Step out of the heat to enjoy the cool art at BIG ARTS. See Ikki Matsumoto’s painting, “Fog,” and savor the peaceful, chilly, calm feeling. This 20″ by 26″ acrylic on stretched canvas was painted while the Matsumotos lived in Oregon in the early 1980s, and is a rare find.

Ikki Matsumoto is enamored with nature – birds, fish and wildlife are popular themes in his work. A student of artist Charles Harper in the late 1950s, he became an illustrator and designer. He published a book of “punch-out” animals and later illustrated the 1972 bestseller, “The Joy of Cooking.”

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he produced paintings and prints for exhibitions in Sanibel and Tokyo. Now retired from owning an art gallery on Sanibel, he continues to paint and will have an exhibit with his wife, Polly, this December at BIG ARTS.

Polly and Ikki Matsumoto’s new works will be on exhibit in BIG ARTS Founders Gallery from Nov. 16 through Dec. 29. While many of Polly Matsumoto’s works are mixed media – weavings on painted canvas with found objects on top or bottom of the piece – she also creates fiber wall hangings.

This summer, Founders Gallery hosts the BIG ARTS Members 2-D/3-D Show, open through Friday, Sept. 18. Founders Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibit is supported by Deborah and John La Gorce.

BIG ARTS Phillips Gallery is hosting an art exhibit with works created by the Sanibel Captiva Art League, open through Thursday, Aug. 27. The San-Cap Art League Exhibit is supported by Visual Arts Patron Season Sponsors June Rosner and Russ Bilgore. Phillips Gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 1 to 4 p.m.

All works in Phillips and Founders, including Ikki’s “Fog,” are for sale.

For further information about exhibits, information about upcoming events at BIG ARTS, to purchase tickets, sign up for workshops or become a member, call 239-395-0900, e-mail info@BIGARTS.org or log on to www.BIGARTS.org.