIT (see text)