By William Jeske

Staff Writer

Painter Bob Magneson specializes in distorting reality.  His acrylic works are usually devoid of crisp detail and have an unfocused, dreamy appearance.  But when it comes to dealing with the financial reality of crunching cold, unfeeling numbers, Magneson takes control, turning the probable into the definite.

     Magneson won for the second consecutive time the city's Art & Wine Festival poster contest.  Again, Magneson's prize is $200 and a complimentary booth to display his works.

     This year's entry entitled "A Walk in the Park" is similar to last year's winner "Summer Day."  Both are depictions of Santa Clara's Central Park employing the Pavilion and the ponds as prominent elements.

     The difference being that "Summer Day" profiled a pair of ducks in the foreground and a grandmother and her grandchild feeding other ducks on the pond's far side.  "A Walk in the Park" is a perspectiveless aerial view of Central Park.

had gone to Australia, and he bought a painting from the Aborigines.  Aborigine art is more like a map.  They draw things in relation to important places like a river or mountain."  Magneson said the Aborigine art inspired him to convey Central Park in the same way.

     Having won last year's contest, why would he re-enter?

     "I wanted a free booth!" Magneson chuckles.  However, a free booth is a mixed blessing.  Magneson didn't sell many of his works last year.  

prices his art between $300 to $900.  But Magneson doesn't interpret poor sales as demoralizing.

     "You can't judge success by sales," Magneson said.  "Fifty percent of art is marketing, and this event was a good marketing tool."

     The business philosophy saw fruition when jazz musician David Ladd, who headlined last year as well as this year's festival, commissioned Magneson to paint the cover to Ladd's 1998 album "Downtown."