Gallery At Marina Square

Ally Cole

Fabric Art

“Three ties bags,” “two ties bags,” “single tie bags,” and
glasses cases @ Ally Cole

Ally Cole makes all kinds of unusual things out of beautiful fabrics and neck-ties, and zippers!

After leaving my position as a forensic investigator in Thailand, I focused my on time learning to sew in order to bring my ideas to life. As I brought my creations to my family they encouraged me to bring them to the public and expand into using different fabrics and shapes.

Now, after moving to the United States I look forward to expanding my ideas and seeing them come to life. Everyday I look forward to seeing where my imagination can take me and what exciting new things I can create.

Ally Cole

Click COMMENTS below to leave a comment.

Gladys Johnson

Watercolor

Ducky © Gladys Johnson

Beautiful country landscapes in Happy Valley, Oregon where snow-capped Mt. Hood rises majestically in the background provided an inspiring atmosphere in which to attempt to capture with pencil and paint the surrounding scenes.

My grade school teacher who taught all eight grades encouraged me to keep drawing. It has helped me to observe and enjoy God’s handiwork with thoughtfulness and thankfulness.

Click COMMENTS below to leave a comment.

Lani Briceland

Pastel & Jewelry

Cayucos Bluffs © Lani Briceland

Lani is a California native and resident of the Central Coast since 1996. Her interest in drawing and painting goes as far back as she can remember. Her love of nature has always been her inspiration. Like many of us, her interest in art took a back burner to family and career for a time. In 1996 Lani had the opportunity to take a six-week road trip through the Western States and many of their National and State Parks. The incredible beauty of the landscapes compelled her to dive back into painting. Pastels seemed an obvious and convenient choice for a medium. Since then she has refined her skill as a Pastelist. Her landscape paintings are a tribute to nature’s beauty. Also known for her portraits of pets, Lani enjoys capturing the personality and attitude of these special companions. She also creates jewelry and other artisan crafts for sale.

Lani is a member of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Morro Bay Art Association, and the El Camino Art Association. In 2010 and 2012 her work was juried into the Brushstrokes Annual Show, and recognized at the Mid-State Fair in 2010, 2011, 2012. Her work can sometimes be seen at the local business and events here on the Central Coast. She also creates jewelry and other crafts for sale.

http://www.lanibriceland.com

Geary Wootten

Oil and Graphite

Napali Coast Wave © Geary Wootten

Central California born Wootten has always loved a variety of outdoor sanctuaries. He has sought out these sacred scenes in places as big as the entire scope of the Pacific Ocean from high atop Big Sur, California or from the islands of Hawaii. The artist also finds treasures of outdoor life in places as small as 25 square foot gardens residing in the corners of backyards owned by friends and family. Also known for capturing likenesses of those friends and family he extends his expertise to portraiture as well.

Being well versed for over three decades in Illustration and Graphic Art production has honed Wootten’s eyes for detail of form and contrast in all types of artistic subject matter. His style ranges from super realism to loose impressionism but all artwork includes the attention of explicit accuracy without losing the “feel” of a form whether it be figurative, illustrative, or the wide open spaces of plein aire artwork

Joel Arvallo

Mixed Media

Untitled © Joel Arvalla

Joel Arvallo works in mixed media and lives in Bakersfield, California

Kathryn Thomas

Fused Glass

Dinner plates © Kathryn Thomas

Kathryn Wullner Thomas has been designing and creating stained glass windows and fused glass pieces for several years as a way to escape her primary career as a forensic psychologist. Now retired and living in Morro Bay, she is focusing exclusively on working with color and design incorporated into functional art (including serving platters, sushi or dinner plates, bowls, dessert dishes, etc.), window inserts, and decorative sculptures. Pieces are available both in the gallery and by commission. Please feel free to view additional pictures at the main desk of Gallery at Marina Square, Morro Bay.

Linda Loebs

Acrylic

Ocean and Sky © Linda Loebs

Art is not new me. As a child I remember crawling behind our couch to draw on the wall a whole village of circle people. My skills have come a long way since my wall drawings, but the passion is still there. I love to paint, to create, to watch as an image appears. It’s always exciting to me to see how colors come together on my canvas, and my art reflects this love of color.

While painting is not new to me, being in a gallery is a new experience. I’m so excited to join the many talented artists at Gallery at Marina Square. I have two degrees in art: an AA in Fine Art from Cuesta College and a BS in Art and Design from Calpoly. Since gaining my degrees this is the first time I’ve been able to dedicate myself to my fine art and I’m looking forward to where it takes me.

Tracie Gonzales

Mixed Media

Flower Cat © Tracie Gonzales

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. My mother being an artist felt it important to impart her gift to me through various art classes. I went on to earn my Bachelors in photography from California Institute of the Arts and a Masters in Illustration from Academy of Art University. I have worked as a high school art teacher for the past 15 years but recently moved to the central coast to pursue a full time art career.

Mike Swanberg

Music

Mike Swanberg, performing

at a Gallery at
Marina Square reception.

Mike Swanberg is Gallery at Marina Square’s “resident musician.” Mike sings and plays his guitar at all of our receptions, and he sells his CD’s at the gallery.

Patrick Terjak

Ceramics

Vase © Patrick Terjak

The youngest son of an accomplished woodworker, Patrick Terjak was introduced to clay at the impressionable age of 14 by his brother Jerome. He chose to pursue ceramics largely because of the encouragement and critical eye of his high school teacher.

Patrick attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania to pursue a BFA in ceramics and teacher certification. He began to explore raku, salt & soda, and wood firing in addition to a steady diet of cone 10 reduction firing in the natural gas kilns. After an award for best in show at the annual student exhibition in 1986, Patrick accepted an Artist in Residence position at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburgh, PA, and was subsequently selected for a one year residency position at the world famous Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT. During his Bray residency, he was chosen for the graduate program at Arizona State University by Kurt Weiser.

Patrick completed his MFA thesis exhibition and was awarded an Arizona Commission of the Arts grant and then a fellowship as an Emerging Artist by the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts, based in Miami, FL. Patrick moved to CA in 2005, and chose to share a studio and winter wood firing cycle with Joern Piesnack of Morro Bay.

Dan Morris

Photography

Hawk Late Afternoon © Dan Morris

Dan Morris is a local photographer who lives in Los Osos.

Carol Astaire

Oil

Sunset on Morro Bay © Carol Astaire

Born and raised in California, Carol Astaire received her BFA in painting from UCLA, her lifetime teaching credential from CSU Long Beach and taught art in the Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo School Districts. Carol has been continuously active in the art world, and her works have been collected by national and international museum. She has participated in many open competitions, receiving two first place awards in photography and earning several solo shows. Her love for all of the arts shows in her work.

“I have been inspired to create art my entire life. I simply love nature, especially being on the ocean. The light, movement, scents and moods vary continually, and the inspiration to paint what I see and feel is exhilarating. Kayaking the California coast, I photograph what captivates me, for future reference when I return to my studio. Nothing nurtures or humbles my spirit so much as the sea. I hope to share my love of nature with others through my work.”

http://www.astaire-fineart.com

Stephen Wolfe

Acrylic

I spent my working years in the medical field. Communication is the mortar that holds the bricks of good medical care intact. Likewise, communication is the glue of leading to success or failure between us all. Motivating my abstract paintings is communicating those ideas, feelings, and reactions that I cannot put into words.

The language of abstract art is foreign to many. Yet much can be communicated. When I paint, reason surrenders to feeling. Although the language is abstract, the expression, like music or dance, is universal, connecting people everywhere—a journey seeking paths that are friends to all of us—sensuousness, hope, curiosity, and comfort.

In this way I hope to use motion, shape and color to connect with people from the corners of the bayous of Louisiana to the metropolitan areas of Seattle. Each painting is a journey, an adventure. I try to arrive at a place of grace—acceptance and hope residing side by side. When people see my work, hopefully they are provoked to feel or follow their thoughts to a new place—have their own adventures.

Keith Kerner

Jewelry

Earrings © Keith Kerner

Keith is an artist by birth. Holding a BFA degree in illustration from Cornish College of the Arts, he has drawn since he could hold a pencil and taken many additional classes and workshops in graphic design, painting and art history. He has a natural ability to turn anything into art and when he fell in love with the sea glass he was finding on the beaches, he quite naturally began to design it into jewelry. Keith loves the idea of repurposing what once was litter into something beautiful and useful today.

“I try to approach each piece like a little design problem; what texture, color and shape combination best shows the beauty of the sea glass gem. Each piece has such a unique history in the glass; a wine bottle passed around a beach bonfire, decades tumbling in the sand and surf... rich material for repurposing into something aesthetic that recognizes that history.”

http://www.moonwaveseaglass.com/

Rod Steelman

Oil, Watercolor, Jewelry, Sculpture

Passages © Rod Steelman

There is a moment of tension...
a not quite touching...
when the world stands still
and all things are possible.

In that moment exists the question...
collapse and chaos
or balance and growth?

I have always been fascinated by geology, rock formations, shells and beach combings.

Out of my dreams come colorful images of these shapes and forms, at once real, and yet unreal, held together in the most delicate balance, reflecting the uncertainty of life’s passages.

My life on the central coast of California offers endless inspiration and an overflowing vessel for my exp0lorations of oil, watercolor, sculpture, mixed media jewelry, even whimsical drawings… each seems to hold its own piece of this puzzle of balance.

Michael Costa

Photography

Sunflowers I © Michael Costa

Being a photographer, Michael Costa views himself as an independent and adventurous soul, someone who is spontaneous by nature, yet inquisitive in spirit. His desire to produce strong photographic images ignites and sustains his passion for fine art. His strong creative drive and his ability to connect with his subject matter has brought him creative satisfaction and success. Whether he is working on his own personal projects or trying to gain access to new material, there is always a true-ness and uniqueness to his point of view of the subject matter. It is this ability to capture images of substance and interest that keeps him grounded as a photographer.

Michael’s “Fro-Zen” series is of organic abstracts filled with light, color and peaceful beauty of one moment frozen in time. This project fuses the four elements of nature, water, air and ambient light into a visual meditation of color, mood and spirit.

www.michaeljcostaphotography.com

Jeff Odell

Oil

Main Street © Jeff Odell

Jeff Odell has pursued the “truth of color” for more than 30 years on the Central California Coast, painting rural/urban landscapes, seascapes, portraits and figures, interior studies, and “anything that will sit long enough to serve as a subject.” He has created public artwork within the City of Morro Bay, including two “Art Cans” (large concrete trash cans turned into murals); one is located at the top of the Centennial Stairway, next to Dorn’s Breakers Café, the other is at 845 Embarcadero. He has a large mural on the north wall of the Backstage Salon, located at 960 Main Street, and he has also worked with school children to create a large painting on canvas, which hangs in the multi-purpose room at Del Mar Elementary School in north Morro Bay.

A major influence for Jeff was his experience in the painting studio of nationally recognized painter and Professor Emeritus Wilbur Niewald, who taught that the only way to get at the visual truth of color is to work directly from nature.

Kira Fluer Olshefski

Oil

Abandoned by the Tide © Kira Fluer Olshefski

Kira Fluer Olshefski is a California Central Coast artist, residing in Atascadero. She has dabbled in a variety of media, but has found oil paint to be her media of choice. Kira taught elementary school for many years. Incorporating art into the curriculum was one of the highlights of her teaching career. Often one could find Kira and her students taking walking field trips with drawing pads and pencils in hand. She encouraged her students to create from the heart and connect with their subject. After leaving teaching, Kira wanted to focus on her art. She is happy to be out of the classroom and exploring the Central Coast. Just like her students, she paints from the heart and connects with her subject.

Sarah DeLong

Watercolor

Oaxacan Basket Weaver © Sarah DeLong

Sarah DeLong moved to Morro Bay at the end of 2011 after living in Grinnell, Iowa. Watercolor has been her medium of choice for over 24 years. She is in her element painting by a mountain stream or painting a boat in a harbor. In recent years painting people has been an interest of hers. Sarah loves the glowing transparent colors you get with watercolor and has developed a loose realistic style.

Sarah is a signature member of the Iowa watercolor Society and has won a 1st, a 3rd and two 5th place ribbons in their Annual Jury Show. She has exhibited in many shows in Minnesota and Iowa. In 2010 the national Transparent Watercolor Society accepted her "Oaxacan Basket Weaver" painting in their Annual Jury show. She is represented by Catriri's Art Oasis in Amana Iowa.

Mary Ratner

Photography

Petra Camel © Mary Ratner

Mary has owned a camera and traveled with it for as long as she can remember, playing it “by ear” for most of her life, and capturing, as her first subjects, sand dunes and trees and driftwood. ~ Simple images that continue to captivate her.

Mary’s journeys to Africa and India have profoundly affected her vision of humanity, as well as her interest in photography. She has always been drawn to “light” and sees her work as an attempt to “freeze time.”

Mary has been a member of various local galleries such as SLAG, Law’s Art Center, the Gallery at Marina Square, the Haub Fine Art Gallery in Avila Beach and the Artists Alley in San Francisco, and the San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay Art Centers. She has frequently placed in regional juried shows.

http://maryratner.com

Rick Carter

Wood

Boxes © Rick Carter

Rick Carter has been interested in working with wood since his woodshop class in the 8th grade. He loves to see the beauty of the grain pop out as the wood is smoothed and finished. Since his retirement in 2010 he’s been able to work on his art several days a week.

He’s currently working on smaller items for the home that make thoughtful gifts. He’s using interesting hardwoods, including several species from Asia, Africa, and South America. All his woods are natural, with no stains or dyes. Rick can make larger items, such as butcher block tables, custom made to your specifications.

Larry Shapers

Ceramics

Traditional raku vase © Larry Shapers

Larry Shapers was introduced to ceramics in 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio. A friend had a small studio and Larry began working as an apprentice. Larry taught himself because his friend was never there. In 1978, Larry moved to Arizona where he took a ceramics class at N.A.U. in Flagstaff. After a semester there he went to the Hopi reservation to observe the pottery.

In 1979 Larry traveled to Israel and found a potter who was working in the art colony of Eni Hod and he worked there as an apprentice for a year. In 1981 he returned to Cleveland and worked for a ceramic company where he delivered clay to all the universities in northern Ohio. The next year Larry built his own studio in Cleveland and taught classes.

Larry moved to California in 1985 and worked in Los Osos as an apprentice for Bill Toller. During the next 25 years Larry went off the world of ceramics and now he very excited to be doing ceramics again.

Kristina Albion

Mosaics and Soap

Mosaic birdhouses © Kristina Albion

Kristina Albion creates her mosaics in the manner of her Sicilian heritage—using an assortment of glass, ceramic tile, and mixed media elements. Kristina’s bird houses are embellished with insirational messages that touch one’s heart and soul.

Kristina also creates simple natural hand-made soaps, made from the finest organic oils, without any additives. They are hypo-allergenic.

Bill Sima

Photography

@ Bill Sima

Bill Sima is a local orthopaedic surgeon who has been practicing in Templeton for twenty years. Growing up in Hawaii inspired his passion for photography. He primarily captures pictures of the coastline. Each picture is digitally enhanced to reflect the beauty of the central coast. Bill travels frequently to places like Costa Rica and Belize for missionary work. Besides doing photography he enjoys kite boarding, flying, tennis and bike riding. He also volunteers his time to his local church and to the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department Flying Samaritans for humanitarian medical aide in the aero squadron.

Virginia Mack

Watercolor

Untitled © Virginia Mack

Virginia Mack is a native Californian. She has been exploring and savoring the wild lands of the state throughout her life. She has been living on the Central Coast for 10 years. She is a part-time instructor at both Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College in the fine arts departments.

Virginia, along with her late husband John, also an artist, has spent endless hours exploring the back roads of San Luis Obispo County seeking those bits of landscape that are visually stimulating. Virginia works primarily in watercolors and mixed media and is a colorist at heart. She builds most of her pieces in a wet-on-wet process (wet watercolor paints on wet watercolor paper) resolving the pieces as the paper slowly dries. She creates the forms with rich colors that she plays off against contrasting colors thereby subduing them while preserving their presence in layers of color. She often mixes the watercolor process with work using colored pencils, pastel, charcoal, and pencil.

Virginia received her education in fine arts at the University of California, Berkeley. She has taken additional classes at The California College of Arts and Crafts and in independent workshops.

Cat Evans

Photography

A Different Perspective © Cat Evans

I started taking pictures many years ago to keep in the family albums, but always loved taking pictures of just about anything. I got my first film SLR when our daughter was young and it opened another door. Years went by and then came the Digital age. And with that, it resurrected a love for capturing moments, not just pictures.

I love what we have here on the Central Coast and any place I can take my camera…From traveling overseas to Motorsports events and all the land between our great oceans.

I enjoy sharing what I see through my lens or should I say…Thru Catz Eyes.

http://thrucatzeyes.blogspot.com

Jarien de Ham

Chinese Brush Painting

Swallows in Willows © Jarien de Ham

Jarien de Ham has lived on the Central Coast since 1974 with her husband, Gerald, and has raised two sons here. Her interest in art began as a child, then on to a BA from UCSB, working as an artist from home, followed by classes in Chinese painting and calligraphy at Cuesta College in the early 2000’s. This added to a lifelong interest in Asian culture from martial arts to Zen Buddhism leading, naturally to study at an art academy in Hangzhou, China. It is ever a challenge to master traditional techniques as well as push the boundaries of spontaneity. The climate and locale of the Central Coast continues to inspire and feed the need to express landscapes and forms with an Asian feel.

Janice Ray-Lehmkuhl

Jewelry

Earrings © Janice Ray-Lehmkuhl

As a very young girl my mother would leave me at the stores’ jewelry counters to gaze at all the jewelry, while she shopped. Still mesmerized by the texture, color, style, sparkle and beauty of jewelry, I love the many varied materials assembled in such a way that a piece creates itself. Freeform sustains my inner desire to create a unique piece.

Each piece is my new favorite and difficult to part with. I like my pieces to be the crowning addition to everyone’s apparel style. Some pieces are subtle while others are “over the top.” A culmination of years of creative experiences goes into each piece. Some flow smoothly while others will fight me until I am satisfied. I strive to let loose the artistic expression I am feeling at the moment, rather than for perfection.

I also love to paint and decorate gourds, apparel, art on canvas and polymer clay sculptures. After many years in the childrens’ dance studio business, I am now free to pursue other lifelong interests. I am happy and content. Part of me goes into the making of each of my creations. Enjoy!

Robert Taylor

Photography

Sunset on Bravo Pond © Robert Taylor

My earliest recollections of photography are of my grandfather taking me on photo shoots at the age of four. He let me shoot my own images while all along teaching me about cameras, light and composition.

In school, my studies were always centered around art and light, earning me degrees and certificates in B&W/Color Photography, Graphic Art/Design, Medical Imaging, Radiography and Landscape Design/Installation.

One of my earliest jobs was Forest-Land-Structure restoration along the coast and mountains. While there, I developed a great appreciation of nature and an everlasting love for nature/landscape photography.

Some of my ongoing projects are landscape and nature photography of Tulare, Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties, the 2011 Wildflower Season and Farm and Ranch images.

Photography: 35mm film, Digital-SLR natural-light images.

Graphic/Photographic Art: Photography and Computer Graphics, Watercolor, graphic-pens, pastels and textures.

www.flickr.com/photos/slo_exposures

Bonnie Werring

Jewelry

Necklace & Earrings © Bonnie Werring

In 2009 Bonnie joined a fused glass class and within two hours created 10 pairs of earrings and a few necklaces. She was hooked. Bonnie already had most of the tools, just needed a kiln. She took more classes at the 2010 Las Vegas Glass Expo and came home with lots of ideas and more glass. With her 15 kiln she can fire plates, bowls, picture frames, trays, wind chimes or about 50 pairs of earrings. Bonnie enjoys layering colors, textures and sparkle, hopefully creating something that is uniquely YOU.

Cheryl Strahl

Photography

Sunset On The Rocks © Cheryl Strahl

Cheryl's passion is photography. According to her, the camera grants a personal window to the world, allowing her to capture an image frozen in time and make it hers. With her recent retirement from the high tech industry, she has ample time and opportunities to use her technical skills for developing her images—rather than developing software.

Her photography has won several local awards and recognition, including acceptance into juried shows at the SLO Museum of Art. Both the History Center of SLO and Schmap Los Angeles have published her work. A student of National Geographic Photo Workshops, Cheryl is always eager to improve and expand her photographic skills. It pleases her to know that people enjoy her photography—and share her love for this beautiful Central Coast of CA!

Thomas Mackenzie Brown

Ceramics

Blue Crystalline Vase © Thomas Mackenzie Brown

Thomas Mackenzie Brown received a BFA Degree in Art with specialization in technical ceramics from California State University at Long Beach.

In 1983, Thomas studied crystalline glaze development with little direction as there was little experience or documentation published on the subject of crystals. Working with crystalline glazes quickly became his passion.

Thomas has been an Art Instructor in California during the past 16 years. He is currently working on his post graduate degree in technical ceramics and glaze calculations. His constant endeavor in the subject of ceramics is to produce new, exciting colors and versions of crystalline glazed pieces that are well made, beautiful to look at and help add value to the understanding of form as it relates to crystalline and other glazes.

Nina S. Litvinoff

Acrylic, Oil and Watercolor

Angry Bear © Nina S. Litvinoff

Nina Litvinoff studied art at a very early age with her father. Both could be seen sketching and painting on the Morro Bay Embarcadero, or other coastal areas, with Nina's mother by their side. Nina later graduated from University of California, Los Angeles and obtained a credential to teach art from CSUN. Nina sketches, paints with oil, acrylic or watercolor.

A native of the Central Coast, Nina enjoys sketching subject matter on the spot, in the open air. Nina likes to sketch scenes that evoke fantasy and the whimsical in her very detailed works of ships, Coastal scenes with peaceful bays, otters and seals basking in the sun with their pups in tangles of seaweed, boats moored and Victorian homes, to mention a few.

Nina enjoys commissioned paintings, sketches or other assignments utilizing fantasy and her imagination.

Lois Pruitt

Wood Sculpture

Puzzle © Lois Pruitt

Lois began working with wood when her son was 8 years of age. Lois and her sister worked together, while Lois carved out the wood pieces, her sister painted each individual carving.

Her sister moved on, however, and Lois learned to paint these unique pieces and began to fashion pins, key chains and fun, colorful puzzles of the sea and its creatures.

Today, Lois utilizes a 19 inch Dewalt scroll saw, to cut the wood, forming each piece, completing whimsical puzzles, pins and other wonderful works of art.

Lois resides on the Central Coast with her husband, Charles Pruitt.

Beth Sargent

Photography

Beth has a love for nature’s beauty and mystery. The vision that she sees when she looks through the lens of her camera is a world of wonder. She shares that wonder of nature with everyone through her photography.

Beth says that the Central Coast of California has beauty like no other. It is rich with wildlife and beautiful views. Though Beth’s photography takes her to many wonderful places, the Central Coast of California is her home and she feels blessed to live here.

Beth’s interest in photography started in the 1970’s while in college. In time, her interest grew into a passion that really shines through her award winning photography of today.

Her work is shown worldwide. Her passion is photographing nature for all to enjoy.

http://BethSargentImages.com

Diane Miller

Glass

If you attend local craft events you have watched Diane Miller improve over the last 25 years. Her medium is pyrex glass. She starts with rods and tubing and works over a small bench torch. She melds, fuses, cajoles and defines her original pieces. The rods and tubing become earrings, scent bottles, ornaments, salt and pepper shakers. Diane is also a watercolor painter. Cartooning is her muse. She is sure to keep a watercolor journal of her travels and life's notable events. Diane is a native of the Central Coast and lives in Morro Bay with her husband, Ed, who is also a glass blower.

www.luckyducksglass.com

Don Doubledee

Graphite, Pen and Ink, Colored Pencil

Don Doubledee has been an Architect since 1982. Don has become known locally for portraits he has completed with graphite, color pencil or pen and ink.

His “Postcards of Amsterdam” began a number of series of what Don calls his “Postcard” sketches featuring line drawings he has completed while vacationing around the world. Now, his “Postcards of Morro Bay” series features detailed pencil drawings of Morro Bay’s waterfront.

James A. Crawford

Photography

Crawford’s interest in art began in high school and further developed at Orange Coast College where he majored in Architecture and minored in History and Art.

In 1966 while in Viet Nam, he purchased his first 35mm camera and with limited time, he was able to begin his craft. Upon his return to the States, Crawford lived and worked in Laguna Beach, Ca. pursuing an Architectural career while continuing to photograph and interacting with area artists. In 1976, James moved to San Luis Obispo to further his education at Cal Poly where he majored in Architecture and minored in Photography. James continues to further his photographic education through yearly workshops with varied Master Photographers. James Crawford’s work is a part of many private art collections.

www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/c/crawf/
www.flickr.com/photos/jacrawf/

www.saatchionline.com/crawfphoto

Gregory Siragusa

Digital Photography

Gregory Siragusa is a digital photographer whose photographs capture a variety of subject matter representing nature, performance and architecture.

Greg presents his photographs to the viewer and marvels how the context of each image is interpreted.

Having relocated to the Central Coast approximately 15 years ago, Greg is traveling constantly, perpetually refining his focus on nature, architecture, music and mood.

Greg’s photos focus on subjects that are subtle or commonplace to grand in nature.

Karen Peterson

Photography

Karen’s interest in photography began when she received her first camera on her 9th birthday. After earning a B.S. in Recreation Administration her interest in photography was rekindled by her father’s gift of his old Ziess Contaflex 35mm SLR.

Karen began creating images using the Polaroid Image & Emulsion Transfer processes in the early 1990’s. She has also explored other photographic techniques including hand coloring traditional darkroom b&w and infrared prints, Polaroid SX-70 Manipulations and digital “hand coloring”.

Karen’s images have won numerous awards including the Central Coast Photographic Society’s juried fine art photography shows, the Mid-State Fair, San Mateo County Fair, KINSA, New Times & Palo Alto Weekly Photo Contests.

Linda Bench

Colored Pencil

Linda Bench learned to appreciate art growing up. Her father supplied plenty of art materials and she was exposed to varied art forms, as a child. Therefore, it comes as no surprise, with this kind of influence, that Linda would become an artist.

Linda, a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona, earned her BS degree in Landscape Architecture Design.

Linda fell in love with professional quality, soft, thick leaded, Prismacolor pencils. She appreciates quiet tranquil moments, whereby she can put the outside world on hold and focus completely on her art work. Linda begins her drawing with a light coat of pigment, then builds and blends 8 to 10 layers of color over her subject through completion. While working with pencils her hands gently warm the lead, making the color spread in thick, even coats.

Alice Cahill

Photography

Alice Cahill is an award winning nature photographer. Her inspiration is the Earth – she is fascinated by it, and she believes in nature as a healing force and a refuge from the chaos of daily life.

Alice’s photographs have been published in many nature and photo magazines, including Outdoor California, Photographers Forum, Outdoor and Nature, and Oprah’s O Magazine.

Alice is a member of the North American Nature Photography Association and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

www.senseofwonderphotography.com

Ardella Swanberg

Oil, Acrylic and Watercolor

Ardella was raised in Garden Grove, California, lived in many locations, and relocated to the Central Coast 10 years ago. Ardella’s inspirations have been the subjects found in the many places she has lived—she now lives on a cattle ranch north of Cayucos.

Ardella received a BS in Art Education, from the University of Minnesota. In addition, she teaches art classes in Cayucos.

Charles Pruitt

Photography

Arroyo Grande resident Charles Pruitt began taking photographs over 40 years ago when he was given an old 35mm camera by a family friend.

While living in Hawaii, Chuck was mentored by Boone Morrison, founder of the Volcano Art Institute in Volcano National Park. This association led to meeting and learning from Brett Weston, Minor White, and Paul Caponigro. During this time Chuck began working in large and medium film formats, abstract photography using color infrared film and long exposures; often taking a 4x5 Crown Graphic on backpacking trips.

Chuck studied photography after returning to California. While in college he combined Chemistry and Photo classes to recreate historic techniques of wet plate negatives, cyanotypes, platinum and albumin printing methods. Chuck received state and national recognition for his experimental prints.

Chuck took up digital photography in 2004, but still uses his 50+ year old Hassleblad.

In 2008 Chuck began printing on canvas and other fine art media. This process is called Giclée (zhee clay) and uses archival inks and media.

Deb Festa

Watercolor, Acrylic

Deb finds immense joy in capturing natures light, color and ever-changing moods in her refreshing watercolor and acrylic paintings. She is known for her vibrant color combinations.

Painting exclusively in watercolor since 1991, she added acrylic in 2007, and has become well known throughout the central coast, with local and international art lovers collecting her work.

In addition, Deb makes beautiful Rosary Beads.

Deb’s purpose is to capture and share the serenity and joy of nature – a serene refuge from the modern world. Deb lives in Los Osos, California with her husband Ray. They have two grown children, Stephanie and Isaiah.

www.DebFesta.net

Deborah Kyle Hintergardt

Acrylic

Deborah painted simple, vibrant, richly colored country landscapes for three years while living in Los Angeles. In November of 2004 she moved to the landscape of her dreams, the Central Coast.

A self-taught artist with a distinctive style, her artistic goal is to impart a sense of peace and satisfaction with the moment, as well as an expectation for the future.

Ms. Hintergardt is Co-President of the Atascadero Art Association and a member of the International Society of Acrylic Painters.

www.artbyDKH.com

Galen Griswold

Oil and Acrylic

The dean of Galen’s graduate school suggested that along with a professional career one must find a connection with culture. For Galen, painting became that connection.

Galen studied with Ted Goerschner and Ted Christensen, and has also studied at Alameda College and San Francisco Art Institute.

His art has emerged through experimentation and a deep appreciation for the work of others.

Selling over a thousand art pieces, Galen’s collectors express appreciation for his use of color, vibrancy, and energy.

Gay McNeal

Fabric Art and Jewelry

Gay’s love of textiles and the fiber arts started when her mother taught her to sew when she was ten years old.

Gay received a BA in Art with an emphasis in Interior and Textile Design from C.S.U. Long Beach. She continues to take classes in order to explore and experiment with all aspects of the fiber arts.

Gay possesses an appreciation of the multifaceted role that fiber has played in the art and material cultures of many ethnic societies, and her creative high comes from the actual process of trying out the multitude of techniques, both old and new available to textile artists today.

George William Asdel

Pen & Ink, Pencil, Watermedia

George was raised in Monterey Park, California, obtained an art education at East Los Angeles College, and C.S.U. Los Angeles and Fullerton, and now resides in Atascadero.

George has taught art at the Hibbs’ Cove Art Centre in Newfoundland, Canada, and at the Charles Paddock Zoo. He has owned art galleries, and his scenes of fishing villages have sold to collectors from around the world.

George is a member of the Central Coast Printmakers and OPAG. He enters art shows, helps in the schools, illustrates books and greeting cards, and involved in many other projects.

Gregory Stephen McIntosh

Gouache & Pastel

The imagery of Gregory Stephen McIntosh arrives intuitively, neither intended nor preconceived. The artist works with the means in a sense of exploration and discovery, allowing suggestion, and respecting the mysterious. As in music, painting places him in the indeterminate, evoking fascinations of the unknown, and revealing atmospheric expressions of inner reality.