Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Vaughn Lew

T-004 Gnomes hideaway by W. Lew oil 20x34 $600

 W Vaughn Lew

Artist

  I'm originally from Eastern Oregon.  My family moved to Lodi in 1961 where

I attended Lodi High School, graduating in 1964.

  I then enrolled at Sacramento State College, where I was a Commercial Art

major.  De Witt Whistler Jayne was my main influence.  He was a renowned

commercial artist, illustrator, and portrait painter with a gift for teaching and an

eye for perfection.  "Mr. Lew", he would say, "so much for a nice beginning,

but let's have a finish."  I've been striving for that quality ever since.

  Another instructor that had a very positive effect on me was Dr. Tarmo Pasto,

an eccentric art psychologist and art instructor who taught the "Space Frame

Concept",  It was all about space and form.

O-012 Lookout by Vaugn Lew pastel 15x19 $950

  After graduating from SSC and getting a teaching credential I was fortunate

to get an art teaching job at Elk Grove High School.  I taught there for several

years, but had an itch to get into construction.  That is where I've been until five

years ago, when my wife Glenda, and daughter Melissa, and I moved to Murphys.

  One thing that is certain is that art requires a commitment.  I feel that I now 

have the time and space to finally concentrate on my painting.  Although I have

been producing some art over the years, it is only now that I can continue to

the next piece without an extended time period between.  Landscapes, townscapes,

wildlife, and portraits all interest me.  My goal is to create images that bring the

viewers into a space that takes them away, and gives them pause to reflect.

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Karen (Kara) Lemens

 

Karen (Kara) Lemens

O-048 Strawberries-and-Cream by Kara Lemens-$550-oil 9x12

Kara paints life and light in a realistically impressionistic style in oils. She enjoys capturing a variety of subjects—whatever the light makes beautiful or interesting. She tries to convey the impression the subject made on her, using the language of oil paint. She finds that painting from life and all prima (while the paint is wet) best enables her to express that impression.

O-049 Spring-Blush-by Kara-Lemens-$500-oil 8x10

Kara loves painting on location (en plein air) with her border collie, Frisco. She paints primarily in the Texas Hill Country and the mountains of Colorado, but is always up for a plein air adventure wherever life takes her! She also enjoys creating still lifes in her studio, combining the natural beauties of flowers and fruits with objects of timeless beauty, such as family antiques. She wants to capture the conversation between the objects and her feeling of connection to them.

O-050 Carnation-Complements-by Kara Lemens-$475-oil 8x8.

Kara has been juried into many shows in Texas, Colorado, and California. She also has studied with numerous prominent artists and is especially fortunate to have been mentored by Kathleen Dunphy since 2018.

O-051 Beauty-and-the-Brass-by Kara Lemens-$700-oil 12x16

Kara is grateful that her art enables her to share beauty and her experience of the world with others!

T-010 Spring Cheer by Kara Lemens oil 14x11 $675

T-011 A Golden Trio by Kara Lemens oil 12x9 $550

You can find Kara’s art at karenlemensfineart.com and follow her outdoor and indoor art adventures on Instagram @karalemensfineart.

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Linda Lawrence

 Linda Lawrence

O-063 -Mosquito Lake-by Linda Lawrence 12-x 16-  Oil $375

Always artistic by nature, Linda was constantly drawing as a child, and enjoyed art classes throughout her school years in Soquel and Fresno, California. As an adult, her love of design was explored and expressed through photography, homemade cards, sketches and interior decorating.

O-064 Boards Crossing- by Linda Lawrence 16-x 12-  Oil $375

Linda and her husband, Ron moved to Murphys in 1992, for its inherent natural beauty and small-town lifestyle. As her children grew more independent, Linda was thrilled to begin taking classes through Columbia Junior College around 2000, and first studied with Hermione Rios.

O-065 Wailea Shore-by Linda Lawrence 12-x 9- Oil $275

Linda paints primarily in water-based oils, which she finds to be user-friendly and a bit healthier overall. Through the years, she has developed a playful, colorful style, and had enjoyed and appreciated the influence of instructors Diana Boyd, Susie Hoffman, Sunny Sorenson, Eva Walker, and Judy Cain through Town Hall Arts in Copperopolis. She has also taken workshops from Murphys renowned plein air artist Kathleen Dunphy, and Colley Whisson of Australia at Coastal Maine Art Workshops in Rockport, Maine.

O-066 Icelandic Popptes-by Linda Lawrence 10-x 8- Oil $225

Linda often shows her work at the Calaveras County Arts Council and was accepted to present a painting in their 2017 show, AnimalScapes. She was also invited to show at the Studio 11 Gallery in Oakland, California in 2018, and had her first show at Hovey Winery in early 2020.

Linda is thoroughly enjoying the evolving process of becoming an artist, and the self-expression, freedom, and mindfulness it provides. She considers her fellow artists soulmates and true inspirational treasures. 

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Tabitha Kremesec

 

T-001 Lovely visions by Tabitha Kremesec 18x24 oil $465

Tabitha Kremesec's preferred mediums are both oils and watercolors. Tabitha loves to create a variety of art such as animals, landscapes and portraits. Animals, landscapes and portraits are her passion.

T-002 Reflections of yesterday by Tabitha Kremesec 18x24 oil $465

Painting is therapeutic in dealing with several disabilities and encouraging that she can overcome limitations. 

O-003 Golden Fields by Tabitha Kremesec 30x40 oil $1840

Tabitha has a unique perspective and loves to focus on capturing the realism of a scene and she loves to paint impressionism art as well. She is very creative and experimental with both mediums together. 

O-004 Up the lazy river by Tabitha Kremesec 40x30 oil $1840

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Lucinda Johnson

 

Lucinda Johnson                        https://lucindajohnson.com

Lucinda is an award-winning, California-native artist (born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area). Art has always been at the center of Lucinda’s life. “As a child I enjoyed drawing from nature to become familiar with graceful lines, form and space. I am also very conscious of composition, shapes, lighting, and values from my photography education” she says. Through self-taught studies and workshops with professional artists in a wide array of mediums, art has always been a way for me to share California’s unique personality and vistas. Lucinda began experimenting with oils in 2020 and shared “I approach an oil painting with a similar thought process to painting with soft pastels.” When painting a landscape on canvas she first primes the canvas with warm undertones. Additional layers are next added dark-to-light. Using a palette knife she first mixes the correct values on the palette, and then proceeds to paint/blend colors on the canvas (wet-on-wet) or layer/glaze with brushes.

O-076 Mendocino Mist-by Lucinda Johnson oil 4x8 $175

O-077 Autumn Brillance--by Lucinda Johnson oil 4x8 $175

O-078 High-Sierras-Autumn-Glow by Lucinda Johnson pastel 12x16 $1200

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Aaron Johnson

 

Aaron Johnson : Artist

 

O-072 Airstream-Dream by Aaron Johnson wc 8x10 $2300

Artist Statement I create art because I am devoted to the feeling of meticulously transforming a surface into something new. From a No.2 pencil on a grade-school desktop, to color on canvas, prepared board and fine papers, It has always been intriguing for me to watch an image emerge from nothing. When I am working on a painting or drawing, pushing and pulling layers of colors and sharping details, I am acutely focused and truly in my element.

O-073 Angus-Young-Tantrums-by Aaron Johnson wc 16x23 $4200

Biography

Aaron Johnson lives and works in Orangevale, California. He creates his artwork in various mediums including oil, acrylic, graphite, and pastel as well as digital media. Aaron studied art at Sacramento City College and California College of the Arts in San Francisco, earning an AA and BFA respectively. His subject matter is predominantly vintage popular culture including classic automobiles. Aaron’s artwork is privately collected, commissioned and has been exhibited in select galleries like Christopher Hill Art Gallery in St Helena, Edward Montgomery Fine Art in Carmel By The Sea, Fire and Rain Art Gallery in Folsom, Wonderland SF in San Francisco, Musichead in Hollywood California and more. Please feel free to contact Aaron to discuss his artwork or any possible commission opportunities be they commercial or private.

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Annie Hughes

 

O-054 Home is her Hen House by Annie Hughes acrylic 21x26 $600

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Tara Holeman

 

T-023 Misty Morning Daffodils by Tara Holeman acrylic 12x12 $150

    My name is Tara Holeman. My two passions in life are being a mother to my beautiful son, Sylas, and sharing my love for the arts!  I attended Fresno State and earned a BA in Fine Arts, with an emphasis in drawing and painting. While going to school I was fortunate to work as a commercial artist for Trader Joe’s. Studying the arts while being employed as an artist was a dream come true and an invaluable experience!  

Upon completing my undergraduate program I decided to go into art education, which I am proud to say I have been doing now for the past 16 years! I have taught all levels in K-12, however I am currently working as a high school art teacher in Fresno. It is the BEST job! 

     I love creating art in all media! Some favorites include pastel, watercolor, ink, Prismacolor pencil, just to name a few. I enjoy experimenting and exploring new styles and techniques. My students constantly inspire me to take creative risks!  Recently, I have really enjoyed working in a more loose and expressive style. Being a new mom has made time and energy a precious commodity, so it has in many ways forced me to loosen up and create in the short times that I have. Nap time is now my coveted creation time! 

 

     This painting called, Misty Morning Daffodils, is an important work in the return to my artistry and reigniting my passion for painting. My motherhood role has taught me many valuable lessons, one I have found to be especially important is to be authentic to yourself and remember to do what brings you joy!!

So, I decided that for this piece I would not plan or agonize over the intended outcome, but rather to simply paint and express the soothing serenity of one of life’s simple joys. Delicate spring daffodils in the misty morning light. A symbol of stillness and peace in an ever chaotic world. 

 

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Holly Heath

O-088 Impossible Bloom by Holly Heath acrylic 10x8 $150

 Holly Heath is a local artist living in Murphys. She is thrilled to have multiple pieces in this years showcase. “Impossible Bloom” was inspired by the day-blooming gazanias in her garden and the impossible beauty of the night sky. Never the twain shall meet. “Mountain Misery” is a spraypainted piece with a moss border, meant to capture the feeling of a day in the woods. 

 As a child Holly always loved to draw. She took classes in watercolors for several years from Martha Wallace. Since then she has been primarily self-taught with the occasional class and input from her artistic brother Jesse. Holly decided to branch out into acrylics in her 20’s.Not long after, her aunt was kind enough to give her a massive set of paints and brushes for Christmas which inspired her to further develop herself as a painter. 

O-089 Mountain Misery  by Holly Heath acrylic 17x17 $150

 

She enjoys exploring different subjects and challenging herself to make each piece unique and beautiful. Lately she has been working do develop her style and expression with acrylic paints. She also enjoys making collaborative pieces with her new husband Jeremiah Heath, several of which are featured in this years’ showcase. 

 Besides painting Holly loves to garden and spend time outdoors. She finds joy in bringing beauty and abundance from the earth. She also has a passion for the performance arts. A juggler, she has performed across the globe from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland to the local Black Bart Playhouse. Holly may also be seen in the local theater community, most recently with Murphys Creek Theatre. She also loves to play and listen to music, exploring a wide variety of styles and genres.

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artists Holly and Jeremiah Heath

 

T-007 Vera Nocturn by Holly & Jeremiah Heath acrylic 15x30 $300

Holly and Jeremiah Heath are a local artistic couple living in Murphys. They have many collaborative art projects both visual and musical. Holly has been developing her technique with acrylics over the past several years. Jeremiah has been drawing fantasy–adventure pencil and ink for approximately ten years, taking inspiration for this series from equal parts Arthur Rackham and Alberto Vargas. Together they have been developing their style and this year have branched out into collaborative acrylic work. 

O-040 Lunar Lander by Holly & Jeremiah Heath mm 12x12 $175

 Holly started doing acrylic paintings around nine years ago, drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature and from her favorite literature. Besides painting, Holly also has a passion for the performance arts. She has been in a number of local plays, juggling shows and is excited about she and Jeremiah’s musical project “BlackGrass” in which she plays mandolin.

 Jeremiah started drawing approximately ten years ago as an escape from the performing arts, in order to develop something for himself. He slowly realized that visual mediums are also a performing art if you keep showing them to people. The first art book he bought was “How to Draw Dragons”, from there he started drawing Manga inspired by the Greek myths. He is inspired in his art by craggy mountain ranges and lonely landscapes. In this latest series, he is trying to bring out a bit of whimsy in defiance of a merciless world. He also has a diverse artistic background in music and drama, he plays guitar in their musical duo.

O-041 Sittin' on Saturn by Holly & jeremiah Heath mm 23x23 $200

 Holly and Jeremiah hope that their audience enjoys the art that they seek to share.

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist George Haskell

 

George Haskell

Artist and Musician

 

O-067 The Bear just over the Mountain by George Haskell oil 8x10 $300

 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.  Among his favorite topics are Yosemite, seashores, sunsets and animals.  What ever the subject is George focuses on capturing luminous, light color and mood of the subject at hand.  He has studied with Judy Cain, Susan Sarback and Heinie Hartwig. George is a member of Arts Of Bear Valley.

 

O-068 Vetrans by George Haskell oil 11x14 $475

Besides art, George is also a musician.  He sings and plays both guitar and banjo at local wineries and restaurants.

 

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

 

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Victoria Fout

 Victoria Fout

O-052 Wishing-Away-by Victoria fout acrylic 11x14 $375.

 Life can be very hard, so I try to add a splash of color and whimsy by imagining my own fantastical worlds and beings, exploring the duality between fantasy and reality, light and darkness, life and death, expressing emotion, and reimagining nature. I create fantastical creatures and surreal landscapes using acrylic on canvas as my main choice of medium. I love a colorful palette, and creating different textures. I love to manipulate the paint by using acrylic mediums such as clear tar gel, glass bead medium and molding paste to push the boundaries adding 3-dimensional elements to elevate the painting experience to bring my fantastical worlds even more to life. 

O-053 Blossoming -by Victoria Fout mm 10x10 $275.

 I grew up in Angels Camp, California. I found my love for art at Columbia Community college during the most difficult time in my personal life. Art became a life-raft; I found comfort, escape, therapy, and a creative outlet. Art allows me to express myself. I am a local artist with a fresh and unique colorful perspective. I earned my BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2016. My artwork has been shown at the Calaveras County Arts Council, Ironstone Vineyards, Crafty Chicks Road Show, Manzanita Arts Emporium, The Calaveras Celtic Heritage Celebration, All Hallows Fantasy Faire, Stocktoncon and at the Calaveras County Fair. I also serve as a Board member for the Calaveras Arts Council.

 Lost within my own darkness I find the colors of expression and joy when I paint, adding fantasy to reality. My art is an invitation into my world, welcome

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Evelyn Fitzgerald

 My name is Evelyn Fitzgerald. I became and artist in high school in 1972. I finished my BFA with a #D emphasis from Weber State College, Utah in 2011. Since graduating I have been developing my style and medium in clay and tile. We moved from Utah and settled in Valley Spring in 2018. I have been showing my art at local venues, Lodi Street fair, Arnold and Frog Jump in Angels Camp.

O-007 Freedom Eagle by Evelyn Fitzgerald ceramic 24x20 $700

My art is how I see and engage with places, seasons and nature, not just visually but with texture and color. I develop my designs on paper, I transfer the design to a slab of wet clay mapping out the individual pieces. I then carve to relief or build up the design to the texture that fits my project. I use mason stain for the color applying it in layers until the picture comes alive. My process includes anywhere from three to five kiln firings depending on the complexity of the piece. I finish with a gloss glaze for a deeper richer color. After the last firing, I mount and grout the pieces like a jigsaw puzzle to a tile board, and then it gets framed.

O-008 America's Beauty by Evelyn Fitzgerald ceramic 19x25 $1500

I pick the subjects for my designs from personal experiences, by subject such as school houses or seasons of the year, patriotic or nature at its best. I have been working on this technique for quite some time and I am now happy with my finished works, but I still strive to improve the controls that are required for this art form.

O-009 Alaska's Eagle by Evelyn Fitzgerald ceramic 20x16 $500

My pieces range from 10" x 15" to 18" x 24". the frames are all hand made by my husband, Dave Fitzgerald. I also do figurines, and custom orders and commissioned work.

Evelyn Fitzgerald

Evelyn.Fitzgerald.56

801-628-8876 or 209-920-3457

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Susan Farley

 SUSAN FARLEY        GLASS ARTIST

O-057 The Rose by Susan Farley fused glass 20x20 $300

Susan Farley spent her first years in Walnut Creek and then moved with her fami8ly to Sacramento, where she completed her B.A. and obtained her teaching credential. She began her teaching career of 37 years in Manteca, residing in Stockton with her husband and two sons. She then returned to University California State Sacramento to complete a Masters in Gifted Education and Technology.

She is an avid environmental enthusiast, having donated countless hours of volunteer work in leadership and training for the Sierra Club. She loves the Sierra Nevada Mountains, having gained an  appreciation and reverence of the outdoors from her early experiences with her family, and continues to ski, fish, camp, and hike.

In 2007 she took a glass bead making class and enjoyed the process. However - it would take her 6 attempts to make a symmetrical pair of beads for earrings! Shortly before retiring, she purchased a "well-loved" kiln, and began making fused glass jewelry, It was not too long before she made the leap into other glass forms, from functional pieces such as votives, bowls and platters, to sculptural art pieces. She enjoys this glass art form and all that it allows: the textures, the colors, the shaping, blending, and melting - all allowing for limitless creative expressions.

"It's like Christmas morning when I go out to my cooled kiln to open it and see how my glass came out!"

Susan also enjoys taking photographs, and is often finding ideas for her glass creations from her travels throughout the world, while hiking in the mountains, and in her own backyard. She admits she has not "found her voice", as she is still in awe of what she can attempt to create from what she sees in the world.

Susan has taken a few classes to increase her glass knowledge and skills, and has a mentor friend who is a great resource for her. She has recently wone awards at juried art shows. But as she says: "I have a long way to go - I've just begun my discovery of what is possible in the glass world."

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist Steve Ellenburg

 

Steve Ellenburg Art

Wine is the answer, what was the question?  

WWW.SteveEllenburg.com

WWW.Winepainter.com

 

My art is of simplistic forms from the heart focusing on wine, people, and situations.  While I try to present a realistic image, the goal isn’t to draw a photo realistic picture. My goal is to represent the images as I see them.  Maybe even develop a desire to be there.  Most of my work is stand alone but I have several pieces that present a story in several panels.  I try to create a sense of familiarity or desired state of mind or place.

O-005 Keith by Steve Ellenburg acr 16x20 $650

 My journey is a simple one. I doodled a bunch in a younger day then moved to pencil sketching.  I was challenged to chase my enthusiasm.  So, the adventure began…  I started taking workshops and reading books, and the occasional JC course.

O-006 Marilyn by Steve Ellenburg acr 18x36 $1300

 

I started collecting and following what turned out to be my lifetime influences.   MC Escher, Fabian Perez, Maxfield Parrish, JD Hillberry, Aldo Luongo, and Henry Asencio have all contributed to my journey. They say you should paint what you love.  People might not appreciate paintings of my wife and dog but wine, celebrities, personal portraits, and the female form all have their passionate creative expressions that compel me to paint as well.  You can also drive downtown, Placerville CA, and see outdoor mural on the historic Placerville Hardware store.

 

My work is acrylic on canvas and board.  I sell prints for the budget minded.

 

Contact Information

Personal Art Site   https://sellenburg.com/  

 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sellenburg/ 

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/steve.ellenburg.art/

Email: Steve@Sellenburg.com

Phone: 925-818-4282

 Thanks for reading!

 

Meet 2023 Spring Obsession Artist George Dillon

 Studio:  2857 Oak Court, Valley Springs, CA 95252

                      

Email:     george.dillon1@comcast.net

Phone:  (209) 772-2892

Cell:       (209) 608-0859

GEORGE DILLON

 

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

 

His teachers include nationally renowned landscape 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 featured artist at the Lahaina Galleries in Maui has been his mentor in the field of mixed media and three-dimensional art.

 

O-010 Lodi by George Dillon acrylic 30x24 $350

George’s style is most often surreal or modern and has been influenced by Picasso, Matisse and Georges 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, theme and materials.  His 3-dimensional art, which recently was the subject of his presentation to the Lodi Council of Arts, is typically built from canvas or paper and then layered upon each other to form his interpretations of the subject.  He takes a more conventional approach to more traditional themes.

 

O-011 The-Three-Faces-of-Eve- by George Dillon acrylic 24x30 $350

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

 

When asked what type of art he creates, Dillon responds, “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 as well as the Lodi Community Art Center.