Meet Spring Obsession 2024 artist Lisa Striplin Domser

 Lisa Striplin Domser was born into a family of artists. She can remember always being surrounded by art as far back as her great grandmother. For most of her life growing up the kitchen and dining table were used for art. Her father used to say, "The kitchen has the best light".

O-089 Mom's Clothesline by Lisa Striplin Domser wc 12x12 $500

She laughingly says, "I really didn't have any choice but to eventually pick up a paint brush. It was inevitable".

Lisa was born in Long Beach, California and moved to the motherlode as a young child. She has lived in Tuolumne County her whole life apart from living in Humboldt County for 10 years in the 90's which she absolutely adored.

When Lisa finally decided to get serious about art, watercolor was an easy affordable medium to start with. With the intention of learning with watercolor and then moving on to oil, which was her father's medium, to this day, she still has not moved on to oils. "Every time I sit down to paint with watercolor it is a lesson. A person never leans watercolor. It changes every time I pick up a brush".

Lisa lives in Tuolumne. Her partner of 12 years died of COVID in 2021. She loves to travel and always has a beautiful vegetable garden that she shares with her neighbors and community. Her yard is full of lowers and green grass and is a place where the family gathers. Lisa has vibe children who are grown, and all have significant others. She also has four grandchildren. Two more grandchildren are due this year. One any minute!

Lisa is a Christian who loves the Lord. She loves her family and country. 

God is good.

Meet Spring Obsession 2024 Artist Samantha Thull

 My name is Samantha Thull, I am a Bay Area native growing up in Pittsburg, CA. In my younger years many of my art teachers inspired me. They provided me with tools to create and appreciate my individuality and how I expressed that. I created sketches, drawings, and crafts to express myself. In many ways art helped me through my own personal struggles and to overcome grief in my life. Art has always been a part of me and there for me when I needed it.

O-101 Delta-Spring Breeze by Samantha Thull 12x16 $50 SOLD

As I grew older, I started to really appreciate my Bay Area home and all the beautiful landscape that surrounds me. Because of this I started to sketch more and got into photography as well as painting. I am always trying to capture the life of the green hills of Mount Diablo or Black Diamond Mines or how the water of the Delta flows. This amazing place has brought so much inspiration to my work and to who I am.

T-025 Flora, Fairy of the garden by Samantha Thull 12x16 $165 SOLD

I am now married and have 3 boys who I have created pieces of art with. I try to give them tools to express themselves and find their own creations through self-satisfaction and their individuality. Seeing and being a part of my children's lives has also inspired me through their imagination and combination of our own storytelling and collaborating characters. This brings us so much love and happiness, and so many wonderful memories. Art will always be a part of my soul, a part of the air I breathe, the wind on my face, the colors of the sky, and the very thing that makes me, me.

Meet Spring Obsession 2024 Artist Lynn Thorne

 Artist Bio - Lynn Thorne

T-020 Optimism in Bloom by Lynn Thorne wc 12.5x12.5 $300

California new3comer Lynn Thorne moved to Camarillo in 2022 and draws inspiration from the state she now calls home. Always a "stop and smell the roses" kind of person, Lynn thinks of her work as bringing momentary beauty into more permanent existence.

O-067 A Moment in Time by Lynn Thorne wc 12.5x12.5 $300

Lynn uses multiple mediums, including watercolor, acrylic, scratchboard, and glass to express how she views the world. Her art often depicts nature - flowers and birds are favorite subjects - but she also e4njoys landscapes and has been commissioned to paint murals of everything from the Blue Ridge mountains to an Italian trattoria. Lynn's pieces have been featured and sold in galleries and stores across the U.S. and her painting, "Flying", won Studio 9's Memento Art Competition in 2021.

O-068 Bewitched by Lynn Thorne scratchboard 16x16 $450

Some of Lynn's work is displayed at www.Facebook.com/PurplePuddleArts but she is also delighted to share more of her work individually. Please contact her at Lynn@LynnThorne.com or 301-542-6443.

Meet Spring Obsession 2024 Artist Stephen Testa

 Artist Stephen M. Testa

19736 Jesus Maria Road

Mokelumne Hill,  CA 95245

Cell: (209) 402-6574

Email: stesta@goldrush.com

O-044 Among the Geyser Mist by Stephen Testa wc 12x16 $450

Stephen Testa is a geologist whose interests 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 hemmer. Some of Stephen's earliest paintings were displayed at The Prince and Pauper Gallery in Seattle. During this time, he also become a member of the Northwest Watercolor society and participated in workshops. 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 artist's 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 its 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 several Ironstone Vineyard's Annual Spring Art Exhibitions, among others.

O-042 John Teo White Calf by Stephen Testa wc 16x12 $450

O-043 Chief Turtle by Stephen Testa wc 16x12 $450

O-045 Woman Drying Meat with Dog by Stephen Testa wc 12x16 $450