The office of Winkworth Wealth Management, Sandro John Winkworth, Founder and President, was transformed into a creative and beautiful gallery scene in Malaga Cove Plaza last Sunday, February 25, 2024, during the FRESH VOICES … An Unfolding Story opening reception which displayed artwork from local artists: Deborah E. Giese, Susan Whiting, Julie C. Robinson, Jinha Kim, Ann C. Johnson and Oana Gamlowski along with Woodturning artist Joe Devinny and sculptor Errol Gordon. Deborah E. Giese, an artist and art instructor at the Palos Verdes Art Center, and her class wanted the exhibit to reflect each one’s journey and for the show’s title, FRESH VOICES A Story Unfolding to represent their collective journey from where they started to the present. For some of the artist this was their 1st gallery exhibit. The FRESH VOICES team put on a professional and stellar art reception that attracted close to 200 guests for their opening reception - the artwork was greatly received. From their professional brochure to delicious appetizers, refreshments, desserts, beautiful flowers and live music this was a well-attended and festive art show that rivaled any in the art world.

The closing reception will be on Sunday, April 7, 2024 from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Winkworth Wealth Management. Twenty-five percent of Total Sales will be donated to The Bresee Foundation. Giese is proud of each of her fellow artists in FRESH VOICES. The joy she felt was knowing that each artist sold at least one painting and was recognized and sought after to paint commissions. Giese appreciates the support and help from friends and patrons that have ensured the success of this show.

For Giese, what makes this art exhibit so personal is that all the painters have been members of her very popular Palos Verdes Art Center art classes for several years where Giese encourages all levels to attend since she is constantly reinforcing art fundamentals set by her beloved Art Masters, "… there is something new to learn or re-learn in each of my classes!”

One of the themes Giese likes to explore is that “Art is supposed to make us think & wonder…” and Giese’s Good Morning painting gives the viewer, “...a peek into my soul.” Her painting Good Morning represents a composite of places she has passionate memories of and remembers, “...while I was painting, I was transported and saw myself in the early morning hours swimming bareback on horses in the river, hearing the rustle of trees, making new trails and enjoying knowing there are people around the world who also love a good morning.” Giese’s Girl in Red Skirt (this painting is the Headliner Painting for FRESH VOICES and its logo) and Girl in Yellow Skirt give the viewer an opportunity to, “peek to the day I remember painting these girls, as if it were yesterday. I remember the looseness of every stroke, my color palette and most of all … the joy I felt that day!”

Another classic Giese-ism is to ask the artists in her classes, “What do you aim to achieve and What is your intention starting out?" Julie Robinson, a FRESH VOICES exhibitor expressed that in her painting Snickers - A Portrait of a Goat, her intention was, "to capture the expression on the face of this darling animal I see on my daily trail walk. It doesn’t matter what kind of day I could be having; but that silly goat makes me smile every time I see him. And why does the goat make me smile? He has a smile on his face with a full toothy grin. It’s permanently on his face ... you can’t help but smile when you see him. One day, the owner of the goat told me his name and when I heard Snickers I nearly fell over. Of course, I had to capture the joy this silly furry guy makes me feel. I chose to portray him in bright colors with his expressive eyes and trademark grin. I’m very happy with the portrait. Now he makes me smile on the trail and on canvas.”

Exhibiting at Winkworth was for some of the exhibitors of FRESH VOICES …their 1st Time. Ann Johnson, a FRESH VOICES exhibitor shares her feelings and thoughts on her milestone day, “I learned that it’s a lot of work to put together a show like this, and how grateful I am to be a part of this group. Each of the artists not only create magnificent art, they each also have their own strengths which they generously contributed to the creation and success of this show. There were many hours of work spent behind the scenes leading up to Sunday's exhibit, as well as, on the day of. We have a special group who support and inspire each other. On the day of the show, I made sure to take it all in, and to acknowledge my own personal journey that has led me here. There is a degree of vulnerability in exposing your creations to the world, but the reception I received, from friends old and new, was quite validating. I was especially gratified to receive compliments on my work from established artists who I admire and whose work I love. That to me was the icing on the cake!”

As to how Oana Gamlowski felt about selling her 1st Artwork, “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be part of the FRESH VOICES! Thank you to my art mentor Deborah E. Giese for inviting me to join her exposition. Due to her leadership our FRESH VOICES show was a success. The show preparation was a great learning curve for me, realizing that the journey of the painting is not finished when the paint is dry. The ‘true’ odyssey of the painting in fact starts when it is dry… with the right frame, a fitting name, and the right presentation the painting will find someone that falls in love with it. This past Sunday some of my paintings started a new journey with an art lover, and they have been flown across the US. I am humbled and honored that they liked them. It makes me smile and gives me an unbelievable energy to imagine my paintings in someone’s home, maybe becoming a discussion topic or bringing joy or getting someone intrigued. I hope my paintings will be the witnesses of a lot of happiness in their new home, but also comfort when needed.”

For Julie Robinson her favorite painting at FRESH VOICES exhibit is Sunflowers and Citrus. Robinson added, "The reason I am drawn to this painting is because it was a real struggle for me to complete it. The painting went through many different iterations. It was hard for me because when I started the painting, I had a firm vision of what the final product would be - I could see it in my mind! Yet when I came to the finished work, I hated it. I set this painting aside for over 1-year. I reviewed it daily and would make small changes and additions. The result is a painting that I am super proud of, probably because it was so difficult for me to get to something I like. The time I took to rework the painting paid off, not only is it one of the paintings I received the most compliments on, and it Sold at our opening reception!”

The passion the FRESH VOICES artists have for their Artwork is contagious! Ann Johnson enjoys painting and is especially grateful to have the opportunity to share her work with others while supporting those in FRESH VOICES to achieve as well. One of Johnson’s favorite paintings, Late Afternoon at Abalone Cove, was painted en plein air. "It was on a perfect, late fall day, the sun was shining warmly, and just beginning its slide down to the horizon and the waves were gently lapping the shore. As I painted, everything just flowed - the composition, the colors, the light and the shadows. It is not a complicated or detailed painting, and when I finished that afternoon, I left it alone. I didn’t change a thing back in my studio because I felt the freshness and didn’t want to tamper with it. In this painting I succeeded in one of my primary goals in painting: to paint the verb and not the noun. This painting conveys the sense of peace and contentment that I was experiencing while painting. I was deeply gratified that the painting was purchased by someone who said she felt peace through the painting.”

Jinha Kim explains the passion that built up inside her as she one day observed some roses. She titled her painting of roses Brilliant White because, “I felt a surge of joy as I spotted the white roses along this wooden fence. They were so bright and beautiful in the harsh sunlight, contrasting with the dull brown of the wood. I knew I had to paint them and share this wonderful site with others. I wanted others to feel the same delight and awe that I felt in that moment.”

If one is curious about learning the approach FRESH VOICES artists use to attain certain lines, shapes and values that support the direction they want to explore, Oana Gamlowski eloquently discusses how her inner thoughts work to affect her paintings, “Surprisingly I’ve created a sort of meditative experience: First, I underpaint all my canvas. Then I think about the composition within the rules of thirds and prepare my color piles in sync with the painting’s values. Deborah E. Giese always says, ‘observe more, paint less’ … and all this preparation stage allows me to observe and enter in the ‘zone’. Once I’m in ‘the zone’, I don’t know How or Where the time flies. I dance back and forth, listening to music or educational podcasts. Yes, I can dance even on podcasts, as my painting is my dancing partner. And puff, 90% of that respective painting is done in one session … in ‘the zone’. Every time I’m trying to shortcut that preparation and observation stage, I can’t enter ‘the zone’ and end up tossing the painting. I’m still discovering myself as human every day, and lately this ‘artist component’ in my life is getting more of my headspace and heartbeat attention.

Visit the FRESH VOICES An Unfolding Story closing reception on Sunday, April 7, 2024 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm. For private showings, please contact Jody Wiggins for an appointment

(310-650-0006) between the hours of 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

For more information about the artists and their works, please visit:

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/0eb22a3674.html

Coca Astey email:

onelisette@gmail.com

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