Far Studio Gallery » Artists

Plein Air Photography

Lori — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 22:31:13 +0000

One of my commitments for this year was to truly express myself as an artist. Therefore, I joined the Yosemite Western Artists league this month. This local group of artists hold art shows, classes, and workshops on art. I’m going to show some photographs in next month’s “Tri-county Art Show” as part of my affirmation as a real artist (as opposed to my usual attitude of seeing myself as a wannabe).

On April 11, the YWA had a “Plein Air” day in Yosemite. Plein Air is the technique of painting on location in the great outdoors. It encourages the artists to really put their emotions into their art and to be inspired by the sights, smells, and sounds of natural beauty.

I brought my art supplies with me, but instead of splashing paint on a canvas, I decided to paint with light instead of watercolors.

Yosemite Valley

Only two artists and one other photographer actually managed to get away for this event. The Yosemite valley was bright and hazy and the morning sky was covered with a thin layer of featureless cloud. It was crisp when we got there and snow still lay in shady patches from the weekend’s storm. Spring is very late this year.

The good news is that the falls were all swift cascades and the river was wide and full with water. When Spring does get around to showing up in the valley, it is going to be gorgeous.

Plein Air Yosemite

Yosemite Falls had a bright patch of snow at the base of the upper falls.

Rita Adams

Rita Adams is using acrylics to capture the color and mood of the falls.

Charlotte Hoffman

Charlotte is dressed for the weather as she works with pastels.

Merced River

After lunch, we headed southeast along Highway 140 following the Merced River as it flows from the valley. The redbuds were in full bloom and grow profusely along the river banks. The breeze had blown off the hazy clouds and the wild flowers were bright in the warm sunlight. With less than ten miles of travel, we changed seasons from late Winter to Spring in all its glory.

Charlotte Hoffman with her Pastels

Doug and Charlotte Hoffman

Magical Merced

River Rocks

Canyon Live Forever

Rita and I were fascinated at these brilliant succulents blooming along the rocky cliffs.

Dudleya cymosa

Classmates

Lori — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 01:58:49 +0000

I’m taking some art classes with artist Diane Detrick-Bopp at the local community college. For a lesson on “Values”, I created a series of value studies from photographs I took of the other students in the classroom.

Nikki

Mason

Shawna

Chris

Malia

Emily

Sunvir

Trish

Chad

Jessica

Dia de los Muertos

Lori — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:43:49 +0000

Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, originated in Mexico as a festival to celebrate life and remember the dead. This year, a group of artists associated with Stellar Gallery and the Sierra Art Trails, celebrated it with art and style.

They held an exhibit in the remote town of Hornitos, the remnants of a gold rush city in its heyday. They showed in a private home that was once a major saloon. The infamous outlaw (or hero, depending upon who tells the story) Joaquin Murietta was said to hang out there.

The Dia de los Muertos is a colorful ceremony in Mexico. Bread and candies are made in the shape of skulls. Offerings of marigolds and foods are made on graves to attract the souls of the dead to hear the prayers of the living. The celebration in Hornitos culminated in a silent candlelit procession led by a Catholic Priest from the center of the town to the Catholic Graveyard on the hill above the town. St. Catherine of Siena Church opened its doors for a mass and the town hall opened its doors for food and deserts.

Hornitos

The town got its name from the beehive-shaped ovens the German immigrants used to bake bread. The town has the look of a ghost town with its ruins of adobe buildings and rusted farm equipment surrounded by a herd of goats.

The Windmill

Goat Wheel

Sad Memorial

The Artists

The art exhibit captured the festive air of the celebration. Dia de los Muertos is a time for happy remembrances and humor. The artists created their work specifically for this exhibit, and their work was vibrant and exciting.

Penny Otwell

Penny poses with her mask, “Right Brain, Left Brain.”

Ann Mendershausen

Ann was dressed appropriately colorful for the event.

Franka Gabler

Franka had some very interesting photos of the Hornitos area.

Bekah Morse

Bekah is the artist who lives in the building where this exhibit was held. Her own works were mystical and moody.

The Festival

The Church Steeple

A view of the Church from the graveyard wrought iron fence.

Symbols

An altar to departed loved ones.

Procession

The silent walk up to the graveyard and church.

Bauer Gravestone

Zelia’s Grave

Graves illuminated by candlelight.

Artists

Lori — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:21:26 +0000

Here are some more portraits of the great artists who shared their art and their hearts on the Sierra Art Trails and other art shows.

Gregory Royse

This young photographer had one of his first shows this year.

Nancy J. Robbins

This wildlife and nature photographer lives in Yosemite National Park. She has the privilege to be surrounded by the beauty she loves.

Amy Morgan

Amy is a ceramic artist who uses the imagery of the natural world in her sculpture.

Carol Wagner

Carol is a basket maker using traditional methods and materials to create unique designs.

Larry Pesetski

Larry is also a nature photographer who emphasizes the play of light in his compositions.

Linda Lloyd Pitts

Linda’s vibrant use of color in her paintings reflect her vibrant personality.

Ron Hendershott

Ron’s photography styles range from the form and shape of a manzanita branch to the color of light upon old doors.

Carlsbad Artist

When I was at an art show in Carlsbad, CA earlier this year, I took this artist’s photograph as he worked upon a painting.

Sierra Art Trails

Lori — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:24:06 +0000

Every year, artists in our area gather at studios and homes for a art showing that spreads across 50 miles. This year, the Sierra Art Trails showcased the artistic talents of 88 photographers, painters, craftsmen, and sculptors. There was so much to see and do that we barely made it to admire 34 of the artists’ works. It’s like a giant scavenger hunt for beauty.

Here are some of the artists who showed off their fine works.

Mary Jane Brewster

Mary Jane is a portrait artist who does wonderful interpretations of musicians, families, and the people around her.

Juliana Harris

Juliana creates luminous abstracts in oil and mixed media.

Valerie Runningwolf

Valerie does a variety of mixed media, painting and gourds.

Norma S. Rogers

Norma is a mixed media sculptor who works with bronze casting. I met Norma a few years ago when we shared a local community art class in Flash. She’s the sort of person who is ageless – she has the joy of life and spirit to accomplish her goals.

Judy DeRosa

Judy embraces all types of art forms and gives them all her own unique style. Her face radiates with the spirit in her soul, and she is such a pleasure to meet and photograph.

Jonathan Bock

Jon worked with us on some of our Quest for Glory computer games in the past. He runs two art galleries in Oakhurst and helps put on the Sierra Art Trails and other art events throughout the year. He does photography, ceramics, printing, and digital art.

I will be showing off many more artists and their works in later posts. However, in addition to the Sierra Art Trails, there was the animal fair and “Tails on the Trail” festival at Oakhurst Park and the Chukchansi Powwow in Coarsegold. It was a great weekend for photography.