Meet Artist Michaela Smail, Ironstone Spring Obsession Accepted Artist

Michaela Smail

SOLD  "Sheer Moonlight" by Michaela Smail  scratch board  5.5x8.5  $125

Hello, my name is Michaela Smail and I am a junior at Bret Harte High School.  I have been taking art classes since I was very young and it has always been my passion.  I'm greatly looking forward to pursuing my passion by going to art school in fall of '14. 

O-195  "Greatness" by Michaela Smail  scratch board  9x11  $400

This spring break I will be journeying to Costa Rica with fellow students from my high school on a biological research trip in order to study the Leatherback Sea Turtle.  The trip is very expensive so in order to earn the money to go I have been entering my art in multiple art shows and trying to sell it.

O-193  "Ruby Red"  by Michaela Smail  acrylic  9x12  $150

I absolutely love all varieties of arts and I hope that you are able to see my passion through my artwork!

Meet Artist Pam Purselle, Ironstone's Spring Obsession Accepted Artist

Artist: Pam Purselle

SOLD   "Rusty Wheels"  by Pam Purselle  wc  15x22  $300

Pam Purselle lives in the Gold Country of California with her husband David.  The rolling hills and historic small towns of the area have been an inspiration in her art work.

Always drawing and doodling as a child, she first started painting in oils as a teenager.

Her love affair with watercolors began when she was lucky enough to study with Dorner Schuler. His use of color and water to create lovely foothill landscapes was eye-opening.

Pam continued watercolor instruction with Martha Wallace, as well known teacher and artist in Murphys.

In 2007, she began studying with Jill Figler, a nationally recognized watercolorist.

Pam's passion for all art mediums has benefited her many students over her years as an elementary teacher.

Now retired, she is immersing herself in her art and enjoying networking with other artists.

O-028  Going to the Movies by Pam Purselle  wc 11x15  $275

Meet Artist Janis Pastore-Smith, Ironstone Spring Obsession Accepted Artist

JANIS PASTORE-SMITH

O-080  Sunflowers and Lemons  by Janis Pastore-Smith oil  16x20  $1250

An early interest in drawing followed by watercolor classes in high school made it an easy decision to continue my love of art at the University of the Pacific. At Pacific, I studied with Professors/artists Larry Walker, Richard Reynolds and Richard Yip.  After graduation in 1968 with a degree in art I began a 25-year teaching career. Between teaching and raising a family with husband Andy, there was little time to devote to my art.  It wasn't until after retirement in 2008 that I returned to my passion, studying water color and drawing from Deanna Hunt through the Pacific's Osher Program.  I continued my studies at Pacific under the tutelage of Professor and artist Lucinda Kasser.  There I began working in oils, discovering my passion for the rich, vibrant colors and energetic brush strokes the medium allows.  y landscapes are inspired by travels through Italy and France and by many trips into the Sierra Nevada and the majestic seaside areas in and around Pacific Grove.  I continued exploring the medium, expanding into the area of still life, taking workshops with artist Peggi Kroll-Roberts. My current work continues with still life paintings and landscapes that reflect my love of the natural beauty of California.

2013, Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA 16th Annual Spring Obsession Show
Nov. 2012, featured artist, Goodwin Gallery, Stockton, CA
2012, 1st. place, Woodridge Winery, Acampo, CA.
2011, 2nd place, Goodwin Gallery, Stockton, CA
2011, Mustlin Gallery Show, Modesto, CA
2011, 2nd place, Woodbridge Winery, Acampo, CA.

Meet Artist Mary Ann Newman, Ironstone Spring Obsession Accepted Artist

Mary Ann Newman

Handweaver

O-167  Spring Woodlands by Mary Ann Newman  17x18  $350

Although my earlier careers were in Social Group Work and Stay-at-home-Mom, I became interested in art in the mid=1970's when our family lived for a year in Switzerland. While there I visited as many museums as possible and participated in an art study tour to Venice, Assisi & Florence. Returning to Mill Valley I enrolled in art classes at the College of Marin in Art History, Design, Painting and Fiber and emerged years later, a serious handweaver. I purchased my Gilmore Loom in 1979. There were additional studies in weaving in Oslo, Norway; Sievers School of Fiber Arts on Washington Island, Wisconsin; at the Mendocino Art Center and in workshops arranged by local handwearers Guilds.

In and advanced fiber class, teacher Nancy Soper introduced us to the work of Theo Moorman, and English weaver. Moorman says in her 1975 book Weaving as an Art Form that "Nowadays weaving and the processes of manipulating thread and fiber are generally accepted as an art form" and introduces the one person artist-designer-weaver approach in contrast to the past where weavers worked from a design given to them by painters. the huge old tapestries one sees hanging in museums were designed by painters and woven probably mostly by men sitting on hard benches at looms in Belguim and France.

O-166  Rushing River by Mary Ann Newman  16x16  $300

The work in this show is my own adaptation of the Theo Moorman technique which I weave on my floor loom using a heavier background warp with surface yarns held down by finer warp yarns to create the inlay image. It enables me to create pieces with the freedom of color and design. I find inspiration in nature. I have exhibited in San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma County galleries and Libraries.

Mary Ann Newman

Santa Rosa, California