Artist Spotlight: Ruth Stanton

"My art is about nature and people. As an artist, I strive to capture the beauty
in the people and places I have experienced in my life. 

Part of my creative process before I begin painting is to select images from my personal photographs that have a lasting impression on me. Whether it is the quality
of light, interesting shapes, colors, strong composition, or an image which
tells a story.

As an artist, I strive to breathe life into my paintings with the hope people
will view my art as uplifting and joyful."

Ruth Stanton

Artist Spotlight: Melchia Kutches

"I grew up in upstate New York and studied Fine Arts at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. After graduating in 1988, I moved to San Francisco, then later to the East Bay, where I have been living with my husband and teenage daughter for the last 28 years. 

I work creatively in many mediums that include wire, paper, sewing, plywood, oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, as well as designing and executing lighting fixtures.

As it is for all of us, this pandemic is trying. My husband is working from home, so I have limited space which has challenged me in my creativity. I am painting in acrylic on canvas more than my preferred medium of oil because it saves time in drying, and then can be stored quickly."

Melchia Kutches

Artist Spotlight: Dave Manousos

"My love of art was spawned at an early age by my grandmother who was a fine artist. She lived with our family and, out of my 10 other siblings, I was the only one that she allowed in her studio. She patiently taught me drawing and painting techniques that I still use today.

As an observer of people and what makes each individual unique, I pull from my experiences, or encounters with others. I retain some unique aspect of a personality that strikes me as interesting, unique or just memorable and I bring that to life in my characters when I paint.

Over the past 35 years I have experimented with many techniques of painting and illustrating. I have written and illustrated children’s books, been a graphic designer and continued to paint.

My Big-Eye Series is a compilation of character paintings that combines both my illustration and painting techniques. Each painting varies in personality depending on the color combination, the expression of the character and the setting."

Dave Manousos

Artist Spotlight: Sharon Tama

"Life is full of moments waiting to be captured on canvas. As a result, the subject matter of my paintings is broad in scope and continually evolving. 

To date, my works include human portraiture, including children captured in their most candid moments, animal portraiture, as well as images inspired by safari, works celebrating nature such as moss-encrusted gnarly oaks, paintings of sheer whimsy, and even non-representational abstraction. 

It is exhilarating for me to paint while exploring the vast world of color, light, and emotion.

I utilize acrylic paints on canvas because of their versatility and quick drying properties. 

I often find myself smearing paint with my fingers to meld colors on my canvas, and acrylics lend themselves to this beautifully."

Sharon Tama

Artist Spotlight: Rachel Zhang

Greek Summers

"As an artist, I aspire to convey both an appreciation of the natural world and a curiosity of the whimsical and fantastical. I want to capture the vibrancy of life through colors and composition, and transport the viewers into a more idealized world. 

While I tend to stay within the realm of realism, a grounding foundation established by my long-time art tutor Ms. Jenny Gu, I find myself experimenting more with bright colors and artistic topics. 

At the age of 16, there is much to my style that I have yet to discover, and I find myself inspired daily by other artists, both of this gallery and in the infinite archives of the internet. 

Since dabbing in a few junior art competitions and recently starting an account on Instagram, I hope to expand my platform and share my passion for visual arts with more people."

Rachel Zhang

Artist Spotlight: Suzun Almquist

Riding Brennan's Wave

"I was drawn to art while living in Napa, California. There was an abundance of talent in the valley and I took great interest in the painters. However it wasn’t until I finally retired from a demanding career that I entertained the notion of actually painting. 

I was guided to Marcy Wheeler’s studio in Walnut Creek, California. As I started my art studies and began looking for subjects and compositions to paint, my father’s early photographs of our family inspired me. I wanted my paintings to capture the same sensitivity, emotion, place and time that were expressed in his photos. Besides portraitures, my interests have expanded to include painting landscapes and nature. I work on canvas and enjoy the versatility of acrylic paints.

Since 2013, I have exhibited with the Bay Area Studio Artists (BASA) and other art groups at venues throughout the greater Bay Area. I continue to study with Marcy and other BASA members and have taken additional classes in figure and perspective drawing through other art teachers."

suzunalmquistart.com

Summer Musings 2020

Day at the Beach by Ruth Stanton

Summer Musings 2020

Tuesday, July 7 through Saturday, August 22

Due to the current climate of unrest and uncertainty that we are all experiencing right now, the Lamorinda Arts Alliance thought it was appropriate to name their summer member show using the word "musing."

Musing is a period of reflection or thought that can include a variety of emotions from happy to sad to nostalgic. This show has some serious work and some light-hearted and fun “musings,” like a look back at a wonderful vacation. Some pieces might be about looking forward to better times ahead with feelings about current events.

Please note our open hours on the right; masks and social distancing required.

Saturday, July 11th   5-7pm
Opening Reception 

For artists and their guests 

This is a "soft" opening with no music or refreshments 

Saturday, August 22nd   2-4pm
Closing Reception 

Open to the public with refreshments and live music 

(pandemic guidelines for gatherings TBD)