- 775-782-8207
- 1572 Hwy 395 N Minden, NV
Whether it is a landscape, a winter scene, or another favorite of mine a Christmas scene, I love to express the emotion of the scene through the use of composition, color and subject.
Once an idea comes to me I match my idea with a medium that best communicates its message. I enjoy working in mixed media, acrylics, pencils, and oils.
I find tranquility and enjoyment with each painting I create and I hope you enjoy it as well.
I came by my appreciation of the art around me through my parents and grandparents. We were taught to slow down and look at the wonders around us, from the sun on the leaves to the morning dew on the roses. My earliest memory of doing art was a pencil drawing of my brothers sleeping when I was 12 years old. In 8th grade, I won an art show with a paper mâché form. In high school I was urged to go into commercial art, graphics. But real life started then, marriage, children. I kept my finger in my love of art through college classes, winning in small art shows, local fairs, and a few one-man art shows. I even had a business of creating Indian figures, with skin paintings. With that business I sold all over the world to gift shops, Disneyland, and the Grand Canyon. A few years ago I sought out an artist I had heard about . He lived in Virginia City . I needed to learn to solder. Flames and gas lol scared me. I wanted to be able to put my designs and ideas into precious metals and work with nature’s beauty. Larry … was a free spirit with his art like me. He understood my hunger. I took several sessions, and then stopped to practice what I learned. During that time Larry passed from lung cancer. I was truly heartbroken. Today when am I soldering or working on a piece, I often hear his voice telling me how to do it or why I should do it a certain way. Larry was an awesome influence in my art. Today I have my own studio set up and can enjoy watching my one-of-a-kind creations make people happy. I still get shivers and I still watch nature all around me, but now I can capture some of that so others can enjoy it too.
I was raised in rural northern California surrounded by forests, mountains and ranches. I havealways had an interest in history, especially the American west.After retiring from a career in the Operating Engineers, I began sculpting wood and discovered Ihad a passion for western art. I use various kinds of wood, but I prefer the qualities ofMadrone, as each piece is unique. I also work in oil base clay and have done bronzes fromboth clay and wood. My style is realistic yet impressionistic enough so the observer canimagine the detail and create their own story.I am primarily self taught, but have been mentored by Mehl Lawson, Jason Scull, and PaulMoore, all “Cowboy Artists of America”. I have also studied with Jeff Phares, Philippe Farautand Lincoln Fox.For the past 12 years, my wife and I have lived in Gardnerville, Nevada.
I began painting in watercolor in 1997. Over the years I have developed my ownpersonal style that can be described as detailed and representational. I like to think ofmyself as a storyteller artist. I am fascinated bysubjects that are old and forgotten,especially objects that continue to display their history, character and charm. This isparticularly evident in my ongoing Bodie series where my goal is to capture thepassage of time as old vehicles become part of thelandscape, weathered buildings thatlean from years of neglect and doors open to the past, filled with untold stories.Additionally, my paintings include landscapes, wildlife, animals and even portraits. Mywatercolor painting of a leaping coyote, "Pounce",was recently accepted into the 2021"Best of Watercolor", Splash 22 annual magazine.Watercolor painting for me is an attempt to capturea moment in time, to render apainting that is as rich in character as it is memorable.
Drawing inspiration from different American landscapes stretching across Nevada, the Sierras and northern California Coast, Harris transforms his carefully chosen vistas into abstract, energetic, colorful realms.
With the vast cumulus clouds occupying most of the skies, the horizon line obscures and illuminates the scenery below. The focus in Harris’ work is to capture and transfer the energy of specific places from his memory onto the canvas. The carefully chosen colors -which contrast, compliment, and clash with each other all at the same time- give life to Harris’s paintings and create the dynamism viewers find so compelling and relatable.
Award-winning artist Mark Harris received his BA in Fine Art at the University of South Florida / Florida Center for the Arts with his life experience in the Publishing Industry has reinforced a keen eye for aesthetic composition. His work has been appreciated in many private collections throughout the United States.
I have surrounded myself with artwork since moving to Carson Valley 37 years ago. First as a fine art framer and then as an artist. Beginning with acrylic then branching out to watercolor and silk painting. I’m now adding hand painted glassware, candles, jewelry and whatever new catches my interest. I see creativity and beauty everywhere and look forward to my next challenge.
Alanna McDaniel is a retired art teacher from Southern California. She taught art at Santa Clara Catholic High School, and was the art teacher for then chain of parochial Pinecrest Schools. She has lived in Northern California for the past decade; she now resides in Minden, Nevada, enjoying teaching art lessons from her home art studio. She earned her degree in Art History and Studio Art, and certification in Early Childhood Education from California State University Northridge.
Alanna began a love of art early, receiving a big surprise first prize for a Girl Scout collage art project. Art prospects broadened while working in the art department of Hughes Aircraft Company, and the media department of Paramount Pictures while raising her two sons and many dogs. She went back to school to teach art to young students.
While enjoying the full spectrum of subject matter and mixed media with students, she paints commissioned portraits with acrylics, mixed media, and oil. She enjoyed creating a great collaborative mural which can be seen in front of the garden at Gardnerville Elementary. She hopes to do this again for the community.
Since doing illustrations for culinary magazines, including Edible Reno Tahoe, she has grown a love of painting still life. Fruits and vegetables are a great thing to promote, great for young students to observe, and therapeutic to capture.
Student work from her classes with her own work can be viewed on her Facebook site ArtForLifeArtStudios.
After being a painter all my life I wanted to re-explore making pottery that I loved many years ago. I love the endless possibilities of form, decoration, use and the feel of uniqueness of being hand made. I try to imagine the user’s appreciation in their hands with each piece. Pottery helps us keep in mind our history, permanence and a satisfying use of the earths resources.
Mark Tompkins attended night classes at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, where he studied life drawing and illustration. After working as a graphic artist for a number or years, Tompkins moved to Northern Nevada where he worked as a picture framer at a local art store and frame shop. There he began teaching painting classes at the community college, and also through the Parks and Recreation Department. He also teaches private lessons out of his studio. Tompkins inspiration and painting style was influenced by the early renaissance artists as well as artists like Andrew Wyeth and Maxfield Parrish. Tompkins prefers to paint with oils, watercolors, and acrylics. He enjoys painting landscape, wildlife, and portraits. Tompkins has won numerous awards in group competitions and continues to paint his favorite Sierra Landscapes.
Linda Townsend was born and grew up in New York State. She graduated from State University of New York at New Paltz with a major in Art Education. Linda subsequently attended the School for American Craftsman at Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in ceramic design. She later received a Masters degree in Education from Pepperdine University in California. Her teaching career began in Long Island, teaching art at Smithtown Junior High.
In 1994, she and her husband moved to Minden. She now devotes more time to her art work. Her paintings and murals grace many homes and business in Southern California as well as in the Carson Valley area.
Linda is currently a member of the Carson Valley Art Association and the Nevada Art Association.
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