Meet Artist Connie McLennan, Spring Obsession accepted Artist

Connie McLennan

T-001  Daffodil Cheer  oc 18x14  $400

Connie McLennan grew up in Yreka, CA, where she showed quarter horses and sometimes accompanied her father, a veterinarian, on his calls amid the natural beauty of Mt. Shasta and the surrounding countryside.

She graduated from CSU Sacramento with a journalism degree, then spent two years studying illustration at San Francisco's Academy of Art. She began as a freelancer, illustrating a variety of advertising, institutional and editorial projects, including thirteen children's books.

She attended annual painting workshops with Craig Nelson in the 90's. In 2010, she turned to painting full-time and was enormously influenced by a series of workshops with well-known impressionist Don Hatfield. 

Connie is a two-time contributor to the U.S. Air Force Art Collection. Her work has won a variety of awards, including Best of Show in University Art's 2012 Open Show and an Honorable Mention and Second Place in earlier Spring Obsession shows at Ironstone.  She works at home in Rocklin.

Meet Artist Melissa Doyel, Ironstone Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-020  Tulip Melody acrylic  12x13  $350

Melissa Doyel

I’ve drawn, painted or hand crafted most of my life, but sometimes with too long of breaks of no art!  After moving to Fiddletown from the Bay area in 2008, I was able to devote more time on my art and I’ve been consistent ever since pursuing my passion despite still working full time.    

I work in many mediums including watercolor, acrylics, pastels and oils and like to let the subject ‘speak’ to me on which medium to use.   I enjoy painting a variety of subject matter, especially animals, portraits and floral.    I’ve been incredibly fortunate to find amazing teachers and artists in Amador County that I can learn from and explore new ideas and techniques.

I’m proud my work has been accepted into multiple regional juried shows as well as having received Best of Division, Best of Show and multiple 1^st and 2^nd place awards in the Amador County fairs.

I love painting in watercolor because of the transparency of the colors and the different effects you can achieve.  Working in oil, acrylics and pastels has opened up a completely new way of approaching my work and what I want to paint.  I like to challenge myself and learn something with every painting, which keeps me growing as an artist.   I hope you enjoy my paintings and will continue to follow my work and enjoy the journey with me.

You can see my work at the Sutter Creek Co-Op Gallery in Sutter Creek.    You can also find my work throughout Amador County businesses through the Art in Public Places program.

Melissa Doyel

Fiddletown, CA

melissadoyelart@yahoo.com

Meet Artist Lorna Ho, Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-026  Tulip Row  wc  30x24  $350

Lorna Ho

I studied Chinese brush painting before moving to Sonoma County where I have been painting watercolors for the past few years.  As an evolving artist, I am also experimenting with collage using paper and acrylics. Recently, I've been creating handpainted scarves on silk. I get inspiration from many sources in nature, music, dance, people, etc. Life itself in inspirational.

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.

T-027  Only Me  wc  20x24  $250

Education and Background:
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii
University of Hawaii, B.A. Asian Art History

Art Awards and Exhibits:
Lane County Fair, Eugene, Oregon
Sonoma County Fair
Sonoma Harvest Fair
Marin-Sonoma County Fair
Watercolor Artists of Sonoma County
National Arts Program, City of Santa Rosa
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Healdsburg Center for the arts
Occidental Center for the Arts
Graton Art Gallery
Annual Sonoma County Senior Art Show
B.R. Cohn Winery Art Show

Meet Artist Judy Day, Spring Obsession accepted artist

T-012  Out of the Blue  wc 18x18  $225

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 Amadore 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 sites and almost everything in my neighborhood. 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.