Meet Artist Carol Leonti, Spring Obsesion THEME Division accepted artist

Carol Leonti

T-010  Afternoon  watercolor  15x22  $800

I've been interested in drawing and painting for many years but was able to devote only a little time to these while I was working and commuting. I am now able to paint regularly. I love to create and painting is a major challenge and outlet for me. I enjoy experimenting with many media but especially love working with transparent watercolor because of it's freedom, it's ability to capture light and to express emotion.

T-009  Morning  watercolor  12x12  $400

I love to learn ... I am greatly influenced by my current mentor Popi Tyler, who coaches me on composition, color and boldness. I have studied watercolor painting with Carl Miller AWS, Dale Laitenen, Ken Hosmer, and Tony Couch.

Meet Artist Lorna Ho, 18th Annual Spring Obsession THEME division accepted Artist

LORNA HO

T-012  Spring Things  watercolor  11x14  $250

I spent a number of years doing Chinese brush painting but have been studying watercolor for the past few years. As an evolving artist, I am also experimenting with collage using paper and acrylics.  I get inspiration from many sources in nature, music, dance, people, etc. Life itself is inspiration.

I feel that it is not as important where I end up with the final art project as the process that I experience. If I've gained satisfaction and enjoyment from the creative process I just hope that someone looking at my work can enjoy it too.

Education and Background:

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii

University of Hawaii, B.A. Asian Art History

T-011  Diamond Head  watercolor  11x14  $250

Art Awards and Exhibits:

Lane County Fair, Eugene, Oregon

Sonoma County Fair

Sonoma Harvest Fair

Marin-Sonoma County Fair

Watercolor Artists of Sonoman County

National Arts Program, City of Santa Rosa

Sebastopol Center of the Arts

Healdsburg Center for the arts

Occidental Center for the Arts

Graton Art Gallery

15th Annual Sonoma County Senior Art Show

B.R. Chon Winery Art Show

Meet Artist Carol Goff, Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-006  Tulipmania  watercolor  18x24  $450

Carol Goff

The watercolor medium has intrigued me since I first watched some artists painting on site in Murphys when I moved here several years ago. Through private lessons, workshops and community college classes I have learned the versatile aspects of this surprisingly forgiving but challenging medium.  I continue to strive to add new dimensions to my work, always exploring new ideas and techniques.

My inspirations come from being an  avid gardener and many of my paintings show my love of what is produced there. I also feel fortunate to live in such a beautiful area where I can share the delightful scenery and wildlife in the foothills and surrounding areas.

T-005  Lavender Ladies  watercolor  16x20  $375

I am an active member of Arts of Bear Valley, Golden Palette Art Association, Calaveras County Arts Council and the Gallery Group.  My paintings have won ribbons at the Calaveras County Fair and Lodi Grape Festival. I also received the third place award at Ironstone Vineyard's 2011 Spring Obsession Professional Art Show. My work can be seen at the Art on main Gallery in Murphys and at other local businesses and seasonal shows in the area.

Meet Artist Jan Freischlag

Jan Freischlag: A Biography

Janice began her fascination with art in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1989. She began with German fold art painting, Bauernmalerei. After five years in Germany, she returned to the U.S. and began to broaden her painting skills.  On returning, Janice and her husband moved to Lake Tahoe where she was fortunate enough to befriend Lola Owen, her mentor and owner of Lakeside Gallery. At Lake Tahoe, where she became more accomplished, she began painting in oils. To her surprise she started to get commissions for pet portraits and more. She is accomplished in a wide range of subjects as well as most painting mediums, i.e. acrylic, water, gouache and oil.

Janice and her husband now reside in Ione, California, at Lake Camanche, with a parrot and four cats. She has a very productive berry and vegetable garden, apple trees planted from seed, is an orchid enthusiast, gourmet cook and paints wherever possible.

Meet Artist Diana Eppler, Spring Obsession Theme Division accepted Artist

T-016  Daffy Kitty  oil  8x10  $150

Diana Eppler  www.dianaeppler.com

"My painting subjects are varied as that is my nature. I will probably be perpetually in some period of transition with my art which, I hope, is a good thing.  I try to work towards a melding of classical, contemprary and my own style; always striving to share with the viewer a means of expression which is representational without being literal or prosaic.

I used to worry where was I going with my art? Was I a colorist, tonalist, impressionist, plein air or studio painter? I now know my art leads me. Each piece is individual and dictates how it should be painted. First comes what I feel, then what I see. When I paint it is me and it is my own. An idea for painting frequently comes from my emotional response to color and light. I build around that, often changing the subject matter partly or entirely until the color, light, and design meet to fit the mood.  This manner of creating a painting works well for the studio, which I very much enjoy, however, painting en plein air (outdoors in one sitting) is a good way to rejuvenate the very feeling that create the moods.

Born in Amador County, Diana lived at Lake Tahoe and in Nevada, Southern and Northern California before returning to the foothills in 1997. She new resides in Jamestown. She attended Western Nevada Community College and studied with Wellington Smith, noted artist, lecturer and teacher. Workshops over the years included Janet Tarjan Earl, Edgardo Garcia, Jeanette LeGrue, Kathleen Dunphy and Charles Waldman although she considers herself, basically, self taught. Past Board of Director of the Siskiyou Art Assoc., Creative Arts Guild and Mother Lode Art Assoc. Past member of the Lithia Artists Assoc., Ashland, Or.; Central Sierra Arts Council, Sonora and Central Calif. Art Assoc., Modesto, CA. Founding member of the Post Gallery and founding director of Aloft Art Gallery in Sonora. Currently her works can be seen locally at Ventana Gallery, Sonora and Galleria Copper, Copper Square, Copperopolis, CA.

She has been accepted in numerous juried shows and won many awards including First Place, Foothill Favorites MLAA Show. Top fifteen finalists in California Shines Statewide art show for the 2011 US Capitol Christmas Tree Celebration. Her works hang in homes and businesses across the country and can be seen on her website.

T-015  Through the Looking Glass  mix media  20x16  $650

Meet Artist Judy Day, Accepted THEME Division Spring Obsession Art Show

Meet Artist Judy Day.  Judy's painting "Daffodil Surprise" was the first painting submitted to Ironstone's 18th Spring Obsession Art Show, Theme Division. Kudos!  Read Judy's bio below.

Daffodil Surprise  watercolor collage  24x31  $350

Bio: Judy Day

Judy holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design and a K-12 California Teaching Credential in Art Education and Math from Art Center School of Design and Cal State Northridge. She retired from 20+ years teaching at David Starr Jordan Middle School in Burbank, California. In April of 2010 she moved to Jackson, California. Although she works in many mediums, watercolor is her favorite.

Judy's Art credits include the following: illustrating three educational children's books, "My First Word Search", "Beginning Sounds Word Hunt", and "Fun Faces Fun Days"; numerous brochures, posters, paintings and cards, three foot by twelve foot long paper cut banners that hang seasonally in the First Christian Church of North Hollywood's Sanctuary, and directing a week long children's art camp each summer for children in 3rd through 8th grade, in Studio City, California. She is currently serving as the President of the Amador County Artists Association.

Her awards and honors are, 1993-94 Jordan Middle School Teacher of the Year Award, 1994 Burbank Woman of the Year, 1995 Disciples Christian Educator Award presented by Chapman University, 1996 Outstanding Teacher Award given by the LA Times and CSUN School of Education, and in 2002 the California League of Middle Schools Educator of the Year Nominee. She has received numerous awards and ribbons for her paintings at the Amador County Fair, Ironstone winery and the Lodi Art League Show.

Judy loves the outdoors and has hiked and sketched in the High Sierras most of her life. "My art is inspired by my trips into the Sierras, vacations around the world, majestic landscapes, historical site and almost everything in my neighorhood. You never know what will catch your eye and inspire you".

Judy's art work is displayed at the Sutter Creek Gallery in Sutter Creek, California

Meet Artist Connie Bowen, THEME Division accepted Artist

Accepted Artist, Connie Bowen has entered the THEME Division of Ironstone's 18th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show which will open March 7th, 2015 at Ironstone Vineyards.  Connie along with several other artists are competing for selection of their painting to become Series #18 poster of the year.  You may see each of the entries into this division as soon as Picasa's website allows the slide show to present itself just to the right of this blog. Check them out and see if you can pick the image that will become the finished poster of the year, unveiled on Saturday, March 7th.

Throughout the next several months, we will be featuring each of the accepted artists biographies along with images of the paintings that were accepted into this years show.  And now,

T-013  Tulips Galore!  watercolor  15x11  $360

Connie Bowen

I have always loved art and photography and have always dabbled. I had never tried watercolor before I took an ongoing class with *Popi Tyler. She is an excellent and patient teacher. It was Popi's idea that four of us all paint something for the show and we did and to our great delight we were all accepted.
I live in Forestville, CA with my two dogs and a cat, who sometimes become my muse.

We're BACK!

After our little sabbatical,  we are back in time to begin posting biographies of the wonderful artists that have been accepted into Ironstone's 18th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show & Sale.

As soon as work has gone out to all the accepted artists and their bios roll in, we will be posting here for you to enjoy along with images of the accepted art work. 

So, Stay tuned!