Meet Artist Stephen Testa

 

            
             Stephen Testa

is a geologist whose interests are in painting landscapes of geological interest, black and white images of iconic geological figures and landscapes from the great surveys of the 19th Century, and wildlife (including domestic pets).  For Stephen, the media of choice is watercolor and the transformation from an historic dark black and white photo to watercolor brings out a fresh perspective on such iconic individuals and images.  Stephen's other interests are in the painting of animal portraits and wildlife.  His initial inspiration for watercolors began in the early 1980s when he was working in the North Cascades.  It was there that he met Dr. Peter Misch, an iconic pioneering geologist of the North Cascades and professor at the University of Washington.  Dr. Misch also an accomplished mountain climber and during his many geological excursions would take his watercolor set with him as he explored the Cascades.  It was at his home where Peter showed Stephen his watercolors and encouraged him to pick up the brush along with a rock hammer.  Some of Stephen's earliest paintings were displayed at The Prince and Pauper Gallery in Seattle.  During this time, he also became a member of the Northwest Watercolor Society.  After a hiatus from painting in the late 1980s until 2017, Stephen resumed his desire to paint in watercolor.  Stephen is self-taught, and has developed his style from books on technique, observation of other artists' works, especially that of John Hunt and Robert Bateman, and workshops, albeit his geologic training is an advantage in sketching and 3-D visualization.  He prefers watercolor for the spontaneity and many challenges this media presents.  His works have been shown at several exhibitions throughout California.  Stephen lives in Mokelumne Hill and is a member of the California Watercolor Association and Mother Lode Art Association.

O-045 Bella-by Stephen Testa wc 26x21 $450

O-044 Big-Baby-Girl-by Stephen Testa wc 16x12 $450

O-043 The-Great-Hornbill-by Stephen Testa wc 22x18 $500

O-046 Ravens-at-Joshua-Tree-by Stephen Testa wc 24x30 $650

Meet Artist George Dillon

 

GEORGE DILLON

 

O-011 The Flutists by George Dillon acrylic 18x24 $200.

Website: www.georgedillonstudio.com

Studio:  2857 Oak Court, Valley Springs, CA 95252                 

Email:     george.dillon1@comcast.net

Phone:  (209) 772-2892

Cell:       (209) 608-0859

 

 

George has had an interest and a connection to art all his life but only in the last twenty years has been able to dedicate his full time to its pursuit.

 

His teachers include nationally renowned landscape artist Charles White, watercolorists Penny Soto and Joan Dougherty, Judie Cain, a frequent contributor to Artist Magazine and portraitist Gary Bergren.  Ben Kikuyama, an internationally known featured artist at the Lahaina Galleries in Maui has been his mentor in the field of mixed media and three-dimensional art.

 

O-012 In My Dreams by George Dillon acrylic 16x20 $200.

George’s style is most often surreal or modern and has been influenced by Picasso, Matisse and Georges Braque as well as his first encounters with African Art and travel.  His imagination and whimsy have all been inspiration to him and have encouraged his experimentation with color, theme and materials.  His 3-dimensional art, which recently was the subject of his presentation to the Lodi Council of Arts, is typically built from canvas or paper and then layered upon each other to form his interpretations of the subject.  He takes a more conventional approach to more traditional themes.

 

George’s art is typically both bold and colorful and challenges his viewers’ sensibilities with sometimes humorous and sometimes penetrating looks at culture and its surroundings.  Further adding to his art are his pithy titles that often reflect both innuendo and a healthy splash of irony. 

 

O-013 A Good Poker Hand by George Dillon wc 16x18 $155.

When asked what type of art he creates, Dillon responds, “It is hard to categorize, but I am known for color.  I want each observer to have an emotional response of some type to my paintings.  The vivid use of color causes a reaction as we tend to be internally stirred by the spectrum before us.  I can describe what a painting means to me, but I hope the viewer comes up with a meaning that conjures up his or her own inner feelings.”  

 

Dillon always starts a painting with the idea of where he wants to go but reflects that sometimes the creative process takes over and the finished product is something he never dreamed of.  He gets a great feeling looking at a painting and having no idea how he did it but great satisfaction in the accomplishment.  He offers a tip for viewers.  “Often my titles help to discover what the art piece is trying to convey”.  Many of his titles will challenge the observer to examine their own awareness.

Currently George is a member of the Calaveras County Arts Council, the Amador County Artists Association and the Lodi Council of Arts.  His works have been on display in several venues in the Bay Area, Sacramento and currently in the California foothills as well as the Lodi Community Art Center.

 

 

Meet Artist Tabitha Kremesec

 

Tabitha Kremesec, Artist

O-005 venice by Tabitha Kremesec oil 16x20 $485

Tabitha Kremesec's preferred mediums are both oils and watercolors. 

Tabitha loves to create a variety of art such as animals, landscapes and portraits. Animals, landscapes and portraits are her passion. 

O-006 eveningrain by Tabitha Kremesec oil 16x20 $435

Painting is therapeutic in dealing with several disabilities and encouraging that she can overcome limitations. 

O-003 Qing Yuan deep water by Tabitha Kremesec oil 12x16 $285

Tabitha has a unique perspective and loves to focus on capturing the realism of a scene and she loves to paint impressionism art as well. 

O-004 New Wave by Tabitha Kremesec oil 16x20 $435

She is very creative and experimental with both mediums together  

Meet Artist Connie Bowen

 Connie Bowen

T-018  Do-Daffodils-Party-at-Night by-Connie-Bowen wc 7.5x7.5 $500

I have always loved art and photography and have tried hard to hone my skills with both over the past decade.  I have been taking weekly watercolor classes from Popi Tyler for ten years.  She is an excellent and patient teacher. She continues to teach me how to see,  I have also taken three workshops from Christopher Schink and he has pushed me to find my own unique direction with my art work.  I love the process of creating with watercolor.  I feel everything else slip away except being in the moment of that creation, which keeps me coming back to this beautiful medium.  I won first prize in the Ironstone Vineyards Theme Division in 2020.  I live in Forestville, CA with my two dogs and a cat, who sometimes become my muses.

O-048 In-The-Beginning-There-Was-An-Orange-Kitty by Connie Bowen wc 22.5x22.5 $900