Southern Oregon Artists Resource

I paint in an effort to give solid form to ideas that increase the depth of my experiences in the process of living. American Modernists and their quest to discover a history of art particular to the country they lived in connect me in my personal exploration with European impressionist and post- impressionist artists. I strive to continue their work and further my own understanding of how art concurrently creates and connects us to our culture.

In 1977 I earned my degree in Art History. When I retired from my career in another field I began to paint, later selling my work successfully in Portland and Manzanita, OR, where I was a member of the Nehalem Bay Art League. Since moving to Jacksonville, I enjoy creating paintings of local landmarks and floral still lifes.

My art and subject matter is governed by my intuition as well as my emotional responses. Unconscious archetypal energies are a strong influence in all that I do. Listening to the voice within allows me freedom from obsessive perfection, as the perfection of intuition guides my art experience. See Charu's listing in the Teaching Artists category.

I love the fine art side of Photography, using my camera as a painter does a brush, and my photographs reflect the interpretation I chose for that scene at that moment. My education includes three years of college training in Fine Art Photography and over 25 years of experience. My art has been published in a book for fishermen titled "Native Trout of North America."

I am a novice in the field of ceramics, primarily Raku, and lapidary art. While in college I took metalsmithing and had a minor in Art History. Now that I am retired I have the time to develop my interests in these arts fields. Please see Jill's listing in the Lifestyle Arts directory.

My artwork is in private and corporate collections world-wide. I am an award-winning artist, past gallery-owner, and my art has been in many exhibitions. I work in various mediums, subjects and types of art and am a member of several art societies, and past member of many more. Please see Jillian's listing in the Teaching Artists directory.

My work is a contrast of abstract design with geometric order. I’m drawn to repeating images and tend to build those into my work, while at the same time, I like looser brushstrokes and flowing lines. To me, that feels similar to life. You organize and schedule life, but there are so many unexpected life events. It’s a mix of order and chaos.

Though some people call me a 'paper artist' because most of the art that I make uses paper, I like to think of my art as creating memories in time. I commemorate old memories and create new ones. I want my art to touch people at the heart level, the emotional part of their being. The media I use include watercolor, bookbinding, calligraphy, paste papers, paper folding and lots of love.

Cathy DeForest is a book artist who integrates printmaking, photography, drawing, mixed media and letterpress into her artist books. Cathy specializes in one-of-a-kind books based on found objects and small editions of letterpress books. In addition to selling over 3,000 letterpress broadsides of her work, her books are in national collections and have been exhibited widely. Visits to her studio gallery can be arranged.

Metal artist Cheryl D. Garcia draws inspiration from the natural world, creating functional and fascinating sculptures for the home and garden using a variety of metals. Reclaimed steel is a favorite medium with copper, stainless steel and aluminum accents. Cheryl has made the Rogue Valley her home for 15 years.

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