October 2024 Newsletter

published by The Mountain Arts Network

A Non-profit 501-c organization.

"Inspiring Visual Arts

in the Mountain Communities" 

 This e-newsletter is expressly for members, patrons, artists and fans of the Mountain Arts Network, The Mountain Arts Gallery, The Mountain Arts Community Art Center and The Mountain Arts Photographic Society, all located in the Lake Arrowhead Village in Lake Arrowhead, CA.   

THE WELCOMING OF FALL

Boundless Journey by Sue Priest

SUE PRIEST on the web at: https://www.suepriestart.com/

So much of Sue’s early life was an attempt to please those around her. She found that this often kept her out of sight and out of trouble...But this often felt like a denial of true self. Sue found respite in nature and spent hours roaming the fields of Southern Idaho. In high school Sue’s family moved to Southern California and her connection with the natural earth was abruptly gone and replaced with the hard ugly pavement of city life. During this time she felt lost and an outlet of expression was needed. Music and art became her new passion and pursuit.

A series of college experiences where art and music teachers told her that she was lacking in natural talent swiftly altered her life path. But this too…was problematic for a young woman whose soul lit up when she created art. Her twenties were spent moving around and working numerous jobs that held no interest for her. Bravely in her thirties, she courageously began to speak herself into the world in a deeply authentic and spiritual way. During this time Sue focused on creating her life to be one of her choosing where she remembered and continued her love affair with art and with the natural world. In her early thirties Sue went back to college and finished a degree in ecology and environmental science with a minor in studio art and cultural studies. Several years later she completed her masters in ecological restoration.

Currently, Sue lives in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains and spends her time as an artist working with a variety of mediums but copper is currently number one on that list. Copper is turned into wall art & jewelry using a torch to heat & reduce the copper. This forces the copper to oxidize on the surface into different colors based on the temp. A clear coat is applied. The copper is cut, hammered, and sanded as part of the pre-work. Then an oxygen/propane torch system is used to heat and oxidize the copper. The coloration of the copper through the use of heat/flame is done in several parts 1. Heating, 2. Drawing, & 3. Coloring. The oxygen to propane ratio on the torch is altered to progress from drawing to coloring and back again to color and control different sections. The final detail is sanded out and then re-torched using the same technique. Each piece whether jewelry or wall art is done through the same process and is original, and sealed to stop the oxidation process.

RICK ROTANTE - Releases new book.

Prominent artist and popular art instructor, Rick Rotante is no stranger to the easel and brush. If you are looking for some good reading and solid information to improve your skills, consider reading "There Are No Flesh Tones" recently published by Rick Rotante. Word has it that there is more to look forward to as he is just finishing a second book, coming out soon.

Rick will be doing a series of "master copies" to improve his skills, something to keep an eye out for when they exhibit them in the Mountain Arts Gallery soon. 

Recently featured in the popular online art publication "The Art Gallery eMagazine, Volume 2, Issue 8. Follow this link to the very handsome flip-book display of artwork and biography about Rick Rotante. https://heyzine.com/flip-book/3b99e5dea1.html#page/16 (be sure to use the zoom feature to fully enjoy).

Rick reports that he has started teaching myself oil pastels, both new and difficult...below are a few examples of his recent works.

JO ANN ROBINSON

My interest in art blossomed when I was in high school, and I have been an art student ever since. I attended Utah state University for a year where I studied art history, drawing, and ceramics. After moving to California, I became interested in Photography and ended up working in the production end of that field, first in the darkroom and later digital editing. By that time, I was living and working in Burbank and Hollywood.

I continued to take drawing and painting classes throughout, primarily interested in an impressionist style, and participated in shows in the area from time to time. Finally, I was able to join the Burbank Art Federation.

While working a Christmas show in Burbank, I came across an artist who was doing fluid art and I was dumbstruck. I had to get my hands on that medium. I’ve never had quite so much fun with my art.

This version of fluid art consists of making the paint liquid by mixing it with a medium until it is pourable. Then one can dump, pour, or pour through something, and move the paint around in various ways. The paints react with each other due to their different properties and create all kinds of fun effects. I use it primarily now to create landscapes, but sometimes it is fun to just pour and see what happens.

I teach this method now at our low-cost summer classes through the Mountain Arts Gallery. Students generally have a lot of fun, learn various techniques, and get to take a couple of their own creations home.  The Mountain Arts Gallery also sponsors a class once a week for Mountain of Promise special needs program. I am honored to be one of the teachers in this program and very much enjoy coming up with new ways for them to explore art.

It has always been a dream of mine to be part of an artist collective, and another dream to live in a small mountain town. Seems my dreams have come true in Lake Arrowhead, where I continue to learn and explore.

It gets pretty messy...sometimes I'm inspired by the colors that end up on my hands!

REBECCA SMITH

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Rebecca was raised in a world surrounded by artists. Her brother is a potter and painter, and her nephew took after his father. Her husband, Marcos Yrizarry, was a renowned artist in Puerto Rico and Spain, where Rebecca lived for 10 years. She studied Renaissance lute and vihuela in Spain and thrived in a community of artists involved in actively resisting the dictator, Francisco Franco. Her musical studies continued in Switzerland and Paris surrounded by some of the best medieval musicians in Europe. 

Having always loved observing the beauty of our world, her passion for photography was ignited when she traveled to Yellowstone with photographers John Hummel and Barbara Jordan. Seeing the wildlife and geysers through their eyes made her want to pursue photography seriously. Shortly thereafter, she had the opportunity to photograph the Onaqui Mustangs near Salt Lake City, Utah. She hopes to continue photographing these loving, intelligent animals to document their plight. 

As Fall approaches, we start getting the cooler evenings and see the sun beginning to set earlier in the evening sky. The trees begin to show their fall colors, the landscape is red, orange and beige. The last color before the white of winter - enjoy!

"The canvas upon which the artist 

paints is the spectator's mind."

~ Kakuzo Okakura

    Scholar & Art Critic, 1863-1919

 "WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GALLERY" ~ Robert Thompson, Running Springs

DELPHINE BEACH-JONES

Here are two of my latest paintings that I want to share; I like that my pumpkin scene is vibrant and very different to my raccoon painting.

With the dreadful wildfire experience many suffered last week, it felt so rewarding with customers visiting the Gallery last Saturday telling me the time spent was such a respite and how much they enjoyed the art and the way the displays flowed.

JAMES LONDAGIN



Mountain Arts Gallery artist J. Londagin was recently commissioned by one of the long-term choreographers from the Lake Arrowhead School of Dance, Ray Genato, to create a painting of “The Playground” dance from the 2024 spring dance recital. Leaning into a nostalgic Norman Rockwell style of illustration, Mr. Londagin created a detailed painting portraying the fun energy of the elaborately choreographed dance number that thrilled both Mr. Genato and the talented dancers at the studio!

LISA COOK

Golden bee necklace with crystal beads.

GRAEME GALE

Graeme custom framed this huge painting of an antique car in Cuba with cedar wood.

First Wednesday of each month

Community Arts Center, Lake Arrowhead

www.mountainartsphoto.com

  For more information, email mtnartsphoto@gmail.com

Meeting starts at 7:00 PM

Doors open at 6:30 PM for social time

Location: Community Arts Center, Lake Arrowhead

Join us for our Mountain Arts Photographic Society (MAPS) meetings! Guests are welcome to attend their first meetings at no charge.

Want to Join MAN or Renew Your Membership?

    MAN Memberships are good for one year from the date of joining. CALL (909) 744-8450

or check our website for more info: mountainartsnetwork.org

  ART GALLERY PARTICIPATION

is based on a jurying process. 

For more details, please contact JO ROBINSON 

jomamacita@hotmail.com

818-720-3682

Memberships: $30 Individual, $20 Seniors (55 and up), $20 Student (17 & under), $10 each additional family member

Enjoy the benefits: 10% off all Gallery items, Invitations to special events and receptions, Open Studio opportunities, teaching & volunteer opportunities.

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Mountain Arts Network

PO Box 1275 Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352 | Phone: 909-744-8450

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