Sunday, February 28, 2016

Meet Artist Melissa Doyel, Ironstone Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-020  Tulip Melody acrylic  12x13  $350
Melissa Doyel

I’ve drawn, painted or hand crafted most of my life, but sometimes with too long of breaks of no art!  After moving to Fiddletown from the Bay area in 2008, I was able to devote more time on my art and I’ve been consistent ever since pursuing my passion despite still working full time.    
I work in many mediums including watercolor, acrylics, pastels and oils and like to let the subject ‘speak’ to me on which medium to use.   I enjoy painting a variety of subject matter, especially animals, portraits and floral.    I’ve been incredibly fortunate to find amazing teachers and artists in Amador County that I can learn from and explore new ideas and techniques.
I’m proud my work has been accepted into multiple regional juried shows as well as having received Best of Division, Best of Show and multiple 1st and 2nd place awards in the Amador County fairs.
I love painting in watercolor because of the transparency of the colors and the different effects you can achieve.  Working in oil, acrylics and pastels has opened up a completely new way of approaching my work and what I want to paint.  I like to challenge myself and learn something with every painting, which keeps me growing as an artist.   I hope you enjoy my paintings and will continue to follow my work and enjoy the journey with me.
You can see my work at the Sutter Creek Co-Op Gallery in Sutter Creek.    You can also find my work throughout Amador County businesses through the Art in Public Places program.
Melissa Doyel
Fiddletown, CA


Friday, February 26, 2016

Meet Artist Lorna Ho, Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-026  Tulip Row  wc  30x24  $350
Lorna Ho










I studied Chinese brush painting before moving to Sonoma County where I have been painting watercolors for the past few years.  As an evolving artist, I am also experimenting with collage using paper and acrylics. Recently, I've been creating handpainted scarves on silk. I get inspiration from many sources in nature, music, dance, people, etc. Life itself in inspirational.

I feel that it is not as important where I end up with the final art project as the process that I experience. If I've gained satisfaction and enjoyment from the creative process I just hope that someone looking at my work can enjoy it too.


T-027  Only Me  wc  20x24  $250
Education and Background:
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii
University of Hawaii, B.A. Asian Art History

Art Awards and Exhibits:
Lane County Fair, Eugene, Oregon
Sonoma County Fair
Sonoma Harvest Fair
Marin-Sonoma County Fair
Watercolor Artists of Sonoma County
National Arts Program, City of Santa Rosa
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Healdsburg Center for the arts
Occidental Center for the Arts
Graton Art Gallery
Annual Sonoma County Senior Art Show
B.R. Cohn Winery Art Show

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Meet Artist Judy Day, Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-012  Out of the Blue  wc 18x18  $225
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 Amadore 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 sites and almost everything in my neighborhood. 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.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Meet Artist Connie Carson-Romano, Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-011  Windblown Daffodisl  acrylic  14x11  $90
Connie Carson-Romano

    Art is an expression of the way the artist views the world in which he lives.  It is the sharing of a life experience by the artist whether in paint, the written word, or in music.

    I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not writing, drawing, or painting. Acrylic paint is my favored medium. I love the way it works and forms on the canvas. Having been raised in New Mexico I found myself immersed in the amazing palate of nature and the challenge of trying to recreate those colors on canvas from an early age. Now as a resident of Northern California for 25 years, I continue to live in awe at the world we live in.

T-010  The Heart of It  acrylic  24x18  $145
    In addition to my paintings, I have found an expressive voice in the written word. In the 1990[s I was published for 6 years in a local newspaper as the creator of the cartoon strip "Cody Coyote". Cody is a fun combination of my drawings and verbal expression of the humorous side of life.  Cody has returned to the stage with his own web page and can be visited at codycoyotesworld.com.

    My first book, The other Side of the Gurney, published in February of 2015, A collection of stories from my years in public service and the lessons I learned from those I served, it reached the #1 spot in category on the Amazon bestseller list in June of last year.

    I find it is amazing and exciting that so many different interpretations of the world around us are available through the eyes of artists. It is my pleasure that I am able to add my own personal expression to this collection.