Sonoma Art Works, By Cheryl Serkis

Sonoma Art Works is created by Cheryl Serkis, her designs are hand made in her Sonoma Valley studio amidst the vineyards of northern California's wine country. Cheryl Serkis begins with her sketch pad and these sketches are transformed into precious metals.

The majority of her original designs are cast in silver and 14k gold vermeil. Each piece captures the feeling of elegance and femininity in a very understated way. The use of semiprecious gemstones and pearls enhance their subtle and natural beauty. 

Michael Nisperos, Figurative Expressionist

Michael Nisperos is an abstract and figurative expressionist. His works offer a fresh vision into the meaning of the human experience, capturing through his energetic imagery these elusive figures in motion. Michael has always been fascinated and influenced by primitive artifacts and every brush stroke captures these with passion and desire. There is a diversity with  his subjects and these images come to life in his paintings.  Michael uses a hatching technique with his palette knife that uncovers the layers of paint and reveals the life within each piece. We are the witnesses that see this process, we take part in Michael's discoveries as we look at each piece. Michael believes that through his painting awaits the answer to his creative balance of expressionism.

Cheryl Wolff, EXTRAORDINARY ceramics

Cheryl Wolff's pottery studio is in Walnut Creek California. All her pieces are hand made, each one is designed and made by Cheryl in her home studio. Cheryl's pottery is slab built, wheel thrown or cast from original molds. Most of her pieces are a combination of at least two of these processes. Once constructed , each piece is textured, altered or finished individually. The glazes are hand mixed in her studio and all pieces are high fired in an electric kiln.

Cheryl finds inspiration by creating pieces that people use and enjoy in every day life. Years ago a comment made in a workshop she attended influenced her , "Always look for the extraordinary in the ordinary." She believes that the ordinary things we surround ourselves with and the pieces we use each day should add beauty to our environment, creating happiness when we use them.  Whether she is making a bird house, a lantern or a garden sculpture, her goal is to contribute beauty, simplicity and a sense of harmony through her work.

Charity Anderson, Plein Air Oils

Nature has always spoken to Charity Anderson, born in 1991 Charity grew up against the backdrop of the Logan River and the northern most branch of the Wasatch Mountains. Being raised in Cache Valley Utah helped cultivate her love for the outdoors.

While attending college at Brigham Young University Idaho, Charity's life changed with the introduction of oil painting. She quickly became captivated with the medium and expressed that mixing the smooth oil paint was exhilarating to her. Soon after being introduced to oils, Charity took her first plein air class and was delighted in the experience of merging her two passions, nature and painting. Today she continues to regularly paint on location, observing nature and recording her expeience through oil painting studies.

Charity graduated with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts from Brigham Young University Idaho in 2015. One year later she moved to Northern California and currently enjoys trying to capture the diverse landscape in the Bay Area. Through her developing skills Charity strives to celebrate the beauty of nature by recording the fleeting, sacred moments of the outdoors. Her hope is to visually convey the connections she feels with nature.

Thalia Stratton

Thalia Stratton graduated with Honors & Distinction from the University of San Francisco/Academy of Art University 1989 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art Degree in Fashion Illustration. Subsequently, in 2010, she received a Master’s of Fine Arts in Painting from the Academy of Art University. 

Thalia has owned and operated her own art and design studio since 1989 and has taught at the college level since graduation as well. Her professional projects include illustrating for Givenchy-Paris, Neiman Marcus, Playboy Enterprises, the San Francisco Ballet and I. Magnin and Co. She has also developed product lines for the Wine Industry of Sonoma and Napa Valley. 

In the late 1990’s, Thalia entered the Fine Art market, creating pastels, illustrations and oil paintings which were sold throughout the United States. She has also been widely published in publications including Gentry Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, American Art Collector, Southwest Art and Fine Art Connoisseur.  Recent publications are Pastel Journal April 2018 issue, Fine art Connoisseur April 2018 issue and last year's September issue of Southwest Art.

Thalia has won numerous awards and published two books, The Art of Dining and The Art of Dining :Epicurean Delights. She is a current member of the California Art Club in Pasadena California and the Salmagundi Club in New York City, where she has also exhibited, and is a member of Oil Painters of America, where she has exhibited in both the National and Western Regional Juried exhibitions. 

Thalia's new works are inspired by ballerina's, come see these latest pieces.

Jordan King, Wood Fired Pottery

The Allure of Wood Firing

Relatively few working potters use wood as a fuel for making pottery.  The process is highly demanding and requires a great deal of time.  Intensive labor is needed for preparing wood, wadding pottery, as well as, maintaining and firing the kiln. 

The kilns I fire require communities of potters to operate them.  The Anagama kilns are stoked continuously for 100 hours, consuming 5-6 cords of wood each and reaching temperatures of 2400 F making the pottery dense as stone.

The process of burning wood in the kiln creates a river of fire, a downpour of ash and embers interact with pottery in unique ways.  Warping, ash glaze runs, fused embers and flashing on pottery are natural and unpredictable effects of the wood fired process.  When effects from firing and marks of the potter combine, it can make a pot of unparalleled beauty, a pot that can never be duplicated.

March Featured Artist, Susan Hoehn

Susan Hoehn, is Studio Seven Arts feature for March, she is known for her vibrant hues reflecting the beauty of the landscapes she paints. Susan paints vineyards to seaside vistas, capturing the essence of the contemporary landscape. Her lifelong pursuit continues to be to capture color, light and shadow, translating her vision to canvas for the enjoyment of others. The vineyards of California epitomizes this harmony.  Susan visits the wine country several times a year exploring locations to paint. She is most inspired by summer and fall as the color, light and shadows unite to form perfect compositions. Susan knows she is successful when her clients are viewing her paintings and they experience the same delight as she did.

Time to Vote, Diablo Magazine Best of the East Bay

http://www.diablomag.com/Best-of-the-East-Bay-Voting/

It is time to pick your favorites in the bay area at Diablo Magazines Best Of The East Bay webpage, follow the link above and place your vote for your favorite art gallery, Studio Seven Arts! Tell all your friends to vote!

New Floy Zittin Watercolors

Come see her newest pieces