Meet Artist JacQueline Del Curto

ABOUT JACQUELINE

Jacqueline believes art must take one beyond itself to the idea of truth: if sense perception does not give way to reflection, art becomes mere decoration. Jacqueline hopes to delight and edify others with her creative understanding of the world and hopes to add a little color where it is needed.

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O-026 On The Boat by Jacqueline Del Curto acrylic 20x16 $700

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Jacqueline attended the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire, during which time she studied cast drawing at the Ingbretson Studio in Manchester, NH. She went on to study at the Russian Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, and apprenticed under English painter James Gillick in Lincolnshire, England. Jacqueline was graduated summa cum laude from the Catholic Distance University with a bachelor's degree in theology.

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Jacqueline enjoys working in a variety of media and genres and her work is featured in private iicollections in the United States and Europe. She accepts commissions and a portfolio of her completed artistry is available for sale. 

O-025 by Jacqueline Del Curto acrylic 20x16 $600

Meet Artist Kelli Noteman O'Brien

Kelli Noteman O’Brien

O-069 Egret's Grace by kelli Noteman O'Brian wc 32x40 $550

            Kelli Noteman O’Brien is a California native who grew up with the Stanislaus National Forest as her “backyard.”  Today she enjoys riding horses and camping throughout the high country she came to love as a child generally with a camera or paint brush in her hand.

A love of nature is revealed in her art where she often chooses animals, flowers and Sierra Nevada landscapes as her subjects.  Kelli feels a special kinship with birds which are frequently featured in her work. 

Today Kelli shares her love of art working with kids of all ages as an art specialist teaching at Sonora Elementary School.  As a life-long learner, she counts her most influential teachers as Joel Barber, Dianne Stearns, Dale Laitenin and Martha Wallace.  Her rodeo bull painting “Eliminator” was featured on the 2009 Mother Lode Round-Up poster.  In 2012, she was awarded the blue ribbon for her watercolor “Mendocino Poppies” at the Mother Lode Art Association’s Fall Art Show in Sonora, California.

 Though she also enjoys block printing, acrylic painting and ceramics, watercolor is her first love.  “Watercolors have a life of their own; they are spontaneous and lively.    I enjoy watching the colors move and interact.  They are versatile, exciting, and, yes, challenging,” she expressed. 

Today, Kelli and her husband, Al O’Brien, live on a small ranch they’ve named Banjo Ranch with their two horses, seven chickens, and many bird and wildlife feeders.

Meet Artist Helena Faitelson

Helena Faitelson

O-059 Blooming-flowers by Helena Faitelson acrylic 18x24 $300

Helena Faitelson is a self-taught decorative painting artist, teaching assistant, and mother for five children. She discovered her passion for art and painting at a very young age. With the years, she developed her skills and learned different painting styles. At the age of thirty, Helena discovered decorative painting style and decided to pursue this direction. Over the years Helena exposed herself to different decorative painting techniques and developed her own painting style.

Helena was born in Ukraine and lived many years Israel. She now lives with her family in San Diego, California since 2014 and works as a teaching assistant for children with special needs where she uses her art and painting skills in order to expose students to the wonderful world of art and craft. During the summers Helena works as a teaching assistant of afterschool program where she teaches art and craft and manages painting club for kids. Recently Helena established her own business of mural painting for residential and commercial spaces.

Media Helena likes to work with: Acrylic, Mixed Media, other media.

Surfaces Helena likes to use for her projects: Canvases, rocks, wood, ceramic, glass, metal, walls and fences.

Contact information:

E-mail: helena.faitelson@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenafaitelson/

Awards:

·         Special Recognition Award in 2019 9^th Annual SeaScape Online exhibition -  LightSpaceTime Online Gallery

·         5^th place in 2019 All Planet Earth Theme Online Art Competition – Contemporary Art Gallery Online

·         Special Merit Award in 2019 9^th Nature Art Exhibition - LightSpaceTime Online Gallery

O-058 Flowers_composition by Helena Faitelson acrylic 12x28 $300

·         Special Recognition Award in  2019 9th Annual “All Women” Online Art Competition -  LightSpaceTime Online Gallery

Exhibitions, Projects and Shows:

Past:

·         2019 – Carlsbad Art Walk as part of “Art Divas” team, Carlsbad, CA

·         2019 - Public Mural Painting project “Mint House Project”, San Diego, CA

https://www.facebook.com/minthouseproject

Project dates: 11/03/2019-11/17/2019

·         5th Annual Leaves & Petals Online Juried Art Exhibition, Fusion Art Gallery, Palm Springs, CA, November 2019

·          US Show 2019 exibition, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA, November 16 – December 29, 2019

·          Small Work 2019 exibition, Limner Gallery, Hudson, NY, December 5-28, 2019

·         18^th Annual Gift Gallery 2019, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA November 23 - December 30, 2019

·         2019 Stunning exhibition, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, December 2019

·         Alchemic Body: Fire, Air, Water, Earth 2019 exhibition, The Line Conteporary Art Space, London, England, December 20, 2010-January 31, 2020

Current:

·         Vend Arts exhibition "Material Zones" by 1805 Gallery, San Diego, CA

Upcomming:

·         Accepted to participate in Mission Federal Little Italy Art Walk as part of “Art Divas” team, April 2020, San Diego, CA

·         Accepted to participate in Art San Diego 2020 show, San Diego, CA, October 2020

Meet Artist Connie Romano

       

T-011 Color outside the lines by Connie Romano  oil 14x18 $245

 Spring Obsession 2020

        Expressing myself in the various forms of art has always been a part of my life.  My mother was a crafter.  My father created one painting when he was in Jr High that was just amazing in form, color, and depth.  He never pursued his talent with a brush but focused on science as his expression of creation. While neither of my parents was as obsessed with art as I am, they both had talent in creating and engaged in varied avenues of expression.

T-012  Just a touch  by Connie Romano  oil 8x10 $175

         

          I began drawing at a young age and always enjoyed it. I find it relaxing; a form of meditation, if you will.

        I did not, however, share that expression with anyone outside of my family until my husband, who was my greatest fan, encouraged me to submit several of my works to Ironstone.  Entry into the Spring Obsession is now an annual event for me.   The theme division is always a challenge as I find new ways to express the glory of a blooming daffodil.  And the open division allows me to present the diversity of what I create.

O-079 A Rose by Connie Romano oil 16x20 $575

         The competition is exciting but by no means the reason I submit every year.  I love coming up to this beautiful venue to wander among all the amazing art works that have been submitted by other artists and the glorious plantings maintained by Ironstone. I feel honored to have my works hang on the walls with such an array of expressions of the beauty that surrounds us.

Connie Carson-Romano

O-080 Calaveras Morning by Connie Romano acrylic 18x14 $325

O-081 Grandmas Bouquet by Connie Romano oil 10x13 $345

O-082 North Coast Break by Connie Romano acrylic 18x24 $435

Meet Artist Bradford L. Stone

Bradford L Stone Self taught Artist Valley Springs. CA Art is not a reality but a personal perspective of what you see.

O-100 Nature_by Brad Stone oil 18x24 $430 Delta College Ceramic and painting Classes Sacramento State College, Minored in Art (Art Education & figured drawing) School of Light and Color (Susan Sarback, seeing and painting approaches based on light) Experiences: Award winner of Bank of America (Pop Art) Calaveras County Fair (Best of Show and first in fine art category) California State Fair Cal-Expo Plein-Air painting participate and exhibit. Ironstone Winery Fine Annual Spring Obsession Arts Competition and Plein-Air Painting with Concourse De’Elegance Car Show. Ironstone Vineyard 21st. Annual Spring Obsession Art Show Family Merit Award. Calaveras County Arts Council Member O-102 Runaways by Brad Stone oil 20x48 $1014 O-101 Harvest_by Brad Stone acrylic 18x24 $430

Meet Artist Cindy Walker

Cindy Walker

Artist’s Statement

O-016  Granpa's Grapes  by Cindy Walker  cp 25x29 $849.

Grandpa’s Grapes…a few suspended moments buying time enough to ask, ‘Had this view been acknowledged for its warmth and grace, for its portrayal of life, before the inevitable fade?’ My only response to that query was to bring this impression to you.  After collaring my internal questions, I squeezed the warm seconds from the scene, apprehending and resting in the consequences of peace and refreshment.  I hope you will take away at least a portion of the rewards.

In this colored pencil presentation, I wished to pay homage to the simple sites often taken for granted. A spot of an all too familiar entanglement in nature. The levels of color employed is intended to show the warmth of the day while owning its balance of shade. Applied in layers, I encouraged the shapes and shadows to reach out as promised, yet now can stay intact.

 

My art background is diverse.  My Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art represents my vast interests and capabilities.  I’ve always felt driven to learn the rules which, in turn, gives me the freedom to break those rules.  Along with extensive experience is drawing and painting (employing watercolor or acrylic paints), I have completed studies in ceramics, sculpture and fiber arts involving handmade paper, fabric manipulations, dying techniques, weaving, and basketry.  I continually enjoy doing mixed medium pieces and eagerly return to those challenges when I am not illustrating. 

My related employment also reflects my artistic composition. From a substantial and rewarding career as an Interior Designer, I transitioned to illustrating children’s books for the Tempe School District.  My move back to California launched a venture into the wonderfully creative environment of the Electronic Game Industry, where I benefited greatly from the use of cutting edge technology in creating two and three dimensional art for the final game production—Each of the opportunities in my career as an artist continues to rekindle my creativity in ways that could not otherwise be gained.   

Meet Artist Jenny Briggs

Jenny Briggs

O-006 Poppy by Jenny Briggs  oil  36x48 $1400

 An oil painter for 25 years, Jenny is known for creating a story with her work.  Her unique style uses color, composition, and techniques that invite you to step into the story and linger a while to discover or imagine the little stories within.

O-007 Orange-Pansy- by Jenny Briggs  oil  36x36 $1200

 Jenny has participated in many shows and events, including “Big Names, Small Art” at the Crocker Art Gallery in Sacramento CA, Western Art Week in Great Falls, Montana, and most recently won Best in Show and Peoples Choice awards in the Folsom Arts Association Members Show in Folsom CA with her “Curious Grizzly” painting.

Believing that every painting she creates is a special gift for someone, Jenny says “I imagine that person as I paint, and I’m so excited that I have the honor of creating a treasure for them.  God gave me this gift to share, and I feel so honored to be the one to make this art.”

A collector recently stated, “…so rich in wonderful colors…her creative use of color in an unexpected way brilliantly enhances the subject.”

O-008 Spring-Bulbs  by Jenny Briggs  oil  30x24  $850

 To the question “What is your mission as an artist?”, Jenny answers, “It might seem too simplistic to some, but I love watching someone smile when they look at one of my paintings.  It means to me that it made them feel good, and that for a moment they are distracted from the hurts, worries, or stresses in their life.  I like that very much!”

Daffodil Season is Here!

Daffodil blooming season is here!

As you wander around our countryside, you can see daffodils growing - and many blooming already! Daffodil season is here! Different daffodils respond to our Spring climate in different ways. Each bulb has a natural trigger that causes it to begin to grow after a receiving a set amount of sun and rain. That means different types of daffodils can start to grow from early January to mid April in Northern California. The bulbs that get their required sun and rain each year become ‘naturalized’ – growing and blooming each year without external care.

This has a beneficial aspect for us who are gardeners! We can select bulbs of cultivars which will give us pleasing blooms and plant them in our garden – as well as in other areas where they will be seen but likely not be disturbed. All we need is knowledge of when they will bloom naturally. We are somewhat restricted; our sea level climate encourages early bloom starting in January, but it grows too warm to allow daffodils to bloom after the early days of April. Still, that is over three months of possible daffodil blooms! In the foothills and at elevations higher, daffodils bloom later – the higher the later!

Where can you learn about the blooms from a particular daffodil bulb before purchasing it? The American Daffodil Society has a no cost “encyclopedia” of daffodils at https://daffodilusa.org. Each bulb name has a description and its blooms shown in photographs! The normal time of bloom for the bulb is also listed. You need to jostle these dates somewhat. They are written from and for where the bulb is popularly grown – commonly the eastern USA states or Europe which are nearly two months later than our climate. For us “Early Season” here implies late February; “Mid-Season” means late March, and “Late Season” implies April. (In my home in Oakley, Late Season bulbs live only for the year planted – they are “cooked” by a splash of heat in early April!)

How can I select daffodils that will continue to grow in the future years?

In the past, garden centers and plant nurseries provided a decent number of different daffodil cultivars to select from. Even so, there was severe problem. The bulbs, grown in Holland, were selected for the entire USA – not for Northern California. They were for Mid-Season or Late Season growth – ignoring our need for Early Season growth.

Knowledgeable gardeners know there are catalogs of several specialist daffodil breeders from which to survey and purchase bulbs. The American Daffodil Society maintains a list of breeders from USA (7) and from England (9), Northern Ireland (2), Australia (6), and New Zealand (13). Many of the original USA classic breeders (eg, Mitsch, Evans, Pannill) have passed away. The ADS List does not guarantee satisfactory growth of bulbs purchased!

It’s to your advantage to use the ADS List to become familiar with daffodils in a catalog. The ADS List (DaffSeek) is on its website: https://daffodilusa.org. Once on the website, click on ‘Growing Daffodils’, then on ‘Bulb Sources’, and finally on ‘Specialty Bulb Growers’. Each grower is listed. The cultivars they sell are in their catalog; open the catalog, choose any bulb name, click on it and you’ll see the DaffSeek data for it. Photos of its blooms are there.

As of 10 February 2020, Oakwood Daffodils is the only breeder yet listing its varieties for sale in 2020. Some are Oakwood registrations; other varieties have been imported and naturalized in Niles (a final listing under Oakwood Daffodils [p.18] shows the ten cultivars I’m offering for sale in 2020). Other USA growers will also soon be placing their 2020 catalogs. Overseas growers will also place their lists. Many overseas sellers will have listings of cultivars they have registered. Part of the fun is reading all the catalogs – and perhaps even choosing to buy a few! Overseas purchases do require the addition of shipping fees.

Reprinted with permission by creator Bob Spotts, Northern California Daffodil Society