Meet Artist John Malley, Spring Obsession Artist

John Malley, painter

O-013  Desert Landscape_  by _ John Malle wc 9x12  $125

O-014 Guardian Of The Moors_ by _ John Malleywc  11x15  $175

O-016  Canyons_ by _ John Malley wc 11x15  $175

Decades of long haul truck driving through the deserts, forests, and mountains of the western United States does something to a person. In John Malley’s case, it made him want to paint.

“Whatever we do, we should try to give hope and understanding to someone else. That’s what I want to do with painting. Just give someone a chance to stop in their busy life and see the natural world. Even for just a minute, I want them to feel the beauty of God’s world and help them feel understood somehow.” - John Malley

John Malley is a husband, father and cookie-pushing grandfather who has spent his entire life in California. He grew up in 1950s Modjeska Canyon, on the western slope of the Santa Ana Mountains. After a childhood spent getting into mischief in the great outdoors, his career as a truck driver showed him the world through the large picture window of his truck's windshield.

Sweeping views of western landscapes became more intimate as the artist continued his outdoor childhood adventures by taking his wife and two daughters fishing, hiking, camping, snorkeling and dirt biking. Whether from the cab of his truck or the trails of his hikes, John Malley began to connect the colors around him to very specific emotions. In 2016 after he retired, his wife, Lynne Malley, suggested he attend painting classes in Lodi, California. Even though it was likely a bid to get him out of the house, it finally let the artist translate the emotions into color and form and try to reach out to others through his work.

The browns and oranges of his desert landscapes translate into comfort and soothing stability for the artist, while the greens and blues of forests and waters show how life keeps going, healing and progressing. The artist loves starting a blank canvas with a sketch and then layering on and amplifying emotion with color. He hopes his paintings help others feel more connected, understood and at peace.

Meet Artist Judy Morgan, Spring Obsession artist

Judy Morgan Watercolors
P.O. Box 1388
Valley Springs, CA 95252
Jmorgan_1@comcast.net
 

O-099  Anasazi Dwelling by Judy Morgan wc 24x30 $450

Judy Morgan is an accomplished watercolor painter and has paintings in collections throughout the United States.  Born in Indiana, she grew up and was educated in Southern California and now lives in Calaveras County.  She was a longtime resident of San Diego County where she was an active member of the San Diego Watercolor Society.  Over the years, Judy was fortunate to have been able to study with many well known watercolorists such as Rex Brandt, Edgar Whitney, Gerald Brommer and Cheng Khee Chee.  She works mainly in transparent watercolor on paper or canvas but also sometimes incorporates collage, ink or acrylic in her paintings.  She finds watercolor fascinating and enjoys putting what she sees in nature onto paper.  She is equally adept painting on location or in her studio where she works from photos and sketches.  She has won many awards in the Calaveras County Fair and her paintings  can be seen at Art on Main in Murphys, CA, the Arts Council in San Andreas, CA and the two summer shows put on by The Arts of Bear Valley.

Meet Artist Jan Freischlag, Spring Obsession Artist

Jan Freischlag

I began my fascination with art in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1989, where I learned a type of German folk art painting called Bauernmalerei. After five years in Germany, I returned to the U.S. with my husband and began to broaden my painting skills. We moved to ​Lake Tahoe, CA, where I was fortunate enough to befriend Lola Owen, my mentor and owner of Lakeside Gallery. While working with Lola Owen, I became more accomplished, and began painting in oils as well as most painting mediums such as water color, acrylic, and gouache . I began to get commissions for pet portraits and various other subjects which are wide in range. My husband and I now reside in Ione, California, at Lake Camanche, with a parrot and four cats. I have a very productive garden, am an orchid enthusiast, gourmet cook and paint whenever possible

Meet Artist Effie Komure, Spring Obsession Artist

“It’s Never Too Late”                                                                     Artist Effie Komure

Yes, it’s never too late is a phrase that Effie firmly believes.

Effie’s life starts at a concentration camp in Rohwer, Arkansas.  She was born on January 29, 1944.  Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor and World War II was declared by the U.S.

O-023 Fantancy forest by Effiedean Komure wc 18x12 $350

The United States of America incarcerated every man, women, and child who were of Japanese ancestors on the west coast.  Effie’s first year of life was in a small single walled barracks that was very cold in the winter with snow and very hot and humid in the summer.

O-024 Sunset of 2017 by Effiedean Komure wc 21x14.5 $400

  After the war had ended Effie’s family moved back to Lodi, California.  Her father farmed grapes before the war and lost everything.

He returned to start all over.  He was able to purchase 60 acres of grapes with the help of the entire family.  The vineyard is still in existence today.

Effie’s first art contest that Effie won was at Bruella Elementary School.  The teacher gave her first place from a drawing of Father Serra, who started a missionary in California.  The teacher showed the entire school the painting.  It was published on the front page of the school news paper.  This is when Effie decided to emphasize Art as a major in college.

O-025 Sandhill Cranes by Effiedean Komure wc 11x14 $250

Effie attended Sacramento State College and majored in art and education.  She taught secondary education in Sacramento for twenty-five years and the last fifth teen years she was a counselor in High school.  After retiring from education, raising a family, finally Effie started painting in watercolors.

Every Thursday she paints for Three hours in the same location where she attended high school called Hutchins Square.  With the help of art instructors Clare Oak, Jean Janssen, and Andrea Morris, Effie is given a chance to fulfill her desire to become a watercolor artist.

Recently, Effie took second place in the Lodi Grape Festival Art Show.  This was the won twice and she has ribbons from other local art shows. 

Last year she was accepted to show in the Sand Hill Crane Art Show.  She was able to sell several paintings in the last several years.  One of her painting hangs at her church.

Yes, It is never too late.  She just became seventy-four years old and finally in the Ironstone Spring Art Show.