Ann is a self-taught artist working in watercolor on a variety of surfaces. A master’s graduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, Ann enjoyed a 17-year career in R&D at Apple Computer. Happiest outdoors, she expresses her love for nature through her art and aims to promote environmental awareness in a unique and compelling way.
Ann also continues to be a valuable volunteer for the Art Association Napa Valley. She was the website chairperson managing the build of Art Association Napa Valley current website, and manages the domain registrar, the Art Gallery home page and compiles and distributes the monthly sales reports for the artists in the Gallery. Ann also writes an extremely helpful monthly article for the Association’s monthly newsletter, The Palette.
Ann has been an exhibiting artist in the Gallery for over twelve years, and you can see her artwork there and on her website and social media at the following links.
The redwoods have a spiritual effect on me and create a sense of awe, like being in a cathedral. They are specific to California and an icon of this state.
Jenny adds
The highway is such an important piece of the landscape in the USA, so I often paint pictures of landscapes as seen from a car.
This is, Have a drink, 8×10 pastel on sanded paper, I did this just as the war started because of the stress, maybe it will ease the pain. It is in the gallery now.
Sunbeamed, photography, Canon 5D Mar III with 100-400 mm lens
I was on a photo safari in South Africa, when we spotted the remains of an impala up in a tree. Leopards are the only big cats that are capable of carrying that much weight into a tree. They do it to prevent losing their prey to scavengers. The leopard was gone, but we knew it would be back to finish it, so we returned the next morning before dawn. The Leopard was already in the tree eating. After a while, it came down and we trailed it for a while, before it entered an area filled with thorn trees and bushes, with thorns as long as 7 inches, before settling down at a spot where it seemed comfortable. The driver proceeded towards it, driving over trees and bushes. At times we had to dive down below the seat to avoid sweeping, barbed branches. Once we were as close as practical, we stopped, and it was time to take pictures. The sun was just coming over a rise, striking an area of the thicket yards away from the Leopard, but I guessed its movement would cause it to pass over the Leopard, if we waited where we were. I convinced the other passengers it was worth the try. They agreed to wait, and 30 minutes later the sunbeams began to hit the Leopard directly on the face and arm while the rest remained in shadow. I got the shot I had hoped for.
Recent works by Susan Antonini include Lawsons Landing (triptych)
and second piece hanging in gallery is Calm Seas, an acrylic and a (diptych) Susan has been working in Acrylic most recently She feels that ocean scenes are calming to paint Susan believes a piece of art can bring you to another place
Art Gallery Napa Valley features work by Mosaic Artist Monica Curie-Johnson
‘Shattering Waves of Prejudice‘ is a recent work by her. What materials/tools did you use to create it?_ Monica: stained glass, mirror and silver Jewelry. Why did you create this piece? Monica: This work is a response to random hate crimes against Asian Americans to show the wave of hatred has shattering effects on the individual. The mirror represents that it reflects onto all of us.
Janis Adams is busy with new art for the holidays. Janis writes:
I’ve attached pics of some new fused glass plates and bowls recently add to my booth at the Gallery. I’m doing new work for the upcoming Holidays and our push to encourage folks to GIVE ART and BUY LOCAL, especially since the “supply chain” appears to have major breaks in it. I’m also making new works to show at the AANV Holiday Pop Up on Saturday, December 4 at 3 locations:
Jeanette recently had this mixed media piece in the show about remembrance Skulls and Roses at Artworks Downtown. Our Lady of Borders and was inspired by reliquary and shrines and what we hold in our hearts. Below is her ArtistStatement for the show.
Front of Reliquary:
“Oppression breeds revolt; and as a breed of men and women grow wiser and ponder through the ages, the time may come when even hopeless revolts will succeed beyond hoping.”
Great Women of Antiquity, (Boadicea), by Clement Wood
The pandemic was a time of deep reflection, evaluation and questioning. It brought to mind our connection/disconnection; our boundaries and what were we willing to include in our ever-shrinking sense of community; and our relationship to our society and our global responsibilities. Though I don’t consider myself a political artist, I found myself questioning the choices that were made on my behalf and questioned if those choices reflect my values and did the choices I make truly support the greater good for humanity? What are boundaries; personal boundaries and are the boundaries we create for our protection, or from our fears?
I view my role as an artist from a tribal perspective, where the artist, healer and shaman are one. So, my position is to present questions that evoke perspective evaluation. Does the belief support the values; values support the action; and/or the action support the greater good for humanity?
As a Mixed Media Artist (AKA alchemist), the choice of materials influences the direction of the creative dialogue. I approach each piece by auditioning materials and as the piece evolves, a secondary message emerges as the metaphysics of the materials create a sub-text message. Using found objects brings a deeper inquiry to what an object represents and how it is placed within the piece. Working with interiors and exteriors allows me to evoke additional inquiries. The juxtaposition and tension amplifies each component and each object can add a deeper meaning to interpretation.
Our Lady of Borders: A Reliquary of Boundaries
Mixed Media (with interpretations)-hearts (what’s written on the heart- open heart and sacred heart), keys (unlock), watch parts (time-time running out), mica (recognize flaws while remaining in a loving space), rust (a measure of time), emergency blanket (molded by heat to form interior heart), holy water font (preparing to enter the sacred space) and found objects (just because they are).
Jeanette Monterio Skulls and Roses, Artworks Downtown JeanetteMonterio.com MFA, BA from San Francisco Art Institute
Jeanette is a Bay Area resident and currently shows her work at Art Association Napa Valley. In her studio in Novato, California, she can be found auditioning her collection of relics as she creates the next alchemical question. Her work has been acknowledged and awarded “Best in Show” and “Jurors Award” and “Honorable Mention” and Napa Register has written articles about her box art. (see JeanetteMonterio.com for details).
Artist Quote: “I have no answers, only questions and if I can pique your curiosity, my job is complete.”
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein
