Goard artist Aaron Bullock featured at Sutter Creek Gallery in July

Aaron Bullock likes to tell stories whether through his gourd art, wood carvings or writing. His favorite time is when someone looks at his work and smiles in understanding of the story in his artwork. Bullock’s narrative gourds will be featured at the Sutter Creek Gallery during the month of July.

The self-taught artist is in his sixth year creating gourd art. Bullock likes to smile when shaping his designs to see what direction his imagination will take him. He states that “you will see frivolity and fantasy in some of my work and then the next piece will be dealing with Native American history, wildlife or whatever image begs to come out.”

Bullock has earned many ribbons in his short association with gourd art but finds the awards a measurement of how far he has progressed. He is currently president of the Amador County Gourd artists and has been showing his work at the gallery for a little over one year. He is also a member of the Amador County Artists Association and part of a Gourd Artist Network.

Sutter Creek Gallery invites you to spend some time with Aaron Bullock at a reception in his honor on Saturday, July 2, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., as part of the region’s First Saturday Art Trek. He is one of 25 local artists exhibiting at the cooperative located in the heart of Sutter Creek at 35 Main Street. Besides original paintings and photography, Sutter Creek Gallery offers many affordable items including prints, cards, jewelry, gourds and fiber arts. The gallery is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For additional information, call 209-267- 0228, email suttercreekgallery@gmail.com or visit www.suttercreekgallery.com

'"Living in Space"

"Our Galaxy Lives"

"Desert Dining"

Abstract artist Bryan Hammond returns to Amador County at Gallery 10 in July

Bryan Hammond returns to the county with a new collection of works. Accompanied by artistic partner, Joshua Blue, the show will highlight recent works, which highlights their view of tangible versus digital.

Bryan grew up in Amador County and was a graduate of Amador High School. Training under Howard Rees and Rand Hugget led to a continued study of fine art at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Joshua and Bryan first met during their tenure at the college and began to promote work around the city in gallery’s and their own grass roots shows.

Joshua and Bryan now live and create their works in Portland, Oregon. There is a balance of conceptual and traditional technique, which has developed into a collection of abstract images and pieces. The use of texture, object and medium are interchanged to accomplish works, which comment on their view of our current environment and experience. These often directly focus on the response to the digital world that we all are enveloped within.

The show opens with a reception on Saturday, July 2 at Gallery 10 on Eureka St. in Sutter Creek.

By Joshua Blue

By Bryan Hammond

ACAA presents demo by pastel artist Lesley Harrison on July 13

Lesley Harrison will be demonstrating at the Wednesday, July 13 meeting of the Amador County Artists Association, commencing at 7 p.m. in the Jackson Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Road. Harrison works in pastels and has combined her love of animals with painting to produce a series of remarkable animal portraits. An affinity for the animals that she paints and a strong command of her medium allow her to capture the spirit of each animal and to convey to the viewer its individuality, grace and strength. She is a member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and the Pastel Society of America.

"A Tender Moment"

"Bibi on Beach"

"The Red Leash"

"Blue Halter"

June's ACAA meeting featured a demonstration by jewelry artist Karen Crane

Wire jewelry artist and teacher Karen Crane demonstrated her wire-wrap techniques at the June 8 meeting of the Amador County Artists Association.  These techniques can be used to create pendants and earrings as well as room and porch hangers.  Karen began by discussing types of wires that can be used, helpful tools, where to get supplies, and how she begins a project.  For the demonstration, Karen used larger stones that were easier for the audience to see as she progressed.  She explained and demonstrated the differences between using various strands of wire and how to add to the initial stone.  Karen periodically conducts classes in wire wrapping stones and can be contacted through her Facebook page.  This page also contains numerous photos of jewelry and other items she has created for sale.

The next ACAA meeting will be on Wed July 13 at 7PM, and will feature pastel artist Lesley Harrison. For more information, visit: www.amadorartists.org

Starting to wrap...

Using her pliers...

The finished product.

Wire Jewelry Artist Karen Crane Demonstrates at the next ACAA Meeting - Wed June 8

Wire jewelry artist Karen Crane will demonstrate free-form, wire-wrap techniques at the June 8 meeting of the Amador County Artists Association.  Crane starts projects with some basic, simple techniques and will demonstrate several as she creates a hanging project.  She uses techniques that she has developed over the past 15 years. These techniques can be the basis of pendants and earrings, but they are also used to wrap stones, shells and beach glass to make room and porch hangers.  Many examples of different applications of these techniques will be available for study and inspiration. As she works, Crane will talk about how to select appropriate materials, what kinds of wire to use and how to solve creative challenges.

Crane teaches wire-wrap classes locally and sells her work at the AmadorArts Gallery in Sutter Creek and on Facebook. The attached images show the types of pendants and hangers she produces.  

The ACAA meets the second Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Jackson Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Road.  The public is invited and new members encouraged.  For more information about ACAA, visit amadorcountyartists.org.

Fabric Art Quilts of Schatzi Brimer featured at the AmadorArts Gallery during the month of June

Award winning Photographer and Multimedia Fiber Artist Schatzi Brimer will have her works in the AmadorArts Gallery for the month of June. At the First Saturday Art Trek on June 4, meet the artist at the reception starting at 3:00 pm and enjoy appetizers and wine. The gallery, which is operated by the non-profit AmadorArts, is located at 11-A Randolph St., a block off Main Street, in Sutter Creek. The gallery also offers items such as jewelry by Ron and Carol Kamerlink and Karen Crane and assorted artists’ cards and small works of local scenes. Hours are 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, and during weekdays, it’s best to call ahead, 267-9038.

Schatzi Brimer earned a BS in Computer Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a Masters in Organizational Leadership.  However she starting sewing at the age of 12 and for years she made her own clothing and as an adult sewed her own formal wear. When she retired after a 30+ year career in the technology field, she looked for a way to combine her love of photography and sewing. She found it through Fiber Art. Many of her Art Quilts are based on her own photographs. She continues to explore various surface embellishment and design techniques and uses paints, colored pencils, inks, dyes and fabrics in her work as well as non-traditional materials.

Brimer comments: "One of things I really enjoy about my work is the endless creative opportunities that come from working with fabric, both traditional and non-traditional, thread, paint and other media. I especially love the three-dimensionality and texture that are possible when using fabric and thread. For example, you can not only see the texture of the bark, you can actually feel it too...in fact, I encourage people to touch my work. I am drawn to nature - especially the linear, repetitive, and geometric qualities that can be found there."

Her works have exhibited at:

   ·     "Textiles and Tastings," Shenandoah Winery Gallery, Plymouth, CA - 2014, 2015

·         Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara, CA - 2014

·         Art Quilt Tahoe - 2014 (Best of Show Winner)

·         Fiber Arts Festival, Silver City, NM - 2015

·         Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, Philadelphia, PA - 2015

·         Olive Hyde Art Gallery, Fremont, CA - 2015

·         International Quilt Fest, Houston, TX - 2015

·         Hubbard Museum of the American West (a Smithsonian Affiliate) Ruidoso Downs, NM - 2016

·         NIH (National Institute of Health), Bethesda, MD – 2016

For more information, contact AmadorArts: phone 209-267-9038 or visit www.amadorarts.org

It Takes a Village

California Dreaming

Aspen Moon

Verdelho

Save The Date for ACAA’s Open Studios - Sept 17 & 18

Mark your calendars for the third weekend in September, Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th for the 10th annual Amador County Open Studios tour sponsored by the Amador County Artist Association (ACAA). This year promises to be just as big as previous years with 40 plus participating artists and 15 or more locations to visit your favorite artists and see their latest work. New this year will be a Preview Open Studios Art Show in addition to the Fine Art and More Raffle.

Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and a brochure with a map and information on the artists will be available at locations throughout the county beginning in August. The brochure will also be available on our website amadorcountyartists.org and the Amador County Artist Association Facebook page. At the Preview Open Studios Art Show a sample of each artist’s work will be on display for the month of September at the AmadorArts Gallery operated by the Amador County Arts Council on Randolph Street in Sutter Creek.

The Fine Art and More Raffle is also part of this event with each participating artist donating a piece of artwork, as well as donations from businesses around the county. The ACAA uses proceeds from the raffle for local art education projects, including a high school student scholarship, a student art show with prizes, and regular art demonstrations from professional artists for the community. This year raffle prizes will be on display at various locations prior to the tour, giving you a chance to purchase raffle tickets for your favorite pieces in advance of the event. The locations will be listed on the website toward the end of August.

Keep an eye on the website for new information and circle those dates!

CALL TO ARTISTS: The Amador County Artist Association is hosting the 2016 Artists Open Studio on Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18 from 10am until 4pm. ACAA is offering Amador County artists the opportunity to open their studios to the public to show, demonstrate, and sell their work. There will also be several group locations for artists without a studio space and a preview of each participating artist’s work will be on display at the Amador Arts Gallery in Sutter Creek prior to the event. This event has been well attended in previous years and has featured up to 41 of the county’s finest artists. If you are interested in being part of this exciting community event, call or email Artist Contact Cynthia Dunn-Selph at 623.703.3806 or dunnselphc@yahoo.com for more information or to obtain an application. The deadline for completed applications is June 11, 2016.