Please introduce yourself. Hello, I am Tim Turney, and my passion is woodworking.
Tell us about your favorite art medium. Non-endangered exotic woods are my favorite to work with. Their beauty is unsurpassed and I like to take full advantage of Mother Nature’s medium.
Who/what is your biggest artistic influences? Mother, sisters, brothers and my children.
What motivates you to create? Not sure. Just an innate desire to make things I can touch and feel. I get a great sense of accomplishment and pride with each finished project.
When is your favorite time of day to create? All day… every day.
Does art help you in other areas of your life? Eh…not really.
Immerse your senses in the beautiful exhibit of ‘FALL COLORS” at Auburn Old Town Gallery! The members have captured the magic of fall in the foothills in a diverse number of mediums. Explore all the creative work on display by the artists of AOTG…it’s not too early to think holiday gift ideas!
Please introduce yourself.
Hi everyone – I am watercolorist, Sonja Hamilton, SWA
Tell us about your favorite art medium.
I knew at once when I tried watercolor that this was for me – it is challenging and so much fun! The best thing was that it was portable, to make painting outdoors so doable! And I have been doing this now for decades besides painting and teaching indoors.
Who/what is your biggest artistic influences?
After earning a degree in Art and a teaching credential in art ONLY, I found my mentor, Dorner Schuller, a retired commercial artist who painted just as I wanted to paint. I took his workshops as often as I could, watching and learning new teaching techniques that I knew would work for me. Subsequently, I took workshops from nationally known artists for their teaching techniques, and gleaned what would work for me.
What motivates you to create?
That is simple. I collect photos that I take with my phone and file them under “to paint”, so I have a selection of ideas that are available when I need a particular subject.
When is your favorite time of day to create?
Daytime, for sure! Usually, my days are so filled that I am ready to relax in the evening. Having said that, sometimes I want to finish a few strokes, so I work under “daylight” lighting in my studio, so my color choices ring true and are not influenced by anything dull and not in true color. If it is a night scene or a still life illuminated by artificial light, I paint those in the daytime.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
You know, it doesn’t matter what you do if you understand art principles and design. For example, when I plate food, it is pleasing to look at and more appetizing. When I dress, I wear clothing with color harmony. In photography, I edit to “help” the natural composition my camera takes. Art influences me in all facets of life. I “see” things differently and know my paintings are appealing for this reason.
Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Jenn Norpchen.
Tell us about your favorite art medium. Gourd and Clay-wire sculpture. I love to look at gourds as a substrate to create using wire and clay.
Who/what is your biggest artistic influences?
Leonardo da Vinci and how he studied people and animals in action, especially animals’ expressions.
What motivates you to create? When I’m out hiking in the morning or talking with my friends.
When is your favorite time of day to create? Late evening and morning.
Does art help you in other areas of your life? Many times. It’s a wonderful talking point with people. It has helped me to want to teach others one of my favorite passions.
Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Cathy McAllister.
Tell us about your favorite art medium.
Doing up-cycle projects. I love to find old things, different items and bring them back to life.
Who/what are your biggest artistic influences?
Gosh, there are so many to choose from as I get influenced by so many different things. I probably can’t really say one in particular. I do love nature, and I love colors, and I also love movements.
What motivates you to create?
I like to create things that are whimsical because it makes people happy.
When is your favorite time of day to create?
I used to think there wasn’t really a favorite time of day. I could do it all the time anytime but lately it seems like the nighttime is a great time to create.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Yes, art does help me. It makes me focus. It makes me feel better about myself. It’s a great outlet.
Don’t miss this special Anniversary Sale of 20% Off everything in the gallery! September 7th & 8th! Two days only! It only happens once a year!
Join us for our Anniversary Reception celebrating 29 years in business! Saturday • September 7th • 5-8 pm!
Come enjoy music, refreshments, meet the artists and watch artist demonstrations!
SEPTEMBER FEATURE WALL – “BLACK & WHITE”
Check out what our amazing artists can create in black, white and shades of gray! An artistic experience you don’t want to miss! Be sure to explore all the unique art Auburn Old Town Gallery has to offer from all the members…And remember! On September 7th and 8th it’s all 20% off celebrating our 29th Anniversary!
What could be more beautiful than discovering “CALIFORNIA” through the eyes of talented artists? That is the theme for the August feature wall…Beauty, whimsy and imagination are all on display! Come find your “gold” amongst these treasures, and any of the amazing work by all the members of Auburn Old Town Gallery!
Please come in and “pause” to take in the incredible art on the feature wall for July…PAWS, PAWS, PAWS! It’s a treat for your eyes and if you happen to have a “paws” friend, there’s a treat for them as well! And speaking of treats – you will find wonderful treats throughout the gallery created by all our members!
Welcome our new member DARIEN HAMILTON
Born in San Francisco during the mid 1960’s, Darien was exposed to the bright hues of the then, new color, TV broadcasts and bold designs of the CounterCulture. His artistic parents normalized the idea of making a time and place to create art in their home and provided two and three dimensional media for him to experiment with. His father was a printmaker and art professor in both San Francisco and later, Sierra College in Rocklin, Ca. His mother balanced raising a willful child and creating beautiful gardens, printing woodblock prints, and painting. Darien went on to pursue art and received his AA degree in the mid 80’s, further refining his skills through intensive studies and studio courses in sculpture, painting, jewelry making and graphics at CSU Sacramento and City College of San Francisco. Later, (1992) he moved to the island of Maui with his new family and worked as a muralist, sculptor, and art director for the themed event and convention industries. On returning to Los Angeles, he applied his skills creating sets and props for Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood theme parks. Since his return to the foothills he has been exploring painting, airbrushing and creating various commissions.
It is always so exciting to welcome new members to Auburn Old Town Gallery, and these four new artists are exceptional in the talent they bring! Stop by soon to view their work!
CAROL BLACK ADDYMAN • LINOCUT
“My first response to life has always been a need to make art. primarily birds and animals, and later, geometric patterns. Printmaking allows me to combine both the natural world and geometric form.” From my very first linoprint, I was captivated by the magical alchemy of ordinary linoleum, ink, and paper. Linocut is a printmaking technique similar to woodcut. A design is carved into a piece of linoleum using chisels or gouges. then inked with a roller, the raised areas of the lino representing the design that will show when a piece of paper is laid over the inked surface, and pressed.
CHARLES BORGARDT • CERAMICS
“I have had a passion for ceramics for many years, using both hand built and wheel thrown techniques to create my pieces.” I have taught at Truckee Meadows Community College, and “Peace of Art” Gallery, adding to my learning, creativity and teaching. I am presently focusing on using doilies to create specific patterns and textures combining various colors and types of glazes. These doily pieces capture the pasts that hold stories of other peoples lives. All of these experiences influence my present creations.
KIMBER CHIN • FELTING
“Painting with wool is like painting with clouds – wispy and beautifully light. I can blend and mix colors and textures as I feel led, and build a fabric that is small or large, thick or so thin they are transparent. Since I used to spin yarn and knit, felting is an exciting new direction because there is little reliance on the twist of the yarn, or counting rows and stitches. I was also an abstract painter so painting abstract wool pieces was a natural progression. My work is very organic, following the nature of the ingredients, wispy, with holes, but sturdy like a survivor…”
LIV KERR • SLATE MOSAIC ART
“Art, for me, is a journey of exploration and discovery, a deep connection to the world around me. When I create, I liberate color and texture from their external constraints, allowing them to become the focal point of my work. Inspiration and emotions guide me, whether experimenting with slate mosaics or painting with oil and acrylic on canvas, I trust in the process.” Livia Radu Kerr, originally from Bucharest, Romania, now calls Auburn, California home. Her one-of-a-kind Slate Mosaics are meticulously handcrafted, utilizing a variety of materials including stone, smalti (specialized mosaic glass), handpulled filati (artisan fused glass rods), raku, and metal wire. Slate holds a special place in her heart for its strength, delicate qualities, and diverse color and texture options. Livia’s creations are described as bold and powerful, reflecting her zest for life.
Listen to the waves…feel the sand on your feet! You can feel summer is in the air through the creative works by our members for the June feature wall…”Sand & Sea”! And it’s a delight to experience all the works created by our members throughout the gallery!
Plus we want to welcome new members Liv Kerr, slate mosaics; Carol Black Addyman, linocut; Chuck Hoffman, ceramics; and Kimberly Chin, fiber artist. Be sure to stop by the gallery and see our amazing new artists!
