Meet Artist Cristy Bright

 

Artist Statement

 

Cristy Bright / cab ART

Mixed-Media Artist

 

O-102 double_frame_circle_with_flowers by Cristy Bright mm 12x12 $160

The mixed-media art I create is a process of experimentation, influenced by my personal creative journey through fiber arts, painting, calligraphy, ceramics, and flower arranging.  I have no template or design-ideas beforehand and simply start the process on a wood or cloth canvas by layering paint, paper I create, paper from books and magazines, stamps, stencils, ink, and markers. With no defined artistic endpoint in mind, I stop after about 3 to 8 layers when I feel that the colors and textures are right, and I’ve created a pleasing and interesting background.

Although again experimental, the colors and textures in a background do influence the design of the foreground artwork and appearance of the completed art piece. I often join or weave together materials found in nature (dried flowers and pods, sticks, moss, shells, and stones) with yarns, fabrics, or strings to create a 3-dimensional, nature-inspired image. My hope for every piece is that neither the background or foreground overpowers, but compliments, to create a single connected image with independent details that the eye continues to find fresh and new with each look.

 

Allowing the piece to unfold as I progress through each stage is both inspiring and motivating. The process creates art that simply can’t be duplicated - each piece is truly one of a kind.

 

O-103 container_with_flowers by Cristy Bright mm 14x14 $200

O-104 weaving_with_flowers.by Cristy Bright mm 10x20 $200
FAMILY MERIT AWARD

 Artist Stephen M. Testa 

19736 Jesus Maria Road 

Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245 

Cell: (209) 402-6574 

Office: (209) 754-1422 

Email: stesta@goldrush.com 

O-130 rusty_old_soul by Stephen Testa wc 16x14 $200

Stephen Testa is a geologist whose subjects are in painting landscapes of geological interest,...
, black and white images of iconic geological figures and landscapes from the great surveys of the 19th Century, and wildlife (including domestic pets). For Stephen, the media of choice is watercolor and the transformation from an historic dark black and white photo to watercolor brings out a fresh perspective on such iconic individuals and images. Stephen's other interests are in the painting of animal portraits and wildlife. His initial inspiration for watercolors began in the early 1980s when he was working in the North Cascades. It was there that he met Dr. Peter Misch, an iconic pioneering geologist of the North Cascades and professor at the University of Washington. Dr. Misch was also an accomplished mountain climber and during his many geological excursions would take his watercolor set with him as he explored the North Cascades. It was at his home where Peter first showed Stephen his watercolors and encouraged him to pick up the brush along with a rock hammer. Some of Stephen's earliest paintings were displayed at The Prince and Pauper Gallery in Seattle. During this time, he also became a member of the Northwest Watercolor Society. After a hiatus from painting in the late 1980s until 2017, Stephen resumed his desire to paint in watercolor. Stephen is self-taught, and has developed his style from books on technique, observation of other artists' works, especially that of John Hunt and Robert Bateman, and workshops, albeit his geologic training is an advantage in sketching and 3-D visualization. He prefers watercolor for the spontaneity and many challenges this media presents. His works have been shown at several exhibitions throughout California. Stephen lives in Mokelumne Hill and is a member of the California Watercolor Association and Mother Lode Art Association. Stephen’s works have been recently exhibited at the Aloff Gallery, Sonora, CA, the Linda Dirkx Brown Art Gallery in San Ramon, CA, and Ironstone Vineyard’s Annual Spring Art Exhibition, among others.

O-131 up_the_creek by Stephen Testa wc 14x18 $300

O-129 spring_thaw_at_hidden_lake by Stephen Testa wc 16x20 $350

Meet Artist John Tullis

 

O-089 Head, Heart, Hands and Health by John Tullis oil 14x18 $675

John Tullis

Instructor at the Lynn House Gallery in Antioch 

Member, Jade Fon Saturday Painters

Member, Contra Costa Plein Air Painters

Member, The Healing Pen Writers

www.johntullisfinearts.com

www.johntullis.com

Instagram: @jaycangram

I’ve been drawing and painting all my life. I majored in art and graphic design at California State University, Long Beach and did graphic design, production management and sales in the printing industry for 40 years. 

 

O-090 Ghost Herd by John Tullis oil 16x20 $750

About 15 years ago I picked up my brushes again and began my second career as an oil painter.   I currently have a solo show at Ironstone Vineyard and I’ve participated in many group shows at venues including the Lynn House Gallery, the Valley Art Gallery in Walnut Creek, and the Arts Benicia Gallery.  I recently was asked by the Pleasanton Art League to judge an open art exhibit, “Imagination Expressed” at the Museum on Main in Pleasanton, CA.

 

O-091 1940s Farm-all Tractor by John Tullis oil 11x14 $475

Since 2020 I’ve been enjoying my third phase as an instructor of basic drawing and design principles at the Lynn House Gallery in Antioch.  Finally, I’ve just published my first novel, a film-noir inspired mystery, with my own illustrations.

 

 Katherine Plumer 

Artist Statement 

T-013 Daffodil Sunset by Katherine Plumer pencil 7x10 $2100
THEME WINNER

When you were a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? For me, the dream of being an artist has been unwavering, blossoming and growing ever since my little hands could use a crayon. I create art because I feel like it’s something I need to do, and because I love it more than anything else, and because of the indescribable joy of the moment when a piece that I created I resonates with someone else, and becomes something that they treasure for the rest of their life. 

For most of my life, I have lived in the town of Wilton, California, a rural area south of Sacramento. I was raised on a farm and have always had a passion for nature and animals. The creatures that surround and inhabit my life have a strong influence on the artwork that I create, and in the last few years I’ve taken an interest in growing flowers. Last fall I planted hundreds of daffodils all throughout the yard, and as I write this the first ones are just about to bloom! 

The drawing you see here in the show is done with colored pencil, which is perhaps my very favorite art medium. Over the years I have explored many ways of creating art, and currently focus on engraving, drawing, and a mixed media style that combines elements of painting and drawing. This piece is based on my own reference materials, and flowers that I have grown. 

I invite you to follow me on social media, where you will see “behind the scenes” as I create new custom art pieces. 

Facebook: KatherinePlumerFineArt 

Instagram: katherineplumer