June at Sutter Creek Gallery: Artists Marcus and Chelsea Tikotsky

Artists Marcus and Chelsea Tikotsky come from the same family but their creativity takes very different paths.  Marcus works in ceramics, both functional and decorative, and his daughter Chelsea is a painter. The artistic twosome will be Sutter Creek Gallery’s featured artists in June with an opening reception on June 4 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Marcus was introduced to ceramics in high school, resulting in the artform becoming an outlet for creativity and a lifelong passion. He earned a Bachelor of Art from Sonoma State University and later served in the U.S. Air Force where he taught recreational pottery.  Currently, Marcus volunteers at the pottery studio at Chabot Community College in Hayward, providing background support and assisting students in developing their throwing skills.  His decorative vessels feature patterned surfaces and are often topped with a hand-formed deer antler. Functional pieces include bowls in a variety of sizes, casseroles, and mugs, all of which are safe not only for food but can also be placed in the dishwasher, microwave, and oven. Marcus pays close attention to form, fit, and function, striving for balance and beauty in simple forms and shapes.  “I focus on the little details that most might not notice, always striving for perfection.”

Chelsea’s love for art started at a young age growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Her parents’ recognition and encouragement of this passion are what led her to pursue her creative and artistic side.  She graduated from California State University, San Francisco, with a Bachelor of Art in studio art, emphasizing painting. During her university years, Chelsea studied abroad in Florence, Italy, at the California State University of Florence and the Accademia di Belle Arti. It was a unique experience that enabled her to travel and explore a variety of art and cultures throughout Europe. Chelsea’s abstract waterscapes and landscapes in oils employ vibrant colors and strong contrasts.

“My work reflects fluidity and motion through different brush strokes, textures, and colors.”  Lately, she has been working on commissioned pet portraits in watercolors and prints which will be included in the exhibition.

"Exhilaration"

"Tantalizing"

"Mango"

Sutter Creek Gallery is open Thursday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 40 Main Street, Sutter Creek.  In addition to artwork created by 20 local artists, the gallery offers a diverse array of frame styles and a large variety of mat colors for all your framing needs.   

June at Gallery 10: Patti Fulton and Ginni Murray

Patti Fulton and Ginni Murray will be sharing the Featured Artist show at Gallery 10 during the month of June. Both artists are currently exhibiting their work at the gallery, and as friends, chose to combine their talents and create a blockbuster presentation for all to see.

Patti Fulton uses graphite and colored pencil to create her magnificent drawings.  Drawing has always been Patti’s epithet in art. Her background is in medical illustration for UCSD and Scripps Research in La Jolla, CA, for 25 years.  When Patti moved to the foothills in 2018, she became a graphic designer in the local wine industry. With the onset of Covid, Patti found herself with time to pursue her interest in drawing, and developed the technique she now shows in her drawings of faces and animals.  She’s always been fascinated by the story the lines in someone’s face tell, from the inside out.

Ginni Murray Shotwell is a formally trained psychotherapist who took up watercolors during a particularly stressful time in her life. Ginni has discovered that the words of Thomas Merton resonate with her:  “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”  In Ginni’s work as a psychotherapist, she has been immersed in the inner work of individuals emotionally, physically and spiritually.  In her work with watercolor, she has found the medium that bridges her personal enthusiasm for living and playing in nature with her work as a psychotherapist.

Gallery 10 is proud to introduce these two artists to our foothill community.  Come say hello and share a bite to eat with Patti and Ginni at the reception being held on Saturday, June 4, 2-5 P.M. at Gallery 10, 15 Eureka St., Sutter Creek.  The show will hang throughout the month of June.

May at Gallery 10: Water Media Artist Marleen Olive

Marleen Olive’s water media paintings are a mixture of abstract beginnings combined with realism to create a one-of-a-kind painting.

You are invited to come to see her unique paintings during the month of May at Gallery 10, 15 Eureka St., Sutter Creek.  A reception in Marleen’s honor will be held Saturday, May 7th from 2pm to 5 PM at the gallery.

Texture plays an important role in Marleen’s mixed media paintings.  Using different techniques to create textural abstract backgrounds is usually her starting point.  She starts with no idea what the painting will be. The shapes and designs are determined during the painting process.  She finds it exciting to start not knowing where the painting will go.  Sometimes there can be as many as 10 layers.  Along the way, the painting takes many twists and turns before the final image is revealed.  Marleen often adds a realistic image at the end, perhaps a bird, a butterfly, or a flower to create a center of interest.

Marleen also works in watercolor, usually painting flowers, especially in the spring.  She also enjoys painting landscapes.  She wants the viewer to feel the essence of her painting. She emphasizes highlights, shadow, and textures, three qualities she looks for in her subject matter.

Before moving to Amador County in 1999 Marleen was an art instructor for Southwestern Community College in Brookings, Oregon.  She currently teaches both Watercolor and Acrylic classes at the Amador Senior Center through Amador Arts.  Call Marleen at (971)-409-3972 for more information.

May at Sutter Creek Gallery: Jewelry Artist Sandy Morgan

 Jewelry artist Sandy Morgan takes discarded materials and converts them into one-of-a-kind wearable art.  Her necklaces, bracelets and earrings are made from sterling silver, silver plate and copper that have been salvaged and repurposed.  Come see these unique items in May when Morgan will be the featured artist at Sutter Creek Gallery.  A reception will be held in her honor on Saturday, May 7, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Upon retiring from teaching elementary students, Morgan started making wire-wrapped jewelry as a hobby and eventually progressed to metalsmithing and lapidary work.  While she was a teacher she learned to function with a limited or nonexistent budget.  As a result, she had turned “making do” as a jeweler into an art form.  Her creativity led her to use such objects as silver-plated trays, serving utensils and silverware from flea markets and thrift stores. Morgan’s inspiration comes not from what these objects are but what they can become to adorn the wearer.  This vision extends to rocks, shells, beads and other found objects.

To further her expertise, the artist joined the local Gem and Mineral Society and enrolled in metalsmithing courses at Folsom Lake College.  She has also participated in workshops by known silversmiths Al Bolshazy and Aleris Hart.  In addition to working with silver and silver plate, Morgan enjoys creating with copper as its rich, warm color lends itself to nature-inspired pieces. Many of her designs have won awards at the Amador County Fair.

The artist has taught classes for the Amador County Gem and Mineral Society and the Amador County Arts Council.  On Tuesday, May 24, she is offering a “make and take” class in copper etching at the Sutter Creek Gallery, where participants can learn how to etch copper and create their own unique copper cuff.  Those interested should contact the gallery at 209-267-0228 for more information and to sign up for the class.  The gallery, located at 40 Main Street, Sutter Creek, is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  In addition to artwork created by 20 local artists, the gallery offers a diverse array of frame styles and a large variety of mat colors for all your framing needs.