Meet 1st Place Winning Artist, Debbie Gualco

O-075 Pompano and Circumstance by Debbie Gualco  oil  9x12  $375 

Debbie R. Gualco

ARTIST STATEMENT:
Debbie R. Gualco fell in love with California when visiting from her native state of Texas in 1989. Upon relocating to California, she received her degree in architecture from UC Berkeley. She founded Reynolds Gualco Architecture & Interior Design, (www.rgaid.com) specializing in residential projects. In addition to her busy schedule as principal of an award winning design firm, she paints and teaches art professionally. In 2011, she opened Capital Artworks Studio & Gallery (www.capital-artworks.com).

Preferring to paint/draw only from life, she enjoys all subject matter including portraits, figures, still life, and landscapes.

O-074  Lupines  by Debbie Gualco  oil  9x12  $375

Debbie has studied under Carolyn Anderson, Jeffrey Watts, Terry Muira, Don Hatfield, Kevin Courter, Randy Sexton, Fongwei Liu, Fred Dalkey, and Ramon Froman, a prior student of Robert Henri. She is a member of the Northern California Arts, California Art Club, Oil Painters of America, Sacramento Plein Air Painters, Roseville Arts, San Francisco Figurative Artists, and the Portrait Society of America.

O-078  Anticipation by Debbie Gualco  oil  14x18  $750

EDUCATION:
BA, Architecture, UC Berkeley

PREFERRED MEDIUMS:
Oil, Watercolor & Pastels

AWARDS:
2013 Ironstone Spring Obsession - 1st Award!
2013 Ironstone Spring Obsession - Merit Award
2012 Magnum Opus XXIII
2011 Pence Gallery - Curator's Award
2011 Winters Plein Air - Artists' Choice Award
2011 Magnum Opus XXII - Special Award
2010 Bold Expressions - Merit Award
2009 Bold Expressions - Shepherd Award
2009 SFAC Members Show - Best of Show
2008 Magnum Opus XIX - Gold Award

REPRESENTATION:
Capital ArtWorks, Sacramento, California
School of Light and Color, Fair Oaks, California

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email: drgualco@rgaid.com
www.debbiegualco.com

Meet Artist Carol Goff, Ironstone Spring Obsession Open Division accepted Artist

Carol Goff

O-126 Crystal Iris by Carol Goff  watercolor  16x20  $450

Murphys, CA

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 how 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.

O-125  Autumn in Murphys Park by Carol Goff  watercolor  16x20  $450

I am an active member of Arts of Bear Valley, Golden Palett Art Association, Calaveras County Arts Council and the Gallery Group. My paintings have won ribbons at the Calaveras County Fain and Lodi grape Festival. I also received the third place award at Ironstone Vineyards 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 Barbara Gill, Ironstone Spring Obsession Open Division accepted Artist

O-201 Seasoned Sketches by Barbara Gill  watercolor  18x24  $250

Barbara Gill
Watercolor

About the Artist:
I graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara with a BA in painting and received my MA in painting from California State University Fresno

Gallery Representation:
Mistlin Gallery, Modesto, CA

Exhibitions and Awards:
Point Lobos: Jewel of the Central Coast Carmel Art Institute, Docent Award
59th Annual Spring Show, First Place
Stanislaus Artist Open Studio, First Place Purchase Award
California Fine Art Show, State Fair
Yosemite Renaissance XXIV

Workshops I Present
"Splash" is the study of waves in watercolor
"Ink Flower Paintings" with Oriental brush

Membership in Art Organizations
Signature Member, MBPAPA
Valley Sun Catchers Plein Air Painters
California Watercolor Association

Artist's Statement:
My goal is to show the beauty in Nature and the need for conservation of our natural areas.

Meet Artist Annie Fountain, Ironstone Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Annie Fountain

O-044  Still Beautiful  by Annie Fountain  oil  12x24  $720

Annie Fountain is a plein air artist dedicated to capturing the essence of the great outdoors near her Sierra Foothill home and elsewhere. Enamored by painting on location, she can be found regularly along old roads and ranches and by lakes and rivers in the mountains and foothills.  whether outside of in the studio, Annie's design and color instincts have a permanent outlet at the easel.

With its vast beauty and warm climate, the foothills of the Sierra have shaped her art. The first thing she sees in choosing her subject is usually the reflection of light followed by color.  Then she interprets what she sees and communicates it visually in her oil paintings. It is the impression of that moment that people relate to - that special something they've seen and experienced before - that draws their attention. For her it makes the effort exciting, satisfying and worthwhile.

Education:
Bachelor of Science, Biology, San Franciscfo State University
fort Mason Art Center, San Francisco
Plein Air Studies and Workshops with recognized artists

Currently Showing:
Just For You Gallery of Fine Art, Healdsburg, CA
Hanford St. Gallery, Sutter Creek, CA
Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA

Annie can be reached at: 
annie@anniefountain.com

Meet Artist Libby Fife, Ironstone Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Libby Fife - Fine Art
www.libbyfife.com
libbyfife@ymail.com

O-061  Hillside Path  by Libby Fife  acrylic  10x10  $125

Artist's Statement:  

Thank you for taking the time to view my work.  Getting to know an artist and learning about them and their work is an important component to enjoying the art that they make.

I am a transplanted Bay Area native, living and working in the beautiful foothills of California gold country. The experience of growing up in the East Bay, attending school there, and subsequently working in that environment for many years was a very positive experience. My husband and I decided on a change though and moved to Valley Spring in the summer of 2010.  I still maintain my ties and identity with the Bay Area but have enjoyed incorporating my new life here into my current artwork.

When asked why I make my art, what drives it, the response is always the same: I am interested, plain and simple. The landscape and history of the buildings where I live is compelling to me. Frequent walks at our local lake, trips to other areas in the county, and a general reverence for the natural and built world surrounding us help to give a scaffolding of sorts to my work.  Within those structures of trees, hills, and buildings there is a simplicity and stillness to the world. That stillness is calming in this age where everything seems very noisy and fast paced.  My paintings reflect this simplicity and designs that are uncomplicated yet still interesting to the eye.  Places and objects are reduced to an elemental image yet are still familiar and recognizable to the viewer.  It is with extreme gratitude that I live in such a wonderful place.  I love the peace and quiet that can be experienced here in a small, rural community. With all of the visual noise and complications, my paintings are a welcome respite from clutter, detail, and the clamor of everyday life.

Please note my website and email address listed above. I love to hear comments and to answer questions so please feel free to contact me.  My CV is available upon request.

Meet Artist Robert Feigen, Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Robert Feigen


My name is Robert Feigen and I am the artist that has performed the attached painting.  I am a graduate of California Polytechnic college in Pomona, California with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science and in Business Administration.  I have studied for three years at the Sonora Arts Academy and have been an artist for six years.  I am now retired and have chosen to focus on my passion for painting and the arts.

My fifty piece "RatzNKatz" Series is a primitive, anthropomorphic, mystical, fantasy humorous artistic presentation and is my own style of paining in oil and acrylics.  The vivid colors and the action of the characters are an expression of myself for a world of happiness and harmony through strength and balance in the face of potential adversity.  There is also some sauciness and and arrogance thrown in at times.  If the viewer stops, looks, laughs, and smiles then leaves only to come back again I will have been successful in my artistic intent.

The Ratz and katz characters in the paintings have a human-like faces and qualities and the Ratz with the exaggerated bodies interact to symbolize both the struggles to coexist and to challenge each other with the underdog (Ratz) being in control of the dominant species (Katz).  The themes in each painting are unique and expressive within a particular genre.

The "Ratz N Katz Annual Golf Championships" is number fourty-three (#43) in the Series and depicts the Ratz poker finalists competing at golf and at the same time the "Mischief Ratz" competing in every way they can.  Of course there is a whole lot of cheating and mischief going on as well as the teasing of one of the Katz who would like to get at the Ratz characters.

The original paintings and stories in the series are for sale.  However, the rights to reproduction are not.  When the paintings are actually reproduced in a limited edition series, the buyer/seller will be entitled to a percentage commission.  Therefore, it is a win/win for everyone.

I want to thank you for your interest in my art and I will look forward to meeting you personally at the artist reception and at the show.

Robert Feigen
robertfeigen@gmail.com

And the Winners ARE!

After an exciting opening weekend this past Saturday & Sunday, The 16th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show got off to a fantastic start!  

This years Judges; Kathleen Dunphy, Craig Nelson & Anna Nelson graciously presented the Open Division Awards Saturday. With comprehensive explanations and detailed reviews of the selected works, they not only educated those of us who love and appreciate art, but also encouraged and inspired those of us who create.

Executive Chef Rob outdid himself with a wonderful menu of food & wine pairings, highlighting the newest releases of Obsession Wine, this year a new Red Obsession joining the ranks.

As always the Ironstone Staff were professional, attentive and masters of the great evening mood. KUDOS!


Now, ON To the Winners!
*PS all these pieces are currently available for purchase. Contact Ironstone's Tasting Room staff for more details or email cgomez@ironstonevineyards.com.

OPEN Division Winners
in Ironstone's 16th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show:

1st Place Winner:
Debbie Gualco, "Pompano and Circumstance"

2nd Place Winner:
Melinda Shook, "Retired 298"

3rd. Place Winner:
Stephanie Benedict, "Lighthouse Keeper's House"

Judges Merit Awards went to:

Karen O'Neill, "Grand Opening"

Debbie Gualco, "Lupines 29"

Bruce Hancock, "Miner's Cabin, Ironstone"

Family Merit Awards went to:

Judy Day, "Thistles"

Vaughn Lew, "Biding Time"

John Lovewell, "Leopard"

Meet Artist Sharon Denny, Ironstone Spring Obsession Open Division accepted Artist

Sharon Denny

Because I love our mountains and treasure their beauty, I moved to Arnold 30 plus years ago. Painting in watercolor is a wonderful way to capture some of that beauty. 

After raising my 8 children and retiring, I finally have time to paint.  There are still not enough hours to paint all that I see and love and want to share.  I will keep spending much time in the outdoors where the inspiration is the greatest.

Meet Artist Judy Day, Ironstone Spring Obsession OPEN Division accepted artist

Judy Day

Judy attended Art Center School of Design and Cal State Northridge, where she received a Bachelor Degree in Graphic Design and a K-12 Teaching Credential in Art Education and Math. She recently retired from 25+ years teaching at David Starr Jordan Middle School in Burbank, California. Judy taught beginning art, Cultures through Art, photography, cartooning, animation and algebra.  In April of 2010 she moved to the foothills of Jackson, and began studying with several local artists and concentrated on her painting.


Judy's art credits include the following: Illustrated three educational children's books, "My first Word Search", "Beginning Sounds Word Hunt" and "Fun Faces Fun Days", numerous brochures, posters paintings and cards, two cut paper banners (3x12 feet) that hang seasonally in the First Christian Church of North Hollywood's Sanctuary. For the last 5 years Judy has directed a week long children's art camp each summer in Studio City. She is currently serving as the President of the Amador County Artist Association.

Her awards and honors are: 1993-94 Jordan Middle School Teacher of the Year, 1994 Burbank Woman of the Year, 1995 Outstanding teacher Award given by the LA Times and CSUN School of Education, and finally in 2002 the California League of Middle Schools Educator of the Year Nominee.

Judy loves the outdoors and has hiked and sketched in the high Sierras most of her life.  "My art is inspired by my backpacking trips into the Sierras, vacations around the world, majestic landscapes, historical sites and practically 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

Meet Artist Geneva Davis Season, Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Geneva Davis Season  

Over thirty years ago Geneva's creative art journey began.  Studying a variety of techniques and mediums has let to a body of work of great diversity. Her work may be characterized as realism to impressionism, but as variety of subject matter a distinctive style has evolved which can vary depending on the subject matter and medium.

The variety of subjects has included animals, birds, rich and lively florals and gardens that evoke color and mood. These might be considered to be signature work whether in oils, watercolors of most recently pastels.
Others might consider the sentimental renderings of children to romantic figures the most moving to the imagination.  In any case the journey continues and might include almost any subject but be assured it will have warmth and emotion as a constant. Geneva's paintings are in many private collections.

Her paintings may be viewed at Pinecrest Gallery in Pinecrest, CA. All that Matters Gallery in Twain Harte, CA.  Town Hall Gallery in Copperolis, CA. and  Ventana Gallery in Sonora, CA.

Geneva's home studio is open to visitor's by app. 209-533-2014

Meet Artist Cate Culver, Ironstone Spring Obsession Open Division accepted Artist

About Cate Culver   

My first memory of doing art was as a young child.  We lived in Vallejo, CA where I was born on November 10, 1945 at the end of WWII.  My father Edson was an early riser up to grade papers and plan his teaching schedule. Soon I was up an about at 5 am too. To keep me from distrubing my mother Ruth and big sister Connie he'd have me draw pictures.  I've been drawing ever since.

By age three we had moved to Sacramento where my father joined the teaching staff at Sacramento State College in the Education Department. At age 14, I sold my first painting for $3.00, a watercolor of a fish. AS a teenager I excelled at my school art classes.  Upon graduation from High School in 1963, I was awarded a $100 scholarship as the Most Promising Artist. In 1967 I graduated from Sacramento State College as an Art Major. I loved my college classes and learned to throw pots, paint watercolors, do print making and cast silver jewelry. I was a History minor and enjoyed that also.

Most of my career was in advertising as a Graphic Artist for Pay Less Drug stores at their corporate headquarters in Oakland. Then Raley's Superstores at their corporate headquarters in West Sacramento.

Then after 25 years I burnt out. Just could not take anymore hours in front of the computer and the stress of deadlines.  I didn't feel like an artist anymore.  I longed to paint and draw again. I was 46 years old and newly married. my husband Jerry and I left our big city jobs and moved to the foothills of California in the Gold Country.  We found low key jobs and put down roots. I worked for a small advertising agency as a Graphic Artist and then moved on to work for the Calaveras County Historical Society as their Historian. I retired in 2007.

I bought new art supplies and began to teach myself to paint again. In 1999 the money came forth for me to build an art studio. It is 16 x 24 and adjacent to our house. At last I'm and artist again!

Meet Artist Connie Carson - Romano, Ironstone Spring Obsession Open division accepted artist

Connie Carson - Romano

Art is an expression of the way the artist views the world in which he lives. Through my paintings I try to communicate the emotions that made the subject something I wanted to share with others whether it be joy, serenity, or the excitement of the beauty of nature. I know I have succeeded at my Art when someone looks at one of my paintings or drawings and says "That makes me feel ...."

I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not drawing or painting. Acrylic paint is my favored medium.  I love the way it works and forms on the canvas. The colors that are present in nature are phenomenal and I love trying to create the same shades.  Being raised in New Mexico I found myself immersed from an early age in the amazing palate of nature and the challenge of trying to recreate that on canvas.  Now as a resident of Northern California I am awed at the diversity of landscapes we live in.

While my paintings for their colors are my favored expression of the world I have also spent time drawing in black and white. In the 1990's I was published for 6 years as the creator of the cartoon strip "Cody Coyote". Cody was a wonderful combination of my drawings and verbal expression of the humorous side of life. Cody was well loved by the readers of the paper in the mountain community in New Mexico where he was published. It was wonderful to walk into someone's house and see their favorite Cody strip hanging on the refrigerator and know that my art added a smile to their day.

   Two Artists looking at the same object of same landscape will create completely different expressions of what they see.  I find it is amazing and exciting that so many different interpretations of the world around us are available through the eyes of Artists. It is my pleasure that I am able to add my own personal expressions to this collection.

 

Meet Artist Aubrey Straub, Ironstone Vineyard's Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Aubrey Straub

For 11 years, I was classically trained on the piano. In the 12th year, I switched over to jazz, the land of creative exploration...... But the 17 year old ego is a fragile one, and I couldn’t stand the eyes that stared at me while I fumbled through my 30 second solos. Never shy, but always a fierce perfectionist, the thought of being observed and judged while I hit the notes within the E flat scale instead of G minor was mortifying. At the ripe old age of 18 I quit the piano and moved on with “adulthood.”

Many moons later, I began to observe that my life was filled with the technicalities of life; working, paying bills, driving to the grocery store. I was missing something. Where was the creative exploration? Where was the use of tangible to express the intangible? In what ways was I pushing forward with a new skill that was simply enjoyable and not for career gain? How was I forcing my brain to think in the abstract, not just to type out business plans, but to simply express myself? How was I expressing the raw, primal emotions that were important to me, the ones I felt were important in life?

Two summers ago I fell into some painting classes. The details of how I found myself in the quaint, color explosion of a studio are irrelevant now. I have fallen so hopelessly in love with paint, I cannot believe there was a time it was not in my life. Both my grandmothers painted, yet it had never occurred to me that a paintbrush in my hands might be the most natural thing in the world. Not only had I found my expression through art, but my ego was finally capable of handling the mistakes that foster growth.

Painting is not an action for me, or an activity. Painting is a state. I often do not remember the thoughts I had in the midst of painting a certain piece. I do not remember certain strokes that were made. Strokes that I notice after the finish is on, strokes that I wonder might have been put there by some elf in the middle of the night. It is time in which my over-active mind ceases to race, and plan, and multi-task. The moments I spend with my brush are a solace, a sanctuary, a quiet place in which my mind is still, and something else takes over and calmly pushes emotions from somewhere within me onto the canvas.

Aubrey Straub lives in Folsom, CA with her husband, Sonny and their three kids, ages 7, 9, and 11. 

This Weekend Already?! JOIN US!

Meet the artists this weekend! Come to Ironstone's 16th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show Opening this weekend, Saturday & Sunday, March 2 & 3 starting at 10:00 am. 

Joining us this weekend are:

2013 Spring Obsession Artists Art-in-Action

in Alhambra Music Room

Saturday & Sunday

Connie Carson-Romano

Carol Clark

Jerry DeGarza

Randy Klassen

W. Vaughn Lew

Connie McLennan

Ruth Morrow

Phil Murillo

Bobbie Powell

Katerina Rutherford

2013 Spring Obsession Artists that will be painting on site

Saturday

Linda Beach

Stephanie Benedict

Judy Knott

Sunday

Robyn Leimer

Meet Artist Carol DAvid, Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Carol David

Carol David is a California impressionist whose work is manifested solely, and splendidly, in pastels.

Her love of art and nature began while she was still a child tagging after her father, a US Davis entomology professor who documented his work in pen and ink. Her father recognized her potential as she entered high school and encouraged her to do what many wanting to be commercial artists did at the time; take a correspondence course.

Carol's love of art only grew and correspondence courses led to being her high school newspaper's art editor and then graduation from San Jose State University with a BA in Commercial Art and Art Education, to which she added a teaching credential and certification in Special Education.

Carol added a beautiful family in to the mix and art quickly had to fall a bit lower on the priority list, but Carol's passion remained and she has found her way back to a full schedule of working her craft.
Carol finds great inspiration in workshops and connection with other artists and some of her most compelling work has resulted from that.

Over the past years, it became clear that pastels were her meduim of choice. Carol's work has since been seen in exhibits across California and she as received signifant recognition and awards for her work. Her most recent award was at the Tahoe show "Truckee Exposed" where she received first prize for hier "Lupines" piece.  She was also honored by the Stanislaus Arts Council with their 2010 Excellence in Arts Award for Visual Arts.

Carol's work is also commissioned on a regular basis.  Subjects range from sentimental collage football scenes to sweeping landcapes to people injoying a sunny day to equine beauties.

Carol believes pastels are her tools to interpret. expose and share a beautiful world. And most days, that's just what you'll find her doing.

Meet Artist Bruce Hancock, Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Bruce B. Hancock

California Painter

Sacramento, California

Nearing the age of sixty, Bruce B. Hancock began a new phase of his life.  After more than 40 years in design and construction management in both the public and private sectors, Bruce returned to a childhood pastime of drawing and painting.  Setting aside his coat and tie and picking up a smock and brush, he began to paint again. 

From the shores of the Pacific coast to the open spaces of the Central Valley and up the foothill slopes of the Gold Country, Bruce paints California.  He is also drawn to the ancient lands and cultures of the great American Southwest.  “The vast spaces of the Western landscape overwhelm and inspire me.  Capturing the majesty, the history and the people of the West will keep me busy for the rest of my life.” 

Bruce paints in both oil and acrylic, but oil remains his favorite medium.  Whether it is landscape, still life or portrait painting, his work is distinguished by strong brushwork and bold color.   An active member of the Sacramento Plein Air Painters, Bruce finds the moments of creating art outdoors to be among the most rewarding aspects of painting.  The immediacy of the plein air experience draws him back again and again.  “Nature is a humbling and endlessly demanding teacher,” he says, “But If you are patient and attentive you will learn lessons that cannot be taught anywhere else.”    

Coming late in life to the easel has presented challenges and opportunities in abundance.   After the initial excitement of returning to painting again, he began to understand how much he had to learn.  To grow as an artist, he regularly studies through workshops and studio sessions with gifted painters he admires.  “There is so much to learn and to experience and to try.  I have to admit that I feel the pressure of time, but I understand that the artist’s journey never ends, no matter when in life it started.  How blessed I am to have each of these days at the easel. “  

Meet Artist Ruth Andre, Ironstone Vineyards 16th Annual Spring Obsession OPEN Division artist

Ruth Andre - Spring Obsessions 2013

Contemporary Landscapes and Abstract Oils - Palette Knife Paintings

My paintings have transformed themselves from representational to abstract works in the past  year. The new work has been an awakening, revealing the inner spirit of my heart. The paint moved from the palette knife to canvas releasing the paint to tell its own story. My hand held the energy from within as the mixing of paint colors ignited and nature's beauty emerged. 

I studied art and design at California State Long Beach as well as printmaking at Otis/Parsons Art Institute. My interest in art led me to a career representing artists and photographers located in Los Angles, San Francisco and New York. Then in 1992 I took my first painting workshop with Maurice Larioux in Santa Fe, NM and I was hooked on painting. I continued studying on my own and taking workshops with known artists to learn the art of painting. I have been involved with art most of my life. Printmaking, fiber-sculpture and graphic design are all part of who I am with painting being my true love. I look to my previous careers as very important since they were a molding of different mediums that formed what I do today.

Meet Artist Robyn Lyee Leimer, Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Robyn Lyee Leimer
Artist Bio

Robyn Lyee was born at Hill Air Force base outside of Ogden Utah. She spent many summer vacations with her grandparents at their home in Ogden. She has many precious memories of time spent with her grandparents on their front porch, looking out at the
mountains in the distance, enjoying the beauty and splendor of nature. Robyn has always been enthralled by nature. Nature's delicate perfect lines and symmetry of shapes, as well as the bold bright variations of colors continually capture her eye.

After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Art's degree from San Jose State University she is pursuing her passion on a daily basis focusing primarily on plein air painting. She is continually promoting plein air in her community and in her life's pursuits. After
graduation Robyn joined up with the Peninsula Outdoor Painting group (POPs) when she can, but enjoys plein air painting in the East Bay as well. She was instrumental in creating and organizing plein air paint out events with the Fremont Art Association as well as
organizing a weekly plein air group for the East Bay called Fremont Art Association Plein Air / East Bay Outdoor Painters (FAAPA/EBOP) which gets together to paint/sketch on Wednesday mornings. 

Robyn is also a member of the California Art Club: actively participating in the various exhibits, artist painting events and painting retreats that the club sponsors. Robyn enjoys the spontaneity of plein air painting. Starting out with nothing; being able to absorb it all from sight to sound. Capturing the essence from temperature, atmosphere and feelings evoked around her while finding the truth in nature that is constantly changing. Robyn says, "Plein air painting is a pursuit that continues to challenge me and I

love it. It is JUST PLEIN FUN!" 

Meet Artist Judy Boles, Ironstone Spring Obsession OPEN Division Artist

Judy Boles Art  

While taking family roadtrips as a girl, my father taught me to see the beauty in any landscape: orchards, corn fields, lakes, mountains, sea coasts ...and even barren desserts. Painting and drawing became my favorite childhood pass time. After getting a teaching credential from Chico State University, I taught high school English and Art in
northern California. However, my art soon had to take a back seat
to raising children and a career in the corporate world. Since
retiring in 2006, I am now able to pursue my passion for art once
again.

My art is a sort of visual diary of places or scenes that have moved
me. The observation required to render a scene on paper or canvas
makes me feel closer to the scene and to nature in general. While
living many years in Petaluma, CA, I was drawn to coastal hills, the
shoreline, and the wonderful vistas of the wine country. In 2011, my husband and I moved to Arnold, CA, in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

We now live in the natural beauty of a national forest. My new
inspirations: mountain streams, alpine lakes, redwood trees and
the constantly changing seasons.

Visit my web gallery at: rojubo.com/jbolesart
Or email me at: rojubo@rojubo.com

Meet Artist Christine Muratore, Ironstone's Spring Obsession OPEN Division Artist

Christine Muratore   

Artist Statement:

Instead of investing in the limitations of creating art from hindsight, we should initiate the path of art with foresight.

The dynamic synergy of structural and organic relationship is evident in our environment. Color, light and texture merging at different moments in time visually transform objects in our environment. Though the objects remain constant, these joined influences change how they are seen.

This coexistence is visible in natural cycles or exposure through time and function.

Working with aspects of architectural restoration has given tangible reference to this relationship.

Individual thoughts, emotions and responses are products of underlying experience. One's perspective has a structural base formed by this history while remaining organic.

As new experiences unfold, people reconstruct that framework, expanding, discarding, or renewing perceptions from current influences upon that support. Learning to play an instrument can initially be a painful experience, once mastered, it's a source of joy.

Inspired by the structural and organic relationship, my compositions explore images, color and textures to create a visual history of experience, while alluding to the ongoing transformation of self. The intention is to capture the ambiguity of perception. 

Short description of Work: Paintings using oil, acrylics, complementing medium and materials where texture is essential to the compositional statement.  An emphasis on the organic and structural relationship through form, color and texture.  

Meet Artist Bobbie Powell, Ironstone Spring Obsession OPEN Division artist

Bobbie Powell, Artist

Roseville CA 
bobbiepowell@surewest.net
www.rosevillearts.org
www.dailyartbeast.com

Bobbie is all about bright colors and heavy textures. She
creates using oils, acrylics, inks, watercolor, collage, etc.
doing landscapes, still life, narrative figurative, abstracts
and commissions upon request.
She is a self taught award winning artist, and attends art
instruction seminars and workshops with some of the best
contemporary artist-instructors in Placer and Sacramento
Counties. She has also been instructed and critiqued by
the nationally famous artists of Intensive Studies
Seminars in Taos, New Mexico.
Bobbie is represented by Patris’ Art Gallery and Studio in
Oak Park, California.
She has a small working studio in Roseville and can be
contacted via email. Her work is shown in the Directory of
Artists at the Roseville Arts website listed above, on
Facebook and she shares her thoughts and art process on
her blog, The Daily Art Beast.

Meet Artist Stephanie Benedict, Ironstone's Spring Obsession Open Division

Stephanie Benedict

sbenedictstudio.com
sbenedictblog.com
stephanieb@sbenedictstudio.com


Stephanie Benedict paints landscapes in oil,
acrylic, and gouache. She came to painting one
evening in the middle of her life, while wandering
through an art supply store. She was looking at
racks of stretched canvas—small ones, big ones,
square and long ones—all empty, white, and
standing in rows against the wall. Suddenly,
Stephanie started seeing paintings on them:
cityscapes, mountains, views through windows. She decided that night to
study painting, and she’s never looked back.
Stephanie earned a BA with honors from the University of California, Santa
Cruz, in History/Theatre Arts. Since that night at the art supply store, she’s
studied painting and drawing with Kathleen Dunphy, Scott Christensen, Terry
Miura, Susan Sarback, and Dan Samborski.
Stephanie is a native Californian, born in Burbank and raised in Sacramento.
After sampling life in Eugene and Boston, Stephanie returned to California.
She now resides in near Sacramento.
You can find Stephanie’s work at High Hand Gallery in Loomis, California,
and on her website, sbenedictstudio.com. She writes about painting, nature,
and painting nature on her blog, sbenedictblog.com.

Meet Artist Vickie Chew, Spring Obsession Open Division Artist

Vickie Chew Art

Vickie Chew is a local resident of Calaveras County. She attended Calaveras High School and never left the area as so many young locals do to earn a living and begin a career. Working in the local law enforcement community she began to study art in the mid 1990’s, as she found art to be great way to relax and escape the challenges of work. Vickie attended some local classes and workshops and took some college art courses while working on her BA in Business Administration degree. She is mostly self taught and pursues the challenges of Plein Air Painting. Her painting Airola Ranch Oak at the Kautz Ironstone Spring Obsession Show was originally painted as a small plein air study at the Airola Ranch off of Dogtown Road, outside of Angels Camp. She liked the scene so much that she painted the large painting shown here specifically for the Spring Obsession Show.