MARLENE BARNES DOTUR • JAMESTOWN

A group of six fishermen from New York City will never forget the time they arrived at base camp with all their gear to be spot-packed into a high mountain lake in Yosemite, when a seventeen-year old miss rode up leading a string of saddle and pack animals. Introducing herself as their guide and packer, the guys were deeply shocked and hesitant about their forthcoming trip. As they curiously watched, she began to load a stubborn, bronky mule, who resented being loaded. She tied up a hind foot, pulled a canvas blindfold over its eyes and proceeded to throw a neat diamond hitch over each load to secure it. One of the men apologized, “I would like to help you, Miss, but I don’t know a thing about it!”

About noon, they arrived at the remote lake in fine shape and unloaded. After coupling up her stock, she swung into the saddle, bid the party a farewell and good fishing. A startled gentleman standing nearby scratched his bald head and remarked, “I guess these mountain girls are an entirely different breed than our metropolitan ones!”

This man’s perception of this young lady was the consequence of years of her being nurtured in the Sierras and learning early, the rigors of outdoor living and the “cowgirl way.” However, perfectly balancing loads on pack animals and leading strings of stock on high mountain trails, where one misstep by a horse or mule could wreck havoc on the entire outfit, wasn’t this gal’s idea of a relaxing summer vacation from school studies.

Marlene was born and raised in the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” Oakdale, California, and spent her summers at a stable near Yosemite Valley. As a child, she was lucky enough to experience the full richness of growing up on a working horse and cow ranch and a seasonal pack station. Rewards and struggles accompanied this authentic western lifestyle. From a bear licking milk off her brother’s face, to the tales of her sister’s birth during a vicious mountain storm; the only way her mother could reach the hospital was by sled and dog team, Marlene has come to realize the true meaning of character. She has been kicked, thrown, bit and stomped on by the very horses that would, more than once, save her life.

At a young age, Marlene became a wrangler and packer and perfected that “cowgirl way”. Averaging fifteen-hundred miles a summer on horseback and enduring long hours of solitude, she learned to draw upon and understand her inner strengths. This guaranteed her the ability to acquire a discerning eye for capturing intricate detail and mood of the world around her. She would then arduously transform a myriad of dots into unique images of her life. “For hours, I would study and sketch the horses as they grazed in the lush mountain meadows and drank from the clear, babbling brooks; my sketchbook was my constant companion,” Marlene added.

Her family’s heritage is as colorful as her upbringing. In his early years, her father, the late Joe Barnes, a cowboy historian, rode many cattle drives from Arizona to Texas. He helped create the Turtle Association (known today as the PRCA: Professional Rodeo Cowboys of America), roped coyotes and bears for entertainment and sat astride a big paint horse and recited “The Cowboy’s Prayer” to many Presidents, dignitaries, and celebrities. Her mother, on the other hand, was a San Francisco socialite who eventually was won over to the labors of ranch life. She gave up her long nails, coiffure hair and learned the art of pulling calves, bottle feeding motherless foals, loading ornery pack-mules and hitching up work teams. Growing up with such dynamic opposites added to the fullness of Marlene’s experience. She has raised prize winning Herefords, barrel raced, shown western pleasure at the Cow Palace, and became a rodeo queen. Currently, she is pursuing a career in the cutting horse world, as well as returning to the art world.

Her first introduction as a professional artist was impressive. “I felt like I was caught up in a whirlwind,” she lamented. Lynn Toneri invited Marlene to be a featured artist at her gallery in Sun Valley, Idaho. “It was a daunting experience, especially when you are a novice and pulled into a world so foreign. Artists have such a different perspective on life, and because of their complex psyches, life gets reinterpreted through their compositions as-well-as their personalities. So being amid great ones, I felt as if life was spiraling out on another plane.”

From there, she was invited to many shows in the San Francisco Bay Area, including two exclusive Neiman Marcus Incircle shows, a one artist Allied Guild Show in Menlo Park, and many other public, as-well-as, private shows in the Sun Valley area. She won “Best of Show” at the Draft Horse Classic in Grass Valley, California and had been one of sixty nationally known artists to be invited to show at the American Academy of Equine Art in Lexington, Kentucky; where she won the “Best Black and White” award. She was also chosen to create the poster for the 1999 Wagon Days Celebration in Ketchum, Idaho; the largest non-motorized vehicle parade in the West.

Her work, which depicts the equine and bovine’s quiet moods, has a broad range of acceptance and can be found throughout the United States. Dotur said, “Whether a person is off a farm or an executive from New York City, everyone loves horses and cattle, and many can only experience them through the arts.”

Marlene gives much credit for her success to her family and friends who believed in her from the beginning. “I was born on the same day as Charles Russell and also grew up in an old rustic mountain cabin, except mine was wall-papered with old calendar images of his work! I would study and sketch them and dream of the day, I would be an artist as well.”

Today, her art represents that passionate relationship that she has for the horses and cattle that she loves so deeply, and thus, captures the very essence of their being:

    

     “I feel my rearing has influenced my choice of medium: allowing me the bold contrast that represents the spirit of my subject matter. From the first, I have worked with pen and ink, composing each detail entirely of dots. This technique is called stippling and is a painstakingly slow process. Using a 6X0 or 0.13mm (size of a needle) pen tip and a sensitive eye; it sometimes takes months to capture this highly realized world. But, because nature is composed of minute detail, there is a kind of justice in this, for the subjects of my work deserve clarity and refinement in their presentation. Some images are then given a breath of life by adding a touch of color,” Dotur concludes.

Marlene is currently teaching Drawing Camp for Adulits and Kids at Atelier Copper.

TINA MOORE • STOCKTON

 

Tina began painting as a pre-teen, progressing through various mediums until she found pastel which became her passion. To this day pastels continue to be her first and best love although the world of oils beckons to her powerfully. Her genres range from animals to portraiture, landscape and floral. She effectively employs a number of different mediums and is responsible for all phases of her creations from concept to final presentation.

 

Tina received an AA degree from Stephens College and BA degree in Art and Psychology from UOP.  A Masters in Special Education soon followed. Tina retired from teaching five years ago, having taught at all levels below university. Her last ten years in the profession were spent as a teacher of blind and visually impaired students. Her impressive career included being named a Mentor Teacher and a national presenter for Family Reading. She now devotes full time to art.

 

Art lovers are continually impressed by Tina’s singular ability to capture a subject. As a realistic artist she has always sought to express and communicate the warmth and vibrancy of life. Animals and people, particularly faces, have always fascinated her and are the subjects of her best works. Her recent works exhibit a more daring exuberant use of color to enhance the viewer’s visual experience. With ample time to paint she is moving more fully throughout the spectrum.

 

Tina has works in many private collections throughout the United States and Canada and has done commissions for a variety of organizations. She is an award winner in local, regional, national and international shows, including several Best of Show Awards. She was accepted into the Pastel Society of America’s annual show in New York City and received three awards in The Pastel Journal’s annual competition, and those paintings were featured in their April 2005 edition. Tina was chosen again for the Pastel Journal’s competition of 2008, and has been an award winner in the Women Artists of the West Exhibits since 2009.  

 

A Stockton resident, Tina is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America. She is a Distinguished Pastellist and Signature Member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and the Sierra Pastel Society, Corporate Secretary and Signature Member of Women Artists of the West as well as a member of the Portrait Society of America. Tina is presently serving as exhibits chair and president on the board of the Pastel Society of the West Coast. She also teaches pastel workshops and enjoys being an exhibit juror.

    Raised in a military family, I spent most of my youth traveling through Europe  and across the U.S..  As a young teen and military dependent I hated the continuous moving from place to place, never being able to  settle into an environment conducive to friendships.  As hard as it was then, I wouldn't trade it for any other now. It afforded me the opportunity to experience different cultures in many countries, something most youngsters my age would never have.  My interest in the arts motivated me to visit museums and historic sites and  learn all I could about the world's most famous artists.
    
My earliest artistic influence came from my uncle when I discovered some of his pencil sketches. I was determined to work hard and someday acquire his level of skill with a pencil. Other known influences for me were Vermeer, DaVinci, Ingre, Peter Paul Rubens and, later, Salvador Dali and his surrealism.

Music played a major role in my family.  I started teaching myself guitar at age ten. Though my parents divorced at an early age,, it was a guitarist in my mother 's band who encouraged me to play the guitar.
    
In the late  60's, I managed an art store on Geary St. in San Francisco for Castle and Cooke, becoming the youngest manager in their system. The selling of supplies made me the hub of the artistic circle,  enabling me to exchange ideas with talented artists.

I took to practicing free-hand brush lettering and started my own sign business. Combining my skills as an artist with my ideas in design, I made signs my business for over thirty years.  By the eighties, I was working with one of the top ten developers in the country, delivering jobs into ten states.

I became acquainted with a TV celebrity in '84 who offered me a job in the art department of his television production company,  contracted with CBS. My sign business  had enough capable people to  run itself by then,  allowing me to take advantage of the opportunity.

In '95,  I wrote a novel, The Saga, and created a website in order to  monitor the results. Some of my original artworks on display at the Galerie Copper are illustrations from The Saga such as “Ribbons of Steel”, “A Lofty Perch”, “From the Bottom of Her Heart”, and  “Stillwater”.

Besides music and writing, graphic arts has always been a major interest in my life. Today, in semi-retirement, I am reminded of the words of the  American  icon Norman Rockwell who said, “So many pictures left to paint, so little time left to paint them”.

GEORGE ALLEN DURKEE • MOUNTAIN RANCH

 

George Allen Durkee is the author of Expressive Oil Painting – An Open Air Approach to Creative Landscapes (North Light 2009) as well as two instructional videos. An academic underachiever and a troublemaker, George ran away from home at the age of 14 and lived in a neighborhood park. As a young man, he became interested in oil painting while working in an apple orchard near Yakima, Washington.

 

Living far from any art school, George enrolled in a correspondence course and worked nights as a janitor while studying fine art with an emphasis in oil painting. After completing the four year course, he quit the night job to paint full time. As an emerging artist with little access to the world of upscale galleries, George loved painting outdoors in public as a way to market his work. In 1976 Durkee relocated to Eureka, California, but found himself traveling frequently to larger towns in order to paint and sell his work. He moved to Portland, Oregon four years later. Too cold and wet to paint outdoors during the winter months, he began seasonal migrations to southern California while living in his Dodge van. He eventually settled in San Francisco where he contracted with an art dealer who paid for the cost of picture frames and guaranteed his income. But George soon experienced “philosophical differences” with the dealer and struck off on his own. Painting in public for the next eighteen years, he developed an enthusiastic following for his San Francisco cityscapes.

 

In 2001, George moved to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Northern California to paint landscapes. Known as “Geo” to family and friends, Durkee is a past contributor to The Artist’s Magazine and American Artist. Along with his artist wife, Sharon Strong, he is co-owner of an art gallery in Murphys, California.  George is giving a three-day workshop this month through Town Hall Arts.  Students will be painting the Salt Spring Valley area of Copperopolis.

GEMMA GYLLING  • VALLEY SPRINGS   Growing up on a small ranch in southern California, Gemma Gylling developed her love of nature, animals and creativity.  Gemma currently lives in Valley Springs, California, with her husband and their two dogs. An avid traveler, Gemma thrives in locals that allow her the opportunity to photograph the wildlife.  Besides most of the United States, Gemma has travelled to Costa Rica, Alaska, South Africa, and Canada.  Many of the reference photos Gemma uses for her paintings are from her Wildlife Safari trip in South Africa. Gemma, a member of Artists for Conservation, pledges a portion of her sales to Animal Conservation groups including PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society) and the National Wildlife Federation. Gemma volunteers as a Docent for the Lions at the PAWS Sanctuary in San Andreas, California. ?? Working with dogs is more than an artist passion for Gemma, as she competes in obedience trials, shows her own dogs in conformation, and assists a professional dog trainer with his clients in the performance arena.  ? After years of experimenting in oils and studying under the well-known artist Edgardo Garcia, Gemma realized her artistic potential.  Painting in oils, portraying tranquil wildlife and nature, occupied her interest for years. Gemma became interested in the colored pencil medium and began participating in workshops from several well-known colored pencil artists. She developed her colored pencil technique to create a photo-realism quality. Applying several layers of color with pencil allows Gemma to simulate the look of an oil or acrylic painting. Known for attention to detail and exquisite skill with colored pencils, Gemma’s work is enjoyed by many animal art collectors. More often than not she hears the comment "I can't believe this is done with colored pencils". Gemma teaches her techniques at colored pencil workshops all over the country. Gemma's other passions include seascapes in oil and creating stained glass windows. Clients are also able to purchase Limited Edition Prints of her animal art at Galerie Copper.
?Awards & Accomplishments
	First Place - Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center -2011 Photography Exhibition First Place - Animal Category - Placerville Art Association Second Place - Animal Category - Placerville Art Association Third Place - Animal Category - Placerville Art Association People's Choice Award - Placerville Art Association Honorable Mention - 12th Annual FMP Members Exhibit Special Recognition - Light Space and Time - Animals Exhibition - March 2011 Second Place Winner CP Division - Western States Horse Expo 2010 Signature Member - Artists For Conservation Foundation Best of Wildlife - International Guild of Realism 4th Annual Exhibition - Weatherburn Gallery Signature Member - Colored Pencil Society of America Best of Figurative - International Guild of Realism - Leading Masters of Contemporary Realism Exhibit Best in Show - Carriage Factory Gallery - Man's Best Friend Show Honorable Mention - 7th Annual FMP Members Exhibit Second Place - 6th Annual FMP Members Exhibit Best of People's Choice Award - 6th Annual FMP Members Exhibit Award of Merit - California State Fair, Big Fun!
Publications
	Colored Pencil Artists and Lovers on Facebook - Featured Artist July, 2011?The Showcase - May, 2011 issue of the Colored Pencil Magazine; The Showcase - February, 2011 issue of the Colored Pencil Magazine;?artwork on the cover of the first edition of Colored Pencil Magazine;?Signature Showcase published by CPSA?Artist for Conservation Exhibition 2010 Publication?The Showcase - July, 10 Issue; FMP Magazine?artwork; Art Supply Warehouse Catalog 2010;?Jerry's Art Catalog 2010;?artwork featured in the book "Great Dogs Amazing Artists", published 2009;?Photographer's Forum Magazine's - Annual "Best of Photography" Book;?on the cover - August, 09 Issue, FMP Magazine;?artwork featured in a book - Colored Pencil Secrets for Success, by Ann Kullberg;?The Showcase - May, 09 Issue, FMP Magazine?Featured in an Article - April, 09 Issue, FMP Magazine, on the cover - August, 08 Issue, FMP Magazine;?The Showcase - August, 08 Issue, FMP Magazine?The Showcase - January, 08 Issue, FMP Magazine?The Showcase - June, 04 Issue, FMP Magazine?The Showcase - September, 04 Issue, and FMP Magazine ?The Showcase - July, 02 Issue.

 

Kitty Davids is an accomplished artist residing in Sonora.  She has commissioned pieces in private homes and collections, as well as original murals in condominium complexes, businesses, and many private homes.

Kitty has studied oil, acrylic, watercolor painting, dimensional and egg artistry for most of her adult life.  While studying with Patricia and Elizabeth Hubble, she discovered the wonders of oil painting.  Kitty has attended and learned from many master painters in workshops in the western states and has been teaching fine art painting for many years in her Sonora studio.

"I love all forms of art, however, I always come back to oil painting as it is my first love.  Art is a never-ending learning process and I am forever getting excited by new ideas, approaches, and challenges inherent in creating my pieces."

Kitty's awards include first places at the Mother Lode Art Association Show, the  Delicato Art Show, the Tuolumne County Fair, and the Twain Harte Festival Art Show.

Over 30 years ago Geneva's creative art journey

began. Studying a variety of techniques and

mediums has led to a body of work of great

diversity. Her work may be characterized as

realism to impressionism, but evolved which 

can vary depending on the subject matter and

medium. This variety of subjects has included 

figures, animals, birds, rich and lively florals

and gardens that evoke color and mood. These

might be considered to be signature work 

whether in oils, watercolors and pastels. Other

might consider the sentimental renderings of

children to romantic figures the most moving to

the imagination. In any case the journey continues

and might include almost any subject, but be

assured it will have warmth and emotion

as a constant.

 

Geneva was born in Texas but moved to

California in her teens. She now lives in Sonora 

in the Phoenix Lake Area.

 

Her paintings are in many private cololections.

You may view her paintings at Galerie Copper

in Copperopolis,  Pinecrest Gallery in Pinecrest, 

All That Matters Gallery in Twain Harte and the

Aloft Gallery in downtown Sonora.

"Intuitive Painting" describes Patricia’s large watercolor pieces. The designs come purely from her imagination as she watches the paints flow across a blank piece of paper. Several hours of thought and layers of watercolor take place until a pleasing image suddenly appears. This process is the challenge and freedom that Patricia has grown to love.

 

Huge flowers, big bursts of color or whimsical figures make for good conversation as she shows her work or places her art work in patron’s homes. Everyone enjoys her use of bold contrasts of darks and lights and thoughtful composition.

 

Patricia resides in the picturesque mountain town of Arnold, CA. The beauty of this Sierra setting attracts many artists and has become a learning center. Summer and fall found Patricia running workshops with major artists. She became president of Arts of Bear Valley for three years and also ran the summer show during that time.

Her works have been seen at the Town Hall Arts in Copperopolis, The Chartreuse Muse in Modesto, Bear Valley Summer Show, Bear Valley, CA. and Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Arnold,CA. as well as in Sunset Magazine.

 

Education:

Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Late Bloomer; Art Workshops with Mike Bailey, Jill Figler, Jane Hoffsteter,Dale Laitenin, Robert Reynolds

 

Awards:

Best of Show- Arts of Bear Valley Summer Show

Two Years Best of Show    Lodi Art on the Square

Two One Person Shows: Thomas Theatre, Lodi Art on the Square

Awards:    Santa Clara Watercolor Society ‘s All Member Show

 

Featured Artist: Isleton, Summer Wind Gallery

Ironstone Winery, Murphy’s –Daffodil 2000

Sunset Magazine-Picture shown in Magazine    

 

Societies and Associations:

Arts of Bear Valley

Santa Clara Watercolor Society