Holiday Party – Gallery 24

December 2, 2016

Gallery lighting is for paintings – not people & cameras only work when the batteries are charged!

That aside, here are the few photos I have from Gallery 24’s Holiday Party last night which was great (before my battery went dead)! I got to meet so many lovely people including some of the artists who have recently become members! Also two go my hummingbirds had flown off the tree to new homes before I even got to the party!

I love belonging to gallery with such engaged artists and sponsors, (Los Gatos Morning Rotary Charitable Foundation) and such a supportive community!

Me with my birds….

Holiday Tree trimmed with small treasures.

Micheal Rogan’s floral.

Shannon Amidon with her encaustic painting of a silhouetted tree and hawk ….

That’s better …Occhiolism.

And then my battery went dead and I could actually talk to people!

Last Hours – SVOS 2014

May 19, 2014

I was able to squeeze in a few more studio visits before time ran out on the 28th annual Silicon Valley Open Studios. Click on the artist’s name for a link to their website.

First on my list was Ed Lucey‘s hilltop Los Gatos studio ( Site 271). I have admired his work since I arrived in California in 1997 where I saw it at the Pacific Art League and although we both belong to the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery and the Los Gatos Art Association, I have never seen his studio!

I was not disappointed. It was overflowing with richly hued landscapes and the occasional still life and that was just what was on the walls – lots more in the pull out racks!

The artist talking with studio guests.

Ed Lucey’s work is really rooted in the local landscape, you can feel that as you gaze out over the valley below his studio.

His plein air easel was set up on the patio – you really need that umbrella for the California sun!

Michael Rogan, who belongs to the Los Gatos Museums Gallery and the Los Gatos Art Association too, was also exhibiting his work at Ed’s. Michael had his great watercolor landscapes and portraits and I’ve seen his roosters before but his parrots were new to me!

Not the only wildlife to be seen at the studio…..

Yes, that’s a rattler – a little one and, sadly, not a live one anymore but it was amazing to examine it up close and to remember that though we seldom see these snakes, they’re close by!

The last stop on my list was Holly Van Hart‘s Saratoga studio. I met Holly this last year as she became a new member of the Los Gatos Museums Gallery and won the Triton Museum of Art’s Statewide Painting Competition (and a coveted solo show). She’s busy preparing an “oeuvre” of nest and egg themed paintings related to her winning entry, Possibilities Abound, for this upcoming exhibition.

Possibilities Alight

Queen of Possibilities

Holly’s nests are very warm and fluid and textured, I especially love Possibilities Alight where the nest is precariously perched among all those lovely magnolias and the activity within the nest is implied but still mysterious. Can’t wait for the show!

Triton’s Midsummer Art Celebration

June 23, 2013

It’s that time of year again when the Triton Museum of Art hosts it’s annual Midsummer Arts Celebration. The sculpture garden sprouted with tents filled with art, jewelry and other wearable crafts. There was live music all day although I heard I’d missed out on a jam session with George Rivera on drums! I did see some juggling and enjoyed ice cream while checking out the creative output of the local artists who came out to support the Triton!

The Los Gatos Art Association and the Los Gatos Museums Gallery were well represented with lots of their member artists exhibiting (I’m a member of both of these organization – but couldn’t take on one more thing!). The following is a sampling of participating artists, I’ve provided links to their websites where applicable, so if you’re interested, just click on their name or photo.

I wonder which one of our members of the Los Gatos Art Association is responsible for this fun sign – I suppose I should recognize the style, but there are over 200 of us I think! Clearly, I’m not represented as I would be a long haired calico.

LGAA member, Maralyn Milller had her gorgeous California landscape oils on exhibit!

Rebecca White showed her lovely plein air work. She’s an LGAA member and heads up the plein air group – one day I’ll get out there with you Rebecca and we’ll paint up a storm!

I met Denise Natanson-Marcus who is a new member of the LGAA who brought her vibrant landscapes.

I was happy to meet Patty Montgomery of the LGAA for the first time as well and really enjoyed her mixed media pieces which had bits of bags, dental floss and can pulls collaged into her textured and subtly colored (almost monochromatic) works. Loved her compositions!

Julia Watson member of the LGAA and LGMG (and part-time manager of the latter) exhibited her lovely florals that she paints in oil.

Nina Bricker of the LGAA showed a variety of great pieces including this striking owl print.

Michael Rogan is a member of both the LGAA and the LGMG – he brought some of his beautiful watercolor landscapes.

Donna Orme of the LGMG was exhibiting her dynamic mixed media abstract work as well as her richly textured afghans.

Al Preciado, member of Kaleid Gallery was showing his exuberant mixed media paintings and sculptures and demonstrating his tin foil construction technique and offering samples to children.

I thought his dogs, especially the one in the front with its hatchet blade tongue were pretty bad ass!

Artists Jaya King (above) and Jeff Bramschreiber who are art educators at the Triton each had their own tents where they were demonstrating aspects of their creative process.