Media Spotlights—Gallery at Marina Square

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Media Spotlight—Photography 2013

Bill Sima—Photography

Bill Sima is a local orthopaedic surgeon who has been practicing in Templeton for twenty years. After graduating with his M.D. in orthopaedic surgery from USC and subspecialty fellowship surgery from Harbor UCLA Medical Center, he relocated to the central coast where he has been in private practice since.

Growing up in Hawaii inspired his enthusiasm for photography of landscapes. He primarily captures pictures of the central coast's landscape highlights such as beautiful beaches and vineyards which he digitally enhances to reflect the beauty of the area.

Cat Evans—Photography

Cat Evans

I remember taking pictures as a young girl, drawn to capture and preserve the moment. I see art in everyday life and photography allows me to capture what I see.

I have attended classes and lectures from gifted photographers and artists, and studied extensively on my own. The knowledge I acquired and continue to seek gives me the tools to make my creative vision a photographic reality. Each of my photos has a story and comes from my heart.

From my first Kodak with a cube flash to digital SLR’s of today—technology allows me to capture art in the world around me. I continue to be amazed at what life has to offer. See MY world…Thru Catz Eyes.

http://thrucatzeyes.blogspot.com

Robert Taylor—Photography

Robert Taylor

Robert is an award winning photographer, photojournalist and graphic designer. He has also worked in forest/farmland restoration, industrial imaging and has 25 years of experience in medical imaging technology.

Robert studied photography/ photojournalism and design. He earned a degree in graphic design and a degree in radiologic technology from USC/Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Robert shoots digital and film for use in art projects and maintains a black & white darkroom.

Pinnacles © Robert Taylor

Sealight © Robert Taylor

“My work and travels take me from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and High Desert to the San Joaquin Valley, California Valley and Estero Bay. From these regions, I compose my seascapes, landscapes, agricultural and wildflower images. Natural and available light determines my compositions. The long light of early morning and late evening, cloudy days with their wonderful tones and backdrops and the glow of neon, sodium and other urban night lighting take top priority in my artwork. My recent projects include annual calendars of SLO and Kern Counties, a line of art cards and postcards depicting the Central Coast, especially Morro Bay.

“Please Enjoy!”

Robert

Beth Sargent—Photography

Beth Sargent

Nature’s gift to us is the deep connection to its beauty and mystery. I experience such joy wandering in nature capturing beautiful moments in time, whether it’s the shimmering color of a sunset or the majesty of an owl in flight.

For me, nature and landscape photography is my soul’s purpose.

I have photographed most of my life, but digital technology really brought it home for me. When I purchased my first digital SLR camera, it started a wonderful journey that I could not even imagine. I have learned so much and have made many cherished friendships along the way.

My photography incorporates a technique called high dynamic range (HDR). This process blends 3 or more images at different exposures to create an exceptionally beautiful photograph that has a full range of light, color and depth.

I print my photography on professional metallic paper. This adds to the already diverse range of light, colors and depth and creates stunning photographs like no other.

My photography has earned awards and has been in juried photography exhibitions. I am very honored to be a member of the Gallery at Marina Square and a photographer on the Central Coast.

Blue © Beth Sargent

Tranquil Harbor © Beth Sargent

Here is a quote from a poem that really says it all for me:

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”

Rumi—Sufi Poet

Cheryl Strahl—Photography

Photographing images of life—from people to places—is my love and passion. Even when I don't have a camera in my hand, I am looking for that perfect light and composition.

Travel photography intrigues me—whether I travel to the rainforests of Costa Rica or just over the coastal range to the picturesque seaside town of Morro Bay.

Waterfall on the Rocks © Cheryl Strahl

Exotica © Cheryl Strahl

Very often, I will shoot in high dynamic range (HDR)—merging three images of varying exposures to create one image that looks natural. Metallic paper is used on my prints to bring out the brilliant colors that I enjoy capturing.

I am actively involved in my photo community: photographing for local non-profit groups, leading a mentoring project for high school photography students, and participating in local photography clubs, galleries, shows and competitions. My photography has won several awards and recognition here on our beautiful Central Coast.

I am pleased to be an artist at Gallery at Marina Square!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryl_strahl

James Crawford—Photography

James Crawford

Crawford loves to use his cameras, computers and different softwares as a brush to create his visions. He enjoys photographing rocks, trees and water as well as different natural elements both in black & white and in color. “Crawf” is always experimenting and learning to expand his craft.

Cayucos Pier II © James Crawford

James has been displayed at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Orange County, California, Photo Technique Magazine, Preston Contemporary Art Center in Mesilla, NM , The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Co., L.A. Center for Digital Art, Cal Poly (SLO), SLO Arts Gallery, SLO Coast Journal, Johnson Gallery, The Photoshop, San Luis Artist’s Gallery, Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo City Hall, Gallery at the Network-San Luis Obispo, Olive Tree Fine Arts Gallery in Atascadero, Calif. and San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. Crawford's work also hangs in many private collections worldwide.

Stone Border to the Smooth Beach © James Crawford

Alice Cahill—Photography

Alice Cahill

In my photography I strive to see with the eyes of my heart, to find the essence of my photographic subjects. With a sense of wonder I explore nature’s wild places, her textures and designs. My images convey a deep spiritual connection with nature. I believe the natural world is a healing force and a refuge from the chaos of daily life. When we are quiet and listen, we can find peace and discover our own inner voice of wisdom.

Escape © Alice Cahill

Sand Prints © Alice Cahill

I have been honored to receive numerous awards for my photography. Most recently, I was the Grand Prize winner of Audubon Magazine’s 2012 contest and my photo of a Northern Flicker was published on the cover of the magazine.

I am a member of the North American Nature Photography Association and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. My photography is also represented by GETTY Images.

www.alicecahill.com

Charles Pruitt—Photography

Chuck Pruitt

Chuck Pruitt was mentored by Boone Morrison, founder of the Volcano Art Institute in Volcano National Park during a time that he lived in Hawaii, he. 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, and abstract photography using color infrared film and long exposures, often taking a 4x5 Crown Graphic on backpacking trips.

Tranquil Evening © Chuck Pruitt

After returning to California, Chuck studied photography. In college he combined chemistry and photo classes to recreate historic techniques of wet plate negatives, cyanotypes, platinum and albumin printing methods. He received state and national recognition for his experimental prints.

Spring Storm—Half Dome © Charles Pruitt

Chuck took up digital photography in 2004, but also still uses his 50+ year old Hassleblad. In 2008 he began printing on canvas and other fine art media. This process is called Giclée (zhee clay) and uses archival inks and media.

Jack McNeal—Photography

Jack McNeal

I am by nature an explorer. My photographs represent what I find on my wanderings. I try to present the feel of place rather than represent things. My objective in this effort is to show my love for the outdoors, particularly the seacoast. I walk, cycle and paddle, exploring primarily my immediate environs.

I hope these efforts successfully help others appreciate the beauty I find.

Jack McNeal

Evening, Hazard Beach © Jack McNeal

Sand Dollar Beach © Jack McNeal

Karen Peterson—Photography

Karen Peterson—already
a photographer

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

In the early 1990’s Karen began creating Polaroid image & emulsion transfers, printed onto Polacolor 669 film from her original slides, and transferred onto watercolor paper. Karen also worked with an SX-70 Camera and Polaroid’s Time Zero Film manipulating the soft emulsion layer. Polaroid has discontinued making both Polacolor and Time Zero Film.

The Line Up © Karen Peterson

Currently Karen is exploring a variety of alternative digital techniques including digital “hand coloring” and High Dynamic Range (HDR).

Estero Bay © Karen Peterson

Karen’s photographs have been accepted for juried shows including Visions, Shapes & Shades and Photomorphosis, sponsored by the Central Coast Photographic Society, and the Phantom Show, sponsored by the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA). Her images have won awards at California Mid State Fair, New Times Photo Contest, Kodak International Snapshot Awards, and Visions Shows.

Karen has served as President of both the Central Coast Photographic Society and the San Luis Obispo Camera Club.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Media Spotlight—Oil Artists 2013

Nona Jane Siragusa—Oil

Nona Jane Siragusa

Plein-air artist Nona Jane Siragusa’s landscape and seascape paintings capture the clear and intense light of the Central Coast. Among California’s Impressionist-inspired painters, Nona Jane is trained to paint “en plein-air” or out-of-doors. Taking advantage of the bright light and warm climate, she seeks to catch the fleeting moments of specific natural light as it bathes the surrounding landscapes and seascapes.

Morro Bay Park Trail © Nona Jane Siragusa

Nona Jane believes that the biblical analogy of light as the creative instrument is appropriate to the land and ocean of the Central Coast—for without that unique light and the divine energy it represents, the land would not exist. Nona Jane Siragusa lives in Morro Bay and paints her Central Coast landscapes and seascapes in oils on canvas. She also makes giclées of her work on canvas and archival paper.

A Windy Morro Bay Day © Nona Jane Siragusa

Carol Astaire—Oil

Carol Astaire

I absolutely love the ocean! Being on it, in it, or hiking beside it brings me pure joy. Every day is a new experience and I always start to smile and sing when I take off in my kayak. Born and raised on the California coast, it just simply is in my blood.

With a lifetime of education, teaching, exhibiting, and traveling to draw upon, I have devoted the last five years to exploring the ocean south of the Port of Los Angeles to north of Monterey County; photoraphing extensively in all conditions year round. Then I use my reference photos to help remind me of my experiences on the water when I return to my studio and get to work.

Calm Shore © Carol Astaire

I now try to bring it all together in a free and joyful expression of the things of the sea I love most. Still using the old masters’ techniques of multiple layers, glazes, and traditional mediums to produce the luminosity and visceral qualities that are so rich—I hope to share all of it with anyone who views my work.

Wet Wednesday Regatta © Carol Astaire

http://www.astaire-fineart.com

Kira Fluer Olshefski—Oil

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 partaking in 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 her teaching career, Kira wanted to focus on her art. She is happy to be out of the classroom and exploring the Central Coast for inspiration. Just like her students, she paints from the heart and connects with her subject.

Rural Route 4 © Kira Fluer Olshefski

Kira’s work is not only at Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay, but has been on display in various venues throughout the San Luis County such as Linnaea’s Café, Joebella Coffee Roaster’s, and the annual SLO County Open Art Studios Tour.

Out-standing in Her Field © Kira Fluer Olshefski

Patricia Newton—Oil

Patricia Newton

It’s hard to believe that I have been painting with oils for 30 years! In the beginning, I only had time to paint during weekends. These days, since retired from a full time career, I get to paint much more often.

The most often asked question I encounter is, “How long does it take to complete an oil painting?”

It’s the one question I have the toughest time answering! Once in a while I will paint Ala Prima, in which case the painting will be completed in one day. However, most of the time I paint with a little more traditional style, by glazing with several thin layers of paint. This process takes several days and more time in between to dry! Sometimes weeks. More important, it has taken all of those 30 years, to learn a painting style that feels right to me. I have at times felt completely defeated and scraped all of the paint off a canvas, left it to dry and come back to try again another day. Years of learning to fix mistakes. Then I think, hopefully, I will remember what I did during one of those happy accidents so I can recreate something done right.

Although I have much more to learn, I am enjoying the journey! Then, my heart fills with pure joy when someone like you comes along and says, “That one speaks to me, I have just the right spot for it in my home!” Then, suddenly, off goes a piece of my heart with someone who will love my work of art! I am humbled and honored! Thirty years of work comes together and it just doesn’t get any better than that!

The Romance of Morro Rock © Patricia Newton

Ardella (Jo) Swanberg—Oil

Ardella Swanberg

Ardella Swanberg has been painting the Central Coast for 14 years. She loves to paint outside (plein air). One of her favorite tools is the camera. She takes a thousand photographs a year. Thank goodness for digital cameras and the computer. Ardella was primarily a watercolorist for 50 years but lately she has expanded to acrylic and oil. Ardella finds that all media are challenging and surprising. That is what excites her.

The Ranch at Midnight © Ardella Swanberg

Producing a good design that captures the viewers imagination is Ardella’s primary goal. Although she does enjoy painting realistically, Ardella is expanding her horizons by venturing into abstraction and non-objective painting. This approach is exciting and dangerous. She never knows if the painting will be good or a total failure. It keeps her on her toes.

Oak © Ardella Swanberg

Ardella Swanberg has paintings in many private collections. She has also had paintings accepted in exhibitions in California, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, Italy and Malaysia.

Ardella studied art education at the University of Minnesota and in San Francisco. She teaches at the Cayucos Vets Hall on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 9 am to noon, and at Art Central in San Luis Obispo.

Galen Griswold—Oil

The experience of painting in oils is one that I relish. I will often do a quick sketch plein aire with acrylic and finish the piece in the studio with oil. I like the way oil paints blend and you can push the paint to please as you apply it to the canvas. Oils have a feeling for me in their application: passionate, flowing, colors integrating or connecting, creating hard edges or soft. I like the way the oils mix and work like a river flowing-glowing on the surface revealing depths beneath-within. Painting with oils for me is like having a great conversation with nature and an environs. Texture, color, rough and smooth surfaces are heightened for me with oils. Challenging, exciting, energetic expression--those moments with oils, I love IT.

http://www.galenart.com

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Media Spotlight—Acrylic Artists 2012

Linda Loebs—Acrylic

Linda Loebs

Every time I look at a blank canvas it is a challenge—can I create something that is interesting to view? There’s the subject matter, the composition, and color that all need to work together for a successful image to appear, and until the picture is complete I’m always filled with a bit of angst.

More than anything I want my art to be visually captivating to the viewer, so color is a very important element in my work. I have tried to tone down my colors, but it just doesn’t happen. I may start off using a subtle color palette , but before long, BAM, color has made an entrance in a very big way.

Most of my work deals with nature because of the infinite beauty it contains. I look at all that color and I’m compelled to try and recreate it through my art.

Deb Festa—Acrylic

Deb Festa

Deb paints with passion and joy in her heart. She is known as the “Happy Painter” because of her vibrant color combinations and her spirit of life. She finds excitement in capturing nature’s light, color and ever-changing moods in her refreshing acrylic paintings. Deb likes to pile the acrylics on thick, which is very different from her watercolors. She also uses five coats of urethane to finish off the painting. Painting large is what she likes with her acrylic painting and not to use frames.

Deb is a self taught artist who gets so immersed in her painting that it becomes a form of meditation. She believes her hands are being guided by a divine power and is blessed for the gift that she has been given.

Deb starts first by taking photos with her camera to stop the magical moment before the clouds or reflections move. She works in her studio from her photos and memories to create her paintings.

Deb Festa has become well known throughout the Central Coast with local and international art lovers who have purchased her work. Her artwork is in 43 states and 20 countries. She loves to track where her paintings travel to. She has had over 50 solo exhibitions, many group shows, and a television appearance.

Ardella (Jo) Swanberg—Acrylic

Proud teacher, Jo Swanberg, with some of her students.

Ardella Swanberg has paintings in many private collections. She has also had paintings accepted in exhibitions in California, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, Italy and Malaysia.

Ardella studied art education at the University of Minnesota and in San Francisco. She teaches at the Cayucos Vets Hall on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 9 am to noon, and at Art Central in San Luis Obispo.

Stephen Wolfe—Acrylic

Stephen Wolfe

Each painting is a journey. I like to look at the painting and feel that I can go somewhere. The journey arrives not at a final destination, but at a new opportunity. This is much like hiking in the hills. Each peak, once reached, offers a new place to go – a new opportunity.

The language of abstract art is foreign to many. Yet much can be communicated. Although the language is abstract, the expression, like music or dance can be universal, connecting people everywhere with feelings of sensuousness, hope, curiosity and comfort.

Motivating my abstract paintings is communicating those ideas, feelings, reactions that I cannot duplicate with words; if I can say it I don’t paint it.

Much like jazz using notes and rhythm,I use motion, shape and color to connect with people from the corners of the bayous of Louisiana to the metropolitan areas of Seattle. With the journey or each painting I experience an adventure. I try to arrive at a place of grace –acceptance yet anticipation, hope and excitement all residing side by side.

When people see my work hopefully they are provoked to feel or follow their own thoughts to a new place—have their own adventures.

Deborah Kyle Hintergardt—Acrylic

Deborah Hintergardt shows off her wall

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—Acrylic

Galen Griswold

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.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Media Spotlight—Photography 2013

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Media Spotlight—Oil Artists 2013

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Media Spotlight—Acrylic Artists 2012

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