50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield

LaVonne Tarbox-Crone

2009-01-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

Watercolors With the Glow of Life

For the past 18 years, LaVonne Tarbox-Crone has painted watercolors with a strong emphasis on design, texture, and color. She has created a vast portfolio of art including still life, landscapes, people, places, abstracts, and illustrations.

Along with watercolors, LaVonne creates art with acrylics, pastels, oils, and collage. Her illustrations are featured in the Territorial Seed Catalog and on packages of Abundant Life Seeds. In 2008, she began creating sculpture as well as a series of miniature paintings of scenes with special emphasis on skies and clouds.

LaVonne says that in her paintings she "sometimes like to suggest a story which I leave for the viewer to complete. My scissors paintings are a tribute to my late mother who worked in garment factories and spent years sewing for her family and making quilts. Scissors have many connotations. They are beautiful. They are useful. They can be dangerous. And maybe, for me, they also are a symbol of the cutting losses we all endure in our lives?"

In creating her still life series, LaVonne notes that "the patina of time puts a beautiful face on the walls of ancient architecture. I find the visual contrast between these remnants of time and the glow of living in such objects as fruit or flowers an endless interaction I love to explore."

LaVonne Tarbox-Crone's devotion to her art is a testimony to her love for life and willingness to express her creativity in an ever-expanding repertoire of art media.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I always wanted to be an artist but never had an art class until I was in college. When I lost my son to a tragic accident in 1990 ... painting was my solace then. He had encouraged me to paint … and that was a large part of my motivation. Perhaps I feel my paintings are now a way that his memory is not lost to time. Memories, like a good painting, capture a sense of time and place."

Important Mentors: "When I worked as a school counselor, Marge Orre, our office secretary taught a watercolor class that got me started after many years of not painting. Classes with watercolorist Judy Morris were also helpful to me. Among artists I admire today are H.C. Dodd who I met in Taos a few years ago."

Value of Art in Her Life: "Painting makes me get up in the morning. It has made me a keen observer of life."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I hope my art will bring comfort and pleasure to people who live beyond my life. While my son's life was cut short, his memory (and my legacy) is carried in every painting I create."

For more information about LaVonne Tarbox-Crone and to see additional images of her art, visit her website: www.tarboxcrone.com

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Market Patterns" by LaVonne Tarbox-Crone

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Chewelah, Washington

Arts Education: U. of Idaho (Art Minor), Portland State (Life Drawing), Classes with Judy Morris

Media of Choice: Watercolors

Favorite Place to Do Art: In my studio at home

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Still Life

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, Watercolor Society of Oregon (Board of Directors), Corvallis Art Guild, National Watercolor Society, DIVA, Watercolor USA Honor Society

Special Awards: National Watercolor Society Exhibition (2008), Watercolor USA -National Competition (2008), Milford Zornes Award - National Watercolor Society (2006 Nationwide Tour)

Gallery Shows: Internet Cafe Gallery (Sacred Heart at Riverbend) through Jan. 2009

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All art images and photographs of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Beyond Botanical II" by LaVonne Tarbox-Crone

"Mosaic With Watering Can" by LaVonne Tarbox-Crone

"Jacksonville Tower" by LaVonne Tarbox-Crone

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Bonnie Smith

2008-12-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

Painting to Express Her Spirit

Throughout her life, Bonnie Smith has been an avid student of art. Since her retirement in 1989, she has been actively painting with oils, pastels, watercolors, and other media.

Bonnie's paintings are inspired by the color, form, value, light and shadow around her. She says that when she paints "something inside me has to get out." Her work includes landscapes, florals, still life, wildlife, and portraits.

Bonnie says that "in one sense, recreating the beauty of the natural world is about as close to divine creation as one can get. Art expands insight and reverence for life. If I can engage the viewer to feel the same reverence, then I have succeeded.”

Active for many years with the Emerald Art Center, Bonnie has served as a member and secretary of the Board. She regularly exhibits her work in the art center's member shows and at the Lane County Fair. Over the years, her art has garnered many ribbons and awards. Her work has been exhibited at Design Consortium in Ohio, White Dove Gallery in Washington; Treasures Gallery and Black Bear Gallery in California, and Maude Kerns in Eugene.

Along with her painting, Bonnie is also a writer with a ready-for-publication book of creative non-fiction about life in Mississippi in the 1930's. She is currently seeking an agent for her book and hopes to have it published next year.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I started drawing when I was six years old and wanted to be a painter and writer for as long as I can remember. The countryside and landscapes around Holly Springs inspired me. When I was 20, living in Philadelphia with me husband, an Italian friend of ours who heard me complain about not having paints and showed up one day with a box of paints. That day I did my first real painting, which was awful."

Important Mentors: "Most all of the artists I've taken classes with have inspired me. The old Dutch Masters are my favorites, especially Vermeer, as well as the Spanish painter, Goya. I've studied with Glenn Decker, Jane Hofstetter, Judy Betts and Rusty Stetcher (among others) but one of the first and best art class I took was with Laura Gubrud at EEAA.

Value of Art in Her Life: "I don't know what I would have done in retirement if not for painting and writing. Both have kept me active, interested, and involved."

Her Artist's Legacy: "Society will know that I tried."

For more information about Bonnie and to see additional images of her art, visit her website www.bonniesmithart.com and the Emerald Art Center website: www.emeraldartcenter.org

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Late Harvest" by Bonnie Smith

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Senetobia, Mississippi

Arts Education: Many classes and workshops from local and visiting artists

Media of Choice: Oils and pastels, depending on the subject matter

Favorite Place to Do Art: In my studio at home

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Whatever inspires me at the time

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association

Gallery Shows: Paintings in member shows at the Emerald Art Center

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All art images and photographs of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Wanda" By Bonnie Smith

"Mirror Image" by Bonnie Smith

"Blue Vase" by Bonnie Smith

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Carol Fourtner

2008-11-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

Watercolors in Full Bloom

In her paintings of strikingly bright florals, Carol Fourtner brings flowers to life. Her watercolors look so "real" that viewers want to reach out and touch them.

It took Carol only a few experiments with different media to convince her that watercolors were her love. For over thirty years, she has immersed herself in studies with many artists, absorbing techniques of skilled watercolorists.

Since her first solo art show in 1989, Carol has been creating and showing her art in a variety of venues. Today, she regularly displays her work in member shows at the Emerald Art Center and annually at Chateau Lorane's Memorial Day Wine and Fine Arts Festival as well as at the Artisan's Studio at the Lane County Fair. She also plans to teach a watercolor painting class for beginners which starts in January at River Road Parks & Recreation.

Carol Fourtner shows her love for flowers in her watercolor paintings that bless the viewer with an experience of joy in seeing real beauty in art.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I started drawing when I was in high school and enjoyed it. Off and on over the years I took art classes but didn't get really serious about it until I retired. Since then, I've created many watercolor paintings and continue to paint regularly."

Important Mentors: "During my years at Diablo Valley College in California, Jade Fon Woo, a well-known Bay Area landscape and portrait artist, was an important influence. Today, I'm inspired by the work of local artist, LaVonne Tarbox-Crone. I've learned so much from her and enjoy going to her studio to paint together."

Value of Art in Her Life: "Painting makes my life more exciting. I love getting up in the morning and going into my studio to paint. When I'm doing a painting and everything is working, I get a wonderful feeling ... like all is 'right and good' and worth sharing with people."

Her Artist's Legacy: "My hope is that those who see my work will feel the joy I experience when I create it and that others will be inspired to develop their own art."

For more information about Carol Fourtner and to see additional images of her art, visit the Emerald Art Center website: www.emeraldartcenter.org

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Tulip" by Carol Fourtner

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Bellevelle, Kansas

Arts Education: Diablo Valley College; art classes with Pat Dooley, Judy Morris, Betty Carr, Dan Chen, and others.

Media of Choice: Watercolors

Favorite Place to Do Art: In my studio at home

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Florals

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, Watercolor Society of Oregon

Gallery Shows: Annual Memorial Day show at Chateau Lorane Wine & Fine Arts Festival

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All art images and photographs of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Roses" by Carol Fourtner

"Blueberries" by Carol Fourtner

"Magnolia Leaves" by Carol Fourtner

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Gladys Bacon

2008-09-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

Inspired to paint a peaceful world

A native of New Mexico, Gladys Bacon brings over 45 years of experience to her representational style paintings of landscapes, animals, and still life. She creates with pastels, watercolors, oils, and acrylics.

"Every painting is a new adventure," says Gladys, "sometimes exciting, sometimes disappointing, but never dull. Usually the subject suggests which medium I will use to paint. I paint only what inspires me."

After living in Taos, New Mexico for ten years where she painted the Southwest and owned her own gallery, Gladys moved to the Northwest in 2002 to be near family and discover new inspiration for her paintings.

Gladys has been an active member of the Emerald Art Center since 2003. She initiated the art center's annual national juried show three years ago which stands as a great success in the area arts community and one of her proudest accomplishments. Gladys currently serves on the Board and served as treasurer of the organization for three years.

Viewers of Bacon's paintings will see how the beauty of the world inspires the work of an artist who captures a pleasant, peaceful experience of life.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I knew I wanted to be an artist at about six years old when a neighbor gave me some colored pencils and a piece of paper to occupy myself while she gave my mother a home permanent. She put a peach on the table and asked me to draw it. I was hooked! My high school art teacher encouraged me to continue my studies but I did not start my art education seriously until my fourth child was just a baby."

Important Mentors: "Carl Cogar, who was the director/teacher of the El Portal Institute of Fine Art in Las Cruces, New Mexico was most important to me. I've also studied with several great teachers -- Tom Lynch, Frederick Wong, Ken Hosmer, Albert Handell, Anita Wolff, Margot Schulzke and others."

Value of Art in Her Life: "I can't imagine living without art. My life would not be as fulfilled as it is if I didn't have my art."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I believe that it is the duty of an artist to pass on what we've learned to the next generation. I rejoice when I see other artists succeeding! Locally, I suppose that the annual Emerald Spring Exhibition I started in 2005 will be my legacy at the Emerald Art Center."

For more information about Gladys Bacon and to see additional images of her art, visit Gladys' website: www.gladysbacon.com

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Misty Cove" by Gladys Bacon

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Mosquite, New Mexico

Arts Education: El Portal Institute of Fine Art in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Media of Choice: Pastels and Oils

Favorite Place to Do Art: In my studio at home

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Landscapes

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, Pastel Society of Oregon, Pastel Society of the West Coast

Gallery Shows: Upcoming at the Emerald Art Center (November 2008); ongoing exhibit at LaVelle Wine Bar & Bistro (Eugene).

Website: www.gladysbacon.com

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All art images and photographs of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Silhouettes III" by Gladys Bacon

"Double Trouble" by Gladys Bacon

"Perfect Ending" by Gladys Bacon

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Renee Manford

2008-09-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

Creating fantasies of the natural world

Renee Manford's art is a reflection of the reality and fantasy she sees in nature. Her images are visceral and sensual, inviting the viewer to experience the beauty and peacefulness found in the natural world.

Renee works with various media but her greatest interest is in creating art using the monotype process. Monotypes are a single print of an image painted on plexiglass or a piece of prepared flat surface. The image is rolled through a press to transfer it to acid-free print paper. Often, Renee creates multimedia/monotypes which involves adding oil paint, pen, or watercolor media over the top of a monotype.

A turn of events in her life seven years ago led Renee into her work as a fine artist. Today, she says creating art has "become the air I breathe, the water I drink, and the food I eat. My art has become a necessity for leading a full, healthy, fulfilled life."

Renee Manford's love of art and passion for life is fully expressed in the monotypes and other paintings she creates.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I've always loved art and I recall my dad praising me for my art in grade school. But I really got started seven years ago when I got a taste for creating fine art while I studied graphic design at LCC."

Important Mentors: "My teachers at LCC were wonderful mentors -- especially Adam Grosowsky, Craig Spilman, and Lynn Wiley. Among the masters, my favorites are Vermeer and Turner. My all-time favorite artist is John Singer Sargent."

Value of Art in Her Life: "I love creating art and feel fortunate to be an artist. As a speaker at my daughter's graduation said, 'If you can find a job you absolutely love, you don't have to work a day in your life.' That's how I feel about my art. I can stay active and never have to retire!"

Her Artist's Legacy: "I want people to see the beauty in the world and find a 'resting place' in my art where they can be at peace. For my family and friends, I want them to see in the art I've created how much I loved the natural world around me."

For more information about Renee Manford and to see additional images of her art, visit Renee's website: www.reneemanford.com

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Broken Fences" by Renee Manford

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Watson, Saskatchewan

Arts Education: Lane Community College (Graphic Design); fine arts classes

Media of Choice: Loves to explore all media

Favorite Place to Do Art: Outside in the "plein air"

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Landscapes and people

Arts Organizations: Works part-time at the Karin Clarke Gallery

Gallery Shows: Accepted for 2009-2010 season at the Jacobs Gallery

Website: www.reneemanford.com

Blog Postings: Renee Manford; Travels with the Muse

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All art images and photographs of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Lily Pond" by Renee Manford

"Man at Sea" by Renee Manford

"Oak Tree at Doris Ranch" by Renee Manford

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Paul Bourgault

2008-08-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Painting the Aging Beauty of Oregon

By Todd Peterson
For "50 Artists" Series

Paul Bourgault paints beautiful old structures and landscapes of Oregon with watercolors. His work is constantly evolving as he strives for "spontaneity and looseness” in his use of the medium.

Doing most of his work outdoors, Paul’s paintings are often of old barns, covered bridges, stately houses, and other old “classic” buildings. He also paints Oregon river scenes, farm settings, and birds in the wild.

After working in design and advertising in California for 25 years, Paul and his wife Marguerite made their “dream move” to Lane County in 1995. Since then, he has continued to provide graphic design services for businesses while devoting more time to developing his skills as a watercolor artist.

Paul has been active with the Emerald Art Center over the past 12 years, serving as a leader of the workshop committee that recruits nationally-known artists to teach at the center. He has served on the EAC Board and is currently a member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon Board of Directors. Paul produces the WSO quarterly newsletter, the Watermark, as well as two annual show catalogs for the approximately 850 member, statewide arts organization.

Through his involvement in arts organizations and dedication to his art, Paul Bourgault is contributing to the development of watercolor artists in our community and throughout Oregon.

In his own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "My great aunt, Beatrice, inspired my interest in art when she gave me a John Nagy art set when I was in grammar school. I remember being asked to draw a turkey on the blackboard in parochial school when I was ten years old. Later on, I entered a statewide poster contest and won. After my freshman year at the University of Iowa as a taxidermy major, sophomore half year at University of New Hampshire as forestry major, I finally settled in at the Art Institute of Boston to study art and graphic design.

Important Mentors: "When I studied at the Art Institute of Boston, Murray Wentworth was a teacher who sparked my enthusiasm for watercolor. Among the early American watercolorists, I admire the work of Winslow Homer and John Singer Sergeant. I'm very inspired by Edgar Whitney who many consider the greatest teacher of watercolor North America has ever seen. Today, many teaching artists – Arne Westerman, Ron Ranson, Patrick Dooley, Eric Wiegardt and others – have guided me in my work as a watercolor artist.”

Value of Art in His Life: "Art has been a big part of my life. I studied to be a graphic artist and my career has been in design and advertising. I continue to do some graphic design work. Now, I’m more focused on watercolor painting and particularly enjoy Plein Air painting in Oregon.”

His Artist's Legacy: "I’d like to be remembered as an accomplished watercolor artist and inspiring teacher of watercolor painting.”

For more information about Paul Bourgault and to see additional images of his art, visit the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org or www.paulbourgault.com

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Covered Bridge" by Paul Bourgault

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Laconia, New Hampshire

Arts Education: Art Institute of Boston

Media of Choice: Watercolors

Favorite Place to Do Art: Outside in the "plein air"

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Old Structures and Landscapes

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association (Workshop Committee); Watercolor Society of Oregon (Board of Directors)

Gallery Shows: Koho Bistro (June/July 2008); Chateau Lorane (Memorial Day)

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All art images and photographs of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Old Barn" by Paul Bourgault

"Road Kill Grill" by Paul Bourgault

"Shriners" by Paul Bourgault

Dottie Chase

2008-06-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Telling stories with pastels and watercolors

By Todd Peterson
For "50 Artists" Series

Dottie Chase loves to tell a story when she creates a painting. She says, "I want people to feel an emotion when they see my paintings."

When Dottie paints a portrait, she begins with the person's eyes. Eyes show the humanness of each person and bring their essence to life in her paintings.

Today, Dottie is one of the area's leading portraitists with many private commissions to her credit. She has received many awards for her pastels and watercolors from the Watercolor Society of Oregon, Mayor's Art Shows in Eugene and Springfield, Lane County Fair, and Emerald Art Center.

In addition to her work as an artist, Dottie is a dedicated advocate and supporter of the arts in Springfield and Eugene. She has helped advance local art organizations with her fundraising abilities and has held leadership positions with the Emerald Empire Art Association, Gallery at the Airport, Jacobs Gallery, and Lane Arts Council.

In 1999, Chase received the Alvord Award for exemplary service and dedication to the advancement of the arts. She was among the 14 women named a "Legend" by the Springfield Museum this year for the difference she has made to help improve our community.

"I'm grateful to have been able to play a part in the growth and success of the Emerald Art Center," says Dottie. "It has blessed me in so many ways and has inspired my work as an artist."

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "In high school I considered being an artist. I knew I could do whatever I wanted to do. But I realized that I was a 'variety person' and entrepreneur by nature. I wanted to do many different things and I did over the years. In 1990 I decided it was time to seriously begin working as an artist. I've been creating art and involved in supporting the arts ever since."

Important Mentors: "Among contemporary painters, Daniel Green, Harley Brown, and Ben Konis have inspired me. Also a young painter, Jacob Collins, is a current favorite. Among the Old Masters, I enjoy Vermeer and Caravaggio.

Value of Art in Her Life: "Art is a part of my whole being ... the way I look at things. I just love being in the midst of it and get excited at the wonderment of colors and shapes."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I was able to share my art and make people aware of the beauty that surrounds them. As a result of seeing my paintings, I hope people will look, see, and feel the beauty of world in a deeper way."

For more information about Dottie Chase and to see additional images of her art, visit the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Elephant Watering Hole" by Dottie Chase

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Arts Education: University of Oregon - Art Major (Sculpting & Ceramics)

Media of Choice: Pastels, Watercolors, and Oil

Favorite Place to Do Art: With people around creating art, except when painting portraits which she does in her home studio.

Favorite Subjects To Paint: People

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association (Board Member & Past President), Jacobs Gallery (Steering Committee), Gallery at the Airport (Steering Committee), Art Selection Committees for LTD(Springfield & Em-X Stations), Moshofsky Center, and RiverBend Hospital (Art Panel), Lane Arts Council (Past Board Member).

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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"George" by Dottie Chase

"Beach Walk" by Dottie Chase

"In the Shadows" by Dottie Chase

Don "Andy" Anderson

2008-05-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Exploring the World and the Arts in Springfield

By Todd Peterson
For "50 Artists" Series

Andy Anderson had many adventures as he explored the world while working In in the aviation industry. When he retired, he moved to Oregon to explore our green river valleys and sandy ocean beaches. And begin experimenting with different styles of painting.

Andy joined the Emerald Art Center and started taking classes from local artists. He learned watercolor composition skills from Ellen Gabehart and Lois Edman. Richard Quigley taught him pencil design drawing and Craig Lasha enhanced his acrylic painting skills. From Bruce Mitchell, Andy received advice on color elements and contrasts for use in drawing animals.

"Photography was my first love of art," says Andy. "It all started with my mother's B&W 120 box camera. I progressed to Brownie 620, color prints, 35mm slides, and now digital photography. My old Kodak cameras are still with me. I have a collection of about 40 cameras."

Andy contributes his photo skills to the Emerald Art Center's many events and classes. "I've really enjoyed photographing the children who've participated in the Family Art Sunday series over the past two years," he says. "I've put together several photo albums of these events for the art center library where they can be viewed my members and visitors."

Painting acrylic fish images on river rocks is another art form Andy enjoys. He offers them for sale in the gift shop at the art center.

Andy continues to dabble in various art mediums, most recently in Japanese and Chinese watercolor brush art. He's now pursuing artistic composition using the colors of soft pastels.

As an active volunteer at the Emerald Art Center and a member of the Springfield Arts Commission, Andy Anderson serves our art community while having fun creating his own artistic vision of the world.

In his own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I began painting when I discovered the limitations of photography. Taking photos has always been my hobby. Most excellent photos are happy accidents. All elements -- subject, light, and shadows -- must be aligned at the very instant you press the shutter. When doing a painting, you have time and opportunity to arrange the subject, light, and shadows to suit the image you want."

Important Mentors: "There are many Emerald Art Center artists I admire -- Don Burgess for his fine drawings of old cars, Mel Vincent for his 'Country Store' series, Donna Shimmels for her precise calligraphy, and Kathy Williams for her authentic Chinese brush art work. Instructor Bruce Mitchell has helped me with my drawings; Ellen Gabehart has sharpened my watercolors; and Dan Chen provided insights for my Asian brush art."

Value of Art in Life: "Painting allows a person to express his inner vision of a scene."

His Artist's Legacy: "I hope people viewing my paintings enjoy the images I created and know I had fun doing them."

"Autumn Tree" by Andy Anderson

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Albert Lea, Minnesota

Arts Education: Self-taught with many lessons from local art instructors

Favorite Place to Do Art: In his home studio and the art center classroom

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Animals, fish, airplanes, seascapes

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association; Springfield Arts Commission; Eugene DIVA

Awards: Springfield Mayor's Art Show (2005 & 2006)

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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Road to Jerusalem" by Andy Anderson

"Sailing Sailing" by Andy Anderson

"Fish Buddies" by Andy Anderson

The Emerald Spring Exhibition Blooms in May

2008-04-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

Putting Springfield on the Map of the National Art World

By Todd Peterson
For Springfield Connection

Little did Gladys Bacon-Rust know what a success the national juried art show she started three years ago would be today. The Emerald Spring Exhibition at Springfield’s Emerald Art Center this month offers a selection of paintings that any city in the world would be proud to be showing in their art galleries.

Inspired by an annual art show she enjoyed while living in Taos, New Mexico, in 2005 Gladys said “lets do a national juried show” and set about to create it. “There had never had a juried show at the Emerald Art Center and I felt that competition is a great way to encourage artists to hone their skills” she said. “At first I think some artists were intimidated by the process but have since then gotten to understand how being juried can improve your work as an artist.”

Working year-around on the event as a volunteer, Gladys and two other volunteers did all the planning and work on the show for the first two years. “I learned how to do it by the seat of my pants,” she said, “and with a lot of help from other artists at the center. This year I had a wonderful group of eight women artists to work with. I still did most of the money raising and spent untold hours organizing, overseeing, and handling details while incorporating what we've learned from past years. I'm learning to let go and rely on our committee of very talented women with special skills. The results have been amazing!”

The exhibition received a record number of entries from over 200 artists across the nation. It attracted 546 entries from thirty states. The juror selected 55 finalists representing fifteen states. Oregon topped all other states with 22 paintings in the final selection, 11 of which are from artists living in Springfield and surrounding communities.

The juror for the exhibition, Robert Burridge, from Arroyo Grande, California is a fine art painter and teacher who has been an international juror for many art organizations. His colorful works of still life, landscapes, and interiors in watercolor, acrylic, and oil are sold in galleries worldwide. He will be teaching a water media workshop at the art center in January 2009.

“We are very pleased to have such a talented artist serve as our juror,” said Cheryl Leontina, Executive Director of the Emerald Art Center. “He had a very difficult job selecting from the many truly world-class paintings we received this year.”

“I’m so proud of the work Gladys and her committee of volunteers have done to produce the spring exhibition, said Leontina. “They’ve given Springfield, Eugene, and Lane County an extraordinary gift of art that will give everyone who sees the show, I’m sure, a ‘wow’ experience. It’s the only national juried show of its kind in Oregon and, as far as I know, the whole Northwest.”

Among the many awards given to artists in the exhibition are the Joy Woodard Award of Excellence ($2000), Butler Family Gold Medal ($1000), PeaceHealth/US Bank Silver Medal ($750), DariMart Bronze Medal ($500), Sid & Debbie Leiken Award of Distinction ($250), Sanipac People’s Choice Award ($250), and $250 Merit Awards from Sterling Editions, PeaceHealth/US Bank, and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Special Recognition Awards of $100 each are sponsored by Evergreen Title, Vistra Framing, Bess Nobel, Marilyn Stauber, and Gladys Bacon-Rust. Wal-Mart contributed $1000 and Wildish Land Company gave $500 toward the publication of the exhibition catalog and the Springfield Utility Board gave $400 to be used for the reception. LaVelle Vineyard is co-sponsoring the reception by furnishing the wine for the event. Nine other Eugene-Springfield companies have contributed in-kind support for the exhibition.

Through the generosity of Cyd and Casey Woodard of the Woodard Family Foundation, their $5000 per year contribution for seven-years, along with a $500 per year gift for seven years from the Straube family, will assure a well-funded Emerald Spring Exhibition for years to come.

The Emerald Art Center is open from 11 am - 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Phone: 726-8595. There is no charge for art center visitors. Memberships are available for artists, friends, and businesses.

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Emerald Spring Exhibition Events Schedule

April 28th: Art Juror Robert Burridge - Demonstration & Lecture, 7 - 9 pm
April 29th: Exhibition Opens in the Art Center, 11 am - 4 pm
May 3rd: Artists’ Reception & Awards, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
May 30th: Last Day of Exhibition, 11 am - 4 pm
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Photos of Finalists from Springfield, Eugene, and Surrounding Communities

All art images and photos of the art are copyright by the artist.

Click on Photo to See Larger Image of Art

Lori Keets by Shirley Reade (Springfield)

Morning Light on Rhodies by Bev Partridge (Springfield)

End of A Beautiful Day by Genie Roberts (Springfield)

The Guitar Player by Linda Kaye (Springfield)

Chai by Jerry Dame (Harrisburg)

Bella by Jerry Dame (Harrisburg)

A Cut Above by Lavonne Tarbox-Crone (Eugene)

Garlic Dance by Lavonne Tarbox-Crone (Eugene)

Wolf Stare Down by Nadine Lord (Walterville)

Model and Artist by Sarkis Artikajian (Cheshire)

Julia by Sarkis Artikajian (Cheshire)

Samson in the Field by Vicki Fredericks (Eugene)

Wetland Path by Kate McGee (Eugene)

Sleeping Marina by Bernie Herr (Florence)

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Located in the heart of Springfield’s downtown at 5th & Main, the Emerald Art Center opened in 2002 after year’s of renovating the Gerlach Drug Store in the Sutton Block building dating from 1909. It is the cornerstone for the historical cultural district which includes the Springfield Museum, Wildish Theater, and the Academy of Arts & Academics.

Judith Mason-Macomber

2008-04-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Painting Nature's Beauty to Move Us to Action

By Todd Peterson
For "50 Artists" Series

Judith Mason-Macomber sees beauty in the world and brings that beauty to life in her paintings. She enjoys painting the landscapes she sees from highways on her travels as well as pathways in natural settings locally.

Judith's first work of art was created on a bed sheet in her Evanston, Illinois home, much to her mother's surprise. She used crayons to make a design of fish around the edge of the sheet which she turned into a dirndl skirt.

With lots of encouragement from her teachers in grade school and high school, Judith continued her interest in the arts. She went to theater school at Northwestern University, then moved on to the Illinois Institute of Design where she majored in photography. Judith also studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was active with the North Shore Art League. She worked as a free-lance photographer and later, after becoming the mother of three daughters, in the advertising field for 18 years.

In 1996, Judith moved to Oregon and began painting landscapes of Oregon with acrylics while also working in other media including pastels, fiber, oils, and watercolor. She immediately joined the Emerald Empire Art Association and soon became co-director and later interim director of the Emerald Art Center. Today, she is secretary of the Board. Judith also served for nine years on the Springfield Arts Commission and was chair for the past several years.

At the age of 75, Judith Mason-Macomber is actively involved and committed to the arts in Springfield. She says "everyone who sees my paintings creates their own meanings." Seeing the patterns and colors in Judith's painting brings the beauty of the world to life for every viewer to experience.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "My aunt, Alice Kolb Mason, inspired me to begin painting. She painted portraits and flowers with oils. She also did etchings and lithography. I remember Aunt Alice taking me to the Art Institute of Chicago to see an exhibit of Renaissance art during World War II. I discovered Vermeer and loved his painting called, "Allegory of the Painting." I recall the black slits on the back of the painter's shirt, the black and white checkerboard floor, and the woman he was painting."

Important Mentors: "After my Aunt Alice, my grade school teacher, Mr. Scheffler, was very encouraging as were my high school teachers in Evanston. While in design school, Aaron Siskind, Harry Callahan, and later, Harry Bouris influenced me. Artists whose work I admire are Wolf Kahn, Richard Deibenkorn, and the figurative artists working in San Francisco in the 1960's."

Value of Art in Life: "If I'm not making art, I get grumpy and cross! Ideas just come to me. I never plan a painting. I just see it and make a sketch, then paint it. I'd like people who see my paintings to experience the beauty ... the colors ... the life I saw when I was creating the painting."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I hope that my art shows people the extraordinary beauty of the world and how important it is to take action to save it. I want to move people to save the world!"

For more information about Judith Mason-Macomber and to see additional images of her art, visit the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Bryce With Pink Sky"

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

Arts Education: Illinois Institute of Design (Photography Major)

Media of Choice: Acrylics and pastels

Favorite Place to Do Art: In her home studio

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Landscapes (highways, pathways) and animals

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association (Board Secretary); New Zone Artist Collective (Board Secretary)

Gallery Shows: Emerald Art Center (March/April 2008); New Zone Gallery (Eugene)

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All art images and photographs of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Canoe Canal - Alton Baker Park"

"Back in the Rain"

"De Chelly Overlook"

Kay King

2008-03-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

Weaver of Watercolors

By Todd Peterson
For "50 Artists" Series

Kay King creates colorful abstracts by weaving watercolor paintings together. The resulting "woven watercolors" are a unique combination that surprises and delights viewers of her art.

Kay's watercolor paintings were inspired by a weaving she once saw. Always a lover of combining things, she decided to take two watercolors with a similar palette, cut them into strips, and weave them together to create a new abstract painting. The contrast of the soft watercolors with the hard edge of weaving is striking.

"I learned creativity from teaching," says Kay. She taught science and language arts in both elementary and middle schools for many years in Eugene. Before that, Kay ran a day care center while her children were young. She retired ten years ago and has enjoyed time for traveling, gardening, and illustrating childrens' books. Among the books Kay illustrated with colored pencil art are "Anna Goes Blackberry Picking", "Benji", "Doggy & Kitty Parade", and "The Cabbage, the Wolf, and the Goat."

Having recently joined the Emerald Art Center and displayed her work in the gallery in February, Kay describes herself as an "old artist, newly out." Her abstract acrylic paintings and woven watercolors sold briskly at the show's opening.

With a laugh and smile, Kay King says, "I create abstracts because I'm petrified of being trite!" Without a doubt, the direction she has taken with her art has moved Kay's artistic creations far away from "trite" and much closer to her heart's "awakened" muse.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I remember always looking closely at things when I was a kid. That way of 'looking' continues to get me started. And I like combining things. That's what inspired my woven watercolors."

Important Mentors: "Marji DeBuse mentored me on the subject of creativity. She teaches a creative problem-solving class at the U. of O. Among the masters, I appreciate Miro, Klee, and Picasso. I also love the work of Andrew Wyeth."

Value of Art in Her Life: "It's a focus for me ... a context in which I live. Creating art makes me 'be awake'. For people who see my art, I hope they see something they haven't seen before ... something that surprises them!"

Her Artist's Legacy: "My legacy lives in the many kids I have taught over the years ... in their sense of awe as they look at our incredible world. And especially in the art of my two sons who are both very creative."

For more information about Kay King and other artists interviewed for this series, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

To display a larger image of the art on your computer, please click on the photo.

"Particle Wave" by Kay King

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Uniontown, Pennsylvania

Arts Education: Seton Hill University (B.A - Fine Arts)

Media of Choice: No preference (use watercolors, acrylics, colored pencils)

Favorite Place to Do Art: In her home studio

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Abstracts

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association (Education Committee)

Gallery Shows: Emerald Art Center (February 2008)
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All art images and photos of the art on in this story are copyright by the artist.

"Before Time" by Kay King

"Icarus Path" by Kay King

"Aloft" by Kay King

Marjorie Sutton: Celebrating life in her realistic paintings

2008-02-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (February 13, 2008)

By Todd Peterson
Springfield Beacon

Marjorie Sutton
Celebrating life in her realistic paintings

Marjorie Sutton is an energetic woman who loves life and has lots of painting she wants to do. At the age of 83, she feels "young and raring to go on the fast track" to create more paintings that bring happiness to the people who see them.

Marjorie has painted with oils for over 30 years and plans to learn acrylic painting this year. "Oils take so long to dry and I'd like to begin using acrylics which dry faster," she says. "I have so many things I'd like to paint and you never know how long you have left in this life."

Her first oil painting was of an Indian girl. She painted it from a black and white photograph and the colors just "came to her". Marjorie sold the painting to a lady who had it hanging on her wall for over 20 years. Then Marjorie, knowing that her mother had been upset that she had ever sold it, bought it back. What a surprise it was when her mother unwrapped the painting her daughter had done so many years before.

Marjorie likes her paintings to be "as near to real life as possible." She wants to share reality as she sees it and hopes that what she paints will be pleasing to others.

Anyone who looks into the eyes of the animals and people Marjorie Sutton paints will experience the delightful reality she sees (and celebrates) in her life.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "As a very young child, I was able to draw and my teachers from first grade on encouraged me to continue doing art. Many of my paintings are inspired by the personalities of animals ... their winsome look thrills me and I want to capture it so others can see it in my paintings. I love seeing the little faces of animals!"

Important Mentors: "Clem Hall with Disney Studios in Burbank was a mentor and so was Walt Tyler, who painted for Cecil B. DeMille at MGM. They became close personal friends. And I love Norman Rockwell. His paintings tell such meaningful stories."

Value of Art in Her Life: "I enjoy the camaraderie with other artists and creative people. And I feel so free when I'm painting. I can share with others and experience myself on a level much deeper than on the surface. I hope people will feel happy when they see my paintings and enjoy whatever they see in them."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I hope my children and grandchildren will say 'Mummer' (what they all call me) used her God-given talents to create happiness in her paintings. My legacy as an artist will be in my paintings hanging on the walls of family members and the walls of others who have purchased my paintings."

"Awesome Ocelot" by Marjorie Sutton

"My Precious Dee Dee" by Marjorie Sutton

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Burbank, California

Arts Education: Self-taught and classes at Saddleback College and Santa Monica College in California.

Media of Choice: Oil Painting

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in her studio

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Animals, especially cats; and people

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, Maude Kerns Art Center

Current Show: "Happiness is a Thing Called Painting" at the Emerald Art Center (through March 1)
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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Chloe" by Marjorie Sutton

"Catching the Wind" by Marjorie Sutton

"Half Dome Yosemite" by Marjorie Sutton

Richard and Janet Reed: Creating art that delights and dances with light

2008-02-05T13:48:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (February 6, 2008)

By Todd Peterson
Springfield Beacon

Janet and Richard E. Reed
Creating art that delights and dances with light

In an old barn on the north bank of the McKenzie River, Janet and Richard Reed are creating art that delights the viewer – colorful mosaics, oil and acrylic paintings, and sculpture.

Richard does oil paintings that capture the character of the person, showing what “you never see” even if you know the person. He also creates sculpture from clay, wood, alabaster and river rock. Richard says “I love to “moosh’ malleable materials and want people to touch my pieces of sculpture and experience the delight I feel in creating them.”

Janet creates “textured light” mosaics from very small pieces of glazed tile and glass. She uses a wide range of colors, placing the tiny pieces with many dimensions in ways that create light and shadow. Janet says “I like to experiment with the play of light in my work.”

Richard and Janet Reed are creating delight for viewers of their art (and for themselves) as they enjoy the “dance of life” together as artists and partners.

Inspiration To Begin: As a young person, Janet thought about doing “rice and beans” mosaics but never did. In 1963 while in Florence, Italy she bought a small mosaic pin which she says may have influenced getting started with her art. Doing needlepoint and her love of small, detailed, colorful art inspires her creativity.

Richard traces his beginning in art back to carving a polar bear out of Ivory Soap to enter a contest in first grade. But he didn’t take drawing classes until he was in his 30’s. Then about 15 years ago, Richard began painting classes in which he found inspiration in the work of Leonardo da Vinci, the French and Dutch Impressionists, and some of Picasso’s work.

Important Mentors: Janet’s mentors have been the authors of books on mosaic art – Elaine Goodwin who wrote “Encyclopedia of Mosaics” and Sonya King’s “Mosaic Techniques and Traditions.” She loves Byzantine mosaics and the works of Velázquez, El Greco, and Murillo.

Richard’s important mentors have been Adam Grosowsky who he says has “intuitive courage” and Victoria Andrea Doria who taught him painting in the style of Leonardo da Vinci.

Value of Art in Life: Richard says his art has “given me courage to push the envelope of my experiences in my life. I’m having fun in my ‘old age’ sharing my art and writing about the art of aging on my blog (www.artofaging.blogspot.com).

Janet’s art is a form of “meditation, allowing me to loose myself as the concentrated, detailed work pulls me closer to my center.”

Their Artists' Legacy: “I never thought people would buy my work,” says Janet, “but I’ve sold nearly everything I’ve created. Like being a teacher who never knows how far their words will go in their student’s lives, an artist never knows how their art will impact people who see it. I hope my art will give people something to think about, some new ideas and thoughts about life.”

For Richard, “just to have done it is enough.” He hopes people will see in his art that “you’re never too old to do new and interesting things.” And he hopes that his many pieces of art will find a good home … he laughs “maybe even snatched up by the art galleries of the world!”

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"Bird of Paradise" by Janet Reed

"Looking for Love" by Richard E. Reed

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About The Artists

Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY (Janet); Wautoma, WI (Richard)

Arts Education: Self-taught in Mosaics (Janet); LCC art classes with Adam Grosowsky and painting with Victoria Andrea Doria (Richard)

Media of Choice: Mosaics (Janet); Oil Painting (Richard)

Favorite Place to Do Art: In my studio in our old barn (Both)

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Landscapes, abstracts with color and shapes (Janet); People, landscapes, and abstracts (Richard)

Arts Organizations: Lord Leebrick Theater, Eugene Ballet (Janet); Maude Kerns Art Center, Playback Theatre, Writers Guild (Richard)

Current Shows: Downtown Athletic Club – March/April 2008; Full City Coffee – July 2008 (Both)

Contacts: For a studio showing, email: rreed@ram-mail.com
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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Pomegranate" by Janet Reed

"Birth of Hope" by Richard E. Reed

Ed King: A well-traveled artist

2008-01-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (January 23, 2008)

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

Ed King
A well-traveled artist

You’ll find two things in many of Ed’s signature Christmas cards: A church and deer. The deer are a kindred spirit of sorts. Actually, fans are a better term. “They come down, look in the window, and watch me paint.”

In his home studio nestled in the Eugene hills, he finds it most conducive environment for creating art. However, his inspiration comes from all over the world. This 77-year-old retired sign maker turned watercolorist is as well traveled as he is an artist.

Inspiration to begin

“Ever since I was a kid, I got called in to do the art stuff,” says Ed, recalling his early childhood days in upstate New York. He we went to Montana State University in Bozeman as an art major, but in the middle of the term he started to wonder how he was going to make a living doing that, and thus switched over to graphic advertising design.

After graduating and working in Bozeman by making signs and billboards, he moved in ’61 out to Eugene to work as the art director for Martin Brothers. After a little work, he began to freelance. “I’d be heading into bed at two, and going to work at eight.” laughs Ed. His first sign company was called Eugene Signs, and was located right next to the new Fire station on West Second Avenue. He then went into the interior design field with fellow Bozeman sign maker, Gordon Obie; father of former Eugene Mayor Bryan Obie. Afterwards, he started his own company, King Design Inc., which among other things did store designs for chains in upstate New York, Florida, and Montana.

Eventually, King Design Inc. got so big, that he had to hire more designers, and spent more time managing designers than designing signs. About ten years ago he retired, finding more than ample time to fully engage his watercolor painting. This was also around the same time that a friend told him to join the Emerald Art Center. “He said to me ‘if you’re doing this art thing, you gotta join this art center.’” He also joined the Oregon Watercolor Society, but he never makes the meeting because he’s usually out of town.

Mentors

His world experience has played a crucial role in his watercolors. He and his wife are quite the travelers, traveling anywhere from six to eight times a year, as far as Europe, South America, and Asia. He uses these opportunities to gather scenes to paint as well as take the occasional workshop. In the Florence area of Italy, he took a workshop with renowned artist Joseph Bohler; however, his approach was more unorthodox than the rest, but obviously more effective. Although being a well-traveled artist, he’s not one to paint on location.

“I’d go into the towns and start taking pictures, then I’d take the pictures home and make paintings of them,” says Ed. “At the end of the day, I would have 60-80 paintings, and they would only have one.”

Ed also credits Ron Ranson as an influence in helping him loosen up. "He told me to just paint a door. Not the knob and the keyhole, but just a door. And he got me to use a bigger brush,” he says. Ed cites Portland artist Gene Gill, and his treatment of light, as an important influence.

Quality of life as an artist

Like any person who is lucky enough to make money while painting something, he’s living proof of the adage that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.

“I'd like to look back and say I did something I like to do."

Ed's art seems to get around as much as he does. His line of Christmas cards are a hit, some of his art is in private homes in Europe, and his watercolors frequently makes their way into auctions at Northwest Christian College and the Rotary Club. You won’t find his art in any galleries though. He can’t stand to have his art marked up so high by galleries, so he offers tours of his home studio where he sells his art.

Legacy as an artist

Whether art is one of those genetic traits that skip a generation is anyone’s guess, but his granddaughter is already showing promise as an artist at age 16. “She’s already starting to develop her own technique,” says Ed proudly. For the rest of the kids, Ed advises not to get into the “crazy abstract stuff. Just do what you like to do, and do something so you can put it on the wall and keep looking at it and like it,” says Ed.

By now, Ed and his wife should be in Mexico or Arizona, on another adventure. Hopefully he will find some other great things worth painting while down south.

For an appointment to visit Ed’s studio, call 484-0285.

"Italy" by Ed King

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

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About the Artist

Hometown: Auburn, N.Y.

Media of Choice: Watercolors

Favorite Subjects to Paint: Old Ships and Mountains

Favorite Place to Paint: In his home studio

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Assoc., Oregon Watercolor Society

Gallery Showings: At home - call for an appointment: 484-0255
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Sally LaMarche: Bringing figurative sculpture to life

2008-01-14T12:38:00.007-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (January 16, 2008)

By Todd Peterson
Springfield Beacon

Sally LaMarche
Bringing figurative sculpture to life

Sally LaMarche began sculpting in grade school, winning a soap-carving contest at the age of twelve. While living in Arizona in the 1960’s, she began making pottery and creating sculpture from clay. Year’s later, when she moved to Oregon, Sally sold pottery at Saturday Market and began making bronze sculpture which she continues to do today.

Sally calls her figurative sculpture “representational” of what she sees in subjects of her sculpture. She says having two or three pieces always in progress “keeps her amused.” But creating bronze sculpture is getting more costly and there is only one local source for casting – Steve Reinmuth’s Bronze Foundry.

Sally also volunteers to teach sculpture through an international organization, Cross-Cultural Solutions. She went to Tanzania where she taught for four weeks, using local clay and their meager stream water for teaching her art to young students. Her journey included going on a weeklong safari and having a “hang out” week in the country after her teaching assignment.

Sally enjoys going to a weekly gathering of sculptors in our community led by Paul Buckner, UO emeritus professor of sculpture. She joined the Emerald Art Center in mid-2007 and is presenting her first show as a member-artist this month.

Viewers of Sally LaMarche’s sculpture at the art center – most of which are figures 12 to 24 inches tall – will see the beauty of the human body, the struggles of human experience, and the imagination of an artist.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: “My teachers in grade school got me started and many other people have inspired me throughout my life. When I was a young mother, my one-year old daughter was an inspiration for a sculpture. And my mother inspired the creation of a garden sculpture – an elf, two feet tall. I had to learn how to put pieces together to make such a large sculpture.”

Important Mentors: “At the Tucson Museum Art School, Tom Beranger mentored me. Later, my teachers at Lane Community College -- Bill Blix, Eric Land, and Ellen Tykeson -- were important influences. Among my favorite sculptors are Michelangelo, Bernini, Houdon, and Rodin.”

Value of Art in Life: “Sculpting is something I love to do -- so I do it. I hope people who experience my work will enjoy seeing my view of people and the other subjects I sculpt.”

Artist’s Legacy: “I haven’t really thought about it. I suppose my legacy will be the sculpture pieces I’ve given to my children and a public sculpture I created that is in the Lewis & Clark College Library.”

“Quest” by Sally LaMarche

“Maasai” by Sally LaMarche

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Glendale, AZ

Arts Education: Tucson Museum of Art; Lane Community College

Media of Choice: Clay

Favorite Place to Do Art: Anywhere

Favorite Subjects To Sculpt: People & Animals

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association & Maude Kerns Art Cente r

Current Show: At the Emerald Art Center (thru Feb. 2)
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Mark & Susan Dodge: Creating visionary and "next generation" art

2008-01-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (January 9, 2008)

By Todd Peterson
Springfield Beacon

Mark & Susan Dodge
Creating visionary and "next generation" art

For Susan and Mark Dodge, art is creation and re-creation -- using one art form to create another. Susan paints colorful visions of sea life while Mark creates abstracts with recycled paint from his window art. Together, they create three-dimensional outdoor scenes from wood painted to capture the beauty of nature.

The Dodge's began their journey into art over 20 years ago as holiday window painters and wood workers at Saturday Market. They were commissioned in 1988 by major corporate chains to travel the West Coast doing their artwork. Eventually, the couple decided to move to South Lake Tahoe where they created the largest holiday window painting in the world for Harvey's Hotel & Casino.

After receiving additional commissions for murals and promotional artwork from casino/hotels in the Las Vegas area, Mark and Susan moved to Bullhead City, Arizona. While living there, they were inspired by the beauty of the desert and created large canvas landscapes currently in private collections. Missing the beauty of Oregon, they moved "back home" in 2005 to share their art locally.

In doing collaborative art, Susan notes that the work is "like a marriage." Either partner may start a piece and take it as far as they'd like, then pass it along to the other partner to add their creativity to the project. They continue to work together back-and-forth until they both agree that the piece is complete. "Working collaboratively with my husband is a joy" says Susan.

In his artist's statement, Mark writes that his art "has crossed barriers, it has transformed from one art form to another. Imagine an art form that is commissioned, created, enjoyed and then recaptured by the artist and recreated into another art form." He goes on to say that his art is "created with a sole purpose and function, but with an intention of further use at a later time. Art with more than one purpose and life."

The art of Susan and Mark Dodge promises to awaken you to new ways of seeing one art form transformed into another -- a "next generation" -- and delight you with visions of sparkling beauty beneath the sea.

Inspiration To Begin: Mark's art teacher at Cascade Middle School, Miss Samuelson, inspired his artwork in 7th and 8th grade. He recalls saying he would "make her proud some day" with his art. Susan's mother was her inspiration early in her childhood. Susan learned to paint with watercolors like her mother and did pen and pencil drawings as well.

Important Mentors: Susan's teachers in junior high and high school were her early mentors (after her mother). She was in the National Art Honor Society in her school in Columbia, Missouri. Among the Masters, Susan loves Michelangelo, Seurat, and Dali as well as Georgia O'Keeffe. Van Gogh has been a favorite of Mark’s since 7th grade, along with Picasso and his LCC teachers, Bill Blix and Alan White.

Value of Art in Life: For Mark, art is both the "sugar and spice of life. It inspires, delights, and entertains." He hopes people who see his art will be touched and inspired. Susan sees her art helping people realize that they "don't have to think in a box". She finds creating art a very fulfilling part of her life.

Their Artists' Legacy: "I want to leave a legacy that shows how passionate I am as an artist." (Susan). "I hope my legacy will be 'believe in yourself' and 'all goals are attainable'. And "Thank you for being here." (Mark).

"Congo Line" by Mark Dodge

"Old Man of the Sea" by Susan Dodge

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

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About The Artists

Birthplace: Augsburg, Germany (Susan); Alhambra, CA (Mark)

Arts Education: U. of Missouri (Susan); LCC Art Classes (Mark)

Media of Choice: Acrylics (Susan); "Next Generation" (Mark)

Favorite Place to Do Art: Anywhere and everywhere

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Sea life (Susan); Abstracts (Mark)

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association

Awards: 1st Place - Lane County Fair (Yosemite Falls)

Current Show: At the Emerald Art Center (thru Feb. 2)
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Izzy Fletcher: Always Something to Do

2008-01-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (January 2, 2008)

Izzy Fletcher: There’s always something to do

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

From her front yard, Izzy Fletcher has a gorgeous view of the hills of neighboring Jasper. As a matter of fact, from her front yard, you can see up into the hills and view the houses of fellow Emerald Empire Art Association members Bonnie Sandland and DeVon Tanton. With all three of these exuberantly skilled ladies living so close to another, one could conclude there is something in the water out there keeping them invigorated. And Izzy may be possibly the best example. At 83, Izzy is a true veteran of the Emerald Empire Art Association, both serving as president and helping its transition from small humble beginnings to where it stands today.

Inspiration to begin: She has vague memories of random charcoal and pen drawings from her childhood; none of them she can remember to any fine detail. “It wasn’t serious stuff anyway,” says Izzy. Although she had an interest in art as far back as she could remember, she spent most of her life, like most people of her generation, working hard and raising a family.

After her the kids had graduated in 1975, she started to take her long time infatuation a little more seriously. For Christmas, her husband bought her a full-size hair dryer; the type with the big dome and the seat. She returned it to the store and used the money to procure all the fixings for a budding oil artist.

Some time thereafter, Izzy met Ruth Simmons, an artist from Cottage Grove who was a member of the Emerald Empire Art Association (EEAC). Ruth was instructing a class at the art association's gallery at 421 A Street. “She told members of the class that the EEAC was a good place to get into the art world," says Izzy.

It wasn’t long before Izzy became an integral part of the organization's success. She served for six years as the center’s president, as well as being a chair on the committee for renovation. She was on the cutting room floor when the Emerald Empire Art Association outgrew its humble roots from an old chiropractor’s office that still had the lead sheets for x-rays. By selling off a few properties and various grants and donations from the Springfield community, the organization was able to make a successful bid for it’s current location on Fifth and Main when it came up for sale in 1997.

Mentors: Izzy loves animals and the local landscape. “Creatures and places we all see and love,” she calls them. It will come as no surprise that she reveres local world-renowned artist Terry Isaac, and his stunning acrylic depictions of landscapes and wildlife in the western United States. Being a Willamette Valley resident, his workshops are a favorite among local nature painters. Another one she credits is Kenji Kobayashi, a Japanese artist whose mixed media surrealist images proved to be a life-changing experience.

Art and Quality of life: “I’m 83 years old, and I don’t hide that,” says Izzy with pride. “I don’t feel it…I feel ten years younger” Being able to pick and choose whatever takes her fancy, she undoubtedly has found a fountain of youth in her art. “So many people my age, they tend to slow down,” says Izzy, but she plans on doing it as long as she is able to hold a brush.

Also, to have traveled through your artwork could only be classified as reassuring. Although it’s not the only trick in her art bag (far from it), she has a penchant for painting on saw blades, and these works have gone across the world and back. The mayor of Eugene's sister city in Japan was visiting Eugene at a time when members of EEAC were having an art show on the Downtown Mall. He commented to Izzy that he liked the crosscut saws she had on display. Some months later a representative of the exchange student program contacted Izzy. He purchased two crosscuts for a gift to the mayor as well as bought several other smaller blades for host families. The representative later told Izzy the crosscuts were official pieces of art at their City Hall.

Her legacy as an artist: She has a few pieces of advice for new artists. First, “do your own work.” With the amount of art shows she’s handled, she knows that the art community is the least likely to suffer a plagiarist gladly. Aside from the cautionary advice, just simply take pride in what you do, and everything else will follow.

Even through being one of many integral stones that helped build the Emerald Art Center into what it is today, she’s first and foremost thankful for her family. She was currently painting some watercolors of her grandkids for a Christmas present. And given that she shows no signs of stopping, even at 83, her legacy as an artist may be yet to come. Just goes to show that, in her words “there’s always something to do in life.”

"There He Is" by Izzy Fletcher

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Spokane

Media of Choice: Watercolor, Acrylic and Oil

Favorite subjects to Paint: Landscapes, seascapes and animals

Favorite place to do art: In her basement studio

Arts organizations: Emerald Empire Art Association (Former President)

Gallery Showings: Heritage Mall (Albany) - November - January Annually

___________________________________________________________________________

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Splash" by Izzy Fletcher

"Petunias" by Izzy Fletcher

"Aspen at Eagle Crest" by Izzy Fletcher

Jerry Williams: What You Probably Didn't Know

2007-12-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (December 26, 2007)

Jerry Williams: What you probably didn’t know

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

If you’ve gone into the Springfield’s Public Library, you’ve seen his work -- a gymnast performing a handstand on a rhino while an owl lands on the gymnast’s foot. Even if you haven’t gone, you may have already heard about it.

Decried by Springfield City Councilors as everything under the sun -- from an endorsement of Satanism to a social commentary about the forest industry -- Jerry William’s ‘Balancing Act’ met with much skepticism (to say the least) when it won a commission from City Hall.

While it was a victory for this 65-year-old, it also bears a mark of shame: it has eclipsed his reputable career in theater design, costume design, and ceramics that has spanned four decades. It’s frighteningly surprising to find such a well-established man laying low in the hills of Eugene, only to be remembered as the guy who made the rhino and the gymnast. So if you don’t know his story yet, here it comes.

Inspiration to begin: Jerry went to class alongside James Cromwell (the farmer from the movie ‘Babe’) and others at the Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh to study set design – a school with classes so voracious it made going to graduate school at University of Washington almost breezy. “The classes they taught in graduate school were the classes I took back there (at Carnegie Mellon).” He’s had a spectacularly respectable career since then; being published in magazines and textbooks at age 24, teaching at Rutgers, Purdue, the Alley Theatre of Houston Texas and doing set and costume pieces for over 300 productions, earning him kudos from Eugene-Springfield to Taiwan.

In 1973, a job at Villard Hall at the University of Oregon enticed him out to Oregon country. “The first time I came here, it felt like Jurassic Park- so green and wet.” says Jerry. “I was expecting to see a Tyrannosaurus jump out.” He found no dinosaurs, but he remained, teaching students for 27 years, training set designers, and also having the distinct credit for designing the sets of the Hult Center for the first 10 years.

Mentors: That which inspired Jerry came to him very early. The best term to describe it might be: instantaneous reaction. Somewhere, back in the 40’s, Jerry’s older sister Janice brought home a crayon drawing, for which she got a gold star. His response: “I can do that.” From there, the spark turned into wildfire. His mother recognized his talent early, and thus nurtured him by enrolling the young artist into a private tutorship with a puppetry class at age 12. A class he was teaching to other children by his high school years eventually developed into a local puppet show on Kansas City television.

It’s rare that one finds mentorship in a building, but to hear Jerry talking about the Rockhill Nelson Museum of Art in Kansas City, it certainly made a dent in him. “It was like the Greek Parthenon times three,” he says, fondly remembering the days where he would get led through the employee door, bypassing security cameras, like a tiny mobster in the art world.

Art and Quality of life: Jerry considers himself an advocate of the arts. “It’s been in my life ever since I could do it." He should be living it up in his retired life, but still stays busy with a new form of advocacy – The Jerry Williams Quarterly, a home-based arts magazine that can be found in 110 galleries across the state. “It’s my baby.”

When asked if it adds a quality to his life, it’s almost akin to asking, “how does food nourish you?” It simply is a given for Jerry: art nourishes life. “In stage design, you have unity, color, contrast, variety,” he says. “These components of set and stage design are also the components necessary in life…without it, all you have is a higgildy- piggildy series of accidents.”

Jerry Williams goes further to say that art is connected with the higher power. He views it as no coincidence that the amount of design in elegance with cathedrals and temples worldwide were scaled back at the advent of art galleries. "God and art are inextricably linked; ergo when you embrace art, you embrace God as well."

His legacy as an artist: “Everybody’s ego wants them to survive their own mortality,” says Jerry, comparing his work to the greats but in a way that he feels his work is not at a level worth surviving his own life. “Being in set design, it was my job to produce a spectacle on a small budget, to be practical.” But it would be no risky gamble to bet on his work, like the Greek potters and sculptors of old with their urns and bas relief found among the ruins, it will be no less memorable. It’s like Jerry says, “Ceramics are as eternal as any steel.”

You can see ‘Balancing Act’ at Springfield City Hall, and his crucifix can be seen at St. Alice’s Church on the Corner of 15th and E Street in Springfield.

For more information on Jerry Williams Quarterly, visit his website at: http://www.quarterly-online.com.

"Balancing Act" by Jerry Williams

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About The Artist

Hometown: Independence, Missouri

Media of Choice: Ceramics (Clay)

Favorite Subjects: People

Favorite Place to do Art: At home

Arts Organizations: Emerald Art Center

Awards: Numerous awards, grants, commissions and fellowships

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B.J. Burnett: From Scotland with love

2007-12-19T13:45:00.003-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (December 19, 2007)

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

B.J. Burnett
From Scotland with love

Her backyard studio is a small Tudor-like cottage adorned with brass regalia and other nostalgic knick-knacks as though it were plucked up from the British countryside itself. It makes the perfect getaway for Betty Jean (B.J.) Burnett, and knowing her art, it makes perfect sense. Among the universal truths like water being wet, fire being hot, and wind being windy, this 69-year-old Springfield resident has Scottish blood flowing through her veins. Blood which calls her back to the home of her ancestors, and also has guided her hand through her immaculate pen-and-ink depictions of the English and Scottish countryside in her new exhibit: “Castles, Landscapes, Botanicals, and Architecture of Scotland and England.”

Inspiration to begin

Despite having the skills of an artist, B.J. is eternally a historian. “I love history,” she says proudly. Her bedside reading material consisted of a large album of books entitled Durant’s History of the World. B.J. says her children eventually learned not to ask her a question, lest they wanted to get a heaping earful of knowledge. All of this started at the age of 9, when she was able to get into the basement of a history museum in Grand Island, Nebraska. “I remember everything smelled of formaldehyde.” says B.J., recollecting the Native American burial site that ignited a spark. “And when I saw that, I said to myself -- I have to know, I have to know everything about this.”

After raising a family, she went back to school, earning a degree in Anthropology and began a career in archaeology, working with several native California tribes and publishing a book for C.F.D. Her love of history later transpired into running antique shops and eventually her own Scottish import store in California. It was during these trips to Scotland and England that she got interested in taking the pen-and-ink skills she acquired as an archaeologist and employing them towards something more near and dear to her heart: Scotland and England.

Moving to Oregon in 2004, she ultimately closed the doors to her Scottish imports shop, Rose Hall Manor, but is now selling her collection online. At the coaxing of her mom and daughter, she finally entered into the Emerald Art Center a few years ago. “It was a blessing for me.” On one of her month-long trips to the British Isles, she saw a colored placemat. “I looked at it and said to myself, "that’s pen-and-ink. I can do that!” Thus B.J. decided to broaden her repertoire by adding watercolor to her castles.

Her Mentors

B.J. a lefty, and a second born. If her family history was any determinant, she was destined for a creative life, as all second-born lefties in her family (and there are quite a few) have led creative lives. But her family being a determinant as to her fate was far more involved than just on the genetic level. As a young child, she got her start drawing stories and horses. Her Uncle Walter helped her sharpen her skills in drawing her equestrian friends. Her grandmother, living a no-less-extraordinary life, was the first to get B.J. interested in history. “She would tell me, I’m gonna tell you a story, and pay attention because there will be a quiz on it,” says B.J. “She made sure we knew where we came from.”

Most of her skill as an artist is something more left to craft than art. She picked it up as an archaeologist, sketching artifacts, thus, with no individual input welcomed, the goal was to draw as accurately as possible. To get the proper texture, B.J. needs the ability to feel the object, thereby making castles a perfect subject. Combining her history lust with her ability to transfer its artifacts from touch to paper, she literally draws inspiration from the areas she chooses. She’s one of those people that hears ancient battle cries or feels the presence of monarchs walking the ancient castle halls. “I’m kind of funny like that because when I draw, I’m there. I really am there.”

Arts influence on her quality of life

B.J has lived so many different lives; there are some that only she knows about. Mother, model, archaeologist, antique dealer, Scottish imports shop; and yet while her history is an inextricable given with everyone of them, so too is art. In fact, art has come not to compete with her love of history, but compliment it -- to amplify it. “Historians always have something to offer, and it fills that void for me.” says B.J.. She also relishes every bit of the fact that her art is another tool to pass “the gift of heritage” down to her family.

Her Artist's Legacy

The legacy B.J. leaves is not her own: it’s a legacy that has gone back thousands of years, and she's but one link in the chain. But her link is strong. And not only is she a strong one for her own clan, but for many. Hopefully she can toast a glass of Macallan (her favorite Scotch) and rest well knowing that she has filled many hearts with gift of their heritage; for she shows no sign of stopping, knowing full well the score. “There are thousands of castles. And I’m at, maybe, 52; so I’ve got my work ahead of me.”

B.J. Burnett’s “Castles, Landscapes, Botanicals, and Architecture of Scotland and England” are on display at the Emerald Art Center, located at Fifth and Main Streets in Springfield, until Dec. 28. You can visit her online store at: www.rosehallmanor.com

"Tudor Cottage" by B.J. Burnett

____________________________________________________________________

About the Artist

Hometown: San Diego

Media of Choice: Pen and Ink

Favorite subjects to paint: Scottish Castles

Favorite place to do art: Backyard Studio

Awards: Third Place - Springfield Mayors Art Show

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association

Current Show: Springfield Library - City Hall (February, 2008)

Website: www.rosehallmanor.com
____________________________________________________________________

"Tudor" by B.J. Burnett

"Snow" by B.J. Burnett

Mel Vincent: Painting Another Time in Oregon's Life

2007-12-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (December 19, 2008)

Mel Vincent: An artistic testament to an era

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

As the story goes, there was a simpler time in America and in Oregon. A time when you knew the people that lived in your town. A time when you knew who worked at the gas stations and country stores. And they knew you by your first name.

Regretfully those times have long since passed, crumbled to ashes and whisked away by an autumn wind. Usually the only testament of that era are country stores, old relic post offices, or mechanics garages that somehow…someway… stood the test of time.

And for Mel Vincent, an 82-year-old Lane County resident, capturing what little remains of this sanguine rural existence that once was has turned into a great body of work for this local watercolorist.

Inspiration to Begin: Like budding artists who copy the works of masters, Mel was copying sketches out of magazines during his junior high years in Nampa, Idaho. That led to being the cartoonist for the school newspaper. At age 21, after three years of managing a bombsight in the Navy Air Corps during World War II, he went to the Minneapolis School of Art on a G.I. Bill.

While going to school, Mel also worked part-time doing advertising sketches for Breuners, a local Minneapolis furniture company. Unfortunately, the art school wouldn’t allow him to split his time between being a student and a worker. In the end, he chose work and within five years, he had his own art studio. “Times were different back then,” says Vincent. “Back then you could make a decent living without a college education.”

Soon enough, work took him back to the West coast, which in turn eventually led him to Eugene-Springfield. That ultimately led to the development of his favorite subject -- the Oregon scene. From oceans to high deserts, all within a hundred mile radius, Mel found the terrain easy to capture with watercolors. “It’s a transparent medium … it depicts the atmosphere of Oregon landscape quite well," he says.

Perhaps it’s his small-time Nampa roots that drove Mel to choosing country stores, a subject frequent enough to have been developed into an entire book. It could also be his empathy for small businesses. Truth be told, he says, “I don’t know why we’re drawn to what we’re drawn to.”

Mentors: Given that Mel spent a lot of time cutting his artistic teeth during his school years, it makes sense that a teacher would have served as one of his most important mentors. He credits Sylvia Stone, his high school art teacher as a crucial influence. “She taught me more about drawing than anybody else has in my life.” He also credits Edward Hopper, whose similar artistic depictions of New England serve as an inspiration.

Quality of art in life: Art has given Mel quite a lot in his life thus far. It gave him the necessary skills to make living with a job in a field that’s somewhere in the ballpark of what he likes to do as a hobby -- a situation seldom found in the real world. It also helped him as a bachelor in wooing his wife. On their first date, at the United Services Organization New Year’s party he sketched a drawing of her.

The debate still continues over when exactly Mel drew the sketch that night, but nevertheless, his wife still has the drawing. But most of all Mel says his art has always served as a creative outlet to express how he feels about Oregon and a simpler time therein.

His legacy as an artist: Any kind of art is a tough game, according to Mel, so his lasting piece of advice to budding artists is to not quit your day job. He’s very quick to dismiss the assumption that he made a living off his watercolors. “I didn’t make my money doing this…it’d be impossible for me,” he says. “Some people can do it, but I don’t know who they are.”

Hopefully, Mel's drawings will remind younger generations of a time in where everything wasn’t a Safeway or a Wal-Mart. Some of the country stores he has drawn have already been condemned and/or demolished. But he’s not too concerned about buildings, or his legacy as an artist. At the end of the day (followed with a hearty laugh), Vincent says his biggest concern is what are his kids going to do with all his pictures when he’s gone.

Copies of Mel Vincent’s book on Oregon Country Stores is for sale at the Emerald Art Center Gift Shop. More photos of his art are found at .....

"Remote Post Office" by Mel Vincent

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About the Artist

Birthplace: Nampa, Idaho

Media of choice: Watercolors

Favorite subjects to paint: Oregon (particularly old country stores)

Favorite place to paint: In his home studio

Favorite awards: Best of Show - Watercolor Society of Oregon

Arts Organizations: Emerald Art Center (member 6-7 years)

_________________________________________________________________________

All art images and photos of the art are copyright by the artist.

"Wildcat Covered Bridge" by Mel Vincent

"Finn Rock Store" by Mel Vincent

"Lighthouse Keepers House" by Mel Vincent

Sylvia Casillas: Of Masks and Muses

2007-12-12T09:45:00.005-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (December 12, 2007)

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

Sylvia Casillas
Of Masks and Muses

At Nationalgeographic.com, they offer a service through their “Genographic Project.” For $99, they will trace your genetic lineage. This isn’t the genealogy type family tree thing. No, this service traces your ancestors back to the advent of civilizations. Ultimately, their [national geographic] data suggests that we all ultimately came from a group of African ancestors some 60,000 years back. Their data argues the point that there is some, even if only rudimentary, genetic link between all of us on the planet.

That may not be what some people like to hear, but for Sylvia Casillas, a 53-year-old from Springfield, it is an idea whose smell is redolent in her multi-media, which debuted last week at the Emerald Art Center. It begs the essential question: What mask are you wearing?

Inspiration to begin: One of her first ever memories was playing in the mud, very apropos considering her fondness for using clay. Her mother was an early influence for this Chicago native. Primarily a piano player, she would also break out the colored pencils for drawings. “She was good at drawing,” says Sylvia. “When she drew a face, they always had a persona to them.” Another of her first memories from an early age was being intrigued by the uncanny things in the world that could come to life; masks, statues, busts etc.. “I did always like puppets…they could take on a persona of their own.” Unlike many artists, she has a physical description of the wrestling opponent known as her muse. It looks like one of those tiny wooden mannequins.

Along with her husband, she went on vacations out to the Rogue Valley from time to time. Taking to the abundant mountains to hike, they moved out to Oregon after 20 years in Florida. She kept in touch with the arts: painting, singing, theater, sculptures, through classes at Lane Community College and University of Oregon. She would often take classes multiple times so she could keep working with the models. “The teacher finally came up to me and said that I didn’t have to take the classes…that I could just take it as independent study,” says Sylvia with a laugh.

Her Mentors: To list the number of people and classes she’s taken are countless, as are the numerous greats that have inspired her throughout her artistic career. But what has nurtured her inspiration for this particular show has been seven years in the making. In Fall of 2000, she and her husband were on vacation in Spain, set to embark on a day-trip to Morocco. This was a tense time with the USS Cole having just been attacked by a suicide bomber in Yemen. There were some concerns about going into the largely Muslim kingdom. But the tour guides knew the ropes, and they had planned this for a long time. They went and now the fruits of her trip are on display, showing the daily life of Moroccan people.

Quality of life in art: The benefits of art in Sylvia’s life goes far beyond the usual expressing of one’s self. "I like to stir the pot and make people think.” Her show at Emerald Art Center is aimed at what she has viewed as a universal commonality between humans that transcend time and substance. No matter where you come from or what religion you belong to, there is at least one thing we all have in common: “We all have souls,” says Sylvia, “Souls with borrowed bodies.” This, with the influence of her genographic test results, and the frequent wrestling with her muse has given her the insight to say with much vigor that we are more alike than we are different. In every society, the people conform to norms and behaviors.

“Everyone wears a mask,” according to Sylvia, “and the sooner we stop this worldwide masquerade ball and start approaching people with open minds as opposed to narrow ones, the better.”

Legacy as an artist: Quoting an old adage, Sylvia advises to “do what you love and the money will follow.” Sylvia says that anyone can do art if you have an interest in doing it, although it may take 20-30 years get somewhere. “Nobody tells you that,” laughs Sylvia. But her legacy is not to get other people into art. If that works, that’s fine. But what she really wants is people to start approaching things with open eyes, hearts, and minds -- to take off your mask.

What Mask Are You Wearing?” by Sylvia Casillas along with Carol Plaia’s “Origin, Mapping, and the Game of Life” and B.J. Burnett’s “Castles, Landscapes, Botanicals, and Architecture of Scotland and England” are on display at the Emerald Art Center, located at 5th and Main in Springfield, until December 28. A reception for the exhibits will take place this Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Bronze by Sylvia Casillas

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About The Artist

Hometown: Chicago

Favorite subjects: People (faces in particular)

Favorite media: Clay, Pastels, Oil, Photography

Favorite place to do art: At home

Arts 0rganizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association
_________________________________________________________________________________

"Dance of Rhythmic Solitude" by Sylvia Casillas

Don Burgess: Combining hot rods and watercolors

2007-11-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (November 21, 2007)

Don Burgess: Combining hot rods and watercolors

ByAustin Berger
For the Beacon

“I’m a car guy … they’ve fascinated me since the day I was able to see them.” says Don Burgess. With early memories of racing his ’36 Ford Coupe (his first car) through the streets of Medford and the surrounding Rogue Valley, it’s easy to understand the fascination -- a fascination that comprises the bulk of this 72-year Northwest native’s painting portfolio.

With a tenacity to plan his realistic watercolors with diligence, Don has found a joyous lifelong hobby which, like his hobby for cars, he finds endless time for tuning up to keep things running smoothly.

Inspiration to Begin: Don answers in the language of "maybes". No turning point or single defining moment exists for him. Art has been a part of his life from a very early age. As he puts it, it “probably” started with his parent’s best friend, an art teacher at a local private school. He fondly remembers the opportunities’ he was granted in grade school; a local program selected him for an arts workshop at the University of Washington. “They would go around the grade schools, and they would take 50 kids from every school. I went two years in a row” says Don, who fondly remembers the freedom he experienced, being allowed to use any media they choose and paint whatever they wished. “They never told you ‘here, you must paint this.’”

Soon enough though, paints were traded in for petrol, as he had entered his hot-rod phase. And soon enough, he had a long respectable career in retail. For decades, art was put on the back burner, until “probably” 25 years ago. “I was probably at a car show and I got inspired.” says Don. No matter how he got back into the fray, he has done so with a full-heart, taking an active role in the activities of the Emerald Art Center, organizing gallery functions and workshops.

Mentors: Don remembers words of wisdom from an artist from Eastern Oregon: “Watercolor is the hardest to learn, but the easiest to do after you’ve learned it." "I kind of agreed with that," he says. While the art teachers of his childhood appear mostly forgotten, he credits two watercolorists as his mentors: Jeanne Hammond Elliot, and workshop leader and fellow Rogue Valley artist, Judy Morris. Both of these teachers helped teach him an invaluable lesson for all watercolor artists and perhaps all artists in general: plan your drawing before even picking up a brush. “A lot of artists will start painting, and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work,” says Don. “With this, you can the image out ahead of time, and then you can say this will work.”

Art and Quality of Life: “I find it fascinating to take a white piece of paper and just have something appear on it.” says Don. With numerous workshops and events at the gallery, which in turn feeds his hobby, art has certainly livened up his retirement. Never one to waste his days watching daytime TV, Don enjoys taking life by the wheel and going for a nice Sunday cruise. Fully restored, with a creme paint job and a gold interior, his ’67 Chevelle Super Sport has been the winner in the second largest all-Chevelle car show two years in a row for “best ’67 Chevelle” (as well as 45 other trophies). Being the road tripper that he is, he makes an annual pilgrimage out to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, a proverbial Mecca for automotive enthusiasts. The trip combines his two favorite subjects to paint: hot rods and Red Rock desert.

His legacy as an artist: Don admits unapologetically that he has not put much thought into his legacy as an artist, and he couldn’t be happier. “I paint things that please me. Cars and deserts. I paint for myself, it’s not a business to me.” He brings along his prints to the Salt Flats, selling them to kindred spirits coming as far away as Texas, Missouri, Maine, and New Zealand. He also plans on producing a small book as well as a calendar for his most recent batch of prints from his 50th anniversary road trip with his wife.

Don also thinks that art is a great thing to get your kids into at an early age, which can blossom into a lifelong hobby. “Eventually your body will tell you ‘I don’t want to work anymore.’” he says. But like his Chevelle, art has the ability, provided a few tune-ups, to last through the ages.

"No Glare Rusty" by Don Burgess

_________________________________________________________________________

About The Artist:

Birthplace: Seattle

Media of choice: Watercolor

Favorite place to do art: Home studio

Favorite subjects to paint: Hot Rods and Desert Landscapes (Red Rock Country)

Arts Organizations: Emerald Art Center (Member - Board of Directors); Watercolor Society of Oregon
__________________________________________________________________________

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Red Roadster" by Don Burgess

"Storm Over the Steens" by Don Burgess

"Jacksonville Pit Stop" by Don Burgess

Lorraine Austin: Resilient spirit

2007-11-14T10:01:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (November 14, 2007)

Lorraine Austin: A living testament to the strength of the human spirit.

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

The word “resilient” may not do enough to describe Lorraine Austin. But you will be hard pressed to find another word to describe this 33-year-old Eugene resident.

An old-schooler at heart, Lorraine doesn’t tell her age. Whatever it may be, she seems to have youth and vigor in abundance, making a constant triumph in the face of daunting circumstances.

Inspiration to begin: Lorraine found her muse back East, working as a secretary in her 20’s. Her boss seemed to have an attention span that left a lot to be desired, wandering off at the slightest action happening outside his window. “Whenever I had to take down a letter for him, it would take so long…so I drew eyes,” says Lorraine.

Her doodles soon became a full-blown hobby, trading in eye sketches for oil paintings.
Oils turned to watercolors when she moved out to Lane County in the mid ‘70s, having bartered watercolor lessons in exchange for organ lessons.

Lorraine says she enjoys the unpredictability of watercolors, in where “mistakes” dry up and can turn into something beautiful. A longtime member, Lorraine fondly remembers the Emerald Art Center back at its tinier, humbler beginnings. “It was so cozy, so small…It was like a home away from home.”

Ten years ago, her art, as well as the rest of her suffered a devastating setback. Getting ready for work, she suffered an ischemic stroke on the left side of her brain. “I couldn’t talk. I understood what I said, but nobody else could… I was like a baby.”

Lorraine says that the stroke left her “laughing,” and instead of being “morbid” about her situation, she approached it with a light heart. She has spent the last ten years steadily making an astonishing recovery. She threw away her cane and eventually learned how to walk on her own, despite a fall that shattered her confidence for a time a few years back. After that, she fought tooth and nail to get her drivers license back. Soon enough, she was back to painting watercolors with the same diligence as she once before, if not better.

Mentors: The stroke did take an irreversible toll on Lorraine. Although she regained many of the functions of the right side of her body, she lost function of her drawing hand. “One day I was in physical therapy, and they gave me a paint set…I thought it was all over for me.”

Barbara Nechis, a renowned watercolor painter and instructor, encouraged her to do something she never thought possible – to paint with her left hand. Five to six years later, she’s finally felt comfortable in doing watercolors again, all with her left hand. She also credits Rebecca Mann, another renowned watercolor artist for her loose style of beauty, a style Lorraine aspires to.

Art and Quality of Life: Lorraine's art has left her quite busy. After painting watercolors for the past twenty years, she has been sharing her knowledge for the past one and a half years, teaching watercolor classes at both the Emerald Art Center and the River Road Parks and Recreation Center. “I’ve met so many people…it’s been great,” she said.

Although finding her niche in watercolors, Lorraine is also pursuing different styles such as "negative" painting where you essentially paint everything, but the thing that you are painting. She also plans on selling her individually hand-painted cards, humorously titled “trash” -- but they could be anything but.

Her legacy as an artist: Lorraine's legacy, in a sense, has already been made by adding her own fully copyrighted 3-color wheel system. By utilizing the basic red, blue and yellow, she is able to generate palettes for certain tones: delicate palette, standard palette, opaque palette, etc.

She’d like future artists to plan ahead as far as their finances. “It’ll cost you a fortune,” Lorraine warns, but the benefits are great.

Lorraine Austin's legacy, if anything, is by her own life experience -- a living testament to the strength of the human body and spirit.

Prints of Lorraine’s Austin work, and soon her handmade cards, are for sale in the Emerald Art Center Gift Shop.

"Before" by Lorraine Austin

"After" by Lorraine Austin

__________________________________________________________________________

About the Artist:

Hometown: Malden, Mass.

Media of Choice: Watercolors

Favorite Place to do art: At home

Favorite Subjects to paint: Flowers

Arts Organizations: Emerald Art Center (member/teacher)

__________________________________________________________________________

Bonnie Sandland: Serendipitous Talent for Nature Painting

2007-11-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (November 7, 2007)

Bonnie Sandland: Jasper native stumbled upon a talent she never knew she had.

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

It would seem that an ostrich doesn’t take kindly to having his or her picture taken. “I took its picture, and then he tried to eat my camera,” says Bonnie Sandland regarding her most recent piece, “Balderdash,” inspired by an Ostrich at the Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. One could guess it comes with the territory, and it’s definitely worth it.

With her photorealistic shots of nature, this 60-year old Jasper native may appear like a seasoned veteran; but looks can deceiving. Truth be told, her talent is something of a serendipitous affair.

Inspiration to begin: Bonnie's inspiration didn’t derive so much from a desire to draw, but of what she had a desire to draw. She’s always had a loving relationship with nature. Growing up in California, she found a serene appreciation for it on the fishing trips she took with her dad in the reservoirs near Modesto. The car trips alone always had her looking out the window, looking for the bird on a telephone pole. Proverbially speaking, she still looks for that bird, having her weekly scenic drive to church in Blue River serving as a constant well for inspiration.

Despite her longtime love of nature, and a longstanding dexterity with sewing and stitching, Bonnie never picked up a paintbrush until 2001. Paul, her husband of 35 years, had a voucher from the Emerald Art Center for a day long oil painting class. But, having to take a business trip, Bonnie went instead.

“Seven hours later, I had a painting.” says Bonnie, whose newfound talent took the notice of the teacher, Shirley Reade. “Shirley came up to me and asked me how long I’ve been painting. I told her ‘for seven hours.’… I had a talent that I didn’t even know I had.”

Mentors: Being exclusively a nature painter, Bonnie regards Terry Isaac, a world-renowned nature painter from the Northwest as a mentor with great reverence. This kindred spirit of sorts was teaching classes in Salem. Bonnie and Shirley Reade, whom Bonnie also credits as a mentor from the beginning, would often trek up the I-5 corridor for 65 miles to catch his class. “Oh, we’d pick his brain,” says Bonnie laughingly. “We didn’t go to learn to draw. We went there to be taught.” She also credits her husband for being her “resident critic,” and thus helping her make a better picture.

Art and Quality of life: When one learns how to be trained in anything, the logic he or she possesses can either become a weight that anchors them in one place or wings that take them anywhere. In Bonnie’s case, it appears to be a latter, with art showing her that within the serenity of nature, there is also complexity. “You see everything differently: the birds flying by, the colors, textures, faces…It’s almost like you took the blinders off and became aware of your surroundings.”

In addition to her newfound perspective, Bonnie also gets to hone her baking skills about twice a month. Having earned the affectionate title of “cookie lady,” she bakes six dozen chocolate chip, peanut butter, and raisin cookies; all of which find their way to the trays and bowls of the Emerald Art Center Gallery.

Her legacy as an artist: Like many people involved in the Emerald Art Center, and perhaps artists in general, family comes first to Bonnie. Having five children and 14 grandchildren, she wants every one of them to have something of hers. For everyone else, she simply hopes that her paintings will do a good enough job in helping the viewer appreciate nature as much as she does. If people viewing her art could learn one thing, in her own words is this: “It’s a beautiful world we live in.”

You can see Bonnie Sandland’s paintings at the Willamalane Adult Activity Center at 215 West C St. in Springfield. Also, beginning Nov. 28, 2007, her art will be on display at the Oregon Community Credit Union in Thurston.

"Balderdash" by Bonnie Sandland

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About the Artist:

Birthplace: Modesto, California

Favorite type of media: Acrylics

Favorite subjects: Animals and landscapes (anything that’s nature)

Arts organizations: Emerald Art Center

Awards: Various ribbons at Mayor's Art Show in Springfield; 2nd place 2004 North Light Book Club award.

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Marion Mitchell: Finding Art & Love Together

2007-10-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (October 31, 2007)

Marion Mitchell: Finding art and love the second time around

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

It appears that on occasion, cupid will trade in his bow-and-arrow for something a little more practical. For Marion Mitchell, 74, of Springfield, it just so happened to be a paintbrush. In so doing, it confirms that age-old adage: it’s never too late for love.

Inspiration to begin: Like many people, art began as “something to do,” for Marion -- something to make friends with. In her earlier years, her main concern was dealing with something more serious than a muse. “I was born with cerebral palsy … the biggest thing for me was to learn how to walk.”

As a child, she was often shuttled between her home in Idaho to the Shriner’s Hospital in Portland. Eventually, Marion's family moved out to Eugene. While growing up, a local art teacher, Naomi Nelson, approached her and invited her to one of her classes. “I told her I couldn’t draw,” says Marion, but Nelson told her to come to her class anyway. Even today, her oil paintings from that time (which go back at least 35 years) still line her living room.

Busy with family, she put the oil painting down. One thing came up after the other, and soon there was no time at all for it. For 35 years, her painting faded into the background, uncertain of its reemergence.

Mentors: Fast forward to 2002. Marion’s first husband had just died. “I got very lonely…so I started going to the senior center.” Again, it was “something to do.” There, among other people, she met Bruce Mitchell, a local art teacher from the Emerald Art Center.

Although Marion regards him as her mentor, originally he didn’t teach her art, he taught her pinochle. That led, in turn, to Bruce doing some yard work for her; which led in turn to him installing fans in her house; which finally led him to seeing her oil paintings in her living room. He took notice of her skill and invited her to come to the gallery. That sewed the seeds for the rediscovering of her art, as well as something more.

At the art center, Bruce served as a guide for breaking her in to the world of acrylics and watercolors. “She’s a little bit more advanced in her ability to pick up on techniques than my other students.” he says. “Certain things she’s not receptive to, but others, she becomes a ball of fire.”

Art and Quality of life: Marion found two beginnings in two ways by following Bruce back to the art center. She rediscovered art, as well as found a new husband. “I married my art teacher,” says Marion with a hearty laugh. While painting a rose at the gallery, with Bruce teaching her, “I thought to myself “oh oh, I think I’m in love with him.” They married nearly three years ago. “When you get to be as old as we are, that’s a big decision to make.”

Her legacy as an artist: Marion is not too concerned, given that even at 74, she has just begun in a way. She looks perfectly contented taking lessons from her husband and painting. One thing, however, is that she makes it a point to never sell her originals, only prints. “Painting comes hard to me,” admits Marion, so she keeps all of her originals. If they fare like her oil paintings from 35 years ago, they will surely be around for a very long time.

"Roses" by Marion Mitchell

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About The Artist

Hometown: Pender, Nebraska

Media of Choice: Acrylics and Watercolors

Arts Education: Various Art Classes

Favorite place to do art: Emerald Art Center

Awards: Cash Awards from Mayor's Arts shows

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Janelle McMahon: Gemini sensibilities lend intrigue

2007-10-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (October 24, 2007)

Janelle McMahon: Gemini sensibilities lend intrigue

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

“Faces are interesting,” says Janelle McMahon (pronounced Mack-Mahan). “You can tell a lot from them. Good or bad vibes…and they come in all shapes.”

Her love of faces is evident right past the threshold of the door; masks from all over the world adorn their walls. It may be due in fact that she has two faces herself, in the astrological sense. She’s a Gemini.

The astrological sign of the twins, Janelle's Gemini sensibilities may also contribute to her love of the number two, for many things come in pairs at the McMahon house. Two Hemingway Estate cats (as distinguished by their number of toes), two Porsches, two spindles, two magazine articles of her work in the magazine for the National Knitters guild (you heard right, knitters have a guild.); as well as a two-step stairway that leads to her studio. “Two steps up. Two steps down,” she jokes when talking about her commute from her studio to her kiln, which is in the garage.

Her Gemini sensibilities may also lend intrigue towards the dichotomous characteristics of her favorite medium -- glass: a medium to which the 55-year-old Springfield native has been able to fashion into something so straightforward as beads and plates, or to the intricacy of knitted fabric.

Inspiration to begin: “It was a slow grow,” says McMahon when asked about her immersion into the art world. She’s tried her hand at many things, working in health institutions and running her own bookkeeping secretarial service, teaching, and being a mother. She picked up art again when her friend enticed her to come to a knitting class. “We were redoing the house, I had no job…it immediately clicked.” Although she can paint, knit, as well as sculpt, she found her true love in glass -- first in beads, saying that it has “ a warmth, yet a coldness” to it, not to mention it’s ability to catch energy reflected off of it’s surface.

Mentors: Some people would credit Picasso or Da Vinci, or some type of artists in their respective field. McMahon credits her troop leader. Before working with glass, Janelle was a knitter, something she attributes to her long stay in the Girl Scouts, and rightly attributes her longtime troop leader Dottie Venchura as an inspiration. Also, the lion to her twins, she also credits her husband and best friend Michael. And Leone Hanson, who Janelle ranked as a second mother in her life, was a person who would pull no punches about her opinion of what she did. “She was one of those people who’d tell me if I was screwing up…she was the kind of people you could call on.”

Art and the quality of life: Any random horoscope will describe a Gemini as a flighty type, whose dual personality leaves them prone to wandering, lacking a center. Whether this is true or not for people born in late May or early June is anyone’s guess. What is known is that Janelle became a moon of sorts to the art world, in that she found that it could be her center to revolve around. “I learned all different types of art. All different types of people, their reactions to art…it opened that world I didn’t have.”

Art serves as Janelle’s anchor, her center; something she acquired when her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. “I was always running to the coast…I needed to feel and create. I needed to be able to have something work.” In this trying time she found her soul being fed through her glass work. After winning a blue ribbon for one of her earliest glass works, “it was something where I could say: “Okay, this works.”

Her legacy as an artist: If there is one thing that Janelle loves most, it would be her family. Most of her family still remains in around the Eugene-Springfield area. Sooner or later, she plans on giving everyone of her family members a piece of her work. “I want them to have something of mine. It’s part of who I am.” As for the rest of her work, which ranges from jewelry to sushi sets to vases, whoever they go to, she expects some wear and tear. “I make functional art. It’s usable. I want it used.”

You can find her glass works and jewelry for sale at the Emerald Art Center and at the New Zone Gallery in Eugene.

"The Flower" by Janelle McMahon

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About The Artist

Hometown: Springfield, Oregon

Media of choice: Glass

Favorite place to do art: Her downstairs studio (a.k.a. “the eclectic dive”)

Awards: Several prizes -- Mayor's Art Shows in Springfield and Eugene

Favorite subjects: None (penchant for masks however)

Hobbies: Porsche Club

Art Organizations: Emerald Art Center, Springfield Arts Commission, New Zone Artists Collective
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Scott Wylie: Of two minds

2007-10-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in The Springfield Beacon (October 17, 2007)

Scott Wylie: Of two minds

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

Some call it symbiosis, or yin and yang, or balance. Anyway you cut it, it’s the making of distinct elements working together. It’s a task that gets added to someone working in the field of designing architecture. It’s doubly daunting to not only pull something out of the creative mists and put it to paper or canvas, but to also make it work in the real world, and give it function. Furthermore, one must balance the function to meet the individual’s needs. It requires a very humanistic touch.

From the Science Walk at the University of Oregon, to the brick work of the corner of Broadway and Willamette, to a house on High Street in Eugene, to parts of Bruce Berg’s photography studio on D Street, Scott Wylie, 61, of Springfield, pulls off the balancing act between form and function with great diligence.

Inspiration to begin:

“I always loved to draw,” says Wylie. A skill given to him by his parents; a father who found an artistic outlet through special effects lighting as a lighting engineer, and his aesthete mother who saw to it that he visited all the museums that the Boston area had to offer.

Growing up in an area which blended architecture from the modern times to the 1700’s, New England proved a great place to be inspired by architecture, prompting Scott to go to Rhode Island, and later to Rome to study. “It really had a powerful influence on my outlook on art and design from that point on…I had ideas awakening.”

With ideas still awakened after his year in Rome, he followed an old professor to the University of Oregon, a part of the country he often romanticized. Scott remembers riding in the back of a pickup truck around the Fall Creek area and how the air suddenly changed from dry firs that surrounded the outside of the Willamette wilderness. “The air went moist and sweet. Palpable as going into a curtain,” he said. After that, he became “very Oregonian.”

Up until 1998, he did all of his sketches by hand, until he was “liberated” by an Auto CAD class given to him by his wife as a gift. “It did everything I expected it to do.” Now the seemingly impossibly long designs, every individual brick and rock can be laid by a digital representation.

Mentors: Scoot Wylie's mentors in crafting his skill are also masters at the balancing act of different concepts. He cites Leonardo da Vinci, a man of science as well as a man of art, along with Pablo Picasso, who traversed between the figurative and the abstract. As for designers, he credits Frank Lloyd Wright, whose organic approach balanced the needs of the client and the natural environment surrounding the home. He also credits the Greene Brothers, whose bungalow style blended, along with architecture and landscape, the Arts and Crafts Movement with Asian design.

Art and quality of life: The contribution of the arts to quality of life has been great to Wylie. He says that he found his center in the art world, but there’s something more to it. It is within art itself that one can take multiple contradicting objects, theories, concepts, and make them work together. It is the art that is, as Wylie puts it, “the great unifier.” He feels a connection to other artists. “I like to think of them as my kin.” Oddly enough, art also turned him into a bit of a football fan. “It’s like an art … I love watching it being done really well. I love watching athletes enjoying it.”

His Legacy as an artist: Scott's legacy has been left in stone and brick for many of his works. While he wishes his legacy to be specific and clear, “something that somebody can take with them,” he wants his legacy to be something, in a word -- mathematical. Wylie knows a bit about math: graphical expressions of 4th and 5th and 6th dimensions, algorithms, the Fibonacci sequence, all sorts of things. Most importantly, he wishes that the next generation will see it in a “fractal” kind of way, that even at the very farthest and the very closest points, there’s something happening. “There's always something new to see.”

"Science Walk" by Scott Wylie

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About The Artist

Hometown: Danvers, Mass.

Favorite place to do art: Anywhere, for one can find seeds of inspiration “in the most Spartan of places.”

Favorite medium: “Anything I can draw with.”

Favorite Subjects: No job too big, no job too small.

Arts Organizations: Emerald Art Center; Springfield Arts Commission.

Awards: Six public commissions.
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DeVon Tanton: Nourishing the Inner Child

2007-10-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (October 10, 2007)

DeVon Tanton
Nourishing the Inner Child

By Austin Berger
For the Beacon

Her work makes one think what would happen if Norman Rockwell moved out to Eastern Oregon during his prime; a plethora of cowboys, snuck kisses, curious kids, animals, and images of the Old West. Showcasing a Bull Elk at this years Mayor’s Art Show at the Emerald Art Center, DeVon Tanton of Jasper has honed her portraiture skills to precision with a near lackadaisical drive in the best way possible.

Inspiration to Begin

DeVon is the first to admit that her mind is the farthest thing from a business mindset. She’s won awards, but can’t really name any. She has mentors but has trouble remembering their names. Her answer to her art is simply this: “I love to draw.”

It’s reasonable to argue that DeVon's inclinations to art are encoded somewhere in her DNA; lying somewhere in the autonomous nervous system somewhere near the areas which tell her to breathe, and to keep a heartbeat, and all the things that our brain handles for us and never really give thought to.

DeVon's art skills came naturally as a child. No defining moment, no turning point; it simply was, and still simply is. Ever the conservationist, many of her earlier drawings as a child were done on ripped up brown paper bags from the grocery store. Many resulted from her anger because whenever she would do something good in her eyes she would later wish she had done it on appropriate drawing paper. For the Nevada native, it appears her art doesn’t require much conscious thought -- a practice that becomes so natural and constant to her as brushing teeth comes to others.

Important Mentors

The similarities between the nostalgia showcased in her work and Rockwell is no coincidence. Coming out of the era that he depicted, DeVon always had an affinity for Norman. “He made stories out of his pictures and he depicted humans when things were simple.” She also notes his love of painting children, a favorite of hers as well.

Value of Art in life

DeVon's art is her therapy, a muse born out of dream world imagery that sometimes borders on the macabre. It is her core, her release, her treat and her pastime.

“I used to have these dreams…where I hid a tiny baby in a cigar box.” These dreams went on for years, where she would come back to the box to find the baby dead and shriveled. One day she told a doctor about this dream. “He told me that the child was my talent and that I was hiding my talent.” She then went “off the deep end” as she put it, into the realm of portraiture, and in doing so fully exposed her “child” and kept the dreams at bay, so long as she was doing art.

Her artist’s legacy

Even at 69 she still finds herself the student, seeking to perfect her skills as a portrait artist, wishing to leave her mark with them. “I want to learn to do portraits (of people) so well that people are waiting for them to come alive. I want to put their soul into them.” Everything from life’s joys to its hardships, are written on a face, according to DeVon. She intends to capture it all.

"Bull Elk" By DeVon Tanton

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Elko, Nevada

Arts Education: Fashion Design, Modeling, various classes at Emerald Art Center

Media of choice: Oils, China Paints, Pastels, Acrylics

Favorite place to do art: Her work station in her living room, which has a view of the Willamette River and the Pleasant Hill area.

Favorite subjects to paint: Portraits, especially children

Arts organizations: Emerald Art Center

Currently Showing: Mayors Art Show (October, 2007) at Emerald Art Center

Nada Zawodny: Caricature artist turns hobby into retirement career

2007-10-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (October 3, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Nada Zawodny

Caricature artist turns hobby into retirement career

By Austin Berger
Springfield Beacon

If you were at the Lane County Fair this summer, you probably saw Zada Zawodny's one dollar portraits under the arm of some kid -- probably one of the best deals found at a fair. Or you may have seen her full-scale portraits of other authors and painters. With a dollar and a few minutes, she can paint your portrait without hesitation. Even Lane County commissioner Peter Sorensen got one. What began as a small gig at a fair has now generated some buzz for the 81-year-old Springfield native.

Inspiration to begin: Her caricature drawings began in her words as, “one of those goofy things.” After graduating from the oldest accredited art college in the country, her quick draw caricatures became something of a hobby for her over the past 40-50 years, doing them whenever she was asked. Zawodny retired in the late ‘80s after a very respectable career in advertising design in the Eugene/Springfield area; working along the entire spectrum, from freelancer to art director.

After retirement, she became a director at the Emerald Art Center. After awhile, she decided she was much happier simply being a member and enjoying the classes. Last summer she was approached to set up shop at the Lane County Fair. It was her first time ever doing something like that. A local newspaper article generated a buzz for her, and now she’s taking her pencils and paper to golf courses, retirement homes, and to anyone who has got a buck or two and a few minutes of time.

Important mentor: Her mentor and inspiration to become an artist came to her at a very early age -- three to be exact. Visiting family on vacation in Louisiana, young Nada met her great aunt Norada Bond, a professional artist who would sketch her family while sitting down at the table. While Norada would watch the family, Nada would be watching her. “And I knew…I said ‘when I grow up’ I want to be an artist.” Much to her enjoyment, she made good on it.

Value of art in life: After making that agreement at age three, and following through on that promise for the better part of 78 years, it comes as no shock that Nada finds life without art as something existing in the realm of impossibility. “It’s our history. It is color, it is line, it is shadow. Without it, there wouldn’t be anything really.”

Her Legacy: As far as leaving a legacy, Zawodny hasn’t given much thought to it. She has two children who’ve done remarkably well. While her daughter has three degrees and works as a controller for a large non-profit, her son carries the artistic torch, making a name for himself as an architect. Her own drawings may go to her family and friends, but her drawings are like photographs -- capturing moments in time and pinned down onto paper -- awaiting the next generation of viewers.
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About The Artist

Birthplace: Rose Point, Montana

Arts education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design: Art Institute of Maryland; numerous classes from local art schools

Media of choice: Pen and Ink or Pastel

Favorite place to do art: A studio her son built for her at home.

Favorite subjects to paint: “If there are no people in it, the picture’s not a finished painting to me.”

Arts organizations: EEAA, Springfield Arts Commission
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Gloria Tinker: Native American Spirituality Captured on Canvas

2007-09-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Note: In early September, Todd Peterson had to move on to other work responsibilities but will contribute to "50 Artists" from time to time. He extends his appreciation to all the artists he has interviewed and to the staff of the Emerald Art Center.

As time permits, Todd will update this blog with the articles written by other contributing writers for The Springfield Beacon.

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (September 26, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Brian McClellan
For the Beacon

Gloria Tinker
Native American spirituality captured on canvas

Each watercolor or oil painting of Gloria Tinker will traverse you through the world of Native American spirituality with it’s images of flowers, animals and people. Her detailed strokes and choice of color not only captures the life of her idea but also infuses it with the ideas of spiritually and healing. “Art has to have a melody,” Tinker says.

Tinker, a native Oregonian, was born part Native American and an artist. Being an artist since childhood, her first award was won in sixth grade for a rendering in chalk and crayon of cave men hunting a mammoth.

She started down her path to spiritually in her forties. Questions like “Who am I?” “Where Am I going?” “What difference does it make?” plagued her mind and affected her art. She found her answers in Native American healing and spirituality. It was then she started to attend their ceremonies.

With this new spiritual paradigm, Tinker learned to see the bigger picture, the bigger light. “The more you know the more you don’t know,” she says.

These new ideas translated themselves into her art. Medicine art, she explained is different from her other works by its use of narrative. Now her art ability has transgressed beyond the simple mechanics of a paint brush. The ability to see is important. “It’s not just green,” she said. “There also might be yellow. It’s the skill of seeing by closing your eyes.”

Today, after attending to University of Oregon, Lane Community College, and Eugene’s school of Commercial art, she teaches water color and oils at Williamalane Parks and Recreation. Her class’s pictures can be seen at Terese’s place on Sixth and Main, next to the Wildish Theater. She’s been in numerous galleries, at one point she even owned her own gallery and ran her own exhibitions.

What or who inspired you to begin your work as an artist? – Without a T.V or siblings she was left to her own musings and so she turned to painting.

Did you have mentors to guide you? – She was guided by her spirit, painting whatever she found interesting. For example, she explained that six months she would only paint horses with water colors. This led her to try various different subjects.

What difference does creating art make to the quality of your life? – Art is every where Tinker said, “It’s in nature. It could be butterflies at play, or a beautiful person. Art is the imitation of what we see in nature everyday.”

"Imagine" by Gloria Tinker

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Seattle, Wash.

Arts education: Lane Community College, University of Oregon, and Eugene’s School of Commercial Art.

Media preferred: Watercolor and oils.

Web site: www.ArtistGloriaTinker.com
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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Blue Frog" by Gloria Tinker

"Pansies on Parade" by Gloria Tinker

"The Smile" by Gloria Tinker

Mary Henley: Paintings stand as a reminder for her life

2007-09-19T11:03:00.002-07:00

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (September 19, 2007)

Mary Henley
Paintings stand as a reminder for her life

By Brian McClellan
For the Beacon

For Mary Henley, old barns are like artifacts. In her life-like watercolor paintings of old barns she captures the broken windows, the decayed wood, and the chipped paint which capture the story of an earlier time.

Henley and her husband Gordon moved to Springfield in 2000 from Springfield California. They had moved to be closer to their two sons, but upon moving discovered she needed spinal surgery.

“She wouldn’t have made it to the hospital, only forty- five minutes away.” Mr. Henley said. That’s when they really became thankful for the move. Their other house had stairs which had the potential to do more harm. There was also more advanced medical help in the Springfield and Eugene area then there was in their California town.

Henley’s skills in art range farther then just watercolors. She’s played with pastels, paint and sculpting. Without any formal training her sculptures retain beautiful life like traits, confirming her amazing wide ranged artistic ability. An art gallery of Las Vegas once commissioned her to sculpt an entire series but unfortunately due to arthritis she was unable to finish it.

Originally she went to college in Bakersfield, California for a nursing degree, but instead she fell in love. She was married in Lindale, California and has been married for fifty-eight years. They have two sons and one daughter. Art seems to flow throughout this family. They have a grandchild who is currently enrolled in Portland Art Institute. Henley’s husband helps with building the frames for his wife’s paintings.

Since the move to Oregon, Henley has taken it slow -- only painting small things like invitation cards. But her paintings stand as reminders, not only of places in her life, but as monuments of her amazing talent.

In her own words:

What or who inspired you to begin by our work as an artist?

Nature and old buildings inspire her life-like water colored paintings. Each nature setting is inspired by a story and every old barn was an actual location. Henley has been painting for sixty years, but even before that she was an artist. As a child in elementary school she won her first paint set in an acting contest.

What difference does creating art make to the quality of your life?

“It makes my life very enriched.” Her old barns stand as relics of another time she explained. “Artists are special people. They’re Historians. Throughout the history of mankind artists have left artifacts for future generations to find."

What legacy as an artist would you like to leave for future generations?

“I do old barns, old buildings so the young don’t forget what happened and so we have a record.”

"Morning Gossip" by Mary Henley

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About The Artist:

Birthplace: Sterling, Oklahoma

Arts education: Self-taught

Media of choice: All forms of media, but prefers watercolors

Other hobbies: Gardening
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Deborah Weese: Painting the world the way she wishes it would be

2007-09-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Writer's Notes: Walking into Deborah and Guy Weese's home offers a visual feast of Disney characters of many shapes and sizes. Shelves on three walls are covered with her favorite characters from Disney cartoons. I've never seen such a large collection in one place -- outside of Disneyland, of course (and this collection may even top that!).

Deborah and I went out to the backyard for our conversation about her art. We sat in chairs in her garden of bamboo (a small forest), a large palm tree (largest I've seen in Oregon), a small pond with a curving bridge passing over it, stone statues amidst lots of ornamental grasses, and an abundant pear tree (plus a very friendly cat!). Some photos of the garden are featured in my story in June about Guy Weese.

In our interview, Deborah noted that she had designed the new poster for the Springfield Mayor's Art Show coming up in October. As a cat lover with many cats in the family, two of her furry ones provided the reflected image featured on the poster.

When I asked Deborah my "artist's legacy" question in our interview, she told me a touching story that made it clear why she thought she'd be remembered more for her photography than for her paintings.

Several years ago when she and Guy were photographing a wedding at Heceta Head, she had taken a photo of one of the attending grandmother's walking the path up to the lighthouse. Just moments after she had taken the photo of the grandmother smiling radiantly as she held a colorful "rainbow" umbrella, the elderly women dropped to the ground. She had died instantly. Somehow, after attempts were made to revive her, the wedding party decided that grandmother would have wanted the wedding to go on. So in the midst of their shock over her death, the couple had their wedding ceremony.

Deborah didn't immediately tell the family about the photo she had taken and was concerned about showing it to them when she was presenting the wedding photos for their review. Thankfully, the family expressed their gratitude to Deborah for the joyful photo of their grandmother in the last moments of her life.

Fast-forward to a weekend last month (August 2007) when Deborah and Guy were at Heceta Head and decided to take a walk up the path up to the lighthouse. On the way, they noticed a bench for people to rest on during their walk. When they sat down on the bench, they noticed a plaque on the backrest. The plaque noted that the bench had been dedicated to the memory of the grandmother Deborah had photographed at that spot on a wedding day so many years ago.

Quite a story. We never truly know what life will bring in the next moment (except whatever comes in the next moment and the next .....). And a photographer captures just one moment of a person's life . . . a brilliant sunset at the beach . . . a cat looking at itself reflected on a window glass . . . or a smiling grandmother on a granddaughter's wedding day.

When we finished the interview and returned inside to Deborah's studio, she showed me the painting she was currently working on. The forest surrounding a lake and waterfall was nearly completed and she was planning to place a big brown bear into the scene. As you'll see in the newspaper story below, Deborah has a deep affection for animals and a sentimental heart. Her oil paintings and pastels of nature scenes always have a place for an animal whose home is the sacred ground she is capturing on her canvas.

I look forward to seeing more of Deborah's work at the Emerald Art Center in the future and to spending more time delighting in the beautiful world she envisions in her paintings.

More photos of Deborah Weese's paintings follow the newspaper story.

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Featured in the Springfield Beacon (September 5, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Deborah Weese
Painting the world the way she wishes it would be

Deborah Weese, an accomplished professional photographer, loves to paint the gentle side of life -- an idealized world like Disneyland. She enjoys being an "over-the top" sentimentalist who paints warm, fuzzy animals in a Disneyesk style.

In her home, Deborah has an amazing collection of Disney characters in many sizes and types. Several shelves are covered with Mickey's and Minnies, Pluto's, and the other Disney favorites of her childhood (and adulthood).

Among the animals Deborah paints with oils and pastels are many cats -- cats with names like "Simba" and "Shadow". Most of the cats have been a part of her life at home. Most recently, Deborah designed a poster for the Springfield Mayor's Art Show that featured two of her cats.

An active member of the Emerald Art Center since the downtown gallery opened in the Fall of 2004, Deborah created the initial website for the organization. Now her husband, Guy, does most of the on-going maintenance of the site which has been viewed by thousands of people living in countries throughout the world.

Deborah and Guy have done wedding photography together for over 16 years -- enjoying the process of capturing the precious moments of celebration for many newlyweds. In her work as a photography professional in a hospital setting for several years, Deborah has photographed a wide variety subjects -- from technical medical photos to very heart-wrenching photos of babies with their parents for the last time.

Deborah Weese has seen the beautiful and the tragic through the lens of her camera. Her joy is seen in her paintings of a kinder, gentler world filled with delight (and lots of warm fuzzies!).

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I was influenced most by Disney films (we went to Disneyland at least once a year). I can't recall not drawing and painting as a child. Now I work as a professional photographer and paint for the sure joy of doing it."

Important Mentors: "Of course, Walt Disney (who I never met). And the Old Masters -- Van Gogh and several other Impressionists. In photography I've had lots of influences -- Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, and Annie Leibovitz among others."

Value of Art in Life: "My art connects me spiritually with the Creator. It causes me to see -- to really appreciate what I see -- and not take things for granted. And it connects me with people who I never would have met."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I expect I'll be remembered more for my photography than my paintings. I've had some amazing moments of connection with people that will live on in the photos I've taken of them. As for my paintings, I haven't mastered oils yet but I'm having fun trying!"

For more information about Deborah Weese and to see additional images of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Hidden Mickey" by Deborah Weese

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Pasadena, California

Arts Education: Lane Community College (graphic design); art and photography classes at Maude Kerns Art Center

Media of Choice: Oil and pastels

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in her studio (anytime night or day)

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Animals (warm and fuzzy); nature (tall trees)

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association

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# # #

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Panda" by Deborah Weese

"Sheep After Jerry Dame" by Deborah Weese

"Cougar Falls" by Deborah Weese

Peter Gherardi: Creating art on computer and film to inspire people to change

2007-08-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Writer's Notes: As I mentioned last week, I interviewed the Gherardi's -- Christine and Peter -- together in their home. I enjoyed talking with them about their art and their work as artists who use very different media to create images.

Peter is studying at LCC to be a filmmaker and enjoys producing creative graphic art on his computer. While I was interviewing his mother, he created a ghostly image of me (to give me an idea of how he creates his art). He didn't have time to complete it or I would have shared it. The image you see here is titled "Inferno" (aptly named, don't you think?).

Christine shared a watercolor Peter had done for her at a very early age. She had been doing a painting and decided to share some paint with him and he created an "I luv you, mom" watercolor for her.

During my visit, Peter shared his short film titled "Death Blossom" with me -- a final project for one of his LCC classes. More details about my viewing of the film are included in the newspaper story below.

Peter loves stories and storytelling -- both great qualities of successful filmmakers. I shared that my youngest son (now 33 years old) graduated from the LCC program and now lives in Santa Monica where he is working on film and video projects as an independent producer. It's a tough business to get into but there are many projects to work on, especially now with all the video production needed to fill the internet "tubes" with content.

As a young man with clarity about what he loves to do and a vision for a better world, Peter Gherardi is on his way to building (filming!) his "field of dreams". I wish him well on his journey!

More images of Peter Gherardi's art follow the newspaper story.

(Note that clicking on the photos anywhere on "this blog will enlarge the art image for better viewing).

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Featured in the Springfield Beacon (August 29, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Peter Gherardi
Creating art on computer and film to inspire people to change

Peter Gherardi is a young man with a desire to use his art to make the world a better place. He draws art images on computer and creates short films to get people to look at life from a different lens.

With a love for stories and role playing, Peter wants to be a professional filmmaker. One of his films, "Death Blossom" was shown at the DIVA festival of short films. He also created "City of Dreams", a short art film in which he went around to every wall of art in town, filmed it, then edited it to music.

"Death Blossom" is a dramatic story of a young man sitting in a graveyard who hears voices coming from a gravestone. Near the end of Peter's film, there is a moment in which an older man appears on screen, making the viewer wonder who is alive (and who is really under the gravestone!).

On his myspace page, Peter notes that he's working on a new film he calls "Conservative Ninjas". He says it is "my first feature film that I am directing, which is an action comedy satire spoof about a college student and his friend being in the crossfire of a turf war between anarchists and invading conservative ninjas. It goes towards being liberal, but it has jokes on every side that try to balance it out for everyone to like."

Peter also enjoys creating fantasy characters with computer graphics -- ghostly images that appear out of the blackness in bright flaming colors. He also uses his computer drawing skills to create colorful landscapes and images of people.

In a description of himself, Peter shows his own character: "Two men fall. I am the one that gets right back up! I go by the idea that there is a time and a place for success on my projects." No doubt, Peter Gherardi will find his way as an artist and do his part to change the world for the better.

In his own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I watched my mom do her art work and she inspired me to begin. At the age of three, I was scribbling with a pencil and drew what looked like mutant ninja turtles."

Important Mentors: "My mom has been my most important mentor. I like many artists -- Picasso, Da Vinci, Michelangelo. And I like both Andy Warhol and Norman Rockwell. In film directing and producing, Steven Spielberg and Michael Moore inspire me."

Value of Art in Life: "My art is like writing a journal. It releases emotions and relieves stress in my life."

His Artist's Legacy: "I hope my art and films will have a positive impact, inspiring people to change the world for the better."

For more information about Peter Gherardi and to see additional images of his art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Dream Realm" by Peter Gherardi

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada

Arts Education: Lane Community College (studying multimedia design and production)

Media of Choice: Pencil and computer graphics

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home on his computer

Favorite Subjects To Paint: People, fantasy characters, landscapes

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association

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# # #

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Unicorn in Field" by Peter Gherardi

"Celestial Knight" by Peter Gherardi

"Dream Weaver" by Peter Gherardi

Christine Gherardi: Creating images that arise from her intuition

2007-08-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Writer's Notes: I met Christine Gherardi a few month's ago when she was doing gallery guiding at the art center. Both Christine and her son, Peter, are members so I decided to interview them both for the "50 Artists" series.

Last week when I interviewed Bruce Mitchell at his "drop-in clinic" at the art center, Christine was there working on a drawing. She said she had been coming to the weekly clinic for nearly three years and had found Bruce's guidance very helpful.

When I went to Christine and Peter's home, I interviewed both of them and took photos of Christine's work. Next week I will feature Peter's work when I receive the computer graphic images being sent to me.

Of all the artist's I've interviewed so far, Christine was the first to describe her art as "intuitive" -- coming to her as if she is guided to the image. One person at the art center told her that it looked like she was "channeling" the images that she drew.

Christine's work definitely evokes emotion. You can tell she (quietly) feels strongly about whatever image she is creating.

Christine hopes that her work will touch people emotionally and move them to make positive changes in their lives. Her intuitive process is a powerful guide for her art and her life.

More images of Christine Gherardi's art follow the newspaper story.

(Note that clicking on the photos anywhere on "this blog will enlarge the art image for better viewing).

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Featured in the Springfield Beacon (August 22, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Christine Gherardi
Creating images that arise from her intuition

For Christine Gherardi, creating art is a very intuitive process. It starts with a feeling. Then an image comes to her and she begins drawing.

Christine has been drawing most of her life. In college, she started a fine arts program but was talked out of it ("no money in being an artist") and went on to get a degree in sociology. Looking back, she feels she would have done better in the work world with a fine arts degree.

Christine has done award-winning images in pencil. But, for the past two years she has focused on watercolors. Bruce Mitchell's weekly "drop-in clinics" at the Emerald Art Center have been a great help to her and she paints there most every week.

Christine is especially proud of her son, Peter, who is studying at LCC and creating art himself (on computer and film). Together, they are members of the art center and enjoy many of the same artists.

Seeing Christine Gherardi's intuitive art images will open your heart and mind to the inner world of an artist. And they may touch you emotionally and awaken you to new ways of seeing the outer world.

In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I'm not sure when but know I started drawing in grammar school. In 5th grade I remember drawing a map of South America and then drew animals in each country. It took so long I didn't complete it in time so I got a 'B' instead the 'A' the teacher said he would have given me if I would have finished it on-time."

Important Mentors: "In college, Shane Falahi was a wonderful instructor. Here at the art center, Bruce Mitchell has been my mentor. Also, Jo Dunnick mentored me in her class, "Fun with Paint". There are many Emerald artists whose work I admire -- Don Burgess, Mel Vincent, Donna Schimmels, Carol Fourtner -- to name just a few." Among the masters, I like Van Gogh, DaVinci, and Michelangelo. And I love the work of Salvador Dali."

Value of Art in Life: "My art gives me a chance to express myself and show people who I am ... to show my heart.

Her Artist's Legacy: "I hope my art will positively change people ... to move them to look at themselves and make changes for the better in their lives."

For more information about Christine Gherardi and to see additional images of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Anglo & Asian Brothers" by Christine Gherardi

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Torrance, California

Arts Education: Community College of Southern Nevada - North Las Vegas (fine arts)

Media of Choice: Pencil, pen & ink, watercolors

Favorite Place to Do Art: At the art center's classroom

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Whatever images arise from her intuition

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association

Awards: 1st Place in Division - Mayors Art Show (2005)
__________________________________________________________________

# # #

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Victorian Peace" by Christine Gherardi

"Tom's Story Pot/Christine's Story Pot" by Christine Gherardi

"Lady of Dreams" by Christine Gherardi

Bruce Mitchell: Mentoring artists with his knowledge of art materials and tools

2007-08-09T14:33:00.002-07:00

Writer's Notes: Unlike past visits to artist's studios, this week I went to the art center to interview Bruce Mitchell at the weekly "drop-in clinic" he does for artists. Each Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m., Bruce is available to help artists with whatever they need to create their art work. Using Bruce's expertise in use of art tools and materials, artists who "drop-in" for the afternoon can solve a problem or create the effect they're looking for in a painting. Some artists come often; others get the help they need and Bruce doesn't see them again (until a new problem arises).

Today, two artists were there and another arrived after I interviewed Bruce. The artist had a photo she had taken of a green tree frog on a rhododendron leaf that she wanted to paint. She asked Bruce for help with the composition and he drew a grid with pencil on a blank piece of paper. After asking her questions about what she was trying to achieve, Bruce roughed in a drawing showing how to use parts of the photo to create the composition she was seeking. They continued in dialogue together until she was satisfied with the direction to take to begin her work.

While Bruce was busy, I took photos of his paintings which he brought in for me to see, all of which he (thankfully) removed from their frames so I could take pictures without the glare of glass to contend with. I encouraged him to tell all the artists who come to the clinic to be sure to take digital photos of their artwork before framing under glass.

Thanks to Bruce's "un"framing, I had much better success in taking photos of the art this week. He said that with his new staple gun he would be able to get his paintings back into their frames without any trouble.

I encourage artists who haven't attended the weekly drop-in clinic to "show up" and take advantage of Bruce's knowledge and skills to learn new techniques that save time and enhance their artwork. He loves to teach what knows to both new (and old) artists!

More images of Bruce Mitchell's art follow the newspaper story.

(Note that clicking on the photos anywhere on "this blog will enlarge the art image for better viewing).

___________________________________________________________________

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (August 15, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Bruce Mitchell
Mentoring artists with his knowledge of art materials and tools

For the past four years, Bruce Mitchell has led the Emerald Art Center's "drop-in clinic" for artists who come to learn how to best use the tools and materials of art. With his broad experience in most every art medium, he helps artists solve problems and learn whatever they need to achieve their desired creative outcome.

In his own art work, Bruce uses watercolors to quickly create what he calls "individualistic", not pictorial paintings. He may distort the colors and design of what he sees before him in a landscape or seascape.

Bruce has done freelance commercial art for many years, working for KEZI and Engleman-Becker where he did art for books and periodicals. Before he moved to Oregon in 1964, he taught a watercolor class on KQED, the public broadcasting station in San Francisco.

Bruce had early success in selling a painting he did while in elementary school. The painting of a house was purchased by the doctor who lived there. Over the years, his paintings have won many awards and he once had a gallery show at Mills College near where he lived in Oakland, California.

Currently, Bruce spends more time teaching and mentoring other artists than doing his own paintings. With his well-rounded experience with the materials and tools of art, he is passing on his knowledge to the many artists who come to the Emerald Art Center to learn, create, and display their art in the gallery.

In his own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I was inspired by my dad who was a commercial artist. He worked as a package designer. My grand dad, a furniture maker who did interiors of mansions in Oakland as well as woodwork on cruise ships, was also an inspiration for me to begin doing art.

Important Mentors: "At the California College of Arts & Crafts, Harry Donlevy, George Post, and Richard Diebenkorn were important mentors. So was Louis Milirak and Saburo Hasegawa, a Zen monk who taught me Sumi pen and ink and calligraphy. Among the art masters, I admire Winslow Homer and Singer-Sargent. Lots of artists inspire me -- Robert E. Wood, E. John Robinson from Mendicino, and George Post, the watercolorist I studied with in college."

Value of Art in Life: "It has been a part of my life since I started drawing at age five. Even while I worked in the retail and wholesale grocery trade and as a national sales manager for a hardware firm, I did freelance work as a commercial artist. Now in retirement, I enjoy teaching at the art center's drop-in clinic each week."

His Artist's Legacy: "I think my legacy will be as a mentor who had an ability to teach people how to use the tools of art and the materials correctly."

For more information about Bruce Mitchell and to see additional images of his art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Coast Guard Station - Newport" by Bruce Mitchell

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Oakland, California

Arts Education: Oakland City College; California College of Arts & Crafts; U. of Denver

Media of Choice: Watercolors

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in his studio

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Landscapes, seascapes and portraits

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association; Watercolor Society of Oregon

Weekly Clinic: Offers drop-in clinic at Emerald Art Center on Wednesday afternoons (1- 5 p.m.)
__________________________________________________________________

# # #

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Crater Lake" by Bruce Mitchell

"Vernell Farms - Corvallis" by Bruce Mitchell

"Nelson Mountain Bridge" by Bruce Mitchell

Elsie Sharp: Painting to create beauty and joy for her loved ones

2007-08-02T15:17:00.004-07:00

Writer's Notes: I didn't head east on Main this week but, once again, drove north on 5th Street to a north Springfield neighborhood that is home to several artists who are members of the Emerald Art Center.

Elsie Sharp invited me in and we walked through her home looking at several of the paintings on the walls that she had done over the past few years. Before taking photos of her paintings, we sat down at the kitchen dining table for our interview. Elsie had already done much of the work for me by writing down the "in her own words" and "about the artist" segments of the article -- common elements of each of the "50 Artists" stories.

We then began taking photos -- first of her studio space where she had a painting in progress. She was working on an eastern seashore scene of a lighthouse. It was one of a 10 painting project she was doing, one each for her two daughters and eight grandchildren. Her loved ones were asked to give her a picture of their choice for her to paint. What a sweet gift she's giving her daughters and grandchildren!

Elsie showed me a technique that she learned at a class from Terry Isaac, using a small open square which you lay on the image you want to paint, then place a second square of the same size on your canvas -- where you do your painting, section by section. I had never seen the technique used, but it sure looked a lot easier (as a non-painter!) than taking on the whole image from the start. Now I wish I would have photographed the whole process -- too late now!

For most of the rest of the photos, we took the paintings off the walls and placed them on the easel for shooting. Others I was able to photograph in place on the walls, depending on the lighting conditions in the rooms. In one of the bedrooms was a winter snowman scene with one of her grandsons that Elsie had done.

A new painting was ready to be framed for sending to a relative who has a mischievous bear in his backyard in Colorado. Seems to enjoy a daily mouthful (or sixteen mouths-full) of sunflower seeds from a bird feeder in their backyard. I've included a larger version of the bear "at lunch" following the newspaper story.

As I walked passed the refrigerator on the way to leave, I noticed a photo of a young woman holding up a beautiful painting of purple daffodils. Elsie said it was her grandchild (now in college) who had taken a class with her taught by Elsie's sister, Shirley Reade. Artistic talent definitely resides in her family! Elsie said she had encouraged her granddaughter to keep painting ... and she promised that she would.

May the world be blessed with many more artists in Elsie Sharp's family! Thank you, Elsie, for sharing your art journey with me.

More images of Elsie Sharp's art follow the newspaper story.

(Note that clicking on the photos anywhere on this blog will enlarge the art image for better viewing).

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NOTE: I had less success with photographing paintings this week than in the past. Not as sharp as I would prefer -- and another photo of Elsie's "still life" had too much glare and lack of focus for my use. My attempts to do the photo work handheld may be a little shakey (at least some days)! My apologies to Elsie for my less than professional photos.
___________________________________________________________________

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (August 8, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon
Elsie Sharp
Painting to create beauty and joy for her loved ones

Elsie Sharp began painting seven years ago, encouraged by her sister, local artist Shirley Reade. She joined the weekly art class that Shirley teaches and has been painting ever since.

Elsie loves to work with different colors and learn new ways to use them in her detailed paintings. She sees the world in a different way since she began painting with acrylics. Now she always has her camera with her to capture beautiful scenes to use in future paintings.

Along with her sister, Elsie is co-chairing the Springfield Mayor's Art Show this year. The annual show opening October 5th is celebrating its 15th anniversary as a community event of the Emerald Art Center.

Elsie's children and grandchildren have inspired her to begin a wonderful new project. She is in the process of painting a picture (subject of their choice) for her two daughters and each of her eight grandchildren. Currently on her easel is a one of these paintings -- a lighthouse on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean with bright white buildings along side it with their roofs in a brilliant shade of red.

Elsie Sharp is an artist deeply devoted to her family who shows her love and caring in the beauty of paintings she creates especially for her loved ones. In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I have always been involved in arts and crafts in some way. I would say my mother, who encouraged us to create beautiful things, and my sister (a very talented artist and art teacher) who convinced me that I could become an artist."

Important Mentors: "My sister, Shirley Reade, is my mentor. I joined her painting class in 2000 and have been painting at that class almost every Tuesday afternoon for the past seven years. I have also taken classes at the Emerald Art Center from Terry Isaac (who inspires everyone he teaches) and from Robert Warren."

Value of Art in Life: "Art has been a part of my life since the first painting class I attended. I love the challenge of creating something that people might enjoy. When a painting turns out as I have envisioned it, I am inspired to begin the next one."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I would like people to enjoy my paintings, especially my children and grandchildren. I hope they will look at my paintings and smile, remembering the love that went into every brush stroke."

For more information about Elsie Sharp and to see additional images of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Floral" by Elsie Sharp

"Chickadees in the Apple Tree"
by Elsie Sharp

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Portland, Oregon

Arts Education: Painting classes with mentors.

Media of Choice: Acrylic

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home and painting class.

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Whatever I see that interests me.

Arts Organizations: Emerald Art Center

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# # #

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Mischief" by Elsie Sharp

"Still Life" by Elsie Sharp

"Winter Waterfall" by Elsie Sharp

Ken McClellan: Inspired by Encounters with Nature

2007-07-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

Writer's Notes: On a perfect clear blue sky day, I headed east to Cedar Flats and turned right onto Deerhorn Road. With the McKenzie River on my left, I was soon winding through a forest of mixed cedars, doug firs, and lots of deciduous trees on the river bank. I couldn't remember if I'd driven here before, but if I had, I certainly hadn't traveled up several miles on this beautiful river road, passing by Taylor Landing on the way to visit with Ken McClellan.

Thinking I was going to be late with my slow driving to see the views of the river, I ended up arriving right on time. Ken had just stepped outside to turn off a sprinkler and invited me into the house where he introduced me to his wife, Nola. As we walked through their home headed for a back deck, I stopped to look at several Ken's wildlife paintings some of which I'd recalled seeing when he had a show at the art center last year.

As we stepped out onto their deck overlooking the river, the view -- with the river flowing directly at us -- was breathtaking! The sound of water rolling over the rocks coupled with the large trees rising around the three-tiered deck made me feel like this was an ideal place to spend many years of one's life (even in Oregon's winter rains!).

Looking out from the deck, far in distance I could see cars on Hwy. 126 on other side of the main stream of the river. Two streams passing around islands in the river converge directly in front of the McClellan's home. Ken brought out a painting he had done of their river view and we set it on the rail of the deck and I took a picture which shows what you see before you in this glorious setting (without the eagle today!).

I sat down with Ken and Nola at their outside dining table and started the interview -- distracted by all the beauty and sounds of rushing water below. I was surprised to learn that Ken had taken a 20 year "break" from his wildlife painting while finishing his career of over 40 years as a graphic designer for two different printing companies. But after taking a workshop with Terry Isaacs at the art center in February 2006 (who he had met in the mid 80's at a Robert Bateman workshop), Ken started painting again. His work with acrylics is amazingly realistic -- so much so that I wanted to reach out and touch the fir on some of his animal paintings.

Ken works in his home studio from photographs he takes in nature and of wildlife at places like Wildlife Safari (as well as of deer as they're standing at river's edge taking a drink just across the water). He has a growing collection of photos from from observing nature on their field trips as well. Now that Ken is retired and without the pressures of earning a living, he can "just do it" and enjoy the process of painting.

In his studio, Ken had a painting in progress and was willing to do some work on it while I took photos of him. He worked on some grasses around the rocks in the river scene. Ken said he sometimes paints outside on the deck and has plans for converting the garage into a "studio with a view" (an amazing one at that!).

Ken draws inspiration for his painting from the following Bible verse:

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this in His hand are the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." - Job 12: 7-10

In a philosophy on wildlife art that he wrote in the late 1980's, Ken said "If animals, birds, fish and the earth are teaching us anything, it's the fact that man has to stop polluting and destroying the air, the soil, and the wildlife that it supports. Ultimately, it's the Creator who is trying to teach us that whatever happens to nature and wildlife will eventually happen to man."

He went on to say "if the current wildlife art can make a 'statement' that will cause people to reflect on what we are doing to this fragile planet and perhaps change man's attitude towards doing something to preserve what we have left, then wildlife art will have a purpose."

After our interview, we went back inside the house to take lot of pictures of his paintings, many of which had just been framed for his member show in August with other artists at the art center. Of course, I took far more photos than I can share on this blog, so I encourage you to visit the show and see Ken's work. I can promise you, you'll go away feeling blessed by the experience of seeing the work of an artist with a great love and respect for nature and wildlife.

More images of Ken McClellan's art follow the newspaper story.

(Note that clicking on the photos anywhere on this blog will enlarge the art image for better viewing).

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (August 1, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Ken McClellan
Inspired by Encounters with Nature

Last year, after putting his art career "on hold" for 20 years, Ken McClellan started painting again. The scenic beauty and abundant wildlife surrounding his home on the McKenzie River provide an inspiring backdrop and subject matter for his art.

Ken's goal as an artist is to share his love and respect for nature and wildlife. He hopes that people who view his paintings will find peace and serenity.

Ken believes that "mankind cannot improve upon God's creation in its many forms. We can only try to capture with paint some of the magical moments we observe that are the results of His hands. It is also my desire that viewers of my paintings will see God's handiwork in the pieces of art I create."

Over 20 years ago, Ken was honored to be juried in to a Master Class workshop offered by well-known wildlife artist, Robert Bateman. In 1987, at a second workshop with the artist in Montana, he met Terry Isaac from Salem who went on to become a successful wildlife artist. Ken decided to keep his day job at the time rather than becoming a "starving artist".

Last February, Ken (who had retired by then) discovered that Terry Isaac was teaching a workshop at the Emerald Art Center. He attended the class and was encouraged, challenged, and motivated to begin painting wildlife again. By the end of the year, Ken had his first show of new paintings at the art center!

In the presence of Ken McClellan's paintings of nature and wildlife, one feels blessed by the magnificent beauty of the earth and all of its wonderfully wild creatures. In his own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I've always been interested in art and thought about becoming an architect or commercial artist. But I ended up working as a graphic designer in the printing industry for more than 40 years. In the early 1980's, I started painting wildlife subjects with acrylics and was honored to be accepted to attend a Robert Bateman workshop in Wisconsin. Then at another of his workshops, I met Terry Isaac who (20 years later!) inspired me to get back into painting wildlife."

Important Mentors: "As I mentioned, my most important mentors have been Robert Bateman and Terry Isaac. I'd also include Paul Calle who paints the Old West and mountain men, Morton Solberg for his watercolors of wildlife, and Carl Brenders, another wildlife artist."

Value of Art in Life: "Going out into nature and studying what God has created -- capturing the moment and telling a story with a painting -- connects your life with His creation in an inspiring way. You can't loose when you try to put on canvas what God has created."

His Artist's Legacy: "I hope people will see that it's never too late in life to start painting .. or to begin again! And to not be afraid to fail because you get better by learning from your mistakes. Hopefully, my legacy will be that the Lord was honored by my painting."

For more information about Ken McClellan and to see additional images of his art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Cheetah Pair" by Ken McClellan

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Ely, Nevada

Arts Education: Self-taught and workshops with wildlife painters

Media of Choice: Acyrlics

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in his studio

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Nature and Wildlife

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association

Upcoming Show: Several paintings at Emerald Art Center (opening August 10th)

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"Harlequin Ducks" by Ken McClellan

"Near the Edge" by Ken McClellan

"Making Eye Contact" by Ken McClellan

Deanne Tiffany: Painting what she loves with clarity and cheerfulness

2007-07-19T14:07:00.010-07:00

Writer's Notes: I had forgotten that east Springfield had some significant hills as I turned off Main Street towards Deanne Tiffany's home eight blocks up the hill. When I got out of my car in her driveway, I looked north to a great view of the Coburg Hills.

Deanne welcomed me in and we decided to do our interview at her dining room table. I had noticed some wood carvings of little birds on the way to the dining room and she told me she had begun carving last year at a Dick Jones workshop at Willamalane. The carvings of wrens are amazingly realistic as are the puffin and rabbit she carved.

In our interview, Deanne told me about her inspiration to become an artist in second grade (see newspaper story) and about being ridiculed by a 5th grade teacher for a drawing she made (of him) that sadly put an end to her art work for many years. In 1965, her mother-in-law invited her to go to an oil painting workshop and she's been doing oils ever since. In her living room are several of her paintings including one she calls "The Teachers" (which includes her grandmother) as well as paintings of two horses. I took a picture of "Clyde" which Deanne has on her business card.

We went upstairs to Deanne's studio which she has organized into three areas -- so she can have an oil painting, watercolor, and wood carving in process all the time. She also showed me her first oil painting from the 1965 workshop -- a kitten with flowers on a black background -- which I photographed but promised not to include here.

I asked Deanne to show me how she works (with her watercolor of a barn in process). She had taken photos of a barn she liked and had decided to paint it. We also looked at the oil painting she was working on of a scene along the Willamette River and the small carving of a horses head that she doing to get the feel for carving the much larger horse she was working on. She showed me a large drawing of the merry-go-round pony she is carving. For someone who just started carving last year, Deanne is certainly accomplished and willingly to take on big projects!

After taking more photos, Deanne invited me to have coffee and muffins with her and her husband (who had gone to high school in a Minnesota town I had visited to march in a parade about 45 years ago!). We talked about their decision to move to Springfield and how quickly the home buying and moving had gone for them. Deanne shared that several of her paintings are hanging at the Siuslaw Bank in downtown Springfield which I decided to photograph later in the day.

As the time came to end my visit, I felt well-nourished from seeing Deanne's art (as well as from eating a blueberry muffin!).

More images of Deanne Tiffany's art follow the newspaper article.

(Note that clicking on the photos anywhere on this blog will enlarge the art image for better viewing).

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (July 25, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Deanne Tiffany
Painting what she loves with clarity and cheerfulness

Since moving to Springfield a year and a half ago, Deanne Tiffany has become an active member of our arts community while enjoying painting outdoor scenes of her new home state of Oregon.

Deanne always has both oil and watercolor paintings in process in her studio. And she recently added wood carving to her artist's repertoire. Her current subjects include a carving a horse (half the size of a merry-go-round pony), a watercolor of a barn, and an oil painting of a Willamette River scene.

Deanne started her work as an artist in 1965 with an oil painting workshop. She focused on oils for over 20 years before taking a watercolor class. Since then, she has continued with both media while also doing wood carving which she learned last year at a workshop at Willamalane Adult Activity Center.

Deanne joined the Emerald Art Center soon after moving here and serves on two committees. She also joined the McKenzie Woodcarvers and serves as vice president of the organization.

Seeing Deanne Tiffany's paintings and wood carvings will bring a smile to your face as they cheerfully invite you in and welcome you to the world of the artist who created them. In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "In second grade, I went with a friend to visit an elderly lady who had many oil paintings on her walls. I saw a big painting on her easel of flowers in a garden with some doves. Right then, I just knew I'd be a painter."

Important Mentors: "After doing oils for years, I studied watercolors with John Yato in San Diego. I like Frederick Remington's work even though it's not my style. I also enjoy Norman Rockwell for the way he captured Americana. Among the old masters, Rembrandt, Cezanne, and Monet are favorites."

Value of Art in Life: "I'm never bored and always have something that's going to be painted. I'm able to see life with an awareness of all aspects and capture life's details in my paintings. For me, it's the process of painting that I love."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I'd like it to be: She did what she loved! I've been fortunate to be able to paint for so many years and to paint only what I want to at this stage of my life."

For more information about Deanne Tiffany and to see additional images of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Orchids" by Deanne Tiffany

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Pasadena, California

Arts Education: Many workshops with artists over the past 47 years

Media of Choice: Her subject matter determines the media used

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in her studio (but will paint anywhere)

Favorite Subjects To Paint: Outdoor scenes, flowers, people, horses, birds

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, McKenzie Woodcarvers

Currently Showing: Several paintings at Siuslaw Bank (7th & Main); "Little Lady" at Emerald Art Center

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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Size 1" by Deanne Tiffany

"Hydrangea" by Deanne Tiffany

"Oh Baby" by Deanne Tiffany