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CREATIVES

Entrepreneurs.  Innovators.  Interpreters of life’s jagged edges and silken pathways.  Soothsayers and sorcerers.  These words and more define the creative individuals who have chosen Sonoma as their home.  Explore their methods and mediums in these pages and be inspired.

Are you a creative professional in Sonoma County working to satisfy your artistic expression and make a living with your work?  Register HERE to have your own page included on CreativeSonoma.org.

T Barny
T Barny Sculpture, Visual Arts
A native of California, with a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, T Barny has been creating sculpture professionally for over 40 years. During his career, T Barny has produced over 1000 works in steel, bronze, wood and water - but his fascination is with stone. He has carved 211 different kinds of rock from 53 countries. His work has been shown in over 90 galleries worldwide, and he has participated in more than 500 individual and group exhibitions.
The sculptures that T Barny creates present a visual wonder and beg the question, “How does he do that?” T Barny aspires to create sculptures that reflect a world filled with magic and wonder. His works are produced through a method of direct carving, which entails no preconceived notions or models from which to derive the final shape of his pieces. Instead, he allows the natural rhythms of the materials he uses to guide him to a final product, rich with serene fluidity.

Jesus Bravo
Jesus Bravo Artisan, Functional Art, Furniture, Sculpture, Visual Arts As a child, and first generation immigrant in this country I was never completely sure about my future. After graduating high school, I applied to SRJC and selected the welding program. Although I had a wonderful education and certification, I was unable to secure a job in the field due to my immigration status. After fifteen years of being undocumented, I had the opportunity to acquire U.S. citizenship. After I landed my first welding job, it was at that shop where I learned to create metal art, or what I like to call forever art. I would stay after work and began to put my skills to the test, spending long hours and weekends to create my own style which is highly influenced by Mother Nature, my ancestral roots, and indigenous tribes around the American continent and the world. I began making simple yard art, while continuing to develop my skills. I then started making various furniture pieces, doing larger jobs such as gates, planter boxes, and repair jobs. With these projects, I continued to develop my style of art, including original art and commissioned pieces. Every day was and still is spent practicing, evolving, and pushing my skills to become a better fabricator and artist. This is what I call BravoSculpt. In the South Central Mexico, the town I was born and raised in is very close to a sacred Mexica location ca led Malinalco. Since it was so close, it was a place we frequented as a family throughout my childhood. Malinalco has influenced and inspired my work because it is a place of rich history where I have learned, and continue to learn about the rich heritage left by our ancestors– a location of the monolith Cuahucalli, where the Mexica eagle and jaguar warriors were Trained and Initiated. Communities need to heal from ongoing traumas and I believe culture helps us heal, including art. I also believe that knowledge is power, and as I continue to learn more about my own culture, it helps me expand knowledge of other cultures and communities. I began attending several cultural events around the Bay Area, including Dia de los Muertos at various locations, Mexica New Year in San Jose, and Carnaval in San Francisco. These events have heavily influenced me and my art, as they highlight many BIPOC communities. It is at these events where we experience a sense of community and a sense of belonging. Al participants and attendees, including myself, learn so much from each other– it is truly beautiful and inspiring. These events include ancestral ceremonies, dances, altars, among other traditions that have taught me many ways to celebrate all of our ancestors. In my daily life, I like to incorporate traditional, ancestral ways of giving. And through my art, I aim to share the knowledge I am acquiring. In addition, I have had the great pleasure to collaborate with several local community projects through incredible nonprofit organizations and community groups including Sonoma Immigrant Services, Art Escape, the Springs Municipal Advisory Council, and El Verano Elementary School.
Ron Carter
Ron Carter Architecture, Artisan, Audio, Ceramics, Children's, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Design, Directing, Fashion Design, Fiction, Film, Functional Art, Furniture, Graphic Design, Illustration, Instrumental, Interior Design, Jewelry, Literature, Media, Mixed, Muralist, Music, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Photography, Poetry, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Woodworking

My Path... Divergent visions gave rise to my creative present. A present refreshed by art as life and livelihood.

Experiences like the ‘Tubbs Fire’ that hit Santa Rosa serve to strengthen the ‘artist within me’. It foements subjective creative moments that utilize my past, present - and my future as focal lenses. Spontaneously, I chose The San Francisco Art Institute over The Rhode Island School of Design and the School of the Art Institute  at Chicago for my formal Art education. I received my BFA in Interdisciplinary Art and Public Art. I’ve studied stone sculpture for 10 years with Master Sculpture-Ante’ Marinovic, one of Croatia’s premier stone sculptors and is considered a Croatian national treasure. I explore the collaboration between artist, media and tool in such a fashion as to give rise to multiple layers of compressed info within each piece I create no matter if it is a purely visual work or an interactive space or environmental art form. For me, art screams out into all aspects of my life. As an artist in western society, dogma and bravado go hand in hand with economic choice. Art is my life. If it’s not nailed down or permanently affixed,  it’s in trouble of becoming art resource material. Well, upon further review, even that won’t deter me from considering an objects use in an art piece.
Jason Cool
Jason Cool Acting, Architecture, Artisan, Arts Administration, Ballroom, Ceramics, Children's, Choreography, Composition, Crew, Dance, Design, Directing, Equipment, Fashion Design, Fiber Art, Fiction, Film Office, Folk Art, Functional Art, Furniture, General Services, Glass, Hip-Hop & Funk, Illustration, Improvisation, Improvisation, Instrumental, Interior Design, Jewelry, Literature, Media, Mixed, Modern, Multi-Media, Music, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Photography, Poetry, Production, Professional Performance, Puppetry, Sculpture, Storytelling, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal, Woodworking

Jason Cool/Henson

  1. Raised by musical and artistic tallent. from my grandfather Walter cool.writing and composing set designs on and off Broadway as well as music teacher. He tought me many things about music ,set design ,and writing stories making songs.mom colleen cool was a d.j for many years growing up .her morning talk show won an addy award. experience of the evolution of radio stations format from vinal,reel to reel,8 track,cassette,cd,to digital.learned lots about the insider secrets and politics , selling air time ,being a paid musical artist.and much more.on my dad's side .the "story family." his grandmother had 21 kids .4 sets of twins ,all natural birth!all musicians playing together ofton..on ed sullvon show and groucho marks.this popular family band and I would practice at grandma's regularly. As a kid growing up. i would try many instruments pianos ,drums,accordion ,banjo ,mandolin etc. I have been in theater,loved the arts, music ,writer. open to everything since i was a young  kid.arts and music are my life!if i dont know how to do something,i  will be honest!i ask,try and will do all things of interest with love !and any collaboration with heart.I Compromise to learn others perspectives because im always learning. preforming on and off stage.jamming with the public.sharing what i know. Learning what others are willing or able to teach.I  loved all the music,art,storys,I have been a part of, or experienced 1999 to current over 15 countries I visited. World Share
Catherine Cruz
Catherine Cruz Multi-Media, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth Artist Statement Catherine B Cruz is a French-American abstract artist who works with mixed media, multi-layered collage, and reclaimed materials. Informed by more than twenty-five years of experience in the design world, Catherine takes inspiration from a unique perspective, which spans architecture, interior design, and sustainability. Her art work is informed by textures and patterns created by the passing of time and the effects of the natural elements on the built environment.  A walk in any city like New York, Paris or Barcelona, is always a source of inspiration. In the process of observing the contrast between new and old architecture, the textures of walls, the torn posters, and the typography on the storefronts, she creates her own visual vocabulary that she utilizes in her mixed media work. She is also attracted to textures found in the rural environment such as old wooden fences, painted barns, and rusted metal that she photographs, analyzes and abstracts.  She is not interested in replicating them but instead she lets them inform her art. As a predominantly self-taught artist, she has developed her style by exploring materials and techniques. Her abstract vocabulary is based on intuitive mark making, lines and forms, as well as the exploration of visual and tactile textures and a good understanding of color.  Her process involves layering materials on wood panels or canvas such as her own painted papers, vintage papers, paint, graphite, and oil pastels. The layers are often sanded to reveal patterns and details. Artist Biography Catherine was born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, not too far from Claude Monet’s home and gardens.  She grew up in several places including Versailles and the Cote d’Azur, attending high school in Cannes.  While a teenager, she was an exchange student near Nashville, Tennessee, and later on she moved to the US on her own to attend college. She received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (Cum Laude) from Florida State University in 1993 and had a successful career as residential and commercial interior designer, followed by a second career and the creation of her own business, C2 Green Solutions, as a LEED-accredited green building consultant working with international architectural firms in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, and Houston. Always an avid learner, she has studied art history, color theory, painting, classical figure drawing, perspective, printing, and pottery in both France and the US. Her passion is to encourage others to unleash their creativity, experiment with materials, and connect with their imagination.  In 2018 she created Be You Art Studio and launched her creative workshops for children and adults.  She shares her time between Sebastopol, California, and Valence, France, with her husband and her son.
Adeline Dwyer
Adeline Dwyer Film Office, General Services, Media, Multi-Media, Performance Art, Theatre, Visual Arts My name is Adeline Rose. I am a licensed cosmetologist specializing in hair and makeup styling for film, photography and bridal. Im a freelance artist based in Sonoma County working all of north and south Bay Area. Led by my heart, I chose to study at The Cinta Aveda Institute in San Francisco. After graduating i was introduced into the bridal industry where I have enjoyed working for the past 8 years. I was blessed with a highly professional and knowledgeable mentor who I  learned a great deal from over the years. I have also studied advanced hair and makeup techniques at Hollywood Makeup School in Los Angeles. By taking many classes and workshops through the years i continue to educate myself on the latest trends, tools and techniques in the industry, deepening my understanding of the beauty world and how to keep my skills fresh and on point.   Ive had the pleasure of working on set with some incredible photographers and I aim to branch out to do more on set styling for film and photography. I feel that my experience and expertise lends itself to be successful in this field. I Have fine tuned my talents and professionalism to create a quality service that is versatile, intentional and trusted. Please reach out if you have any questions or want to learn more about me.  
Philip Thomas George
Philip Thomas George Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Visual Arts   I am moved by life around me, daily, in almost any place. Watching a young boy climb a tree or an elderly woman slowly cross the street with her patient dog — either scenario has the power to pull feelings out of me. My goal as an artist is to recreate what moves me, in the way that I see it or imagine it, in order to stir up the same emotions in my viewers and make a connection through something shared visually. Sonoma county provides a plethora of opportunities for observing people, animals, and nature which all aid in inspiring me to take action and create. My background is in UI design, but last year I took the leap into what I feel is my true calling and passion — creating artwork. If you'd like to work with me or hire me, please feel free to contact me.
Scott Gibson
Scott Gibson Media, Photography, Teacher/Instructor, Video, Visual Arts Landscape/Nature/Wildlife. Ground-based and aerial/drone. Stills and Motion. Assignments, Commissions, Prints, Licensing, Photo Products. Award-winning photographer Scott Gibson creates the images for Gibson Outdoor Photography from his picturesque base in Northern California's Wine Country. From there, he travels the region, the western United States, and the world to capture images to educate, entertain, and inspire viewers. A serious hobby photographer for decades, Scott has spent recent years carefully refining his craft. His artistic eye helps him see and feel what others miss and his deep technical training helps him capture and share these experiences in his photographs. Scott's search for the next great image often provides opportunity for adventure. He is particularly proud of the acclaim for his images from an ascent of 14,505 foot Mount Whitney in California's Sierra Nevada mountains – camera in hand the entire 22 miles. Willing to go 'all in' to get the shot, Scott camped for days in the Oregon wilderness to capture the August 2017 total solar eclipse. His FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate supports capturing fresh aerial points of view. His award-winning images are featured in private collections, winery publications, popular photo products, and stock photo services.
Deborah Gray
Deborah Gray Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Visual Arts I'm a graphic designer, web designer, and artist with 20 years of experience. I specialize in UX. I love minimalism and clean design. My illustration work is mostly pen and ink with watercolor.
Sue Kearney
Sue Kearney Graphic Design, Mixed, Other, Painting
They say it’s good to have an artist statement. Here goes:
 
My work is all variations on a theme, and the theme is flow. Flow and restraint. I’m better at the first than the second. Finding my way to creating the art I envision (and have rarely achieved) is what keeps me coming back to the art table, again and again.
 
#fluidity #flow #fluidartbysuekearney #abstractartbysuekearney #collage #chainpull #greetingcards #frameable #handmade #madewithlove #followme  #fluidart #fluidartist #acrylicpour #paintpour #pourpainting #fluidacrylics #abstractart #originalart #giftidea #creative #instagramart #simplifyyourlife #simplicitea #collage #acrylicskins #leadfollow #makeamark #makeyourmark
Jennifer LaPierre
Jennifer LaPierre Design, Interior Design, Mixed, Painting, Photography, Visual Arts
Artist ~ Designer
Fine Art - Curated Collections Residential - Commercial - Hospitality Art genre as fluid as our price point - Traditional, transitional and contemporary art created to your price point goals, variety of product and quick turn around time. I strive to approach each project utilizing all of my resources; my expertise in color and decorative painting, respect for composition and the lyrical nature of each space and the ability to layer a collection to gently reveal a vignette of individualism. I have been in the design industry since 1989, originally in decorative arts but have transitioned into interior design. I have participated in 16 Decorator Showcases and am familiar with the industry and comfortable with the demands of project management. I absolutely love what I do and have been eager to trade my scaffold in for a more grounded platform. I am very detail oriented and can multitask while maintaining a sense of pragmatic humor and grace. I am positive in in practice and mind, a problem solver and have a ravenous work ethic. I play well with others, enjoy collaborations and take great pride in cultivating long relationships with clients, artisans and contractors. Working with the same team of professional artisans close to twenty years, the studio strives to offer unique design solutions and techniques for each project. We create fine art, abstracts on plaster, custom wallpaper and focal wall panels, hand painted and custom wall covering, cracked linen wall covering and wallpaper, painted maps, murals, faux and decorative finishes, ornamental screens, painted tapestries, gilded panels, equestrian paintings and photography. The line in its entirety combines artistic interpretations of classic art with graphic and material elements of today. Currently represented at Shears and Window in San Francisco, CA 1993 Marin Design Showcase - Family Room 1995 Marin Design Showcase - Master Bed and Bath 1995 San Francisco Design Showcase - Boys Room 1995 Napa Design Showcase - Dining Room 1996 Marin Design Showcase - Kitchen 1996 San Francisco Design Showcase - Wine Room & Breakfast Room Wallcovering 1997 Marin Design Showcase - Dining Room 1997 San Francisco Design Showcase - Guest Room Wallcovering 1997 Nashville Design Showcase - Study 1998 Napa Design Showcase - Her Master Bath 1998 Los Angeles Idea House 2001 Marin Designer Showcase - Powder Room, Hallway 2005 Marin Design Showcase - Breakfast Room with Petersen Design Assoc. 2006 Marin Design Showcase - Library 2006 Salute to the Arts - Sonoma 2007 Vintage Festival - Sonoma 2007 Salute to the Arts - Sonoma 2008 Vintage Festival - Sonoma 2009 Vintage Festival - Sonoma 2010 San Francisco Design Showcase - Guest room Wallcovering / Upstairs Bathroom wallcovering/damask etched mirrors 2010 Marin Design Showcase - Guest bed 'La Grande Odalisque mural' / Teen Crib ceiling mural 2010 Sonoma Valley Museum of Modern Art - Moulin Rouge -9 paintings- 2010 Vintage Festival - Sonoma 2011 Hampton Classic/Equestrian series - Belmont, and Sonoma Horse Park - Highpoint North Carolina 2011 Marin Designer Showcase for Cecilie Starin 2012 SF MOMA Windows project, Sonoma Museum of Art Wet Paint, Sonoma Vintage Festival, Sonoma Horse Park Series 2013 Sonoma Horse Park Series, Sonoma Vintage Festival 2017 Las Vegas Winter Market Published: Architectural Digest, Northern California Home & Garden,Design Times, House to Home, SF Chronicle, Marin IJ, Press Democrat, Sonoma Country Life, CBS SF email; jenniferlapierre@hotmail.com 415-297-8992 Sonoma and San Francisco, CA Studio/Gallery viewing by appointment only

Adrian Litman
Adrian Litman Ceramics, Furniture, Illustration, Painting, Sculpture For the past 30 years, I have been working on a variety of projects for Civic, Corporate, Business and Residential clients, integrating art into architecture as well as designing free standing two and three dimensional pieces that create a sense of encounter and engagement through visual distinction or interaction. As an artist, I find inspiration and fuel for creative expression by contemplating the world around me. My inspiration is enhanced by concepts introduced by contemporary science, social issues, politics and cultural diversities. I use abstract and figurative interpretations to convey messages and emotions with sensibility, combining control and passion. Depending on the scope of design, volumes, shapes and vibrant luminous colors, are crafted to converge in an elegant harmony, stimulating the mind and emotions of the viewer. Having an eclectic approach to design, I feel comfortable flowing from dramatic subjects to whimsical and humorous themes. I have a broad range of diverse artistic skills and experience of working with a variety of durable materials like stainless steel, copper, brass, bronze, porcelain and glass as appropriate for harmonious integration with the site's architectural style and environment. For most of my large size public art designs, I cooperate with architects, structural engineers and licensed public art fabricators. As a basic principle, I create public art designs with flexibility in order to allow the project stakeholders and community input and participation. 
 
 
Mother Magica
Mother Magica Artisan, Audio, Choreography, Composition, Dance, Design, Fashion Design, Instrumental, Jewelry, Media, Music, Other, Photography, Video, Visual Arts, Vocal

Artist , Muse, CRAZY

I am a creative designer and maker of music, videos, jewelery, clothing, wigs, dance and short storys..... I am a constant comic in all ways of life. Being able to laugh at everything is my true gift. I practice gratitude... I am sooooo greatfull to be alive and able to inspire you to create and love!
Jacqueline Mallegni
Jacqueline Mallegni Artisan, Design, Fiber Art, Graphic Design, Mixed, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Visual Arts I create mixed media sculpture with rattan, handmade paper, cast flax and silk fiber, sometimes embellished with mono-prints infused with indigo, sumi ink and handmade plant based inks and stains. Making and the art of transformation from tangible to intangible returning to a tangible form is very alluring for me. I am interested in working with materials that translate my appreciation for mother-nature's installations formed by water, wind, light and dark. Patterns in nature, textures and seasonal changes inform my sculptures that reveal primitive and refined qualities. Aside from nature's inspiration, I’m also interested in the concept of the ethereal journey, motherhood, vacancy, loss, renewal and how emotional responses can evoke beauty.  I began making Asian style paper with kozo fiber in 1987. My journey with paper and sculpture has been varied from light fixtures to stone carving to ethereal mixed media sculpture. The thread of my creative process always begins with paper. I’m excited about creating the Chrysalis series that feels like a merging of many techniques developed over the years bringing many voices together that I refer to as contemplative sculpture. 
Justine Mendoza
Justine Mendoza Graphic Design, Woodworking Justine Mendoza is a multi-skilled visual designer whose experience has ranged from nudging vector points and kerning at a digital type foundry to completely rebranding and directing the marketing strategy of a quickly growing eco-friendly company. Working for smaller businesses has brought a broad spectrum of skills to her fingertips ranging from social marketing and advertising to customizing and populating e-commerce platforms. She now student-teaching at ArtQuest while in the Art teaching credential program at SSU. In addition to the graphic design work mentioned above she also designs and laser cuts custom signage and decorative pieces, specializing in collaborations with fellow artists.
Kalia Mussetter
Kalia Mussetter Artisan, Children's, Fiber Art, Literature, Mixed, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Poetry, Teacher/Instructor, Theatre, Visual Arts    
Erin Rose Opperman
Erin Rose Opperman Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Mixed, Other, Painting, Photography, Visual Arts
  Here’s the important stuff: I have a strong, varied background in visual arts with a photography degree from Sonoma State University as well as a degree in graphic design + branding from San Francisco’s FIDM. For nearly three years I had the pleasure of working in-house, as Art Director at an award winning advertising agency, The Engine is Red. I focused on brand strategy, marketing concepts, and fully custom digital experiences. I collaborated within a team to create concepts, strategies, and results. And I led a team to ensure ideas were upheld, best practices were met, and expectations were always surpassed. I now work freelance to serve my own clients as Erin Rose Creative. I offer agency-quailty creative services without the agency price or hassle.  
Here’s the fun stuff: I’m an inexplicable mix of a wildly punctual, reliable, detail-oriented, deadline driven professional AND terrible adult person who can’t make a bed or cook a meal to save her life. I’m quirky and fun, but smart, focused and I get things done. I’m obsessed with Palm Springs, anything ‘70’s, and if I could create my own version of Mt. Rushmore it would include Bowie, Warhol, Kahlo, and Frances McDormand. I've formally studied photography, painting, and design. Which leads me to be a multidisciplinary artist with a wide body of works, across a multitude of media types. I highly suggest following me on Instagram. I'm fun.

Rachel Brooks Richardson
Rachel Brooks Richardson Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Other, Painting, Photography, Visual Arts Rachel Brooks is a seasoned illustrator, painter, and muralist. She has worked in the art and design field for over 14 years. She obtained her BFA in Design at The Art Institute of San Francisco and immediately entered the fashion industry, where she started her career in apparel design and illustration. She has worked as a successful Art Director for various Bay Area companies while pursuing her passions in painting and public art. Her work has been showcased in San Francisco, throughout the Bay Area and Yekaterinburg, Russia. Rachel is currently a Resident Artist at Fulton Street Crossing in Santa Rosa, CA.
Rachel Shayne Edelstein
Rachel Shayne Edelstein Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Media, Other, Visual Arts While earning her bachelors degree in fine art from UC Santa Cruz, Rachel has had illustrations published in City on a Hill Press, Primer, and Santa Cruz Weekly. After graduating in 2011, Rachel began working as a graphic designer. She specializes in digital, watercolor, and ink mediums. Her recent work includes graphic design and web production for ecommerce. In her spare time she enjoys drawing, reading, and running.  
Mamoru Shimokochi
Mamoru Shimokochi Painting, Visual Arts Mamoru Shimokochi is an accomplished fine art painter and his paintings have been exhibited in galleries and juried shows. His work hangs in corporate and private collections. Artist statement:  Simple elements – line, form, space and bold color – this is the visual language that fascinates me. I strive to create depth and balance, simplifying elements down to the minimal. It’s as much about what you don’t see as what you do. My background: Many years as a brand identity designer, helps me focus and distill the elements that make up my vision. I choose a strong and simple visual expression that combines bold form and color to create a sense of dynamism and tension that captures the eye. Painting Shows:   Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Biennial Juried Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA National Orange Juried Show, San Bernardino, CA - Honorable Mention Mt. San Antonio Gallery, Mt. San Antonio College, CA - Purchase Award Downey Museum of Art Show, Juried Show MM Shinno Gallery, Los Angeles, Group Show Sidney Rothman Gallery, New Jersey Los Angeles Art Association, Group Show Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Juried shows, Sebastopol, CA Chroma Gallery, Santa Rosa, CA The de Young Open Exhibition, San Francisco, October 2020    
Adelle Stoll
Adelle Stoll Artisan, Design, Fashion Design, Fiber Art, Jewelry Handcrafted for the Modern Minimalist  Adelle Stoll combines her love of modern design with nimble hands to create original handbags and jewelry from her studio Store at The Barlow. Classic and bold architectural shapes are crafted from soft materials resulting in iconic pieces destined to become heirlooms. Each piece is designed and crafted with love by modern accessories designer Adelle Stoll in Sonoma County, California. Materials  All Adelle Stoll goods are made using supreme materials specifically chosen for their quality and durability. Using the finest oil tanned leathers sourced from the United States, leather is hand cut to create stylish pieces, designed for years of use. 100% German wool felt in vibrant, saturated colors and hand fabricated brass rods and hardware define Adelle Stoll’s original designs. Meet Adelle Stoll Ever since Adelle can remember she’s had an active mind filled with creative ideas. Bored by high school academics, she found her niche in theater arts courses and at 16 performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Discovering that traditional academics weren’t for her, Adelle charted her own course with entrepreneurial thinking built around creativity. A child of the 70s who watched American manufacturing disappear, Adelle wanted to give people a place to shop for quality products that weren’t made in China. The answer? She opened The Silo, a Sonoma County shop carrying modern artisan goods, all made in America.  At the helm of The Silo, Adelle saw an opportunity to fill a void. Many trendy handbags were overly adorned and cheaply made. With poor quality materials made by machines only, these mass produced bags didn’t jive with Adelle or her clientele. By virtue of meeting her customers at the shop, Adelle received immediate feedback and refined the designs that are now her trademark style. After a successful stint, Adelle closed The Silo to focus on expanding her product lines. If Adelle hadn’t discovered her inner theater geek years ago, she might have dropped out of high school. Reaching troubled teens is a cause close to her heart that has morphed into a business strategy. Adelle dreams of hiring foster children who’ve aged out of the system. She wants to give them an opportunity to learn a trade and access their creativity. Teens could be taught pattern making, design thinking, or marketing, while learning about personal integrity through responsibility. Her ultimate goal? For each teenager to look beyond personal circumstances and believe in their potential. So many ideas, it’s surprising she sleeps. Adelle creates new original designs and wearable art every season. Producing small batches of handcrafted bags and jewelry are just the beginning. Currently in the design pipeline are modern women’s shoes, men’s accessories, and minimalist home decor items; all designed and handcrafted by Adelle Stoll in Sonoma County, California.
Colin Talcroft
Colin Talcroft Mixed, Photography, Printmaking, Visual Arts About the Artist I am self-taught and active in a range of media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and photography. I got interested in photography at the age of eight and began drawing at an earlier age. Figure drawing has been a life-long interest, and the nude has figured prominently in my photographic work as well. In the realm of abstract art, I have worked extensively as a printmaker and more recently in collage. My printmaking has included traditional methods such as etching and woodblock printing, but many of my prints use methods of my own—for example, printing from corrugated board and from found objects such as twine, bubble plastic, and paper cutouts. My collage work is abstract and painterly, using monotypes I make myself and, less commonly, found paper artifacts. Since around 2014, collage has been my main artistic pursuit.
Keyaira Terry
Keyaira Terry Artisan, Design, Fiber Art, Functional Art, Interior Design, Mixed, Other, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts Keyaira Terry is an artist with a bold spirit and an old soul. Born and raised in Ukiah, a small farm town in Northern California, Keyaira had a childhood that was deeply connected to the soil and earth, learning to use everything around her as a tool or resource. Keyaira spent her formative years with her grandmother sewing, tending to the land they lived on, and caring for an array of farm animals. Trading goods and commodities among their close-knit farm community was commonplace and shaped Keyaira’s perspective on sustainability and the true meaning of “locally sourced”. Keyaira recalls utilizing all the resources available to her and minimizing waste as being a paramount part of her existence, “if we didn’t have it we made it, if something broke we fixed it”. These collective experiences helped cultivate Keyaira as an artist and inspire her present-day work and ethos — A homespun nostalgia with a modern sensibility, rooted by a love for natural, sustainable and ethically sourced materials. Keyaira currently resides in Santa Rosa, California with her husband, Weston, and their two English bulldogs, Lola and Olive. She splits her time between running her own business as a designer and maker, weaving instructor, and creating commissioned pieces. She has collaborated with companies such as Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, Studio 11 Designs, Bustle Events and has been featured by Sonoma Magazine, Apartment Therapy and Etsy.
Jill Valavanis
Jill Valavanis Artisan, Fiber Art, Jewelry, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts I am a teaching artist. With an MFA in Integrated Three-Dimensional Media, I use a variety of materials to create sculptural and functional objects. Fiber is my favorite medium. Currently, I am using my sewing machine to create freehand abstract embroidered pieces. For over 20 years I have enjoyed teaching art to both children and adults, from toddlers to seniors, in schools, colleges, community centers, museums, art centers, gardens, and private homes. I believe that anyone has the capacity to be creative, and that making art is good for one's mental and physical health.
Niki Wildflower
Niki Wildflower Artisan, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Design, Fashion Design, Fiber Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Mixed, Other, Painting, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts Niki Wildflower is a nomadic Artist who currently resides in Petaluma California. She has been influenced by muralists, agitprop art, graffiti and 90’s riot grrrl bands with a focus on women’s rights. Motivated by body-positive activism and our culture’s idea of beauty standards, she chooses to depict female figures as monumental and sacred because of society's poor representation of women. She hopes to capture the strength of softness and the beauty of large women who are unapologetically themselves. As a graduate of Central Connecticut State University her background has been a mixture of easel paintings, life drawings, and murals that specifically concentrate on figurative work. Her figures show closed female forms juxtaposed open and confident power stances, representative of the inner battle women face each day as well as the destruction of female egos. Confident figures challenge today’s beauty norms by portraying large dominant women gazing back at the viewer - a concept of looking and being looked at. Her murals and paintings are the culmination of her art education and experience and are the framework of Niki Wildflower’s dexterity. Her subjects include 2nd and 3rd wave feminist icons, models from multiple social media platforms, and people from everyday life. The struggle to incorporate text and street art aesthetics is unified by her experimentation with spray paint and stickered lettering. Working on a large scale provides a mural-like ambiance that exempli