September 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.   

SUMMER SCENE IN LAKE ARROWHEAD

"Feeding the Ducks" by Jon Olson

JON OLSON

I have always drawn and painted. My Grandmother painted. My Mom painted. And there was always the smell of paints and thinner in our house. During my 80+ years, I’ve taken many, many classes and workshops, but have come to the conclusion that all artists are self taught!

I’ve had two careers; one in aerospace (Apollo Project), and one in academia (Anthropology at Cal State LA). I retired in 2000 and have been doing art full time ever since.

"Lake Gregory Fall"

My medium is oil paint. I like to paint in various formats and techniques.  My mainstay has been maritime art, where I have been a signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) for the past 3 decades. I continue to participate in many juried shows, including the annual maritime show in Coos Bay, Oregon where one of my pieces in currently exhibited.

I also like to do aviation art and exhibited twice in the annual fly-in of the Experimental Aircraft Association at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Over the years I have completed 800 pieces of miniature art, both replicas and originals, and have participated in miniature shows in London, Madrid and the Chicago Internation Miniature show multiple times. 

"Endeavor in the Pacific"

I continue to enjoy doing still life, western art, portraits and especially plein air painting in our local mountains with friends. Lately, I seem to be interested in local restaurant scenes and soon plan to have my display wall full of depictions of people eating their breakfast or happy hour!

Art helps you find out who you are; my approach is, although I appreciate and admire my friends that can do excellent abstract and expressionism, I find that I am much more comfortable with a realistic/representational approach to the subject. Perhaps because of my research orientation in my other jobs, I enjoy finding out stuff. I really try to give the viewer a sense of another time and place and of the emotion that that scene generated in me.

"Sierra Scene"

I appreciate Mountain Arts Network Gallery for the ongoing opportunity to show my work, but for the opportunity of interacting with some very fine and talented people. It has been the highlight of my retirement. This is especially true for our small, but active plein air group who seem to find good spots to paint and a good place to have lunch afterwards.

DEBORAH PEKARCIK

I’m fascinated by what people are capable of creating. Art seems limitless. As a native Californian with a very close-knit family, I was always underfoot usually being knee-deep in paint of some kind. My grandparents’ professions and hobbies gave me the opportunity to be immersed in everything from woodworking, refinishing furniture, oil painting, to sewing and quilting. But my parents encouraged my artistic endeavors also, so my college major was never questioned. I am a formally trained artist and teacher with a BA in Art from Cal State University Fullerton and a Masters in Teaching from Grand Canyon University. My career has been two-fold both working as a graphic designer, illustrator, and teacher throughout Orange County and the Inland Empire.

My oil paintings are impressionistic keeping the integrity of the color and brush strokes to show light, shadow, and reflective light. Art seems to have energy and is inventive. I use paint and brush for my painting and because I also design textiles, I’ve been able to use fabric and thread to create thread paintings. Design elements are the same. These pieces are usually of animals and are mostly commissioned. I build up the substrate with fabrics creating the values that I want, then free motion embroider over this leaving some fabric design to show through to create texture. Each piece is unique from its construction process to its overall aesthetic appeal.

My art is always changing because I really believe that in order to grow I need to take chances and if I fail, that too is part of the process and how I learn. Having the freedom to create something from nothing, and sharing it to inspire others is pretty amazing and I never take that freedom for granted. I love the challenge of experimenting with mixed media.

Living in the local mountains, affords the opportunity for not only daily artistic inspiration, but the opportunity to be involved with a small community, all making connection to self-expression and growth. I am an Associate member of Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society, Inc., Redlands Art Association and Mountain Arts Network and Gallery in Lake Arrowhead where I currently exhibit my work. I also maintain membership with SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) and Big Bear Lake Quilters’ Guild. My life has certainly been enriched with art and with the amazing people I’ve met along the way. ~ Deborah Pekarcik - Artist, Teacher | www.deborahpekarcik.com

or join me on Instagram @theneedlenarrative

PATTY McDONALD

Patty started painting Lake Arrowhead cabins, deer, bears and squirrels on the back of paper plates after which she progressed to canvas. Then the 2003 fire started, and Patty painted “Legions of Angels” and made it a poster and later sold the original and five giclees helping raised $1,800 for the fire victims, which started her artist career in the mountains.

When she and Jim bought a cabin in Lake Arrowhead Patty started her Woody Boat Series and was invited by Keith & Yolanda Douglas to have a one woman art show at the UCLA conference center, which was a total success and was a highlight of Patty’s art career.

Boating Fun at the Village

3 Woodies

The Waffle Shop by Patty McDonald

REBECCA MALOOF

Born and raised in the vast outdoors of Oregon ranching country I have always felt connected to the earth and her creatures. These are major influences and recurring themes in my work. From the Pacific Coast to the desert Southwest I find, in my travels, objects of interest that entice me to include them in my wearable works of art. Many of my pieces are designed to wear alone, or in multiple layers, so that the patrons of my work can impart their own style while enjoying wearing them. My studio is located in the beautiful mountain town of Running Springs, surrounded by the everchanging forest and it's creatures.

My education started at the University of Oregon, studying fine art and special education, and ended at Pacific Oakes College with a B.A. human development and social change. With a desire to make the arts accessible, I have 14 years of experience bringing the arts to both typical and extraordinary students. I currently am one of the instructors for MAN's special needs art classes and I will once again be teaching jewelry design and construction for MAN's low-cost summer classes.

In another career I had 12 years of retail experience that began in Ferndale, CA. While there I owned a clothing store, featuring local artists. I also had a design and production studio, located in store, where I produced children and adult clothing, for sale in my shop. Following that I worked, in management, for May Co., Bullock's. and Harris Dept. Stores. In that final position, as a buyer, I had the opportunity to explore fabrics, designs and garments from all over the world.

I am currently completing, my second year of showing my work, at the Mountain Arts Network Gallery, in the Lake Arrowhead Village, on the waterfront. My current collection of vintage and blown glass is featured in the showcase, adjacent to the front register. Please come visit myself, and 35 additional artists, as we present our joyous works.

African sea glass necklace. Photo credits Sue Priest.

Mostly splatter painted porcelain beads, combined with other components. Photo credit Rebecca Maloof.

Blown glass beads, by David Christianson, collected by Liz Bergman and Richard Lehrer, in the 90’s. Photo credit R. Smith.

Focal beads blown by Joel D. Bloomberg of Leucadia, CA. Photo credit R. Smith.

Mother Bear. She is made of bone with sterling silver and AZ turquoise. Photo credits Sue Priest.

MOUNTAIN ARTS GALLERY SUMMER ART FAIRE

Mountain Arts Gallery artists Lisa Cook and Greame Gale displaying their gorgeous works of art against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Arrowhead.

We caught this great picture of one of the Gallery's beautiful patrons together with her very lovable dog in a carriage, who found great joy in one of MAN artists Alma Borcuk’s cards! 

A very fun group of beautiful young women who while purchasing a bunch of Linda White's bracelets got super excited over getting to choose from the collection of jewelry bags!

"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

and  Danielle Aguas, an adult special needs worker with Campus of Life, a TERI campus, in San Marcos was so enthusiastic to see the themes displayed by our Adult Special Needs Program in MAN's window display, her comment to our MAN staff was "KEEP UP ON YOUR AMAZING WORK"!  Well deserved kudos to our participating artists in our Special Needs classes.  

RICK ROTANTE

Featured this month 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).

LISA COOK

Lovely hand sculpted polymer clay cane work pendant with Aragonite rondelles and green aventurine beads.

GRAEME GALE

Hand crafted manzanita lamps, in assorted sizes.

PLEASE REVIEW LOW-COST CLASSES FOR DATE CHANGES

NOW 3 WEEKDAY CLASSES AND 3 WEEKEND CLASSES

TUESDAYS

CHARCOAL DRAWING

with RICK ROTANTE from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm In Progress

Email: rickrotante@aol.com or 909-233-0425

Cost is $30.00 per (3 hours)  

Classes are Pre-Paid for the month.

No refunds for missed classes.

Payments are due, in full, on the first of each month. 

If you are frustrated, your artwork is off, not drawn well. Classes will show how to construct any form or object and create amazing finished drawings.

Supplies list:

18x24 newsprint pad, Several General 6B soft charcoal pencils, Stadler hard eraser, Kneaded eraser, Stick of white blackboard chalk.

WEDNESDAYS

OIL PAINTING

with RICK ROTANTE from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm In Progress

Email: rickrotante@aol.com or 909-233-0425

Cost: $35/session; $125 for series of 4 sessions.

If you are new or have taken oil painting before and wish to continue your study, I look forward to meeting you and helping you learn new skills.

Bring your own supplies.

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.

MOUNTAIN ARTS NETWORK COULD USE YOUR HELP!

Download and print this Donation Form

Mountain Arts Network

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

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