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.

Gloria Ohman “Copperhead”

Digital Photography and Jewelry

“The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” 

~ James Broughton

Jump © Gloria Ohman “Copperhead”

Digital photographer, artist, traveler, dreamer and writer.
Chicago based, but California bound.
I travel as frequently as possible, by plane, train or foot.
I primarily shoot travel photography,
with a leaning towards central California and the ocean.
Travel is my passion, and the road is my inspiration.
I go where the vision leads me.
∞
Gloria Ohman "Copperhead"
Chicago, Illinois
January 2013

http://copperheadphotographyandart.zenfolio.com/

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.

Gordon Luce

Oil

Morro Bay Quiet © Gordon Luce

Gordon was born and raised in California. He sang, played guitar and banjo with bands from the time he was in junior high school through graduate school. After obtaining a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in clinical psychology, he opened his own vocational rehabilitation firm. While very busy in his business, Gordon began selling drawings and paintings.

Gradually, Gordon’s art endeavors began taking more of his time. He downsized his vocational rehabilitation business and devoted more time to what he enjoyed most—painting. Eventually he closed his rehabilitation business because he was enjoying increasing success as an artist.

“Mostly I paint outdoors. Amazingly, outdoor paintings can successfully capture the atmosphere, the color, even seemingly the smell and feeling of a place, better than realistic photos or other depictions.”

Gordon has participated in many juried plein air festivals, invitational events and other shows. He resides in Yorba Linda and Morro Bay, California.

Joyce Wycoff

Photo-Based Mixed Media and Abstract Photography on Metal

Compassion © Joyce Wycoff

Beauty is not a luxury nor an art;
It is the soul’s breath of life.

Color and light. These are the qualities that pull Joyce into an image, and her small, go-with-her-everywhere camera is what allows her to capture images which become her “tubes of paint.” These images mix and mingle with each other through the mechanism of Photoshop, finally resulting in something beyond the realm of reality, something that captures a fleeting moment of creativity.

Each of Joyce’s digital paintings contain as many as 20-30 images, all taken by Joyce on her journeys around the world and blended together to create something completely new. Because she wants her collectors to experience the same awe and gratitude she feels in creating each painting, she includes the word “joy” in each of her works.

Joyce Wycoff is a published author of several books on creativity and personal effectiveness. Her latest book, “Joy after the Fire” is now available from iBookstore.

Joyce is an active and inspirational blogger at “Imagine Joy Art” http://joycewycoff.blogspot.com.

http://joycewycoff.com

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

Sharon Gellerman

Silk Scarves

Silk scarves © Sharon Gellerman

Sharon creates hand-marbled designs on silk and other natural fibers using a process that originated many centuries ago. Layers of colorful dyes are applied onto a solution of water and cellulose that allows the dyes to float above the liquid. Using custom-made combs or rakes, she manipulates the layers of color into unique designs. The design is then transferred onto the silk when the fabric is placed on top of the composition and absorbs the dye colors.

Sharon’s designs are unique and have an additional element of serendipity simply because of the unpredictable nature of the interaction between the dyes and the marbling process itself. The challenge of working with that unpredictability continues to intrigue and inspire her. Using the blank piece of fabric as a canvas, she creates each silk scarf design as a one-of-a-kind piece of wearable art.

http://colorvibedesigns.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.

Barbara Alloway

Mixed Media

Trees 2 © Barbara Alloway

Although I’m a California native, my interest in art began while living in England and blossomed when I settled on the Central Coast. Here I was fortunate to find a place full of artists and teachers who gave my imagination free reign and encouraged me to explore, experiment and imagine “what if.”

I’m an abstract painter and love experimenting with various surfaces and media, such as acrylic on aluminum foil and sheet metal, painting with dyes on silk, and playing fast and loose with oil paint on canvas. “What if” has guided me and goaded me to times of great satisfaction and times of great frustration. So far, satisfaction is winning.

Jo-Neal Boic

Watercolor

Palace of Fine Arts © Jo-Neal Boic

Jo-Neal was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended Cal-State University, Hayward (now called East Bay), earning a B.S., with a special major in Dance and minor in Theater Arts. She completed her education and began a teaching career at the secondary level, primarily in Santa Cruz, California, where she lived and worked for 30 plus years. She returned to school not long after she began to paint, some 23 years ago, so that she might teach art. She was fortunate, during this time, to live and study art in Florence, Italy; she also lived and taught theater, painting and dance in Belgium.

Although Jo-Neal paints in acrylics and oils, her passion has always been watercolors. She says that her art is about what touches her heart and piques her interest.

“The longer I live the more compelled I feel to create work that encourages people to stop and notice the beauty that surrounds us. Painting is my meditation.”

www.jo-nealboic.com

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.

Kathy Woodruff

Watercolor

Bunny and Boy © Kathy Woodruff

Kathy Woodruff is a native Ohioan whose education at Kent State was in art and early childhood education. Shortly after graduation, Kathy migrated to California after teaching children’s art for one year in Ohio.

Kathy has been fascinated by the expressions and nuances of children, animals, and her large, varied doll collection. Kathy loves capturing the essence of each in her sensitively created watercolors, drawings, and pastels. Kathy is a life-long doll collector and her art reflects her love of the great variety of mainly antique dolls.

Kathy has had a long career as a Pediatric nurse and continues to work with children through the CASA program. Kathy enjoys sharing her love for animals and childhood through her art.

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.

Gail Blodgett

Acrylic

Eagle’s Rest © Gail Blodgett

Gail Blodgett has been creating art since she could hold a pencil. Gail had established an art school in her home, having 8-10 students coming after school for classes in painting, or drawing, ceramics, woodshop, or sculpture. She maintained this school for ten years.

When she graduated from UCSB, as an art major, she worked as a teacher in elementary school. When she realized that she would rather be teaching art she joined the San Luis Obispo Art Association. Through this organization she was sent into the schools to teach the students in classrooms how to draw. She also gave workshops to teachers.

Now retired from the teaching field, Gail enjoys spending her days painting, often inspired by the gardens around her home. She and her Mini dog love to go into the Sierra Nevada Mountains to catch the early morning light reflecting off a mountain lake.

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

Bamboo © Jarien de Ham

Jarien has resided on the Central Coast since 1974, raised two boys here with her husband Gerald. Jarien tells friends that a good day is sculpting outdoors and painting indoors at night. Sculpture began in 2000 with a class at Cuesta taught by Don Andrade.

Jarien’s forms are abstract and representational. Working on mostly soft stone allows for a slow, steady pace with hand tools. Jarien also began studying Chinese painting with Phyllis Case Bennett and Joy Harvey through Cuesta offerings early in the 2000’s. This led to three trips to Hangzhou, China to study for a month at a time at the Chinese Art International College. Landscape has become a focus since Jarien has become a teacher of the subject at Cuesta. The freshness of Chinese images suits the climate and locale of the Central Coast where inspiration is all around us.

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!

Kim Meyer

Jewelry

Bunch Bracelet © Kim Meyer

Born and raised in Hawaii and a resident of Morro Bay for over ten years, Kim combines her love of the ocean with a passion for jewelry to create unique beach-inspired designs.

To provide an illuminating background for the natural colors she uses sterling silver to create bracelets, necklaces, pendants, pins and earrings. She starts with the finest beach glass, stones, gems, sterling silver findings, and unique clasps and then carefully crafts a unique piece of jewelry.

Every piece is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation. Kim is also available to create custom pieces for your special event or simple desire.

kim@kimmeyer.org

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 

Stephanie Sproul

Photography

Morro Rock and Beach 2 © Stephanie Sproul

I have lived in Morro Bay for just over two years and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. The sunsets are a photographer’s dream and the wildlife is all around us.

I volunteer at Pacific Wildlife Care, a non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitating wildlife and educating the public. This amazing organization has allowed me to combine my passions of animals and photography. When permitted, I have the opportunity to photograph some of the wildlife I help rehabilitate.

I am new to the artist scene. I have always loved taking photos of everything I see but I am new to displaying them for everyone else. This is my exciting opportunity to help and educate myself and others.

*40% of the proceeds from my sales will be donated to Pacific Wildlife Care, pacificwildlifecare.org.

Betty Boehme

Pine Needle Baskets & Gourds

Pine needle baskets © Betty Boehme

Betty Boehme, a Pozo resident, is an expert in the art of native American pine needle baskets. Betty’s work has appeared in national magazines. (Betty is also well known for her mastery of the “Pysanka” art form which uses an ancient wax-resistance process and has been done in the Ukraine for centuries.)

The pine needle baskets take hours to make, and Betty says it’s pretty hard on the hands! It also takes a lot of patience, but Betty fell in love with pine needle basketry many years ago when she was taught this art form by an American Indian girl. She perfected her own technique and she has instructed hundreds of others in this ancient art form, teaching for 30 years at the Pozo Barn.

Betty also makes dried gourds, which she decorates in a traditional American Indian fashion, and frequently combines with some pine needle basketry.

Rodney Meador

Stained Glass

Scrapglass © Rodney Meador

Rodney Meador was born in Pasadena, Texas, and transplanted to Los Osos in 1977. He joined the Marine Corp in 1978 and saw the world and landed back in Los Osos in 1982.

Rodney was doing lapidary work when he was first introduced to stained glass. He saw his sister-in-law working on a stained glass project one day and couldn’t help himself—he had to make something himself, and so here he is! He loves to hunt for the materials that will go together to become a piece of art, and gets his ideas from things he sees around and from all sorts of places. 

Laura Dienzo

Digital Photography

Rowboat © Laura Dienzo

Born and raised on the east coast, Laura moved to San Luis Obispo in the early 80’s for summer vacation. Laura soon fell in love with her new surroundings, which ignited a flame of passion for capturing its beauty through photography. She continues to be inspired by the splendor of it all—from the rolling vineyards to the unspoiled coastline to the oak-studded, golden hills. “Photography has a unique ability to tell a story!”

Allow Laura’s work to inspire the telling of your own extraordinary story through a Fine Art edition of a special location or an artistic portrait of you and your favorite people!

www.dienzodesigns.com

Shelley Myers

Mixed Media

Kaleidoscope Eye © Shelley Myers

Shelley has worked in the graphic arts field since 1983, transitioning from traditional methods to digital over the years. While working on projects with a client's vision, she has also been creating artwork to satisfy creative expression with or without having to convey an intended message. Living on the central coast has provided limitless inspiration from the ocean to the hills to the blooming wildflowers of spring.

Shelley combines media, painting with acrylics, drawing with prisma pencils, collaging, scanning painted images and creating digital collaged images.

www.visualsolutionsgraphicart.com

Bonnie Werring

Jewelry

Untitled © 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.

Ann Bonestell

Jewelry, Mixed Media

Regarding Seeds ©  Ann Bonestell

It is Ann Bonestell's belief that everyone is an artist, from the most primal kind of creativity reflected in the ways we choose to live out daily lives to the most exquisite forms of what is known as fine art.

Ann did not actually consider herself an artist until rather late in life and it took even longer for her to truly embrace it. Her mission and commitment is to add to the sum of beauty in the world.

Ann seeks to work from an archetypal place exploring ways to represent the things that we know and feel.  She likes to probe the world of opposites, illustrating either a unified holistic vision or, conversely, one that describes a sense of separateness or isolation.

Jay Bonestell

Oil, Acrylic

Untitled © Jay Bonestell

Jay Bonestell's work primarily reflects his love of nature.  His paintings are comprised of Central California landscapes and fauna, with a special focus on wildflowers and birds in the region.

Jay grew up with a family where creativity was like breathing.  Both parents were artists. Eventually, Jay and his two siblings  followed in their creative path.

Although Jay has been painting for many years, he worked with oils and later ventured into acrylics, watercolor and pastels. While he is comfortable painting on canvas, paper or walls (as in the case of murals), many of his pieces are created on found materials, including used wood, driftwood, rocks, shells and even eucalyptus bark.

Philip Carey

Pen & Ink and Colored Pencil Dream Drawings

“Dream: August 4, 2010” © Philip Carey

“I’m still amazed that my subconscious sends me on these weird 4AM journeys. Unfortunately, some times they’re the best part of my day.”

Philip Carey was born in 1942, in a humble log cabin in Long Beach, California. After working as an exhibit designer for California State Parks—creating exhibits and graphics for over 100 state parks, he had the rare and challenging opportunity of being Maria Shriver’s “exhibit guy” for several years—he retired at last after 20 years.

Since then he's moved to Morro Bay, published 2 Dream Books (and dreamt enough for Volume 3), designed and built a cactus garden, and a 30 foot desert mural behind his cottage, and started his inevitable dialysis—having not only inherited his Mom’s lively spirit, but also her bum kidneys. He hopes to continue living and creating artwork along California’s amazing Central Coast.

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

Sunrays Through the Pier © Beth Sargent

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://photographyuniverse.net

Debbie McCrigler

Fabric Art

Untitled © Debbie McCrigler

Debbie McCrigler earned her Bachelor of Science Degree, in Dietetics and Food Administration, at California Polytechnic State University, located in San Luis Obispo, California.

Debbie has been interested in sewing since the age of 9, as her mother was a seamstress. Debbie began making many different items of clothing to include her own patterns. By the age of 17, Debbie was selling her fabric dolls.

Debbie worked for "Premavision", in the 2004 Christmas production of "Davey and Goliath".
Today, Debbie makes many wonderful things with her fabrics, to include dolls, animals, wearable art and more.

Debbie is married and lives on the Central Coast of California.

http://chimerathreads.blogspot.com/

Diane Miller

Glass

 

Hen salt and pepper shaker © Diane Miller

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

My Yen© Don Doubledee

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

Sailboats in the Fog#7 © James A. Crawford

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

Abe Perlstein

Photography

Max © Abe Perstein

Photographer Abe Perlstein swapped twenty adventure-filled years as a Hollywood motion picture, television, celebrity portraiture, and music industry stills photographer for the SLO life. He now focuses on fine art and commissioned 2-D and 3-D stereoscopic photography and documentary film making.

Perlstein's passions include atmospheric Central Coast landscapes, action wildlife scenes, environmental goddess portraits, aerial perspectives, architectural studies, and humor in many forms. Abe’s goofy dog portraits are among his most popular images. Stop by and check out his limited edition 3-D post card line.

Visit Abe’s blog at www.abes3dworld.blogspot.com.

Gregory Siragusa

Digital Photography

Untitled © Gregory Siragusa

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

Gas Station in Bodie © Karen Peterson

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

California Poppies © Linda Bench

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

Photography

A Sense of Place © Alice Cahill

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

Bridal Veil © Ardella Swanberg

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.

Carolyn Henderson

Pastel

Cambria Gold Coast© Carolyn Henderson

Carolyn Henderson is a Pastelist. She has a BA in Art from California State University, Northridge and a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She primarily paints local landscapes inspired by the beauty of the Central Coast.

Charles Pruitt

Photography

Morro Bay Harbor © Charles Pruitt

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

Fantasy Garden © Deb Festa

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 Hobbs

Photo Montage with Oil Pastel

Untitled © Deborah Hobbs

Deborah Hobbs has a background in Psychology and Art. She worked as an art therapist with both adults and children in institutional settings during and after university. After the birth of her son, she shifted her focus to creating personal art.

She has been represented by Roy Sanders at the "Grand Oak Gallery" in Oakland and by Bob Braun at the “Artisans Gallery” in Hanford, California. She was an art teacher at Crestmont School a private art grammar school in Richmond Hills, CA.

http://deborahhobbs.blogspot.com/

Deborah Kyle Hintergardt

Acrylic

Barn © Deborah Kyle Hintergardt

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