THEATER-LINKED ARTISTS' PAINTINGS GO ON DISPLAY.

Byline: P. Catherine Shanks Daily News Staff Writer

Paintings by two artists known for their graphic designs for television and films are being exhibited on the walls of the Thousand Oaks Civic Auditorium.

On display through Aug. 10, ``Impressions'' and ``Spheres'' pairs the work of James Talmadge, who paints the world as he observes and imagines it, with that of the late Flavio Cabral, who created worlds within his paintings.

Some of the paintings in the collection reflect the theatrical theme of the Civic Arts Plaza. Some of the works challenge any common perception of reality.

Talmadge has always viewed his creative ``sixth sense'' as a guiding light in his work. ``You put it together for yourself, and you're lucky if somebody wants it,'' he said.

``It's a matter of one's integrity. It's not an intellectual process. Art is not constructed, based on some romantic notion.''

Deidre Long, visual arts coordinator for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, was Talmadge's studio director for more than 10 years. She often has seen him at work.

``Seeing the day-to-day struggle and triumph is a privilege,'' said Long. ``When the muses are on his side, the art work is coming from another place.''

Inspired by a vision of a happy world filled with hope and joy, Talmadge creates his paintings from memories of real places and imagination. Sometimes he creates paintings with disproportionate objects or unrealistic scenes. Whatever he envisions, he paints with a childlike honesty and freedom.

``Now he uses an expensive version of a crayon,'' joked Long.

Talmadge, who remains especially fond of red and cobalt-blue oil pastels, decided that he would become an artist in early childhood. At 14, he presented his first one-man exhibit at the Brand Art and Music Center.

Over the years, he has gained lofty stature in the art world. His works are on display in museums and galleries worldwide. He has designed graphics and art for major television networks, shows and animated films.

In conjunction with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Free Arts for Abused Children organization, Talmadge has developed nationally recognized programs for inner-city children and disadvantaged youths. Remembering himself as the kid with a crayon, he tries to nurture the spontaneous creativity of childhood and to discourage the onset of the self-defeating inner critic.

The shape of a circle inspired the artist Cabral.

``Everything is distorted into the circles,'' said his widow, Louise Cabral. ``I would say he painted in circles because a circle has no beginning and no end. And that's the way of the universe.''

In fact, the lenslike sphere became Cabral's trademark. Within his curvaceous work were the faces and figures of movie legends. During the Depression, he painted murals in lobbies and theaters. In the 1940s, he confined his creations to poster-size.

Cabral painted promotional pieces depicting stars in scenes from their films. He placed the posters in theater display cases himself. His movie art was seen in the lobbies of landmark Hollywood theaters, including the Egyptian and Grauman's Chinese.

Louise Cabral recalled going to the theater with her husband to put up the ``Now Playing'' and ``Coming Attractions'' signs, then take in the movie.

``His work only lasted as long as the film was on,'' his widow said about most of the posters.

The artist began copying movie stars' photos when he was about 10. In his teens, he drew pictures of all his high school classmates. The pictures appeared in the high school yearbook. ``Even those early drawings showed a circular quality,'' his widow said.

The artist's work was in full flower by the 1960s. His fantasy scenes and abstract renderings drew widespread acclaim.

His works have been exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco and the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. Cabral had 25 one-man shows in major museums and galleries throughout the world. His works have been reproduced in ``American Painting and Sculpture'' and in ``The Realm of Contemporary Still Life Painting.''

``Impressions'' and ``Spheres'' will open with a reception from 4 to 8 p.m. today. The Thousand Oaks Arts Plaza Civic Auditorium is located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Viewing of works and reception admission are free. For additional information, call [phone].

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Photo

PHOTO (Color in Conejo Edition only) James Talmadge almost fits into one of his paintings. Works by him and Flavio Cabral are on display at the Civic Arts Plaza.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News