Shannon Abbey Children's, Illustration, Literature, Painting, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts ‘The future of most bird species depends on our commitment to preserving them. Are they valuable enough for us to make the effort?’ - Jonathan Franzen Simplicity, the beauty of the every day.

I am an environmental woman artist inspired by the landscape and wildlife of Sonoma and Marin counties, especially the wetlands along the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay. My work is about this place, the natural world of the North Bay, combining representation with abstraction.

I work in acrylic on wood panels in the studio, or on location around Sonoma and Marin Counties and recently traveling to Glacier National Park in Montana where I was the 2022 artist in residence.

I was born and raised in a small college town in the Pacific Northwest.

My family spent summer vacations camping, fishing, boating and swimming on the lakes and rivers of Washington and Idaho. The love of the outdoors instilled in me by my father, an avid outdoorsman, led to my passion for nature and animal life as my painting’s subject matter. I have an optimistic view of the regenerative power of nature when aware humans intercede.

Valerie Adams Artisan, Design, Functional Art, Glass, Graphic Design, Holidays Shop Local, Other, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts

I’m a northern California girl whose been creating all my life. With a 30-year background as a graphic designer my creative vision has centered on laying out printed pieces that provoke thought, convey information, and create a reaction.

With an emphasis on kilnformed glass since 2001, I use many of the same design principles of balance, focus, and harmony. I design and create one-of-a-kind fused glass artwork and lighting, functional and decorative tableware, smile-inducing garden art, and dazzling accessories.

Juicy colors, off-beat arrangements, and clean, aesthetic layouts define my approach. I’m continually thrilled by the magical aspect of transforming individual sharp bits of colored glass into luscious collectibles that reflect your good taste. Each piece is handmade, one at a time, in my Sonoma County studio.

I’ve been honored to participate in Professional Artists in Residency programs at the prestigious Pilchuck School of Glass in Washington state and the Bullseye Glass Company’s Dealer’s Forum, which prepares artists to teach in the field of glass art. I’m an enthusiastic and generous instructor providing classes to small groups, and one-on-one mentoring for those interested in personalized instruction.

Jonqui Albin Illustration, Painting, Performance Art, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts Action Expression is the trademark of Jonqui Albin's art. Core bodies of work are large scale installations, wire sculptures and paintings. They are inspired by conceptual drawings derive from live, offsite study sketches in 2D and 3D. Resulting works often incorporate original techniques and unusual materials. Evolved thru art scenes of Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Francisco, Jonqui is currently based in her Sonoma Studio, 45 minute north of San Francisco, California. Jonqui@jonqui.com

Deb Breton Painting, Visual Arts Deb Breton is an abstract expressionist artist working in Sonoma County, California. She creates vibrant paintings using acrylics, oils, and collage. Her abstract artworks evoke the viewer's imagination, while her portrait work celebrates the human spirit. Painting intuitively, she allows the artwork to flow from her subconscious mind onto the canvas. "Every gestural mark, brushstroke, and drop of paint is an expression of emotion. And it's this energy in these paintings that I share with you." I'm an avid fruit and vegetable gardener, animal lover, birder, cancer survivor and meditation enthusiast. Notable clients include Warner Bros Studios, Dali Museum and Nestle

Patti Buttitta Artisan, Design, Functional Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Mixed, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Arts Patti Buttitta, artist and graphic designer— Patti draws on her background and experience as an artist, illustrator, writer and printmaker. She enjoys the challenge of complicated projects, but relishes the simple and immediate. She is known for innovative graphic design ideas, including logos, brand packaging, catalogs, books, publications, newsletters, direct-mail marketing campaigns and websites. She has achieved stunning results within limited budgets. Clearly communicating and concisely articulating concepts, she works with clients, colleagues, vendors, suppliers and other professionals to bring creative concepts to life. Her illustrations have complemented her many design solutions for wine labels, food packaging, marketing materials and brochures. Patti has turned her attention to website design, applying the same sense for clear communication and satisfying visual organization.

Mari Capon Acting, Artisan, Arts Administration, Ballet, Ballroom, Children's, Choreography, Dance, Directing, Fiber Art, Fiction, Folk Art, Hip-Hop & Funk, Illustration, Improvisation, Improvisation, Latin, Literature, Media, Modern, Muralist, Music, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Poetry, Printmaking, Puppetry, Sculpture, Storytelling, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Vocal Mari has been professionally involved in the arts world for over twenty years. As a child, she was a creative dancer at Virginia Tanner's Children Dance Theater, and she oil painted and sang in choirs. As a teen she acted, and was a make-up artist, poet, essayist, and ballroom dancer, and in young adulthood, she was a tango dancer and professional performing artist as an Art Model for artists working for Disney, EA, and countless Universities, Ateliers, Institutes, and Studios, and especially enjoyed set, costume, and lighting designs for painters and illustrators. Upon realizing that she most enjoyed coaching artists through their process, she began teaching, first creating art curriculum for a K-12 after-school program while becoming bilingual in Peru, before returning to the U.S. to become a certified cognitive movement, creative dance, and preschool music instructor. She began providing, teaching, and consulting for bilingual preschools and Summer Camps, tutoring, and coaching gymnastics, and continued to teach the arts and sports. She also taught inclusive sex education and spiritual development for children at interfaith, non-denominational churches, and facilitated somatic processing, while attending weekly classes in various forms. As an undergrad, Mari authored an Interdisciplinary Arts Curriculum Program for Pre-K through 12th Grade and became credentialed. She will research, publish, and offer her program while continuing to teach Interdisciplinary Arts.

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.

Marsha Connell Other, Painting, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts MARSHA CONNELL was nurtured in her love for art, nature, and learning by her grandfather, Samuel Riss, watercolor painter and Renaissance farmer in Upstate New York. She expresses this legacy in her passion for the environment, and through painting en plein air. Marsha Connell’s paintings are a dance in color. She combines observation—mirroring the natural world—with improvisation—giving voice to the spirit of place. Watching, listening, hiking, dancing, trusting intuition and gesture, infuses her painterly representation with an energetic and abstract sensibility. She is a graduate of Skidmore College with a B. S. in Fine Arts and San Francisco State University with a Masters in Sculpture. Marsha has been on the art faculty of Santa Rosa Junior College for many years and is a visiting artist at Sonoma State University. She has received grants from the Pepperwood Foundation and the California Arts Council and has been a Fellow of the California Arts Project. Marsha is Chair of the Steering Committee for Sonoma County Art Trails Open Studios, a program of Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her Santa Rosa studio, #24 on the 2017 Art Trails map, will be open to the public from 10-5 on October 14, 15, 21, and 22, and by appointment the rest of the year. A Collector's Guide to 141 artists' studios is available online at http://www.sonomacountyarttrails.org or by calling 707-829-4797. She also chairs the year round Art Trails Gallery at Corricks, 637 4th Street, in Downtown Santa Rosa, where she regularly exhibits her paintings. Marsha has presented art workshops and lectures in diverse locales, from California to Alaska, New Mexico, Oregon, New York, Mexico and France. She has participated in numerous exhibitions regionally and internationally, and her work is in many private, healthcare, and public collections. She loves to collaborate with scientists, teaching drawing to master naturalist students, and with other artists and teachers, expanding the parameters of the arts and the joys of creative process for students of every age and in many disciplines.

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

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

Joy Dellas Artisan, Folk Art, Illustration, Jewelry, Mixed, Other, Other, Painting, Visual Arts

Joy Dellas

paints her iconic animals and angels wherever her brush lands - whether it is recycled boards or tin flashing, fine art materials, or house paint - the sorts of things that end up in the colorful studio/garden of her well-lived-in Santa Rosa home.

My work is characterized by expressionist figurative imagery and brushwork, as well as a high key palette, bold composition and strong contrast. The mixed media paintings and drawings are made on a range of surfaces including recycled printing plates, door skin, aluminum flashing, building paper, mat board, canvas and paper. I work large or small scale, with fine artist's materials or recycled materials and house paint, and with classical or contemporary themes. I use real life, dreams, mythology, folklore and religious traditions. Pattern, symbolism and metaphor express the humor and pathos of the human condition Subjects include commonplace angels, rural blight, dogs and cats (frequently as symbols for male and female), and food. My art is about the connection between the sacred and the mundane. The basic necessities of life - food, clothing and shelter are always connected, on a deeper level to the primal and the sacred. My mother taught me from an early age to see the mystical and spiritual qualities in nature.

Patricia Dines Fiction, Illustration, Literature, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Painting, Photography, Visual Arts Patricia Dines has been a professional writer, graphic artist, and fine artist since 1992, and since then created on a wide variety of books, newsletters, articles, and more. Her currently featured work is a sacred healing storybook (for people of all ages), called The Goddess Who Forgot That She Was a Goddess. (I mean, who can forget such a thing? But she did!) This Goddess lived up high on a beautiful hill, but didn't see any of it, because of the sadness in her heart. Until one day she received an unexpected invitation to go into the forest.... You're invited to join the Goddess on her healing adventure, and savor the enchanting story, inspired artwork, and weaving of playful and meaningful moments. This timeless and universal tale is presented in a beautiful full-color hardcover book, illustrated with Patricia's original art. Patricia also offers art greeting cards and prints. All of her goodies are available directly and at local stores. To get more information, and find out how to get your own copies, see www.healthyworld.org/GB.

Judith Eisen Painting, Visual Arts Born in 1942, Judith was discovered at age 6 to be a prodigy in the area of painting, and given the opportunity to learn to paint in oils. Painting, exhibiting and selling artwork has been a constant throughout her life. Judith moved to Sonoma County in 1973, and still loves painting the beautiful landscape we have here. She is also committed to working in the community and has spent the last 11 years serving on the County's Area Agency on Aging Council. Her methodology includes working on site in watercolor, then using those images as references in her studio to create large oils. "I like to use watercolor to lay out the geometry of a landscape, keeping the image as accurate as possible. Then when I am working in oils, I can 'play' more, as i have the parameters, the structure, already down." She has an enduring love of painting limestone formations and has followed the trail of limestone, through many countries in Southeast Asia. She taught at the International School in Singapore in 1991 and 1992. After retiring in 1993, Judith spent almost seven years living on an island off the coast of Thailand, painting and selling artwork. Judith is an acknowledged world expert in the area of holography (3-D laser photography), creating the first moving hologram of scanning electron microscope information for the Smithsonian in 1980; for this, she was made a fellow of the Royal Microscopal Society (London) in 1987. She currently shelters-in-place painting in her garden.

Kerstin Fletcher Children's, Illustration, Instrumental, Literature, Mixed, Music, Other, Painting, Photography, Recovery Fund Grantee, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts I LOVE drawing and painting with all mediums. From pencil to watercolor, acrylic, or oil, I thrive on capturing light and life. Always looking for new challenges and beauty to capture, I can be found outside at sunrise painting in “plein air” or combining illustrations for a new story for my children. My faith fuels me to seek to paint light and life. I want to truly see, and communicate what I see to others. Raised in a bilingual household with strong ties to Europe, I am mostly self-taught. My life has brought me to delight in traveling, be an avid reader, mother of four, pastor's wife, violist, gardener, and extremely motivated to squeeze every moment out of every day.

Lauren Forcella Painting, Visual Arts

Shop my website for museum-quality fine art originals and giclee prints by Lauren Forcella. Oil paintings in contemporary impressionism. Thank you for signing up for my newsletter and being the first to see new work and hear about seasonal sales and giveaways. I love adding beauty to your world! email: lauren@laurenforcella.com website: https://laurenforcella.com/ (707) 622-6821

ARTIST'S STATEMENT I strive to translate onto canvas the essence and wildness of this beautiful planet. I am a contemporary impressionistic oil painter using generous paint and vivid brushwork in a style called “first coup” (from the French, “au premier coup”). This is a one-layer painting technique where the painting (or each section of a large painting) is completed in one sitting while the paint is still wet – in other words, after the first pass. For me, this is the best way to impart the aliveness and emotional intensity of Nature. BIOGRAPHY I have been painting for 25 years. In a life-changing event, with no warning whatsoever, painting dropped into my life while I was in the flow of raising four fantastic kids. Though my technique has improved with use, this gift arrived as an already-developed skill that continues to astonish. I grew up extremely close to Nature and have been a tree hugger since my earliest memories, climbing them barefooted at every opportunity. Trees are incredibly special to me and I give them credit for keeping me healthy and connected. To give back, I first became a hydrogeologist. I was going to save the planet. This proved rotten with politics, so I retooled in the human potential movement, eventually writing a critically-acclaimed syndicated advice column, Straight Talk Advice, with contributions from youth panelists around the nation [2004-2016] [including the Santa Rosa Press Democrat]. It was important work, but I wasn’t happy. In 2017, I thought why not take this gift of painting – which I love most of all -- and contribute by sharing the beauty of Earth? Best decision EVER. Painting every day is like being in love and my paintings are essentially love letters to this amazing planet. The vivid contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings of my current period are a return to my painting roots which were dominated by this style. The generous paint, vivid brushstrokes and loose compositional style reflects the heart opening I feel out-of-doors. While hiking and backpacking, I drink in the scenery, take multiple reference photos, and often walk barefooted and sleep on the earth to further soak in the energy. Returning to the studio, I strive to translate onto canvas the peace, aliveness, and utter beauty I experienced. My paintings are in private collections throughout the United States and abroad. From my website, you can purchase originals as well as artist-quality giclee prints on canvas that arrive ready to hang. Please contact me for sales, commissions, and showings. —Lauren Forcella email: lauren@laurenforcella.com website: https://laurenforcella.com/ (707) 622-6821

EXHIBITIONS Solo shows throughout 2022! See website at https://laurenforcella.com/ for dates and locations. Sonoma County: Fulton Crossroads Gallery, premier featured artist: Nov 1, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023 PRESS Vogue, GQ, World of Interiors, House of Coco, Conde Nast Traveler, London Life, English Garden, and many more. See website at https://laurenforcella.com/ for media list and interviews. A few past shows: 2022: March: 2nd place, juried exhibition, Carter House Gallery, Redding, CA 2020: April-June JCO's Art Haus, Los Gatos, CA 2020: July: Mosiac, solo art show, Sundial Bridge, Redding, CA 2019: Solo art show, Elle Lui, Santa Rosa CA, April 4 - March 4, 2019 2017: Solo art show, Elle Lui, Santa Rosa CA, Dec-March 18, 2017 2012: Solo art show, Gold River, CA 2011: Solo art show, Bukovina, Auburn, CA 2004: Selected Artist, Art in Print Calendar 2004: Featured Artist, Auburn Printers & No Cal Artists, Auburn, CA 2009: Solo art show, Bella Fiore, Fair Oaks, CA 2008: Solo art show, Sacramento Art Complex, Sacramento, CA 2007: Group art show, Art de Soul opening, Irvine, CA 2004: Group art show, Auburn Center for the Arts, Auburn, CA 2001: Solo art show, Latitudes, Auburn, CA 2000: Solo art show, Renaissance Room, Peterborough, NH 1999: Solo art show, Expressions Gallery, Milford, NH

Anna Friesen Mixed, Painting, Photography, Visual Arts I imagine observe photograph collect then follow intuitive leads to usual and unique materials to express my feeling responses to the natural world

Bill Gittins Painting, Recovery Fund Grantee, Visual Arts Widely recognized for his vibrant “Colorist” oil paintings, Bill Gittins has logged many hours capturing the beauty of his surroundings in colorful, textural excellence. Painting both en plein air and in studio, his paintings are a visual delight; filled with robust, clean hues and distinctive dynamic brush and palette knife work. With a Colorist style that blends traditional with impressionism, and an impasto-like application, his superior handling of the medium results in paintings that convey complexity and movement. As the viewer, you will experience each new discovery for yourself, and be immersed in the moments that captured Bill’s attention. Taking his cues primarily from the elements of Land, Water and Sky, Bill challenges himself to transform his subjects from vistas remote and unaccustomed, to enticing scenes, immanent and familiar. Offering an invitation to enjoy and to feel at-home, each painting beckons you to linger and find welcomed repose. As a metaphor, pathways, and waterways, often leading you into Bill’s work are an artistic element of his process, rich in symbolism and intrigue. Embarking on each piece, he sees his palette as the trailhead for the adventure that awaits the viewer. As he departs and places those first applications of paint, the journey to another wonderful destination begins.

Christine Hourscht Children's, Illustration, Mixed, Painting, Visual Arts

Living in a small town in California, Christine Renee Hourscht is surrounded by nature’s beauty.

She likes to hike among the trees, admiring flowers, birds, and other animals. She is also enchanted by the ocean, lakes, insects, sky, and fresh air. It fills her with colorful inspiration.

As an artist, Christine is passionate about the beauty of life and lives in gratitude. Her artwork portrays this with whimsical movements, shapes and colors. Her philosophy is to “Live to love” and “Every breath we take is precious.” Her artwork is a way to share moments in time.