Meet Artist Courtney Wise

Courtney Wise

Artist Statement

O-085 Three Tomatoes by Courtney Wise 8x10 acrylic  $275

For as long as I can remember I have loved to create art, take photos, and figure out how things work. My hands are rarely idle. I listen best when I can sit and draw. While attending professional development or sitting in church my notes are covered with little doodles of things I see or things I make up. At is an outlet for me; it is time when I get to sit and think, express things that are going on in my life or just a way to unwind from a busy day.

One of my fondest memories in kindergarten was when my teacher allowed me to stay at the paint easel and create art work past the time when everyone else was finished. From the time I was five I was encouraged to pursue a career in art. With that encouragement and support from my family I continued to draw, paint and sculpt my way into college. I earned a Bachelors of Art in Art Studio from Sonoma State University in 2001. Planning on becoming an art teacher I moved to Sacramento to earn my teaching credential and worked part time, but plans to teach started to change with my desire to own a business.

Scrapbooking has always been a huge passion of mine. I am my family’s photographer. I love capturing moments in time, people’s expressions along with being able to look back at all of the memories. In 2002, I opened Scrapbook Dreams in Stockton, CA which I designed and built from the ground up. I ran and operated my business for three years. It was a dream come true to be able to create my own schedule, create scrapbook pages all day and help others design their memories in an artful way.

I am a person who likes change and a challenge, so after three years of hard work, I sold my business to become a teacher. Teaching has always been a passion; my original plan was to become an art teacher, but I again changed paths because I wanted more job security. I earned my multiple subject teaching credential and have been teaching for eleven years. I also have earned my Masters in Education and am highly qualified in History. I love to bring art and creativity into the classroom and inspire my students imaginations.

O-086 Watching You by Courtney Wise acrylic 12x12 $250

Art is a passion, a past time, an outlet, an expression, and a part of who I am. For me creativity can be found in an old broken-down barn, on my daughter’s face, from a photograph, from a comment, from a cloud in the sky or simply from a thought. I look forward to bringing color to a blank slate that will make a statement, make someone think or question, or bring a smile to someone’s face. Art is and always will be a part of who I was created to be.

Meet Artist Barbara Young

Artist’s Statement by Barbara (Barb) Young

O-018 Downtown Waterfront, Napa by Barb Young wc 12x16 $250

 My early days in art were spent trying to copy cartoons from comic books and doing paint-by-number paintings. For several years my drawings were usually sad and/or gloomy. In my last year of high school I won an Art Scholarship to Sacramento City College. There I took the basic classes in art and learned many good principals that have grown and enlarged in my work since. My parents lacked the resources to help pay for further art studies which meant I had to work and an art career did not materialize. Yet, my art continued to grow and expand in quality and a ‘lightness’ overcame the gloom of my very early art. I feel that my art is a God given talent. I have learned some techniques and enhancements for my art from watching others and just by trying something and making mistakes.

O-017 Pink Dogwood by Barb Young wc 9x12 $250

Landscapes and old buildings have been my primary source of inspiration. I like to sketch with ultra-fine Sharpie pens while on location. I have worked in oil, acrylic, and now my medium of choice is watercolor. I try to capture in my drawings and paintings thee memory of a place by setting down textures, feelings, characteristics; the uniqueness and special quality of that place.

O-020 Courtyard Castle di Armosa, Napa by Barb Young wc 9x12 $250

My painting & drawing style is alive with color and realism. Paintings and drawing are a source of joy and fulfillment for me. Each artwork I complete brings me satisfaction and wonder. “I actually did that!”  I have also been commissioned to do some special paintings, paintings with unique problems and challenges but with God’s help, I was able to complete the painting which proved to be a delight to the recipient as well as to myself.

Paintings by BARB

Barbara Young  209-532-3791

Bar-bar-a@att.net

Meet Artist Judy Day

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.  She retired from 25+ years teaching at Jordan Middle School in Burbank, California. In April of 2010 she moved to Jackson, where she began concentration on her painting. Although she works in many mediums, watercolor is her favorite.

Judy's art credit include the following: illustrating three education children's books, numerous brochures, posters, three foot by twelve foot paper cut banners that hang seasonally in the First Christian Church of North Hollywood's Sanctuary, teaching watercolor to fourth graders as a part of the Art in the Classrooms, a Amador Arts Council project. She is currently part owner of the Sutter Creek Gallery in Sutter Creek California.

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

Meet Artist Martha Cederstrom

Martha Cederstrom

O-022 Little Blue Heron by Martha Cederstrom oil 18x24 $450

Originally from the east coast, Martha grew up roaming the woods and mountains of upstate New York, and the rocky coast of Maine. From her parents she learned a great love of nature, the importance of family, and how to make things with her hands. She credits her middle school art teacher with first inspiring her interest in art, as well as the many happy hours spent in her dad's basement darkroom throughout high school. At Skidmore College Martha basically took up residence in the ceramic studio, and believed she had found her creative medium for life.

O-023 Pelican 1 by Martha Cederstrom oil 19x25  $450

Soon after college Martha found herself in Marin County, California, working a series of poorly paid jobs, and trying to figure out how to support herself as an artist. She finally succumbed to the family business, teaching, and got her teaching credential from SF State. She taught for three years in the East Bay, then was thrilled to return to Marin with a job at Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo, her home for the next 30 years.


Teaching predominantly 2D art mediums, Martha discovered a world of possibilities. Except for the occasional foray into the ceramic studio next door, she gave up clay for paint, printmaking, pastels, and whatever media suited her current project. Recently retired, Martha now has her own studio and the time to fully delve into her creative process.


Martha's work reflect her love of animals and the natural world. She enjoys playing with pattern and texture through combining different media, and often juxtaposes seemingly disparate imagery, asking the viewer to suspend their view of reality. She has been in shows throughout Marin County, and has pieces in private collections in California, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont. Most recent work can be seen at her Instagram, marthac56.


_____________________________________________________
         PO Box 213           Forest Knolls, CA               94933