CONCORD COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS

Meet the Artist - Marie Gomes

Inspired by Monet by Marie Gomes

This month we are featuring interviews with the artists who are in our upcoming art show - sight/unseen - at The Artist's Den in Concord, May 21-26, 2016.

This is Marie Gomes - what do you like most about living in Concord?

I like the people in this area. It’s so different than living in Fremont. There are more trees and prettier walks. I have lived here a long time. It has helped me feel calmer and I like to learn new things. Plus the art program at Futures Explored and the Artist’s Den is available here.

What medium do you plan to use in your art for the sight/unseen show?

I used acrylics for this project, but I like trying different things, it’s fun even though it gets messy.

Are there any exciting mediums or techniques you've learned about recently?

I want to learn how to do scratch art.

How long have you been creating art?

When I started going to Futures Explored, so a few years now. At the art program there, they taught me techniques and how to use materials.

What is the best advice you're ever received as an artist?

The best advice has just been encouragement and having a teacher like my work.

What advice would you give a new artist?

If you like art a lot, stick with it!

Sophia by Marie Gomes

Meet the artist - Lisa Fulmer

This month we are featuring interviews with the artists who are in our upcoming art show - sight/unseen - at The Artist's Den in Concord, May 21-26, 2016.

What do you like most about living in Concord?

After living for many years in San Francisco, I landed in Concord about ten years ago because it was in the middle of where my former husband and I each worked at the time, so we could both have reasonable commutes. Now I am self-employed and have been working from home for the last few years. I had decided to stay here mostly because my brother really likes his work and friends here (he has a developmental disability and lives with me). Since putting down the roots, I have really enjoyed meeting and developing wonderful relationships with so many artists and crafters in and around Concord. I also love seeing Mt. Diablo every day!

Sunrise by Lisa Fulmer - encaustic

What medium do you plan to use in your art for the sight/unseen show?

I am working with a combination of acrylic, markers and collage on canvas. I love mixed media because there are no rules.

Are there any exciting mediums or techniques you've learned about recently?

Because I work as a designer in the craft industry, I often get wind of new tools and products before they hit the stores. I am looking forward to doing more with gel plate monoprinting, plus I have a hot-wire tool for carving craft foam that is just begging my attention. For this show, I am working more with a palette knife, which is fairly new for me.

Fussing with Reds by Lisa Fulmer - acrylic

How long have you been creating art?

Art and craft have always been part of my life. My mother painted landscapes, my aunt and uncle did beading and lapidary work, and my grandmother sewed and embroidered. I dabbled with all that as a child and teen, but it wasn't until about ten years ago that I dedicated much more time to creating art, designing craft projects and blogging about it all. I love cardmaking and general crafts, as well as fabric art and mixed media.

What is the best advice you're ever received as an artist?

Every mistake is a design opportunity. There's nothing that can't be altered or covered up - some of my worst uglies have transformed into my favorite work!

What advice would you give a new artist?

With every tutorial I write or class I teach, I tell people to enjoy the journey and don't fret about the destination. In other words, the experience of creating has as much (sometimes more!) value as the end result of your work. Give yourself permission to play and explore!

Visit Lisa's blog to see more of her work.

Meet the musicians performing at our art show - sight/unseen

We are delighted to welcome these talented musicians who will be performing during our new art show - sight/unseen - at The Artist's Den on Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22.

Kelli Childers was born and raised right here in Concord, where she's now raising her own children with her husband. Her journey with music started with piano lessons at an early age, then once school band became available in fifth grade, she picked up the alto sax. Kelli continued to play in school bands right up through college, where she had a wonderful experience learning from brilliant professors in the DVC music program.

Kelli bought her first guitar when she was 11 years old, after saving up $200 (which her dad matched). That Fender acoustic has traveled everywhere with her - from performing in dive bars as a young adult to later when she discovered her gift for teaching. That's when she knew she'd found her purpose - giving children a positive experience with music.

Kelli is performing on Saturday, May 21 at 12noon and 2:30pm.

Benjamin Ofori is from Sogakope, a small village in the Volta region of Ghana, West Africa. He began performing with his father’s group at an early age and later with his school’s cultural troupe. After graduating with a BA in Theatre Arts/African Drumming, Dance and Song, he formed his own group and has been teaching and performing for more than 20 years. His goal is to preserve the teaching of his elders and pass it along to new generations.

Ofori is the founder of Bodac Cultural Group, an international African Traditional Drumming, Dance and Performing Arts group that originated in Ghana. The group’s mission is to share the knowledge, gifts, talents and joy of West African art and culture with various communities through vibrant performances and education. Bodac’s music touches lives and transforms audiences to appreciate music like they’ve never experienced it before. Their musical message to people around the world is that culture can’t be forgotten; we are born into our culture and it’s what makes us unique. Sharing art, music and ideas between disparate cultures enriches people, helping us all to grow wiser and more enlightened.

Benjamin is performing on Sunday, May 22 at 3:30pm.

Isaiah Douglass is a musician, artist and writer who has been creating for most of his known life. He started playing guitar and singing at a young age and he was drawing even earlier than that.

"Inspired by our earth family, the human journey and the mysteries of life, it is by this inspiration that I am propelled to create through many mediums. I am constantly seeking to expand my awareness and to live authentically. I believe the greatest gift we can all give is to be true to ourselves and follow golden thread of inspiration where ever it may takes us. May you always remember the blessings and peace of life."

Isaiah will be performing on Sunday, May 22 at 12noon and 2pm.

Feona Lee Jones makes music that is dreamy, ambient and melancholic, with synth pop, new wave, and punk rock undertones. Feona co-created the band, Telepathic Birds with Tony Cameron in 2013 in Concord. Their music is more moody and heavily layered.

"We are space explorers who have come here to Earth to bring people together through our mysterious, bird-like, insect, space-y, Persephone-like presence. We have come to be a beacon of light and love to guide others in reconnecting with their essence and stepping fully into peace, love, and vulnerability. Our music is uplifting, bridging the shadow and the light, the underworld and the heavens, bringing light to the darkness and depth to the light, and creating opportunities for worldly beings to “transition” in peace."

Feona will be performing during our artist celebration on Saturday, May 21, 4pm. This is a private RSVP event - email CCofA to inquire about purchasing tickets.

Meet the artist - Mary Frances Crabtree

Mary Frances Crabtree writes eloquently about her artistry and creative experience here in Concord:

"Diversity, affordability, proximity to a cultural center and a sunny suburban refuge from Pacific coast fog—that is what I like about living in the Concord area.

Escaping from the icy grip of a Chicago winter to a warm California welcome fulfilled my original retirement goal, but challenges still remained...is there enough inspiration for artistic growth here? Where would I find the vivid colors I celebrated during the seasonal changes of the Midwest? With family and friends left behind, as well as familiar neighborhoods and a city where education and culture highlighted my life—what did my new life in Concord offer?

By Mary Frances Crabtree - pastel

The answer is light - brilliant light that emerges from shadow to define contours in objects, landscapes and people. The light in Concord’s hills against low, shaded valleys presents an artist with sharp contrasts in light intensity. It can be unforgiving light emerging from a black, shadowy background, or it can be a softly muted light tracing powdery shapes.

As color no longer defined my artistic vision here in Concord, the familiar technique and media—oils and gouache paint that I always used—horrors! It didn’t work! I was forced out of my comfort zone. I needed to express the new reality I saw all around me living in Concord: light and shadow, white pastel on Fabriano deep black paper.

This is what the viewer will see in my drawings—yes, simple drawings devoid of lines—a technique which I developed inspired by the negative in photography.

By Mary Frances Crabtree - pastel

My advice for a new art student comes from a seminar in painting from an instructor who was tired of hearing— Am I finished? Should I put a dash of cerulean here or more burnt sienna there? His advice to me was simply to put the paintbrush down."

Meet the artist - Michelle Cicala

Michelle Cicala

This month we are featuring interviews with the artists who are in our upcoming art show - sight/unseen - at The Artist's Den in Concord, May 21-26, 2016.

What do you like most about living in Concord?

I love living in Concord! I moved here 3 years ago from South Florida, which was a great place while my husband and I went to school, but it was never our element. We love the Bay Area's beautiful weather, gorgeous hiking, camping, and all the other amazing things this area has to offer. Concord has a very down-to-earth vibe, with tons of great parks, a beautiful downtown, and wonderful people. I am so inspired by the artists I have met in Concord. They are passionate about their work and about growing our artist community. CCofA, CAA, and EBAG have all been so supportive of me getting my art out to the public, and help me feel like part of the growing and vibrant Concord art scene.

Lotus Tiger

What medium do you plan to use in your piece for this show?

I am using acrylic for this show, which is typical for me. However the subject of my piece is different than what I usually paint - I am doing a portrait. I love the feeling of doing something that is out of my comfort zone. I paint until I get to a place where I feel a little afraid to keep going, and then push through the fear to the other side, resulting in something I love. The experience of working through my fear and expectations is very therapeutic for me, and it's essentially why I paint.

Are there any exciting techniques or mediums you've learned about recently?

I usually work with smaller sized canvases, but I recently participated in a show with EBAG that required a much larger scale of work. I used a 30” x 24” canvas for the first time in a long time, and I had a blast! I really enjoyed painting on a big scale and love how the artwork came out. These larger pieces are currently on display in the Aspen Building at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. I stepped out of my comfort zone and it payed off, I won’t hesitate to go big in the future.

Lord Surya- Sun Lion

How long have you been creating art and who helped you get started?

I have always been an artist, although it has ebbed and flowed at times. My high school art teacher Mr. Smith was wonderful and very influential for me as a young artist. He created a supportive environment that nurtured his students' confidence and creativity. It was a classroom full of art, music, laughter, and no judgement, which I craved at the time. It was a truly special time and place that helped me survive my high school experience. Today I am inspired by my fellow artists - hearing about their process, experiences, and struggles helps me so much. There are times as an artist that I question myself - why am I doing this, what’s the point? My fellow artists help me gain perspective and remind me that I make art for the sake of art, and that these questions are part of this beautiful process.

What advice would you give to a new artist?

It would be to let go of judgement. There are times when I feel creative and inspired, and times when I just don’t. I have learned not to fret or put pressure on myself when I am in a creative lull. When I give myself permission to take a break and wait until I am feeling the creative flow again, I come out of it much quicker feeling refreshed and inspired.

See more of Michelle's work in her Etsy shop and her Society6 store.

Meet the Artist - Anamilena Ayala

Anamilena Ayala

This month we are featuring interviews with the artists who are in our upcoming art show - sight/unseen - at The Artist's Den in Concord, May 21-26, 2016.

What do you like most about living in Concord?

I originally arrived in Martinez when I first moved to the Bay Area fifteen years ago. I learned to enjoy and appreciate this area with its downtown close by, so when my husband and I were finally ready to purchase our first-ever home, we decided to move to Concord. We are now enjoying our 6th year here and we find everything we want in Concord, from markets to bike trails. Our only challenge is our daily commute to Oakland for work, but luckily we carpool together every day, which saves in gas, plus we can stay on the other side of the tunnel any time for dinner! Concord got to be even better when I found this group of artists on Meetup who wanted to get together for different projects throughout the year. After attending my first meeting, I became a regular participant and supporter of this group, the Concord Community of Artists.

Trio of small floral paintings in acrylic by Anamilena Ayala

What medium do you plan to use in your art for the sight/unseen show?

My piece will be an acrylic painting - at the beginning, I thought of trying something new with mixed media, but I decided I will stay with my acrylics - for sure they will not let me down! While the technique I am using is very familiar to me, the painting concept will be experimental. Creating this piece will definitely take me out of my comfort zone, but I feel very excited to try "identity" as an approach and to see the final result, which is always a surprise for the artist in me.

Lemon by Anamilena Ayala - acrylic

Are there any exciting techniques or mediums you've learned about recently?

I have been following and learning about collage from a couple of online videos I came across and I want to keep exploring this technique. In fact, I'm still trying to catch a workshop from an artist who makes great collage art that features random pieces of paper. I can only imagine my horizons expanding in front me with so many possibilities that collage has to offer.

How long have you been creating art?

I started making art at an early age in Colombia and learned from my mother’s incredibly crafty mind. She was my first mentor, then later when I came to America, I registered for some painting classes and was extremely lucky to find dedicated teachers who were very generous with their knowledge. I was happy to play “sponge” and absorbe as much as I could.

What is the best advice you've ever received as an artist?

The best advice I have taken from an art mentor is to “step back and squint” as often as possible when working on a painting.

What advice would you give to a new artist?

Never give up! Forget about whether or not it looks pretty or perfect, art is just art and always will be.

Visit Anamilena's website to see more of her work.

Our new art show - sight/unseen

Concord Community of Artists is thrilled to announce our new art show!

sight/unseen

May 21-26, 2016

The Artist's Den - 1913 Salvio Street, Concord

Click here to download our flyer with more information.

Each of our 14 participating artists was asked to interpret and express an aspect of their identity. Some are exploring this concept through their ancestry, others are creating work that speaks to their ethnicity, culture or nationality. Each piece will include a written narrative about their inspiration, artistic approach and what they discovered about themselves during the process.

Our individual identities are comprised of the qualities, beliefs and distinctive characteristics that make us unique and different from each other. Psychology professor Peter Weinreich defines identity as contextual:

How we understand and interpret ourselves today - in the present - expresses the continuity between where we came from (our past) and what we aspire to be (our future).

What a wonderfully reflective approach for artists and art students to consider when creating personal works of self-expression!

Concord Community of Artists develops mutually beneficial opportunities for artists to come together and work with local businesses and service organizations to celebrate the value and positive impact of the arts and how it strengthens the vitality of our entire community.

We are honored to present sight/unseen in partnership with The Artist's Den, which is operated by Futures Explored, a non-profit organization that provides work training and recreational programs for Bay Area adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Artist's Den provides weekday art programs to their clients and operates an art gallery to exhibit and sell their work.

Visit the Concord Library this month!

Our "Small Works" will be on display right inside the front entrance to the Concord Library through April 29 - it features a variety of art, craft and writing from local artists. From acrylic and watercolor paintings to photography, drawings and more, you'll enjoy looking at each and every piece. Pricing and contact information is listed on the ID tags so you can make arrangements to bring one of these delightful small works home with you.

Artists:

Catherine Hensiek

Susan Pace-Koch
Sharon Petersen
Jonathan Wayne Rosas
Emily Stepp

"Small Works" display coming to the Concord Library

concord community of artists sharon petersen

Winter Silhouette by Sharon Petersen - 11"x14" watercolor

Visit the Concord Library to see a wonderful collection of small works from 15 members of the Concord Community of Artists in the main display case, April 2 - 28, 2016.

Many mediums will be represented - ink, oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media and photography - and select pieces are available for purchase directly from the artists.

Every day is a great day to visit the Concord Library - when you can't be there in person, find them on Facebook!

concord community of artists michelle cicala

Dreaming of Spring by Michelle Cicala - 8"x10" acrylic

Who is the artist?

As individuals, each person involved with the Concord Community of Artists works with their own artistic vision and voice, and with their own priority and purpose for their artmaking. Over the next few weeks, we'll meet some of these wonderful folks and get a peek into their lives as artists.

Meet Joani Share, who recently relocated and now makes Concord her new home.

"In April of this year, my husband Mark and I moved into our newly renovated home in Concord, California. Moving into a new house is always a big deal, and for us it was huge. After living for 44 years in Arizona (Phoenix/Scottsdale), we moved here to be close to our daughter, son-in-law and three adorable granddaughters (5, 3, and 7 months). We are both recently retired - Mark had been a Director of Educational Technology for a large school district, and I taught Visual Art (Art I – AP) in a public high school and dual enrollment through a community college.

I have always been an active artist, even during all of my teaching years. Moving to Concord meant reestablishing a studio and finding an art community. The remodel on our house included a large studio - which allows me to create art, and teach art to small groups. I was thrilled to find a community of artists in the Concord Community of Artists group and to begin making friends in my new home base.

Joani Share

As I have settled into my new space, I have continued creating art– primarily utilizing mixed media. I have long been interested in shape, form and color with abstract figures as my main imagery. I have recently begun to search for ways to show my work in the wide area known as the East Bay. I submitted images to the Public Art Program in Walnut Creek, and two of my works have been selected and installed in the Downtown Walnut Creek Utility Box Project (through Bedford Gallery). These pieces will be included in the City of Walnut Creek/Bedford Gallery website, and become part of the art on the walking tour.

As I work in my new studio in Concord, I am enjoying the process of creating in a new environment. Combined with the art that I brought from Arizona, I have a large body of artwork that needs to find homes. I am currently in the process of determining the best place and fit for me to sell my art – the gallery scene here is vast, much larger than the one I just left. My website has recently been updated to reflect my Concord address.

Having Concord as my new home base has allowed me to begin exploring the art venues of San Francisco. Now I am only a BART ride away from the art scene here instead of an airplane trip. I am excited to be part of this community - looking forward to creating new art, meeting more artists, volunteering and enjoying all that is available in the rolling hills of the East Bay/SF area."