Artist Victoria Adams rarely looks at the ground because she's too busy looking up. Her grand-scale paintings capture the many moods of the sky.

"I basically paint light because the sky is the primary vehicle for light," she said. "I really like the idea that sky is part of the landscape. It's something we don't always look at and can take for granted. We tend to only notice it when we see a magnificent cloud formation or a beautiful sunset. Skies often become a backdrop to activities we do."

And yet, people are drawn to the sky as well. This also fascinates her.

"I'm trying to gear into that psychology of why it's compelling to us," she said. "Because I'm a painter, this is how I'm investigating this phenomena. The sky is symbolic of distance. Its scale is indeterminable. I'm painting spaces rather than landscapes. They can be contemplative and meditative. There's a feeling that you're viewing something more than something that's pretty."

She keeps each painting feeling fresh by focusing on the sky's light. Different times of the day, various parts of the country or terrain as well as atmospheric conditions create a wide array of subjects for her.

"Everything I paint is imaginary," she said. "I work intuitively. I might key off some information in a photograph, but I'm also working from memory and imagination. I've never been inclined to look at a photograph and paint just that."

While in residence at Lux, Adams will create a 50-by-50-inch oil painting inspired by the San Elijo Lagoon. The lagoon, which is near Lux, is one of Southern California's last remaining wetlands. Her art is being created on-site.

"I loves skies and marshy areas," she said.

Adams started out studying English literature at Ohio State University, but went on to earn a bachelor's degree in painting, studying under renowned painter Jacob Lawrence. Her work has been exhibited nationally and is in the permanent exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum in Washington and the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner, Wash. The Tacoma Art Museum is planning a mid-career retrospective of her work in 2010.

She says that living in Seattle is one of the reasons she paints skies.

"The Northwest is the land of sky," she said. "Skies represent where I'm from. I want people to look at my work and have a one-on-one moment with the landscape. I'm hoping they'll step back, take a breath and be drawn into it ---- and as a result of that, be drawn into the real landscape surrounding them."

To celebrate Adams' residency, Lux will host a free family day program from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The event will include free studio tours and refreshments and live blues music by Nathan James.

Artist Victoria Adams

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; her work will be on exhibit through May 20

Where: Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas

Tickets: $10 for two visits (admission is free on Saturday)

Info: (760) 436-6611
Web: http://www.luxartinstitute.org