Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
Hello. I’m Carol Robin Crockett, AKA Crockett Tiles. I work in high-fired (2200 degrees) ceramics. I use slabs, coils, and hand-building. I make tile, vessels, and sculptures.

What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?
I was born into an artistic family in the Bay Area and have always made things with my hands. My first love was fabric and sewing, which I learned at the side of my beloved grandmother. She taught me about textiles of all sorts and the integrity of every stitch. I have also always been drawn to carving, which I learned from my dear father and grandfather. I carved bones, wood, sticks, soap, and whatever I could get my hands on. My father also taught me about architecture and the work of early twentieth-century California tile makers, such as Ernest Batchelder, Clay Craft, Malibu Potter, and others. When I was divorced in 2004, I wanted to continue staying home with my four children, so I started Crockett Tiles as a home-based business. I received a call from Louise at Auburn Old Town Gallery early last year. She encouraged me to apply, and I am so glad I did!

Where are you originally from?
I am a fourth-generation San Franciscan. I lived in the City much of my childhood but also spent time with my father in Sky Londa (Woodside) just south of San Francisco, and my Grandparents in Healdsburg, an hour or so north of the City.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a mother and have four children! Which I did!

Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
Eight years ago, when my eldest daughter was pregnant, we were driving looking for a daycare provider. She turned and looked at me and told me she wanted to quit her state job and stay home with her children so she could raise them the same way she was raised. Which she did!

What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
I have many things that make me smile. This morning when I woke up, our Border Collie Hank was curled up on the end of the bed, with our dear all black cat Coal curled up on top of him.

Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
I’m Jane Welles and I paint the landscape in oil and gouache.

What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?
I was always drawing and painting as a kid and I am proud to be part of AOTG.

Where are you originally from?
I grew up in a Navy family and grew up moving every few years.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
An artist living in Wyoming and Montana.

Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
That my paintings have a peaceful feeling.

What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
My dog, Raven.

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Read Jane’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
Hi there. My name is Therese May, I am a weaver, fiber fanatic and a creative.

What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?
My husband was given a 36″ oak loom, and we bought a “how to” book and started weaving. I so enjoy the artistic community and visiting people interested in art. That is what led me to AOTG.

Where are you originally from?
Although born in Sacramento, I was raised in Modoc county. It is the most northeastern county in California.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
I thought I was going into nursing but couldn’t handle the math. Little did I know weaving required lots of calculations! I have become more mathematical thanks to many threads.

Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
People tell me I am a good listener.

What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
I must confess that I love looking at the reels on Facebook of babies. As a grandparent of twins, the multiples are the best. I always smile and sometimes chuckle.

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Read Therese’s previous interview here.
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Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
Hello, I am Diane Tharp, and I am a watercolor artist living in beautiful Auburn, California.

What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?
I have always loved dabbling in art and over the years this dabbling became a passion. After trying many other mediums, I came to realize that I just love painting with watercolors, with its transparency, fluidity, and unpredictability. I have always been a huge fan of Auburn Old Town Gallery and the wonderful artists showing here. I was so excited to be juried into this gallery and have enjoyed every year of my involvement with this gallery.

Where are you originally from?
Millbrae, California.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
A scientist, biologist, or an astronaut. 

Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
“Your artwork always touches me with its whimsey, humor, or beauty.”

What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
My grandkids! They make me smile every day!

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Read Diane’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
I am Susan Stoll. I am a photographer and a painter. The inspiration for my work is provided by the never-ending beauty of nature.

What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?
Artistic expression has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. I can’t imagine seeing the world around me and/or expressing myself in any other way. I am proud to be a member of Auburn Old Town Gallery with its talented group of artists. An added perk is meeting all the customers from both near and far when they visit the gallery.

Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in California. I have lived in Auburn for over 30 years.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
I have always wanted to be an artist.

Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
Rather than listing a complement, I will list an observation. As a former Montessori teacher and art instructor, observing students flourish academically, socially, and creatively warms my heart. In my observations, children are naturally drawn to nature and the arts.

What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
When I think about my family, friends, and community, I smile with gratitude.

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Read Susan’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
Hello, I’m Christina and my art medium is sterling silver jewelry. I call myself a jewelry artist.

What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?
I worked as a bench jeweler for over ten years and decided it was time to create my own designs. Auburn opened a larger venue, and I decided to sign up.

Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Sacramento.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist; I didn’t know it would be a jewelry artist.

Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
I was complimented on how I make original pieces, and I was happy someone noticed because this is a gallery.

What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
The sun setting through the trees gave me the idea of creating an art piece.

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Read Christina’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
Hi, my name is Kathy Triolo and I’m a Photographer/Digital Artist. I love taking photos and then turning them into painterly art with the help of digital software, like Photoshop and sometimes a bit of Artificial Intelligence.

What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?I’ve always considered myself to be a “creative” even when I wasn’t creating. I received my first camera, a Brownie, at the tender age of 7. But because it was the days of film and developing, I wasn’t able to afford more than one roll of film for many years. Even though I spent many years taking photos, it wasn’t until 2014 that I was able to really make use of the “new” technology of Digital cameras and computers. I fully immersed myself in photography, joined a camera club and learned Photoshop in-depth. Blending the two technologies, I’ve found my passion in creating photos and then elevating them digitally in Photoshop so that they may look painterly or other-worldly. I’m happy to have Auburn Old Town Gallery as home to my wall of fantastical birds, horses and other animals now.

Where are you originally from?
I’m a San Francisco native (Richmond District) and grew up there in what I think of as the “Golden Era”. The city was safe, the art was free and the world of San Francisco was truly my playground.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
I originally started college as a Photography/Art major but quickly realized that I wasn’t going to be able to support myself as an artist. I graduated as a Marriage and Family Therapist and was then able to focus on my passion when I had free time.

Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
Many people have told me that my art tells a story and that is exactly what I want to convey.

What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
Finding out that one of my photos was accepted into a juried show at Viewpoint Gallery in Sacramento.