Mariposa News - A Sierra Sun Times Special Edition - 6th Annual Sierra Art Trails 2008

A Sierra Sun Times Special Edition

6^TH ANNUAL
SIERRA ART TRAILS
2008

Susan Hasty of Mariposa

Helen Willoughby-Peck of Mariposa

Brian Kincade of Oakhurst

This past weekend ushered in the 6th Annual Sierra Art Trails. There were over 80 artists involved in the Trails this year. Fifteen artists were in Mariposa County along with sixty-nine artists in Eastern Madera County. The participants opened their home studios and even welcomed fellow artists to share studio space with them. Many people enjoyed the sunny October weekend that started out slightly chilly and windy, but then ended on Sunday warmer and not as breezy.

Local art lovers and many tourists were in their cars driving from location to location to visit artists and admire their work. Some artists were demonstrating their work on site, such as painting, jewelry making and wood carving to name a few.

Some of the artists were new to the Trail this year, such as Susan Hasty from Mariposa County who's home studio is where she does her painting. One of Susan's specialties is painting European scenes and she enjoys traveling to Europe whenever she gets the chance. She also creates some beautiful art work using natural and recycled items.

Other artists such as Larry Potter, who have been in the Trail for a number of years, was busy drawing and painting. This of course was in-between talking to the people who came to River Rock Inn in Mariposa. People were there to see Mr. Potter's paintings as well as the work of Yvonne Beattie (jewelry artist) and Helen Willoughby-Peck (glass and jewelry artist). Yvonne makes her jewelry using many elements from Mother Nature, such as natural stone beads, crystals and seed beads. Helen creates beautiful serving trays from fused glass with Dichroic insets and her Dichroic jewelry is some of the most beautiful work that we have seen. The color and depth of her glass is truly stunning.

In Ahwahnee, Artist Doug Boomer has a passion for capturing flowing movement. He specializes in Western Heritage and Native American paintings. Native American Dancing and playful scenes of children are among his favorite things to paint. Doug had a painting in progress set up on an easel outside the studio of his brother, Bob Boomer. Bob uses his studio to create fabulous sculptures. Bob has been a professional sculptor for over 30 years. He enjoys using Manzanita and weathered Cedar to sculpt his Western and Indian themed work. Bob says he listens to the wood, letting it's twists, knots, cracks and colors become important parts in his final forms.

Brian Kincade, of Oakhurst, is a artist who specializes in Fine Line Grout Mosaics. He uses stained glass and some kiln work to make his beautiful creations. Mr. Kincade has been working at his art for about 25 years. His newest work is of a beautiful butterfly hovering over a bright yellow flower, which really needs to be seen in person to truly appreciate it's beauty.

This is only a small sampling of the artists that participated in the Trail this year. If you missed seeing any of the artists, from this year or past years, and you would like to still be able to purchase their work you can use the information in any of the catalogs to contact them. Many of the artists can be seen by appointment.

You never know what fine art you'll see that you just have to have, or what art will inspire you to try something new yourself. The Sierra Art Trails is a wonderful yearly studio tour that is not to be missed.

The Sierra Art Trails website:
Sierra Art Trails

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