Meet Artist Diana Eppler, Spring Obsession Theme Division accepted Artist

T-016  Daffy Kitty  oil  8x10  $150

Diana Eppler  www.dianaeppler.com

"My painting subjects are varied as that is my nature. I will probably be perpetually in some period of transition with my art which, I hope, is a good thing.  I try to work towards a melding of classical, contemprary and my own style; always striving to share with the viewer a means of expression which is representational without being literal or prosaic.

I used to worry where was I going with my art? Was I a colorist, tonalist, impressionist, plein air or studio painter? I now know my art leads me. Each piece is individual and dictates how it should be painted. First comes what I feel, then what I see. When I paint it is me and it is my own. An idea for painting frequently comes from my emotional response to color and light. I build around that, often changing the subject matter partly or entirely until the color, light, and design meet to fit the mood.  This manner of creating a painting works well for the studio, which I very much enjoy, however, painting en plein air (outdoors in one sitting) is a good way to rejuvenate the very feeling that create the moods.

Born in Amador County, Diana lived at Lake Tahoe and in Nevada, Southern and Northern California before returning to the foothills in 1997. She new resides in Jamestown. She attended Western Nevada Community College and studied with Wellington Smith, noted artist, lecturer and teacher. Workshops over the years included Janet Tarjan Earl, Edgardo Garcia, Jeanette LeGrue, Kathleen Dunphy and Charles Waldman although she considers herself, basically, self taught. Past Board of Director of the Siskiyou Art Assoc., Creative Arts Guild and Mother Lode Art Assoc. Past member of the Lithia Artists Assoc., Ashland, Or.; Central Sierra Arts Council, Sonora and Central Calif. Art Assoc., Modesto, CA. Founding member of the Post Gallery and founding director of Aloft Art Gallery in Sonora. Currently her works can be seen locally at Ventana Gallery, Sonora and Galleria Copper, Copper Square, Copperopolis, CA.

She has been accepted in numerous juried shows and won many awards including First Place, Foothill Favorites MLAA Show. Top fifteen finalists in California Shines Statewide art show for the 2011 US Capitol Christmas Tree Celebration. Her works hang in homes and businesses across the country and can be seen on her website.

T-015  Through the Looking Glass  mix media  20x16  $650

Meet Artist Judy Day, Accepted THEME Division Spring Obsession Art Show

Meet Artist Judy Day.  Judy's painting "Daffodil Surprise" was the first painting submitted to Ironstone's 18th Spring Obsession Art Show, Theme Division. Kudos!  Read Judy's bio below.

Daffodil Surprise  watercolor collage  24x31  $350

Bio: Judy Day

Judy holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design and a K-12 California Teaching Credential in Art Education and Math from Art Center School of Design and Cal State Northridge. She retired from 20+ years teaching at David Starr Jordan Middle School in Burbank, California. In April of 2010 she moved to Jackson, California. Although she works in many mediums, watercolor is her favorite.

Judy's Art credits include the following: illustrating three educational children's books, "My First Word Search", "Beginning Sounds Word Hunt", and "Fun Faces Fun Days"; numerous brochures, posters, paintings and cards, three foot by twelve foot long paper cut banners that hang seasonally in the First Christian Church of North Hollywood's Sanctuary, and directing a week long children's art camp each summer for children in 3rd through 8th grade, in Studio City, California. She is currently serving as the President of the Amador County Artists Association.

Her awards and honors are, 1993-94 Jordan Middle School Teacher of the Year Award, 1994 Burbank Woman of the Year, 1995 Disciples Christian Educator Award presented by Chapman University, 1996 Outstanding Teacher Award given by the LA Times and CSUN School of Education, and in 2002 the California League of Middle Schools Educator of the Year Nominee. She has received numerous awards and ribbons for her paintings at the Amador County Fair, Ironstone winery and the Lodi Art League Show.

Judy loves the outdoors and has hiked and sketched in the High Sierras most of her life. "My art is inspired by my trips into the Sierras, vacations around the world, majestic landscapes, historical site and almost everything in my neighorhood. You never know what will catch your eye and inspire you".

Judy's art work is displayed at the Sutter Creek Gallery in Sutter Creek, California

Meet Artist Connie Bowen, THEME Division accepted Artist

Accepted Artist, Connie Bowen has entered the THEME Division of Ironstone's 18th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show which will open March 7th, 2015 at Ironstone Vineyards.  Connie along with several other artists are competing for selection of their painting to become Series #18 poster of the year.  You may see each of the entries into this division as soon as Picasa's website allows the slide show to present itself just to the right of this blog. Check them out and see if you can pick the image that will become the finished poster of the year, unveiled on Saturday, March 7th.

Throughout the next several months, we will be featuring each of the accepted artists biographies along with images of the paintings that were accepted into this years show.  And now,

T-013  Tulips Galore!  watercolor  15x11  $360

Connie Bowen

I have always loved art and photography and have always dabbled. I had never tried watercolor before I took an ongoing class with *Popi Tyler. She is an excellent and patient teacher. It was Popi's idea that four of us all paint something for the show and we did and to our great delight we were all accepted.
I live in Forestville, CA with my two dogs and a cat, who sometimes become my muse.

We're BACK!

After our little sabbatical,  we are back in time to begin posting biographies of the wonderful artists that have been accepted into Ironstone's 18th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show & Sale.

As soon as work has gone out to all the accepted artists and their bios roll in, we will be posting here for you to enjoy along with images of the accepted art work. 

So, Stay tuned!