Ironstone Heritage Museum

Meet Artist Susan King

Artist Biography: Susan King

T-022 Spiral into Spring by Susan King wc 11x18 $425

Susan King is a 32-year resident of the Murphys and Arnold areas. Now retired from full-time teaching, she has realized this exciting new time to focus on her exploration of the visual arts. The wonder of the natural world, which surrounds the sierra foothills and beyond, is her inspiration.

Susan uses a variety of mediums and techniques to create unique emotional connections within her work. Water color, acrylics, hand-made papers and altered papers are some of the essential components of her pieces. "Every painting is a continual learning experience for me. I'm constantly considering the interaction of composition, design, color and materials. This process is both humbling and exhilarating."

Currently, Susan displays and markets her work at Art on Main in Murphys. She was awarded Ironstone Vineyards annual theme division winner of the Obsession art show for two years, and featured on their vineyard poster each year. In addition, she was accepted into the Yosemite Renaissance show in Yosemite Valley and the traveling show thereafter.

Comminity outreach of th eArts to children of the Vallecito Unified School District and MarkTwain Unified School disctict has included lessons for students K-6. Her strong connection to children encouraged the desire to write and illustrate a children's book entitled Copper Girl: A True Story of a Therapy Dog.

Susan has studied with local and national artists, Martha Wallace, Cheng Kee Chee, and Jill Figler.

Additional artwork can be seen on the following websites:

skingartist@weebly.com

http://www.artonmainmurphys.com

Email: kingmail1@comcast.net

cell: 209 470 1855

Meet Artist Linda Lawrence

Linda Lawrence

Always artistic by nature, Linda was constantly drawing as a child, and enjoyed art classes throughout her school years in Soquel and Fresno, California. As an adult, her love of design was explored and expressed through photography, homemade cards, sketches and interior decorating.

O-064 Without a Paddle by Linda Lawrence oil 9x12 $185

Linda and her husband, Ron moved to Murphys in 1992, for its inherent natural beauty and small-town lifestyle. As her children grew more independent, Linda was thrilled to begin taking classes through Columbia Junior College around 2000, and first studied with Hermione Rios.

Linda paints primarily in water-based oils, which she finds to be user-friendly and a bit healthier overall. Through the years, she has developed a playful, colorful style, and had enjoyed and appreciated the influence of instructors Diana Boyd, Susie Hoffman, Sunny Sorenson, Eva Walker, and Judy Cain through Town Hall Arts in Copperopolis. She has also taken workshops from Murphys renowned plein air artist Kathleen Dunphy, and Colley Whisson of Australia at Coastal Maine Art Workshops in Rockport, Maine.

O-065 Comb and Wattle by Linda Lawrence oil 10x14 $195

Linda often shows her work was at the Calaveras County Arts Council and was accepted to present a painting in their 2017 show, AnimalScapes. She was also invited to show at the Studio 11 Gallery in Oakland, California in 2018, and had her first show at Hovey Winery in early 2020.

Linda is thoroughly enjoying the evolving process of becoming an artist, and the self-expression, freedom, and mindfulness it provides. She considers her fellow artists soulmates and true inspirational treasures.

T-023 Pots of Gold by Linda Lawrence oil 11x14 $225

T-024 White Beauties by Linda Lawrence oil 12x16 $250

Meet Artist Kim Vagt

Kim Vagt lives in our wonderous Sierra Nevada Foothills!

Recently retired in 2020 from a career in healthcare, Kim lives in the countryside near Mokelumne Hill in our pristine Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California where she has her art studio.

O-077 Estuary-in-Spring by Kim Vagt mm 10x10 $435

O-078 Wildflower-in-Spring-Air-by Kim Vagt mm 8x10 $335

Kim gain’s inspiration from the wonder of local landscapes and florals, abstract art compositions, and her true love for color.

O-079 Peonies-in-Blue-Vase by Kim Vagt mm 8x10 $375

She enjoys various mediums and techniques using Acrylic, Watercolor, Alcohol Ink, Oil Pastels, and Encaustic Wax. Every painting elicits pure creative energy for her with a desire to create a unique emotional connection for the viewer. “One piece leads me into the next and brings an exhilarating sense of joy, wonder, and learning”.