March at Sutter Creek Gallery: Laurie Williams and Curtis Stromme.

In March, Sutter Creek Gallery will present a show highlighting two artists who work in acrylic. Another similarity between Laurie Williams and Curtis Stromme is the vibrancy of their art. Beyond that, their artistic approaches diverge. This joint exhibition will run through the month.

Laurie Williams has dedicated herself to painting animals both domestic and wild. She grew up on a ranch which provided the opportunity to learn about the goats, horses, deer and other creatures which are the focus of her art. Each year at the county fair, Williams sits in the animal enclosures making life drawings, which are later turned into bold-colored acrylic paintings. The inspiration for her style comes from Gauguin, Van Gogh, the Fauves and others, which she studied in college. Because of these influences, the animals in her paintings are depicted realistically often against abstract backgrounds that are richly colored and patterned.

Curtis Stromme creates non-objective art filled with color and texture using blocks of wood rather than brushes to apply acrylic to paper. He starts with a background color, then applies additional paints which skid across the surface and sometimes collide with those added earlier. The layers build up a textural surface with metallic swirls, circles and lines adding vitality. Unmatted pieces are surrounded by simple chrome frames so as not to detract from the art. Stromme also produces what he calls art trading cards. These 2.5 x 3.5-inch abstracts are painted on mat board, some of which come mounted on paper and can be framed for display.

Sutter Creek Gallery invites you to meet the two artists at the March 4 reception and to view their lively collection of art. Besides original paintings and photography, the gallery offers many affordable items including prints, cards, jewelry, pottery, fused glass and gourds as well as custom matting and framing, The gallery, located at 40 Main Street, Sutter Creek, is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, call 209-267-0228, email suttercreekgallery@gmail.com, or visit
www.suttercreekgallery.com.

Curtis Stromme

Curtis Stromme

Curtis Stromme

"Cats in the Garden" - Laurie Williams

"Coyote and Owl" - Laurie Williams

"Four Goats" - Laurie Williams