Meet Artist Susie Hoffman, Spring Obsession Open Division accepted artist

Susie Hoffman,
Copperopolis
susie@townhallarts.com
www.townhallarts.com

Now exploring art after retiring from teaching English and history, Susie
considers herself a “professional art student”. She and her husband, Larry,
created the art center Town Hall Arts in Copperopolis where she has enjoyed
classes by many foothill artists over the last five years. From oil classes to
mosaics, she is always eager to learn something new.

Susie first started this art journey 11 years ago in watercolor. Happy to
retire early, she discovered a wonderful East Bay watercolor group that even
travelled to southern France to paint in the small towns of the Dordogne region.
Since opening the art store, she has branched out into oil, graphite, collage,
acrylics, and pastels. She also sells many of her photographs at Town Hall Arts.
She loves trying new media and tries to find something unique to teach at
the Copper Art Club, a group she started out of her home when she and Larry
moved to Copper eight years ago. The club now meets weekly at Town Hall
Arts.

Painting in oil is her challenge right now. “I love the freedom and color
that can be achieved in oil, but I also enjoy practicing drawing skills with
graphite portraits of my six grandchildren,” Susie said. She always takes several
photos and sketchbook along on trips to create what she calls “airplane art”—
small graphite portraits done “en route”.
Honors include awards at the Mother Lode Art Show (including a 1st
place, 2013), Delicato Show, Calaveras County Fair (including three Best of
Divisions and eleven 1st place awards in last three years), Valley Arts Show
(including a 1st, 2013), and Oakdale Transportation Show (1st).
Two of her watercolors were recently published in Sierra Wonders, a book
of visual and literary works honoring the Sierra Nevada. Her graphite portrait,
“I Hope You Dance”, appeared on the 2012 program cover of the Ironstone
Spring Obsession Show. “Copper Valley Patina”, a watercolor painting, was a
bell-ringer last year at the KVIE auction. Susie’s artwork is displayed at Galerie
Copper in Town Hall Arts, under the clock, in Copperopolis Town Square; Frog’s
Tooth Winery in Murphys; and Calaveras Arts Council in San Andreas. She is
currently program director for Mother Lode Art Association.

Meet Artist George Haskell, Spring Obsession OPEN Division accepted artist

GEORGE HASKELL

o-141 Half Dome in Spring  oil 11x14  $600

George Haskell's first artistic love has always been landscape painting, in particular Yosemite. He has always been captivated by the grandeur of Yosemite Valley season by season, scene by scene and moment by moment. It is never the same valley twice. Capturing and interpreting the moods of the valley has always been a challenge and deeply inspiring. Since retiring from a career teaching special education has focused on creating paintings that evoke a feeling of the time place and season for the observer.

O-142 Half Dome in Summer  oil 11x14  $600

George Haskell has enjoyed oil painting since he took a semi independent painting class in college during the seventies. He has worked for the past ten years sharpening his skills.  During much of this time the main influence on his approach to painting has been his longtime friend and teacher Judy Cain. Using color, often emphasized, evoking a feeling in the observer has been a primary consideration.

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

Meet Artist Marina Hanson, Spring Obsession Open Division accepted Artist

MARINA HANSON

mhansondesign@aol.com

408-857-5457

O-206  New Beginnings  acrylic  24x28 $800

Artist Biography

     Marina was born and raised in the Ukraine, and came to the United States with her family in 1992.

     Passion for creativity has always defined her and led her to earn a PHD in Architecture and, later, a Degree in Interior Design. She began painting as a way to escape and cope with personal trauma, and has been painting ever since. Today, it’s evident that the world of Art holds a permanent and significant position in her existence. Largely self-taught, she joined Los Gatos Art Association and studio/gallery in Campbell “Gallery of Dreams”.

O-210  Transformation  acrylic  40x30  $1600

     In her paintings, Marina lets her imagination run wild and makes an attempt to paint more then she sees. By capturing on canvas her deepest thoughts and feelings, she is not only able to express herself, but she allows others to connect with her.

     Most of Marina’s artwork is categorized as surrealism, sometimes abstract and landscaping, but the constant elements in her paintings are the vibrancy of the colors and vivid contrasts. She explores her natural abilities and enthusiasm for her commitment to create art within her innermost thoughts and emotions. Marina’s artistic affinity, creative instinct, and dynamic imagination have been refining with each day.

O-207  A String of Pearls  acrylic  30x40  $1600

Artist’s Statement

     “My art is an evolving process; I take and represent only elements which are the essence of the object or of the imaginary being. I’m fascinated by the explosive sensuality of the rich and luxurious chromatics, and rely on my desires for beauty, poetics, and seduction. To say I enjoy painting is an understatement. I’m obsessed with painting! Painting gives me unique moments of freedom and happiness.

                     Fully believing that one cannot know what the future holds, I welcome new opportunities, learn eagerly, and ultimately hope to touch people with my art.”

Meet Artist Robert Gorder, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Robert J Gorder

O-017  Lovebirds charcoal  9.5x8.5  $400

 Born and raised in central Wisconsin, Robert has been passionate about creating and drawing since he was very young.  His drawings range from simplistic India ink to detailed charcoal images.  The India ink drawings are a creative curvature study of light and shadows.   Robert’s approach to charcoal drawing is a negative approach where the paper is covered in black charcoal and the picture is drawn with a multitude of erasers.  Robert enjoyed and embraced every art class in high school because it gave him a creative outlet compared to the other curriculum. This is also when he found a passion in drafting, perspective drawing, and commercial art.  Moving forward in life he attended Madison College in his 20’s to pursue a degree in Commercial Art.  During this time he found the passion for figure drawing and charcoal.  His next 10 years were filled with few drawings but still felt a great passion for art.  Then in 2009 Robert was self inspired to draw a picture of his best friend in charcoal.   From that point on, Robert has been dusted in charcoal in his Baraboo, Wisconsin basement art studio working on drawings of normal items rarely given credit for their beauty.

O-018  Cross  charcoal 20x16  $700

 Artist’s Statement

My drawings range from simplistic India ink to detailed charcoal images.  The India ink drawings are a creative curvature study of light and shadows.   I approach charcoal drawings in a negative approach where the paper is covered in black charcoal and the picture is drawn with a multitude of erasers.  Since recently beginning my journey to pursue my passion of art, the focus has been varied and recently based on client demand.  Beginning with objects found in rural Wisconsin, my drawings have branched out to figurative, animals, private homes, businesses, historic landmarks and special edition vehicles.  My charcoal drawings have become locally known for the exact details on the smallest objects to the ability to embrace people’s expressions in my figurative art.