Michael Dadasovich’s new Plein Air Gallery show features elongated paintings on 8 X 16-inch canvases. (Painting by Michael Dadasovich)

Let’s say you are an artist. You order several 8 X 16-inch canvases and need to use all of them up. What do you do with them?

Well, if you are Michael Dadasovich, you paint on them and make a show out of it, as he did for his new show at Benicia Plein Air Gallery titled “Rectangularity.”

“I put together a number of pieces in that format and had them all framed,” he said.

Dadasovich was born and raised in the Central Valley and has called Lafayette home since 1977, but he made a name for himself as a Benicia artist after meeting with such local creators as Nikki Basch-Davis and Jerrold Turner.

“I started painting with a group of Benicia-based painters in the formation of a group that’s still intact called Da Group,” Dadasovich said.

When a space became available at 307 First St., Da Group figured it would be a good spot for an art gallery, which led to the creation of the Plein Air Gallery.

“A few of us got together with the help of Nikki and Jerrold, and opened the gallery,” Dadasovich said.

Dadasovich has had solo exhibits at a number of venues throughout the Bay Area, including at libraries, council chambers and even the now-closed Ledgewood Creek Winery in Suisun Valley. “Rectangularity” is a chance to exhibit his works done in a different style.

“I was using more pallet knife work than I was brush work, so it seemed to lend itself to the context,” he said.

The show is currently on display through Thursday, May 4 at Plein Air Gallery, located at 307 First St. and open from noon to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. A reception will be held from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 15, where people can enjoy treats, view Dadasovich’s works as well as the works of new Plein Air Gallery member artists and take part in a favorite participatory event.

Saturday will mark the return of Dadasovich’s “Paint Like Van Gogh” event, where an easel is set up with a tracing of a painting by Vincent Van Gogh— one of the most renowned plein air painters— for people to add their colors to.

“At the end of the day, we have a drawing and we give the painting away,” Dadasovich said.

According to Dadasovich, the event has been a huge hit in the past.

“We’ve had upwards of 30 to 40 people paint on these canvases during the day,” he said. “It’s fun for me, and it’s fun for the community.”

For more information on the show, visit beniciapleinair.com.

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