Ironstone Heritage Museum

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Lapidary Gold Mine!

We have been very busy here at Ironstone's Heritage Museum. Incoming is an overwhelming collection of lapidary rock and collection minerals, over 70 boxes! These are all coming in from a very old collection, near 90 years old.

Not having a geologist in house, the research to determine what these are and what value if any is a bit challenging, but doable.

Once pieces have been identified, they will go up for sale here in the Museum.

This week we will be tackling the items in the photos below.

Rhodonite in 4 very distinct colors and patterns along with a very large slab of what I was told is onyx.

The Rhodonite above are very large slabs and cabochons. Forgive my little camera, but that yellow piece is actually a very lovely peach color, not yellow. Ditto below...

The first slab is a rich pink with distinctive black patterns. Most resemble landscapes with Oak Tree images. There are quite a few slabs and cabochons of this particular color.

The round cabochon above is a much lighter pink with more spider web like black lines. You can see white quartz on many of the slabs and cabochons of this coloration.

The far right slab is a sparkling pinkish red color with both less distinctive black lines as well as more defined markings. There are fewer of this coloration in the mix so far.

And last by not least is that NOT yellow oval cabochon. It is a beautiful peach color with black accents. Very few of these pieces so far.

However, since we have unpacked only 10% of the entire collection, there is no telling what we may find throughout November as we unpack the collection.

According to Wikipedia...
Rhodonite is a manganese inosilicate, (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO₃ and member of the pyroxenoid group of minerals, crystallizing in the triclinic system. It commonly occurs as cleavable to compact masses with a rose-red color (the name comes from the Greek ῥόδος rhodos, rosy), often tending to brown because of surface oxidation.

Mohs scale hardness‎: ‎5.5 - 6.5

Crystal symmetry‎: ‎Triclinic 1 pinacoidal

Crystal habit‎: ‎Tabular crystals, massive, ...

Crystal system‎: ‎Triclinic - Pinacoidal H-M ..

Rhodonite crystals are known for their capacity to bring emotional healing and to release blocked energy from within the heart chakra.

Above you see today's challenge. The very large slab I have been told is onyx. It is a very old collection piece around 10" x 8", going from 1" thick to 2" thick. Stunning cream color with some crystallization in some spots. A beautiful piece.

On top are several cabochons that may or may not be of the same material along with 3 beautiful pieces of stone canyon jasper.

We are very grateful to the Calaveras County Gem & Mineral Society for offering to help us unpack and identify the remaining boxes of material. It will be like Christmas for all of us! I will be posting images of pieces we are working with along with specimens that have already gone into the new cases here in the Museum.

If you love rocks come on by and take a look. There are some really outstanding slabs, specimens and cabochons.

And, if you know rocks, you may correct us at any time! Your knowledge is more valuable that our "Google-ing". So do stop on by.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Behind the scenes shots

Gett'n ready for The Band Perry!

We Are BACK!!!

It has been too long since we have posted or even had time to visit all our friends here at the IronstoneBlog!

But do not fear, our hiatus is over.

We are getting ready today for The Band Perry Concert. Light and sound crews are unloading and lifting gear on the new state of the art stage, lots of trucks unloading props, drums, guitars and more.

Very exciting! Tuesday, the 11th. Gates open at 6:00 pm.

Enjoy a few of the back scene photos ... More as soon as they download from our phone...

Monday, May 11, 2015

Meet Artist Katherine Forst

Katherine Forst

Flora Katherine Forst mix 16x12.5 $1250

Artist Biographye

Katherine Forst, b.1979, Oakland, CA, is a Monterey based artist who creates mixed media art based on the classical mosaic technique. She studied art history at Smith College with a passion for Italian Renaissance art. After graduation she moved to Italy where she lived for 10 years, absorbing the ancient and Renaissance aesthetic. While in Italy, she studied mosaic in Ravenna at the Centro per on Formazione Professionale (CFP), and the Accademia dele belle arti and apprenticed in Ravenna's top mosaic studio. She was certified by the CFP as a professional mosaicist. Her work has been shown in galleries around California.

Meet Artist Sherrie K. Palmer

Sherrie K. Palmer

A member of Arts of Bear Valley since 2003 and a certified oil painting instructor, Sherrie's love of art began in early childhood. In 2000 she bacame interested in painting with oils after having painted for years with acrylics. Her inspiration was a magazine article that stated, "it's never too late to be what you might have been." That was inspiration enough to make a goal of finding out what it would be like to be "An Artist". With the encouragement of her family and friends, that inspiration has become a true reality.

Sherrie has participated in art lasses in community college and workshops in Vallejo, CA, Portland, OR and Murphys. She and her husband moved to Arnold from Concord in 2003, after a 15 year desire to live in the Sierra Foothills. The family vacationed at Lake Alpine regularly, enjoying camping, fishing, and hiking. Sherrie says "the Sierra Mountains inspire the artist in everyone. The skies, sunset, windflowers, the stars so close at night; God's absolute beauty is everywhere you look."

Beginning in 2003, she has taught several floral & landscape classes in the Bay Area and Arnold. Sherrie has also exhibited at the following places, Bear Valley Summer Art Show, Calaveras Big Trees Show, Calaveras County Fair (numerous awards), Murphys Grill, Cottage Springs Resort, Snowflake Lodge, Pacific State Bank and Window Gallery in Arnold. Sherrie has served as President for Arts of Bear Valley in 2009, 2010 & 2011. She was Chairperson for the 2012-2013 Big Trees Park Summer Art Show. Her desire is "to continue my pursuit of fine arts, expanding my talents to enhance my capabilities." She has continued to add watercolors to her palette by attending workshops by Jill Figler, Carolyn Macpherson, Jeannie Vodden; art classes of Martha Wallace, Murphys ; oil workshop with Judie Cain. Since 2012 Sherrie has been the Art Teacher at Christian Family Learning Center in Angels Camp, Ca. Sherrie feels that "art gives me the true joy and pleasure of reaching the artistic person inside of me."

Sherrie's present preferene is oils, as they "have a deep rich color when incorporated together, you can experience an explosion of many colors, textures and even a translucent appearance." She delights in capturing this result with large floral, animals. Landscapes and many other artistic forms,

maxmerlo@comcast.net

Meet Artist Judie Cain

Judie Cain
www.cainart.com

Country Classic * WINNER, 3RD PLACE * gouache 5x7 $300

Oil Painter, Instructor

~a colorists' nostalgic impressions ~

A native of Burlingame, CA, Judie studied at California College of Arts after high school. Family responsibilities behind her, in 1987 taking an early retirement from the business world, Cain returned to painting by attending college, numerous workshops and taking private lessons.

Judie has taught her oil painting fundamentals and color workshops in the western states as well as locally. She also paints in gouache.

~~ Her paintings and classes are at Copper Art Gallery, where she'll be teaching "Color Demystified" classes in May. Www.townhallarts.com. 209-785-2050.

Gifts from the Farm oil 20x24 $1800

This award winning artist has been represented in galleries in Washington, Oregon, New Mexico and California, including Murphys, Copperopolis and Carmel.

Ms. Cain has several works in print, Giclee and produced on home products and are collected worldwide.

Meet Artist Carol Clark

Artist: CAROL L. CLARK

Date: March, 2015

The Gift oil 24x30 $325

Carol's favorite mediums are oils and waterolors. She enjoys bright and muted colors as well as the affects created by glazing layers of transport colors.

Carol enjoys landscapes, historial building and homes. This year she added figures to her themes.

Carol sells her art as originals and displays them at Ironstone Vineyards.

Waiting oil 18x24 $300

Meet Artist Carol David

Carol David

Welcome to my World of Creativity!

SOLD

My paintings reflect my love of people in their surroundings. I love to capture the mood of my subjects. My choice of medium is pastel because of the brilliant colors, it's dry form and the immediate effect it has on paper.

Mountain Air pastel 18x24 $750

I also like to portray the majesty of nature in my work since I grew up in Davis, Ca., an agricultural area, and spent much time in the Sierra Mountains on vacations. It was my father, an Entomology professor, who inspired me to have a deep appreciation for nature and a passion for art. My people paintings are usually done from a photo back in my studio and I create my landscape paintings on location.

Carolsrt37@aol.com. * www.caroldavid.com

Meet Artist George Dillon

GEORGE DILLON

Website: www.georgedillonstudio.com
Email: George.dillon1@comcast.net

I've got my eyes on you 30x30 $575

George has had an interest and a connection to art all his life but only in the last eighteen years has been able to dedicate his full tine to hits pursuit.

His teachers include nationally renowned landsape artist Charles White, watercolorists Penny Soto and Joan Dougherty, Judie Cain a frequent contributor to Artist Magazine and portraitist Gary Bergren. Ben Kikuyama, an internationally known feature artist at the Lahaina Galleries in Maui has been his mentor in the field of mix media and three-dimensional art.

The Self acrylic 26x32 $575

George's style is most often surreal if modern and has been influenced by Picasso, Matisse and George's Braque as well as his first encounters with African Art and travel. His imagination and whimsy have all been inspiration to him and have encouraged his experimentation with color, themes and materials. His 3-dimensional Art is typically built from canvas or paper and them layered upon each other to form his interpretations of the subject. He takes a more conventional approach to more traditional themes.

George's art is typically both bold and colorful and challenges his viewers' sensibilities with sometimes humorous and sometimes penetrating looks at culture and it's surroundings . Further adding to his art are his pithy titles that often reflect both innuendo and a healthy splash of irony .

Three Faces of Eve acrylic 24x30 $575

When asked what type of art he creates, Dillon respond, "It is hard to categorize , but I am known for color. I want each observer to have an emotional response of some type to my paintings. The vivid use of color causes a reaction as we tend to be internally stirred by the spectrum before us. I can describe what a painting means to me, but I hope the viewer comes up with a meaning that conjures up his or her own inner feelings ."

Dillon always starts a painting with the idea of where he wants to go but reflects that sometimes the creative process takes over and the finished product is something he never dreamed of. He gets a great feeling looking at a painting and having no idea how he did it but great satisfaction in the accomplishment. He offers a tip for viewers, "Often my titles help to discover what the art piece is trying to convey". Many of his titles will challenge the observer to examine their own awareness.

Currently George is a member of the Calaveras County Arts Council, the Amador County Artists Association and the Lodi Council of Arts. His works have been on display in several venues in the Bay Area, Sacramento and currently in the California foothills.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Meet Artist Geneva Davis Season

Geneva Davis Season

O-084 Racoon oil 12x26 $200

Over thirty years ago Geneva's creative art journey began. Studying a variety of techniques and mediums has led to a body of work of great diversity. Her work may be characterized as realism to Impressionism but as variety of subject matter a distinctive style has evolved which can vary depending in the subjet matter and medium.

The variety of subjects has included animals, birds, rich and lively florals and gardens that evoke color and mood. These might be considered to be signature work whether in oils, watercolor, or most recently pastels. Others might insider the sentimental renderings of children to romantic figures the most moving to the imagination, in any case the journey continues and might include almost any subject but be assured it will have warmth and emotion as a constant . Geneva's paintings are in many private collections.

O-084 Hope you Like Flowers 11x14 $295

Her paintings may be viewed at Pinecrest Gallery in Pinecrest, Ca. All That Matters Gallery in Twain Harte, Ca. Town Hall Gallery in Copperolis, Ca. and Ventana Gallery in Sonora, Ca.
Geneva's home studio is open to visitor's by app. 209-533-2014.

O-085 Seaside Garden 11x14 $295

Monday, March 30, 2015

Ironstone Concerts 2015!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Meet Artist Judy Boles

Judy Boles Art

O-027 Stanislaus River - Big Trees oil 12x16 $350

As a girl, I took many cross country trips with my family, watching the varied landscapes go by. during those trips, my father instilled a sense of adventure and an appreciation for the beauty in all landscape: orchards, cornfields, lakes, mountains, sea coasts, and even barren deserts. Painting and drawing the things I saw became a favorite childhood pastime. After finishing college, I taught high school English and Art in Northern California for several years, but my art soon took a back seat to the joys of children and to the demands of the corporat world. Since my retirement in 2006, I have been pursuing my passion for art more fully.

O-024 Autumn Grapes acrylic 11x14 $350

My work is a visual diary of scenes that have inspired me. The close observstion needed to render a scene on canvas makes me feel connected to the place. While living many years in Sonoma County, I was drawn to the coastal hills, the shoreline, and the wonderful vistas of the wine country. In 2011, my husband and I moved to Arnold CA, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where we live in the awesome beauty of a National Forest. My new inspirations are mountain streams, alpine lakes, Sequoia trees and the constantly changing seasons.

O-028 Yellowstone Bison oil 16x20 $350

Please visit my web gallery at: Romulo.com/jbolesart
Or email me at: rojubo@rojubo.com

Spring Obsession Winners!

After a stunning opening of Ironstone's 18th Annual Spring Obsession Art show this past Saturday, Open Division Judge, Kathleen Dunphy, announced the names of the winning paintings in the OPEN Division!

Earning the JUDGE MERIT AWARD:

"Spring Celebration" by Carol Goff