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. 

Meet Artist Angela Harmon, Spring Obsession Artist

O-091 Yesterdays Paris  by Angela Harmon mm 9x12 $150

Angela Harmon is a 1999 transplant from the Bay Area.  She and her husband Don have been transforming their property on historic Main Street in Douglas Flat including an art studio with origins from an 1850’s cabin, orchard trees and gardens of inspiration and joy.  Angela’s art studio was the original home on the property. 

O-090 Pathway to the Blackberries  by Angela Harmon wc 12x16 $225

Recently retired, Angela is now enjoying a renewed avocation in floral art designs.  Drawing upon her experience and design concepts from competitive flower show arrangements and flower creations for weddings, Angela is creating floral arts in oil, watercolor and mixed collage mediums.  She also creates dried floral wreaths, which she has done for over 15 years, utilizing flowers and ornamental herbs she grows in her garden.  She has exhibited her paintings at the Ironstone Spring Obsession show and gallery shows of the Calaveras County Arts Council.  She is a member of the Arts Council and has participated in their open studio tours.

Although primarily self-taught and continually learning from published artists via books and DVD tutorials, Angela has been fortunate to learn fundamental design and value techniques from local fine artist Judie Cain.  Participating in oil painting workshops given by renowned artist Janette Jones, Angela was encouraged to pursue her passion for flowers in new creative artistic mediums.  Her abundant floral gardens are a continual source of inspiration in creating designs of bright color and detail. 

Meet Artist Andrea Morris, Spring Obsession Artist

O-075 A Bygone Eraby Andrea Morris  acrylic  18x24 $1475

Andrea Morris was born in Karlsrhue Germany and spent much of her younger years in Montana and Arizona.  She was exposed to art from an early age as her Mother was an artist and taught painting classes in their home.

She developed a love of wildlife and people and spent much of her time drawing and using pen and ink to capture her subject. It was not until the 1970’s that she started to explore working with color in watercolor.  Working in a local watercolor gallery in Tucson, Arizona she learned about building up her paintings through layers of transparent color.

O-076 The Travelers by Andrea Morris  acrylic  20x20 $1225

She experimented in working in oils and acrylics and immediately fell in love with the mediums and has worked almost exclusively in these two.  A new passion for mixed media has begun to be represented in her recent works.

Her main focus of subject still remains wildlife and people and she has been working towards representing her subjects in a colorful and expressive style.

Being self taught she has learned most about her art by painting, experimenting and studying other works of art.  She has made a living painting, teaching and competing in art shows and has garnered many awards including best of show.

She presently resides in Lodi California and teaches classes in her small studio. She continues to paint and show her work in the surrounding areas art venues.

You can view a gallery of her art at https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/andrea-morris-7103

 

O-074 Sixties Monets Garden by Andrea Morris  acrylic  18x24 $1475

Meet Artist Vickie Chew

VICKIE CHEW ART

                 WWW.VICKIECHEW.COM

Vickie has lived all of her adult life in Calaveras County in the mid northern Sierra's and Foothills. She has a BA in Business Administration and has been studying art for the last nineteen years. Vickie is a juried member of OPA, Oil Painters of America, CAC, California Art Club, Calaveras Arts Council and Arts of Bear Valley. She has won many awards in professional art shows and she works continuously to broaden her painting knowledge by attending master workshops and seeking inspiration from her favorite mentors. She additionally has pursued art course work through local colleges.

Vickie’s oil painting shown here at Ironstone were completed in studio and although she completes many of her works in Plein Air. She accepts commissioned work in studio and murals, contact her today at 209-743-4126.

O-110 Glass Beach by Vickie Chew oil 10x14 $400

Happy Birthday Maggie!

Rachael celebrating Maggie's 5th Birthday today...

And the Winners ARE....

T-023  Daffodils-In-Blue  by Ron Miranda  oil 16x20  $2000

Calaveras County Arts Council Special Blue Ribbon Award goes to
Ron Miranda for "Daffodils in Blue" 

O-060 Homestead by Paula Oesterling mm 12x13 $145-

Family Merit Award Ribbons:

Paula Oesterling, "Homestead"

O-154 Hoofveats in Spirit by Brad Stone acrylic 30x24 $450

Brad Stone, "Hoofbeats in Spirit"

W. Vaughn Lew, "Apple Blossoms"

T-014 Spring Apple Blossoms  by Vaughn Lew  oil 20x24  $1100

Judges Merit Award Ribbons:

Margaret Sloan, "Farmington

O-119 Farmington Road by Margaret Sloan wc 6x6 $175

Road"

Barbara Conley,  "Davis Grocery - Closed for the Day"

O-123 Davis Grocery Closed for the Day by Barbara Conley acrylic 14x24 $3300

3rd place OPEN Division

Marilyn Wear, "The River Flows" 

O-062 The River Flows by Marilyn Wear  wc 14x20 $1500

2nd place OPEN Division

Joani Taylor, "Blue Macaw"  

O-033 Blue Macaw by Joani Taylor   wc 24x30  $1500

1st place OPEN Division

Juliana Tillman, "Morning Walk"

O-134 Morning Walk II by Juliana Tillman Watercolor 8x10 $225.00 SOLD

2018 Series #21 Theme Division Poster Winner

Connie Carson-Romano,  "Simply Daffodil"

T-005 simply daffodil by Connie Carson Romano acrylic 20x20 $275

Artist Leslie O. Vasquez, Not your typical artist's backstory

Bio for Leslie O. Vasquez

O-105 Connecting earth and sky during furtile moon by Leslie Vasquez oil 24x30 $750

Not your typical artist's backstory ….

Leslie spent her childhood outside Reno, Nevada, playing in boats, hiking, riding horses and camping with her family in the Sierra Mountains but art was not her thing. She comes from a long line of professional artists and musicians so she was surrounded by incredible art and people but she never had that gift. It was painfully obvious she was ‘not the talented one’ in her family.

So instead she embraced the outdoors and found she was great with animals. Her first jobs were as a ranch hand on a cuttin’ horse

O-102 Watching You by Leslie Vasquez oil 24x30 $1000

ranch and an Arabian horse ranch working with foals, horses, dogs and cattle. She earned her college degree in English Lit and became a writer among other jobs before having children.

So it came as a total surprise to her when at age 43, she turned to art. So sure she wasn’t good at it and never would be, she wouldn’t even have considered it except she wanted her young children to have more art experience than school was providing. So she turned on PBS with the idea that while watching Bob Ross paint mountains and “happy trees,” she would learn enough to translate the concepts to her youngsters in a way they could enjoy.

"I'm from the PBS-school of fine art," she laughs without hesitation. But the moment she picked up a brush she felt overwhelmed with joy, hope and a powerful healing energy. She suddenly saw nature, animals … everything in a new way -- with the artist’s eye. Science made sense. The world opened up before her.

Within the first year she was talked into teaching art by the local recreation agency who had previously hired her to provide outdoor adventures to the public. The arts council soon heard of her and also hired her to teach art in the schools. Within the second year, she started winning awards, was urged to hang her artwork in shows (both juried and non) and her paintings started selling. Local theatres began having her paint their sets and backdrops. For a while she was in such demand as an artist that she was losing time with her family and lacked time to get outdoors. It became obvious Leslie had to start saying, “No” and learn to balance the demands on her time. There is still the occasional show, awards, and backdrop to paint, and she still goes into the schools as a visiting artist but she also carves out time to explore and paint en plein air.

O-104 Iris Party by Leslie Vasquez oil 24x38 $1400

She still teaches art in the schools for the Arts Council and PTA groups and is hired to give talks about art.

“Doing art is like trekking through the wilderness,” she says. “The struggle is rewarded with discovery not only of a pretty vista but of awe-inspiring, profound feelings … and the struggle is necessary. It’s what changes you. You can’t improve without it.”

Leslie is a member of the Amador Artists Association, the Amador County Arts Council and Arts in Education Committee. In 21014, Leslie was awarded Amador County “Art Patron of the Year” by the Amador Arts Council.

Meet Artist Kathy Oja, Spring Obsession Artist

O-017  Beauty so Sudden  by Kathy Oja mm 20x16  $350

Kathy Oja - CV



BA Degree in Philosophy – Sonoma State University, California

Various artist workshops and classes – local and international


Exhibitions

Ongoing   Gallery 621, Benicia, CA - Artist Member

Ongoing   Camel Barn Painters group show (artist member) -- Java Pointe Café, Benicia, CA

Solo Shows:

September 2014    Jordan Real Estate, Benicia, CA – two person show

November 2013   Benicia City Hall - solo show

October 2012   Shiroco Home Décor, Benicia, CA - solo show

September 2012   Gallery 2110/Loft Gallery – Sacramento, CA - solo show

O-019 Dreaming of Better Days  by Kathy Oja mm 16x20  $350

Juried Shows:

December 2015 Arts Benicia, Gems III – juried show

October 2015 – August 2016 – Vallejo Art Windows- Vallejo, CA – juried show

October 2016 – August 2017 – Vallejo Art Windows- Vallejo, CA – juried show

March 2015   Ironstone Winery Spring Obsession, Murphys, CA - juried show

March 2014   Ironstone Winery Spring Obsession, Murphys, CA - juried show

Group Shows:

September 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017   Arts Benicia Art Auction & Gala – invitational

October 2013   Umpqua Bank, Benicia, CA - Camel Barn Painters group

May 2013   BAIC Multimedia, Benicia, CA - Camel Barn Painters group

January 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 – Arts Benicia, Art of a Community – group

May 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 - Arts Benicia Open Studios

Meet Artist Ann Nancy Macomber

Ann Nancy Macomber

Biography 2018

O-030 The Yosemite Library by Ann Nancy Macomber acrylic 20x30 $800

Working in both fabric and paint, I 'm often both in the same piece, Ann Nancy enriches her images whether abstract or representational with color, texture and linear designs. Her versatility abounds in depictions of animals, landscapes and historic buildings. She works in water- based mediums or a mixture of these to enrich each piece. 

O-031 Layers of Time by Ann Nancy Macomber acrylic 16x20 $400

Town Hall Arts in Copperopolis and Aloft Gallery in Sonora represent her paintings. Her pieces are also displayed during Arts of Bear Valley's two shows during the summer Music Festival there and during the AOBV show at Big Trees State Park.
Special recognition includes Best of Show, Best of Division, and many first awards. The Triton Museum has represented and honored her work and KVlE has awarded her donations.


"Creating art in an improvisational manner is a joyful act for me."

Meet Artist George Haskell, Ironstone Spring Artist

George Haskell

Artist and Musician

 

O-066 Hanakapiai Beach Kauai by George Haskel  oil 8x10 $225

  

George Haskell  has always been interested art and music.   As a musician he played saxophone starting in high school and continuing through college and beyond. As a singer/songwriter he often performs at local venues.  He plays finger style guitar and banjo.  

O-068 On the Beach at Kauai by George Haskel  oil 11x14 $325

George’s passion for painting started in college when he took an independent study in painting. After retiring from a forty year career in special education George returned to art. His first artistic love has been landscape painting and one of his favorite subjects is Yosemite Valley. Season by season, scene by scene, and moment by moment  it is never the same valley twice.  Other subjects he loves to paint  include seashores, sunsets and animals.  What ever the subject is George focuses on capturing the light color and mood of the subject at hand.

O-069 The Sentinnel at Big Trees by George Haskel  oil 8x10 $225

Two artists have influenced George’s approach to painting. The first is longtime friend and teacher Judy Cain.  He has also studied with impressionist artist Susan Sarback.  

O-065 El Capitan in the Fog by George Haskel  oil 9x12 $275

George lives just outside of Murphys on the top of Treasure Mountain with his wife Patricia, two cats, two horses, and two corgis.