Celebrating the Heritage and Practices of Traditional Fine Arts Worldwide
Exhibitions
Welcome to California
Welcome to California features small works of iconic images of the Golden State, from pristine landscapes and seascapes to figurative works and still lifes. The exhibition concludes on Friday, January 29. All artwork is framed and available for acquisition. See Terms of Sale.
Art enthusiasts who purchase $500 of artwork from the exhibition will receive a gift certificate for a complimentary one-year membership at either the Associate Artist or Patron level for a new member. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these works will benefit the organization’s arts educational programming.
Opening day for the exhibition, Sunday, November 29, is being celebrated as the first Artists Sunday, a nationwide event encouraging consumers to shop with artists and craftsmen. It’s like Black Friday, but for art. More information can be found here.
Napa, "Take a Picture in California, Old School hearkens back to when I was a kid (I’m 73 now). I remember when box cameras like this were commonly used and visible at all vacation destinations and events before the SLR cameras, followed later by low pixel digital cameras, all of which are now pretty much foreign to the 'Selfie generation' that depend on the convenience of an iPhone or like. While most could not load a box camera or SLR body with film correctly, I still have a few of them kicking around for nostalgia, and to paint."
San Carlos, "Art is where you find it; in this case, a whimsical spray of camellia confetti. This sweet little piece of California street art is now a moment caught forever in time. A random splash of color; it is a reminder that nature—and life—are constantly in flux, and the haunting beauty of transitions has the power to motivate, and to heal. It is quintessentially human to resist change and to cover, hide or disguise our ‘flaws.’ The willingness to surrender, to let go of control and fear, to open to curiosity and wonder at the unexpected, will show us that those ‘flaws’ are also the very same idiosyncrasies that make us lovable - and memorable."
"The Matilija Poppy is frequently called the fried egg flower. One look and you can see why. The petals are bright white with intense yellow centers. The plant grows to a height of 6 feet or more, with flowers 6 inches across. In the wild, they are also known as ‘Fire Followers’ as they’ll appear in areas recovering from fires. In recent years, the California landscape has been blackened by wildfires. In late spring, the Matilija poppy will appear. A beautiful reminder that we will heal, thrive, and bloom again!"
Santa Barbara, "Fremontia (Fremontodendron Californicum) also known as a California Flannelbush was named after Major General John Charles Fremont. Fremont was an early explorer of California (1840's-) where he discovered and collected many plants during his expeditions. He became a U.S. senator from California (1850-51) and was an opponent of slavery. The bright yellow blooms and fuzzy, dark green foliage of this shrub makes a striking sight in the spring and early summer."
Turlock, Central Valley, "Almond Orchards are common in California's Central Valley, as the climate is ideal for the trees to produce enough almonds to supply the rest of the world with this tasty and nutritious treat. It couldn't happen though without the tireless work of the honeybees that pollinate the blossoms in late February and early March of each year when the almond blossoms are in glorious bloom. This painting depicts a honeybee making its rounds among the fragrant and beautiful blossoms, collecting pollen and nectar to turn into honey back at the hive. Without this work, the blossoms would not be pollinated, which is essential for developing into almonds."
Turlock, Central Valley, "Orange trees are abundant in Central and Southern California's warm climate. The fragrant blossoms are a magnet for honeybees, with the fortunate result that not only do the bees pollinate the blossoms to produce oranges, but they also bring the nectar from the blossoms back to their hives to produce tasty orange blossom honey."