2024 Winter Exhibition Virtual Gallery

My artwork aims to capture the emotion of my past experiences, both small and transformative, and is inspired by organic forms that surround us. I enjoy repurposing scrap; the inherent character of the material often guides my pieces.

My artwork aims to capture the emotion of my past experiences, both small and transformative, and is inspired by organic forms that surround us. I enjoy repurposing scrap; the inherent character of the material often guides my pieces.

The abstract paintings are part of my continued interest in intuitive non-objective abstract work. They are created by reacting to previous marks, colors, shapes etc. on the canvas. They are a journey from an emotion led start to an intellectual analysis of resolving compositional issues. They are challenging dialogs between the artist and the materials.

The quiet beauty found in nature is the inspiration for my paintings. I work in Oil and Acrylic from Sketches or my photos. I paint what I am drawn to.

Barry Farmer taught art in schools in Iowa, Saudi Arabia and Arizona. He is a painter of contemporary abstract images.

My intention and drive are to express the passion, drama (in the theatrical sense) and the softness of poetry. These are expressed with contrasts of raw versus smooth and polished; of soft and quiet versus a dash of drama. While I aim at expressing my Self and Being in paint, these characteristics are universal and are found in all of us: in the richness and layers of our emotions; in the drama and poetry of the everyday; in the quiet corners of our hearts that come aflutter with the slightest dash of hope and joy.

As a digital artist, my work is unbound by traditional constraints and rejects the notion of a single subject or style. Each creation is an exploration of form, color, and texture. My artwork is not just a visual experience; it’s an emotional journey for the viewer meant to stir feelings and provoke thought. I invite my audience to see the world through a new lens and celebrate the boundless creativity enabled by technology.
As a former drummer turned full-time digital artist and I have found a new rhythm creating fractal art compositions. The beat of creativity never ceased; it merely changed tempo. My passion and technique for combining multiple fractals and weaving intricate patterns together results in exciting new works of art full of color, geometry, and wonder.

I am a product of the Midwest. Family circumstances meant that I attended nine different schools. Yet despite all this change, or maybe because of it, home life remained structured, disciplined, and grounded in religious dogma. Schedules were rigid. Conformity was encouraged and valued. Exploration or experimentation, shunned and suspect.

This conflict affects me to this day. In my landscape painting, there is tension between the freedom of color and brush stroke against the solidness of the earth; the violence of the sky against a calm earth; or the chaos of earth against the serenity of the heavens. Sometimes I’m accused of painting two different paintings on the same surface – but in reality, I am painting the ying-yang that is me.

I approach abstract painting in the same way. Using layers and textures and color (at times limited), I attempt to capture intangible moods, emotions, and ideas and portray them in a way that allows me – and the viewer – to recognize and relish them.

A 1949 Ford Forest Service truck is being reconditioned but the seats are waiting – any passengers?

My art comes from my many years of travel and experiences. I paint things that interest me. Using different types of mediums and styles, I do a lot of experimenting with my art. I like using bold colors and try to make my work upbeat.

As an artists I use whatever medium serves the best for what I want to say. It could be oil paint, cold wax, clay or fibers. They are all just tools. I really enjoy showing others how to start in a creative process to help bring joy into others lives.
I paint mostly from life, standing outside right smack in the middle of the landscape is plein air. The information comes at you all at once and it’s overwhelming. Colors, sounds, smells, cold air hot wind, and bugs. What I try to do is cut out the noise, bring what is around me down to the basics of what is the essence of the scene. I describe my paintings as if you see the scene now close your eyes and what stood out the most? What is in your memory- to me that memory is what is the best part and what attempt to get down in paint. I hope the viewer will take my memory and add to it as I am not replicating the scene at all, just putting down its best parts!

I aim to show close up moments and peaceful beauty in nature. I would like to bring the tranquility of wildlife into people’s lives. My paintings offer you the chance to touch nature and wildlife and see texture and all the beautiful details in nature.

My work is the study of light and values through multiple mediums. My time as a photographer has given me an eye for the play of light that is invaluable as a painter. Working in multiple mediums allows me to express the nuances of light in different ways as each medium has its strengths and challenges.

My work is the study of light and values through multiple mediums. My time as a photographer has given me an eye for the play of light that is invaluable as a painter. Working in multiple mediums allows me to express the nuances of light in different ways as each medium has its strengths and challenges.

Working with paint, and my latest love of fabrics, hand dyed or commercial, small pencil sketches, quick gestural painting, scraps of paper and board, I create pieces that are colorful and draw the curious eye. With a brush and a pencil in hand, I begin my designs by sketching to scale and allowing the form to follow concept. My technique of piecing color value together and cutting through multiple layers offers elements of mystery and intrigue. In my studio I can cut it up. As an artist I make “random notes” where I say things without feeling I must be responsive. It is tons of fun! I find working in stages fits my expression and my life. During my studio time and when I am not teaching, I paint, draw, and cut out all the images in my head to create a larger piece. The subjects reflect time, travel and nature. A person, place or a bloom emerges into the piece reflecting a time of the day or a season. I now draw with my needle when working in fiber. This process has come to symbolize moments of peaceful contemplation for me, one which I treasure. My home is my art and art is my home. My home studio space is filled with paintings, prints, books, and colorful objects. It embodies my interest in art history, the rural landscape, career in architecture, my life overseas, student teaching, interior design, and more.
As a multi media juried artist, I present my work internationally and nationally. I have a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas, Austin and practiced architecture for 20 years before becoming a full time artist. In addition to painting and exhibiting, I am a public school art instructor, a private tutor for creative aging and exceptional needs, inspiring all ages and abilities to take up their creativity and run with it.

Splashing in color, watching paint dry.
Splashing in color describes both my process and art.
Painting is an adventure — I love experimenting and finding unexpected patterns with pure color and organic forms. Nature is has always been a main influence in my life. I love the interplay of colors and patterns.
After many years of realistic projects I’ve been exploring expression thorough impressionist and abstract images.

In addition to traditional Western art I studied Chinese art for several years focusing on brush work and negative space, then moved to Painting is a way to experience the unexpected, discover new ways of seeing. It’s a constant dance of leading and following as images emerge.
My great teacher and mentor Joan Yen always said, “encourage your viewers’ imagination”. I hope you see something new in my work.

Freedom Run
clay, glaze, wood
12 x 20 x 9
$2100

We are fortunate to have wild horses here on the Salt River.  FREE SPIRITS.  Many are descendants from the 15th century Spanish explorers who brought them

to North America.  My hope is to keep them here for future generations to come.  They are truly symbols of our history and the West.

For me, my experience seeing them brings on an emotion of freedom, strength, and hope.  I  love watching them be in their bands, living free here at the Salt.

Working in sculpture helps me to feel this connection.

Renewal
linocut, monoprint
29 x 35 x 2
$2000

Between global warming, threat of nuclear weapons and overuse of our natural resources, I believe our planet will be destroyed as we know it.  We need to come

together to make changes soon.  Awareness is the first step.  My hope is that we can have great respect for nature and each other.  Then, together we can build a

strong universe for our future.

This artwork is my response to how I feel about what is happening today.  The layers of printmaking

help me to see the time in the piece, Me looking in.

Doug Dolde has been photographing the landscape of the American West since 2001. Dolde began with 4×5 inch transparency film, and currently uses a Fuji GFX-50R. He currently lives near Prescott, Arizona. Dolde considers a total workflow from capturing the image to producing and framing the final print as essential in producing a fine art piece of the highest quality possible. He feels that a photograph helps people see things they might not see otherwise.
Dolde is a graduate of Indiana University with a BS in Mathematics who has won several awards at the 29 Palms Gallery, Escondido Art Association, Sedona Arts Center, and San Diego Museum of Natural History.Dolde regularly shows and sells his work at the, Desert Art Center in Palm Springs, Hi-Desert Cultural Center in Yucca Valley, and JTAG in Joshua Tree, California. He is also represented by the Sparks Gallery in San Diego

Intentions
mixed media
12 x 12 x 1
$199

Although a New Yorker by birth, I have called the Southwest home for many years. I studied English and communications at a Houston area university in the 80’s and have been a creative most of my life. I work with many mediums including acrylics, watercolors, clay, charcoal and ink. I find inspiration in a variety of places, including the work of John Beckley & Nelly Lestrade, the human form, fashion and nature. The results are a wide range of work, mediums and presentation.

Une image vaut mille mots.

My muse lies in portrait artistry, with a deep love for capturing the essence of humans, pets, and animals.
In the 2nd grade, I decided to work in the arts and stuck with it. My professional life is divided between photography and painting. It is my life’s work to make people feel great about themselves. That has always been easy for me; through my paintings and photography. The most important legacy one can leave behind is how you make others feel. I aim to spread wisdom, knowledge, encouragement, and positive feelings to all I encounter.

My career highlights include earning a degree in Photography; Working in NYC; living in England for nine years (a childhood dream); being a member of a gallery in London, traveling the UK doing shows; teaching art workshops (which I love); becoming a best-selling contributing author on Amazon with “Wisdom of the Silver Sisters”; and painting with international artists near Barcelona.
My Work is My Life – still at it and still loving it!

It is important for me to know the purpose of your portrait. What is your message for the world? When painting portraits in oils, I work from great photographs, which means I can create original paintings of loved ones who have passed.

If the art speaks to you, ignore the artist. if it doesn’t, ignore the artist.

Hey there! I’m Hayley Gudmundson, an artist based in Cave Creek. I specialize in painting contemporary stylized portraits using oil paint. My work captures the essence of my subjects through bold colors and unique interpretations, blending realism with a touch of abstraction. I’m currently drawing inspiration from women of a certain age, but I truly am just fascinated with portraiture. I hope my art resonates with you and encourages you to see the beauty in every face.

Ira DellaMonica was born and raised in Southern California, graduated from Sonoma State University with an art degree and received a graphic arts certificate from UCLA. Her deep connection with animals stemmed from childhood pets and 25 years of competitive horseback riding and training. All are a repetitive theme in her work.
DellaMonica moved to Mesa, Arizona in 2017 to pursue an occupational therapy master’s degree. Through a series of life altering events during Covid 2020 rekindled spiritually with painting, nature and the animals that inspire her.

Having come to art later in life, I have found that my painting has given me an outlet for the creative passion I had earlier left behind and craved while in the business world. Watercolor in particular, has provided me the avenue of free expression that had been cut short when multiple hand surgeries put an untimely end to my piano technique. Now I am able to happily create with color and flow as I listen to my favorite Chopin sonatinas.
Just as importantly, my art has given me the opportunity to meet and work with other artists, many of whom I now consider close friends. Serving on various art committees and boards has also allowed me to put to use many of the business skills I’d learned during my former career. And since I am inherently competitive in nature, the many art competitions and exhibitions have offered challenges and often, great satisfaction to me.

My hope is to continue to learn and perfect my abilities as I am exposed to different instructors, techniques and methods, as I explore the unlimited avenues the world of art has to offer.

Art has been such a profound and liberating part of my later years. Having the opportunity to share my voice with paints has been such a beautiful journey.

I am obsessed with the hidden nature of things. As a painter of surreal desert landscapes I produce work that reveals the luminous beauty hidden in displaced objects and barren desolate horizons.

I am obsessed with the hidden nature of things. As a painter of surreal desert landscapes I produce work that reveals the luminous beauty hidden in displaced objects and barren desolate horizons.

Struggles confronts the every day obstacles that I encounter, inspired by stand-up comedy. Exploring comedy and its role as a healing tool, I find self deprecating humor to be the most effective weapon to gain control over my struggles. Much like a comedian on stage, I celebrate my endless struggles in oil paint. I offer a therapeutic aspect in each of my paintings, as interrupting thought patterns through comedic relief and acceptance has helped me throughout my own life.

Water media from ink to acrylic and all in between are my chosen tools of expression. I enjoy taking a figure or place and fracturing it. Then I re-construct it in a way that is reminiscent of the original. Details or colors are still there, but the work teases with the mystery of the story. I would like the viewer to find their own personal connection to my interpretation.

My sculptures in clay emerge from the experience of stopping a moment in time; capturing its essence, and expressing the emotion encapsulated within. I am drawn to the desert landscape that surrounds me, and find myself translating its color, shape and motion into my work. Clay is a primitive material that tells the stories of our past and has a permanence that challenges our modern, technology-driven life. Clay grounds us to an aesthetic: beauty, line, form, material. Clay grounds us to what is real.

To me, the process of transforming an idea into sculpture is to communicate connections and shared experiences. I want the viewer to respond as if to be reminded of the past, a place, and the memory of that place. That drives my curiosity, my desire to make more.

My sculptures in clay emerge from the experience of stopping a moment in time; capturing its essence, and expressing the emotion encapsulated within. I am drawn to the desert landscape that surrounds me, and find myself translating its color, shape and motion into my work. Clay is a primitive material that tells the stories of our past and has a permanence that challenges our modern, technology-driven life. Clay grounds us to an aesthetic: beauty, line, form, material. Clay grounds us to what is real.

To me, the process of transforming an idea into sculpture is to communicate connections and shared experiences. I want the viewer to respond as if to be reminded of the past, a place, and the memory of that place. That drives my curiosity, my desire to make more.

Evil Comes A Knockin’
Mixed with alcohol ink, acrylic paint and textured paper
20 x 16
$400

Visual inspiration can be from forms in nature such as trees reflecting in water or silhouetted against the sky. A deformed tree can turn into a subhuman character. Reality doesn’t have to dictate how a subject is interpreted in art.

Just Shut Up!
Mixed with alcohol ink, acrylic paint and textured paper.
16 x 20
$400

Visual inspiration can be from forms in nature such as trees reflecting in water or silhouetted against the sky. A deformed tree can turn into a subhuman character. Reality doesn’t have to dictate how a subject is interpreted in art.

John has been an image maker all his adult life.
His colorful and impressionistic style has been developed over the last thirty years.

The paintings are his impressions, his feelings and understanding of light, color, texture, motion and style.

What moves John to paint may be as simple as the way the light strikes a scene at hand or the complexities of shapes built into cities, both large and small.

“A painting is nothing more that what the artist deems important and what details, color and shapes are needed to convey the feelings imparted by the subject.”

Judy Burgess is a classically trained artist who enjoys sharing the beauty of living creatures. Central New York provided her a childhood with dramatic settings, seasons, and woods filled with wildlife. She received a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University where she was greatly influenced by Murray Tinkelman. Other influences include Van Gogh, Caravaggio, and Monet. Judy returned to painting and drawing two years ago, and has numerous works on paper, canvas, and fabric in private collections. Judy plans to continue pursuing the beauty of living things, including more figurative works and horses in the future.

Painting is my way of responding to the world. Arizona has inspired me to paint people, animals and actions of the West. From initial sketches to the finished composition, there is always a challenge to create an image that engages the viewer.

Karen Gray resides in Phoenix, Arizona. A lifetime passion for art began when she was a child. Art classes continued through high school and college. As a student at ASU, course work in drawing, painting, and life drawing enhanced her knowledge base. While her adult professional career was in the medical field, art activities continued to be a part of her life through additional college course work and attending numerous workshops. Workshops provided through AWA, Shemer Art Center, Sedona Art Center, and individual instruction by Julie Pollard have provided excellent opportunities for improving her skill set. Now retired, the joy of painting is possible every day.
As a member of the Arizona Watercolor Association (AWA), Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona (CWA), and Arizona Artists Guild, she has participated in numerous juried exhibitions. Flowers, landscapes, portraits, and abstracts are all included in her portfolio. In October 2022, she achieved Signature Status with AWA.
Karen is currently the chairperson for AWA member workshops. It has been a pleasure to work with the talented artists in Arizona and encourage them to share their skills with all the membership.

Retired forest service landscape architect Kimber Jones dreamt of painting yet never had the courage to make that first brush stroke. The day the government shutdown in October 2013 a friend encouraged her to join a painting class taught by a prominent artist. Using that time of unemployment and uncertainty as a sign for a life change, she made her first brush stroke and learned that painting fulfilled her life purpose and gave her a voice. Painting has saved her life in the darkest of times.
Known in Phoenix as an abstract expressionist, Kimber creates spontaneously with acrylic, as freely as a child. Many artists know exactly where they are headed when they begin; she allows it to take on a life of its own. She paints with her hands while dancing, channeling the music and becoming one with the canvas, in total harmony.

Kimber was honored with the inclusion of four paintings in a nationwide group juried exhibition in the United States Department of Agriculture headquarters in Washington D.C. for over one year. Her 2022 concluded with twenty paintings exhibited in numerous group juried shows. Kimber serves on the board of the Arizona Artists Guild.

Exploration of form, color, line and pattern

The energy that surrounds us, ultimately fuses together the passage of our experiences. Fusing the feelings and emotions of the artist with those of the images represents a moment in time. Working from live models since the age of 13, the artist, Laura Cohen-Hogan, sees the figure as an organic shape, much as a pear or flower, to be arranged into a balanced, inviting, and pleasing composition. Her goal is to discover an arrangement of individual figures that evolve into an organic state of harmony and understanding.

Both artists have painted individually for a long time. Their individual styles are familiar to many and both have met with some success. But no one would mistake one’s work for the others.
What makes these works unique is that they marry these styles together in a way that makes a whole new style. This is not a struggle of contrasts, but creative collaboration that aims for a positive new esthetic experience.

I have been drawing, painting, and creating since I was a child but still continue to learn everyday. After a 40 year break from fine art, I have since discovered that there are so many wonderful mediums and I enjoy exploring and creating in as many of them as possible. My work is most often a little kooky and whimsical, and hopefully fun for those viewing it.

Martina has transitioned nine years ago from a traditional, representational oil painter to a multimedia painter. She has discovered the joy of using different materials, surfaces, and found objects. Lately she paints mostly reverse on plexiglass using liquid acrylics, inks, charcoal, and sometimes adds dry flowers and feathers to her artworks.
Her recent works move between realism and abstraction.

My work celebrates nature’s beauty, blending traditional Japanese silk painting techniques with a contemporary flair. I hand-paint vibrant dyes onto silk, using metallic gutta resist to create intricate outlines that reflect the delicate patterns found in nature. Innovative methods, including salt, sugar, and alcohol applications, add unique textural effects, mimicking the organic flow of water, the shimmer of leaves, and the brilliance of sunsets. My art serves as a bridge between East and West, harmoniously fusing cultural influences to invite viewers into a space of peace and joy within the natural world. Each piece reflects my deep respect for nature, aiming to inspire serenity and a profound connection with the environment.

low tide
sculpture in Ash and Indian Rosewood 15 x 25 x 14
6,900

My ceramics are inspired by nature and my surroundings, with a little whimsy thrown in. I focus on shape, form and color. My flower series reflects my love of every aspect of them. They are a multi-sensory experience that includes sight, smell, and touch. I find wonder in the details of each species and dissect down to the smallest details to create abstracts or replicas of my favorites. My whimsical animal series draws upon my desire to have fun while I create, adding human attitudes and attributes to the finished pieces. My body of work continues to evolve and grow as I continue my exploration in clay.

My ceramics are inspired by nature and my surroundings, with a little whimsy thrown in. I focus on shape, form and color. My flower series reflects my love of every aspect of them. They are a multi-sensory experience that includes sight, smell, and touch. I find wonder in the details of each species and dissect down to the smallest details to create abstracts or replicas of my favorites. My whimsical animal series draws upon my desire to have fun while I create, adding human attitudes and attributes to the finished pieces. My body of work continues to evolve and grow as I continue my exploration in clay.

Merrie is an accomplished artist from Arizona, whose work is deeply rooted in themes of love and connection. She dedicated fourteen years to teaching Art,then Merrie embraced her lifelong passion for art, refining her skills and vision.
Merrie’s artistic process is inspired by the poem “The Master Weaver,” reflecting her belief in the intricate and divine connections between all things. Her work is characterized by abstract mark-making, layered collage, vibrant colors, and the strategic use of light, creating pieces that resonate with both depth and spirituality.
Her paintings often explore the theme of love in various forms—whether it’s the bond between individuals, the connection with God, or the relationship with nature. Merrie’s art is more than a visual experience; it is an expression of her reverence for life, often featuring people, animals, flowers, and landscapes as acts of devotion and prayer. Her goal is to produce art that touches the heart and soul.

I work mainly in mixed media and collage in a number of independent art series with different modalities but many unifying themes. The subjects of my art are the intersections of politics, philosophy, and personal histories. My background in surrealism informs my use of the familiar to express the strange in my artwork. I will often use disparate elements to create conceptual contrasts and juxtapositions. I like to play with dichotomies and visual commentary to create works of art that challenge viewers to think about themselves and their relationship to the world around them. For me, good art is not just aesthetically pleasing but should transport the audience to another state of mind, a state of mind that goes beyond everyday experience and into realms of the unusual, the undiscovered, and the unexplainable.

My work reflects a sense of awe for the natural world and an appreciation of our place in it.

I am an Arizona artist that splits my time between studios in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix and Christopher Creek in Gila County, at the foot Mogollon Rim. I have lived in Arizona for more than 30 years and prior to that, Colorado was home. I have a love of the outdoors and have a reverence for the natural world while my professional background is in urban and landscape design. These passions and pursuits have influenced my art which celebrates both the natural and human built environments and places of special interest and sometimes hidden beauty.

I work in several mediums including watercolor, soft pastel and acrylics. I paint in my own unique style which is derived from my own preferences and beliefs, , point of view and skills honed through years of working in design and illustration. However, I greatly admire the impressionist, and I aspire to how they capture the character and essence of a subject by emphasizing its most key features through color and the most simple and spare brush strokes.

The potential of artistic possibilities is endless. Over the course of my life, I have come to truly appreciate this fact. Although I have explored a wide variety of media, I especially enjoy working with paint, particularly watercolors and acrylic. When I have access to a press, I also love printmaking. The subjects within my work are varied, but often have a connection to life. I find myself exploring new processes as I meet other artists and contemplate their conversations and work.

As a third-generation Arizonan, I cherish my memories of growing up in the desert.
My current work’s inspiration, is sparked from a childhood memory that came forward while working with clay. We would ride our bikes into the desert and create forts under desert broom bushes. Their canopies dropped speckled light upon our blankets. I remember the cool, soft clay soil sifting through my fingers. We dug out seats and benches, carved nooks for our water bottles and desert finds, and formed a table where we scratched notes anyone who happened upon our refuge.
Although I am an abstract artist nature is always a major influence and seen throughout my work.

I grew up outside of Detroit and attended Bradley University, receiving a BFA in Painting with a Drawing equivalent. I am currently based in Tempe, AZ. Since 2010, I have been making art with much more passion. As an art teacher, you sometimes forget to be an artist. I remembered. Little has been as enjoyable as rediscovering the joy of artistry. I haven’t looked back. I am happiest when creating and helping others see the wonder in what we create. I often find my inspiration in my surroundings, especially the nature that exists in Arizona. I am more focused on the use of oil paints and soft pastels. The similarities and differences are intriguing. Pay attention to whatever surrounds you. We are powerful beings. We have strength and vulnerability. Putting up walls and crashing them down. There is so much ugly going on around us at all times.
Immerse in calm and beauty. We are a beautifully messy dichotomy.

Sue Eddy is an acrylic artist whose great love and appreciation of our natural world dominates her work. Known for her colorful style, she brings a bold vision to her paintings, and often works from her own photography. She loves to paint natural scenes with an imagined reality of fantasy colors and styles. She hopes to bring fun and happiness to the viewer.

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I come from a long line of artists and engineers, they are two sides of the same coin: one makes beautiful things that should be stable, the other makes stable things that should be beautiful.
In my early twenties I started college at Northern Arizona University, but an abusive relationship took away my creative spark. I rediscovered it in my early thirties when friends asked me to help with a project for a non-profit organization: I remembered creating art is what I am made for. This prompted me to start taking classes, workshops, attending Glendale Community College, and later receiving my Bachelor of Fine Arts Cum Laude from Arizona State University.
Making art is a form of stress relief. My paintings are beautiful, peaceful, and joyful. The spiral and linear designs I use are based on what I see when I meditate: I bring visual order to chaos as a way to balance my work and myself. My goal is to bring beauty, and the feeling of peace and joy to the viewer.

The “In the News Series” includes video installation, sculpture, mixed media, painting and performance, and examines newsworthy topics and subject matter

The “In the News Series” includes video installation, sculpture, mixed media, painting and performance, and examines newsworthy topics and subject matter