Three library exhibitions throughout Ventura County

Focus on the Masters Learning To See (LTS) Outreach has expanded its reach and offerings to more schools across the west county. Each lesson of this innovative in-school, hands-on art program is inspired by an extraordinary artist from our community. Their new Up Close & Personal Residency includes that artist as a guest in the classroom.

Three new LTS exhibits feature artwork created by students at Harrington Elementary School in Oxnard, Elmhurst, Montalvo & Sheridan way Elementary Schools in Ventura, and Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Topa Topa Elementary Schools in Ojai.

Exhibit sites and dates:

• Oxnard Library from May 1 – 31, 251 South ‘A’ St., Oxnard
• Hill Road Library from May 3 – June 1, 1070 S. Hill Road, Ventura
• Meiners Oaks Library from May 14 – June 31, 114 N. Padre Juan Ave., Ojai

FOTM’s award-winning in-school art program, Learning To See Outreach, inspires our youth using the lives and works of our extraordinary FOTM documented artists from our community.

www.FocusOnTheMasters.com. For more information about Learning To See, contact [email protected] or 653.2501.

Have you ever been moved by a painting and wonder who is this artist and what moves them? On May 3rd Ventura Fox Fine Jewelry is providing the opportunity to hear from two such artists at their Art Talk. The speakers will be Andrea Vargas, locally known in for her courageous renditions of life, and Florencia Ramirez, author of Eat Less Water, who as a researcher and Oxnard mother discovered that the solution to worldwide water shortages is in our kitchens.

On May 3, 6-7pm arrive early to enjoy the Andrea Vargas and Christine Leong exhibit. Stay a little longer to have your book signed or to acquire some art or jewelry.

Arts & Eats will be held in downtown Ventura on Saturday, May 19 from 6 – 8pm. Fifteen galleries, restaurants and shops open their doors for art receptions and complimentary tastes. The event is free to the public.

Venturans Kenny Backer, Steve Cattanach, and Denise Dewire will display their local photography in “Ventura Vistas” from May 17 – July 8, with an Art Reception on May 19 from 6 – 8:00pm. Musician Corinn Conant will sing and play guitar during the reception. See http://www.foxfinejewelry.com/pages/arts-eats for gallery shows information:

Fox Fine Art Jewelry, 560 E Main Street, 652-1800.

Local, award-winning fiber artist Karen Payton has taken her fabric portraits to the windows of the Coastal Communities Cancer Center at 2900 Loma Vista (and Joanne).

Karen Payton has a background rooted in the apparel industry but currently splits her time between creating art and working in digital marketing. She has been collecting fabric and old clothing for years and searches for harmonious colors and patterns to complete her work. Many of her images include hand embroidery using thousands of colored stitches to render beautiful, soulful portraits. Embroidery is one of the best ways to personalize fabrics. Karen is extremely talented at embroidery, with most of her designs being from her own mind.

After two close friends began treatment for cancer, Karen was drawn to the opportunity to display her work at the hospital. “If I can bring even a moment of joy to patients and their families, it would mean so much.” Karen’s art will be on display in the windows until June 8.

After seeing the impact of these fabric portraits upon the patients in this center, perhaps more people around the country would like to do something similar to put a smile on some people’s faces. People don’t even just have to create portraits, they could also look at personalizing clothing or other pieces of fabrics. Beginners can always get their machine embroidery designs online if they’re not too sure what designs to use. There are websites online that offer multiple designs, guaranteed to make some people smile. All people would need is an embroidery machine and they would be ready to go. Putting smiles on the patient’s face is so rewarding, so it might be fun to follow in Karen’s footsteps and do some embroidery of your own.

Buenaventura Gallery member Wendy Winet won First Place for Mixed Media at the 2018 Santa Paula Art Society Show. This historic show had its 81st annual exhibit recently. Entries from all over So. California are hung in categories of Oil/Acrylic, Watercolor, Photography, Mixed Media and Pastels. Congratulations to Wendy.

This wonderful and whimsical bird is just a small sampling of the exciting art of Jaime Baker. To see much more of his work go to Way Outta Line Caricatures on Instagram and Facebook.

Also on Exhibit at the Buenaventura Gallery is Stories A Mini Open Competition now through April 14

Come see the award winners and read the stories behind their creation!

Amanda & Vinny: An Isla Vista Night First Place by Julie English

“I opened a Snapchat from a friend and said immediately…”

Come view the rest of the story.

Two Ventura women are joining forces to exhibit their artistic visions and range in an April 18-May 19 show at the Buenaventura Gallery in downtown Ventura.

“Encaustic & Stone” will feature two- and three-dimensional pieces by Joyce Lombard and Virginia Buckle, both longtime Buenaventura Art Association members with numerous awards to their credit. They will attend a 5-7 p.m. reception on April 28, the second Saturday of the monthlong show.

Lombard, who will give a demonstration and discuss at 2 p.m. May 6.

Buckle plans to exhibit 11 sculptures and six paintings and collage pieces; Lombard will have about 25 encaustic and mixed media works on display. Concurrent with their show will be a juried exhibition of artworks by BAA members.

Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St., is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For more information, visit the nonprofit cooperative’s website, www.buenaventuragallery.org, or call 648-1235 during gallery hours.

A Conversation with Tim Hauf Sunday, April 29 – 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Oxnard’s Levity Live at The Collection, 591 Collection Blvd. To learn about Tim visit www.TimHaufPhotography.com

We can explore the world’s most interesting places without leaving home. Pick up Sunset, Smithsonian Magazine or a National Geographic publication and chances are you’ll be in touch with the photography of Tim Hauf. Tim Hauf has been a professional photographer since the early 1990s. Although he grew up in North Dakota, spent 30 years in Ventura County and now lives in Washington State, Tim is very much a citizen of the world. His deep connection to the land – whether nearby in the Channel Islands, Patagonia or the Himalayas – informs his work and allows us to vicariously admire and revel in Nature’s infinite variety.

Admission is $15 for general public; $10 for seniors. Free to Focus on the Masters Members. RSVP required at www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or 653.2501.

Special invitation to Educators & Students:
The Artist Spotlight and panel discussion is open to students attending as a class assignment free of charge. FOTM is happy to assist with tracking attendance and sign-in sheets. Reservations required.

Join for AfterGLOW, a celebratory supper at Ventura home of Dennis Mitchell and Richard Sanders immediately following the program. Please bring a warm wrap as you may wish to enjoy the hosts’ magical garden. Paid reservations are essential and required prior to April 24. We expect this AfterGLOW to sell out.

$30 FOTM members, $40 Non-members.
Maps will be given to paid guests at the interview.

The Lion and the Lady with Pink Hat are by outstanding artist Janet Freman.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
~ Pablo Picasso