Tana Bennett – To show people how to expand their creativity through dotting. There are so many stages to dotting and it also teaches discipline. I was born and raised in Visalia. My husband and I own a business. We’ve been married for 45 years. I started my artist journey when I took Folk Art painting classes back in the 1990’s. I taught for a few years and took about a 20-year break from painting. I picked up my brush again in 2019 and haven’t put it down. My medium has always been acrylics. I discovered dotting/Mandala painting a few years ago. It relaxes me and clears my mind. I also teach a small painting class outside of my home once a week. I’m a Volunteer Leader of the pet therapy program at Kaweah Health. I belong to Pet Partners therapy program with my therapy dog Remidy aka Remi, we are also involved with First Responder Therapy Dogs.
Jane Bodine – In the cabin painting I imitated Laurel Harte and began lightly painting three primaries across the whole painting except the sky to connect all of it. For the waterfall painting I used different colors on a credit card, scraped the card across the paper, sprayed the paper, and let the colors run like water. In the frog painting, I tried to filter the yellow emerging sunlight with other glazes and then towel off part of the pond color to show fog. I live on the farm on which I was born. I love Tulare County because we can grow food better or at least as well as any place on earth, and we grow pretty good people too. I aim to be on a street corner like Thomas Merton and realize I love all those people. So far, I have had a pretty good run.
Emilie Dummar Cadwell – Explosion of Freedom was a painting that was not intended to come out as it did. I had in mind to create an abstract painting with my fingers…as I was putting paint on the canvas it reminded me of wings, so I decided to turn it into an eagle. This painting was created during a time when I felt stuck and hopeless. It amazed me that it turned into this eagle on complete accident; just me in my right brain flowing through it. Eagles symbolize freedom, which was a perfect fit for me at the time.
Hello, my name is Emilie Dummar Cadwell, and I am 21 years old. I have been painting more consistently the last two-three years. I am a published author. My poetry book is entitled, A Desire for Freedom: The Odyssey of Life. I am still trying to find my style and voice as an artist and writer. I am thankful for everyone who supports me along my journey and can’t wait to see what the future brings.
Andrea Chaidez – This artwork is meant to celebrate same-sex couples in society, specifically those of Mexican descent. I wanted to make a piece that helped depict Mexican queer couples as I feel there is not enough representation in a professional art lens. I wanted to change that, putting these women in traditional Mexican clothing to show how diverse queerness can be culturally.
I am Andrea Chaidez, a queer Mexican American female artist focused on making work that tackles on issues in my communities. Much of my work is a form of social activism for multiple topics that I feel intensely about, especially regarding the intersectionality of my Mexican culture with my identity in the LGBTQ+ community. I am a studio art major, recently graduating from Bakersfield College and transferring to Fresno State to finish the rest of my education.
Olivia P. Chavez – A Proud Legacy—against all odds and adversities, the trampled and forgotten seeds, struggle and survive to make A Beautiful and Proud Legacy. Proud Girl and Her Dog—honoring the beauty and spiritual ways of our native indigenous people.
Tim Clark – All three pieces are designed with texture as a key element of the work. Every piece is intended to be touched as well as seen so that someone with impaired vision can enjoy art alongside someone who can see.
My love of ceramic art began in 2021 when I experienced a spontaneous retinal detachment resulting in blindness of my left eye. Multiple surgical attempts were unable to correct my vision. During the uncomfortable recovery process following each surgery, I found myself drawn to tutorials of potters throwing clay. I discovered that watching wheel throwing was relaxing and inspiring. I had always thought of myself as a creative person but had never studied any individual discipline. As soon as I was able, I began taking classes at a local studio. I quickly discovered that the creative outlet has become a way to help me overcome the depression and grief of losing the vision in my left eye.
Samuel Del Rio – I make figurative sculptures to engage with themes of insecurity, doubt, and emotional trauma. Naturalistic portrayals of the body are juxtaposed with imagery of broken-ness, self-harm, and personifications of mental illness. My first successful figure cast, my sculpture Not Good Enough, deals with emotions of jealousy, pride, and self-criticism. I am currently working on a second edition with a ‘robin’s egg’ finish, which might show better than the grey version in the photo I provided.
I am a Central Valley native, born in Visalia and raised in Bakersfield. I am currently an art student at College of the Sequoias in the process of creating my portfolio for application to MFA programs.
Sarah Edwards – I was inspired by Fairy Gardens. It reminds me of where a gnome would live. I wanted it to look like the forest and slightly mystical while still carrying an earthly vibe.
My Advanced Art class was assigned to do a portrait of a famous person. I love working in oils. I chose to do a black and white portrait of Marilyn because I like her style. I enjoy the challenge of black and white.
Sarah had her first art show at 3 years old at Children’s House Montessori School in Tulare. From there, she took Art classes at Garden Elementary School and Central Valley Christian. During the summers, she participated in the Art programs offered by St. Paul’s School and Arts Visalia. She loves art and is a prolific creator.
This is Sarah’s senior year at CVC. She loves her Art teacher Mr. Langmaack who has broadened the world of Art for her. She plans on attending Santa Barbara City College in the Fall to pursue a Chemistry degree. But she also plans on continuing her love of Art and Dance through the programs offered in school.
Valerie Estes – My artwork is very much inspired by my daily walks in which I find so much beauty right here in Tulare County, or in other words, home! It’s about taking a closer look at what’s beautiful and what makes it beautiful; the pallet created by nature that sometimes goes unnoticed because of the fast-paced hustle of our society. I hope it inspires the viewer to take a closer look. Pollinator is about bees and their contribution to natural beauty.
I was born and raised in Tulare County. I began my art journey in retirement. I am currently a watercolor teacher and Vice President of Visalia Art League. I believe in artists helping artists throughout education, support, and mentoring.
Andrea Fischer – I enjoy painting whimsical frogs with cute clothes–they seem to make people smile. I began exploring with watercolors about 13 years ago. I took classes at the Visalia Senior Center. I admire all artists. The past three years I have been going to classes with no instruction but enjoy getting together with fellow artists.
Mark Fischer – My two passions in life are Art and History. The dolphins and whales represent free and lovely sea creatures. I’ve always been enamored with the historical significance of our California missions!
I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a small boy. Art to me is a most enjoyable and challenging pastime! I love to explore new mediums and artistic possibilities! I completed a two-year Graphic Arts program in Glendale, California, as well as completing a two-year Studio Arts (oil painting) program at College of the Sequoias. I have had moderate success in doing commissions and selling my personal artwork, as well, to private clients.
Claudia Gudiño – “I love creating with clay and colors to bring a sense of happiness to the viewer. Each piece is made with careful thought and happy energy.” Claudia Gudiño is a ceramicist in Tulare, California. She loves creating hand-built pieces which she works on with a peaceful mind and later covers in colorful glazes. She started making her pieces in her home studio (dining room and living room!). And has now, thankfully, opened a pottery studio where she creates her pieces and teaches classes to the community.
Rubio Javier – The majestic storks along the remnants of a once-inhabited structure, perhaps a castle, allude to the past and the future, linked by this moment in time. Storks are considered loyal birds, and, as in this scene where we get a glimpse of their nests atop the ruins, they offer a sense of hope and renewal.
Stainless Colander and Cherries was made with the intent for me to observe more carefully. Cherries represent a favorite summer fruit, the stainless-steel colander places the cherries in a kitchen setting, with a fun, contrasting pattern of the cloth.
Julio Oseguera Jimenez – The painting is titled Modesty. The character has a blue sheet with a posture to hide from her identity. She does not understand what is happening inside her. When she closes her eyes, it seems that she is analyzing her thoughts, emotions, and sensations. The background is made up of rhythms of circular and organic figures that intertwine, the colors allude to the Pride Flag.
Deborah Amaral Johnson – My intent with these few works is to capture a moment of beauty that surrounds me in nature.
Halonnah Hope Kay – These images are representative of Margaret’s Chinese Brushwork. Margaret learned Chinese calligraphy when she was young. Busy with school and work, the brushes were in the drawer for decades. After retirement, she took brush painting classes from Joy Harvey at Arts Visalia. Margaret found it to be an enlightening and life-changing experience. Margaret deeply appreciated the opportunity Arts Visalia provided.
When I was young, I dreamed of owning a camera and being the “little girl who walked around taking pictures of everything.” When I was 23 my dad bought me my first camera and I haven’t necessarily put it down since. I have a love for traditional analog photography and digital photography. I earned my master’s degree in photography at the Academy of Art University and completed a final project in Fine Art Photography.
I see images in parts, sometimes searching through my photos in my digital library. Hopefully, soon I will have enough space to build my love for analog photography again. My advice for the prospective photographer is to follow your dreams and take pictures of things you love because you love them. Whether it’s people, nature, or the art of the composite, the beauty and true meaning are within you.
Megan M – This piece represents what I am most proud of, Myself. The pride I feel for who I am, the creative style I have developed, and the fact that I am still here. Inspired by an idea to fuse fine art and street art, it demonstrates my ability to utilize different mediums as well as juxtapose the different artistic styles I like to play with to form a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing piece.
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. I am inspired by life, nature, pop culture, and nostalgia. I incorporate a lot of bright, bold, saturated colors into my work. I like my work to be eye-catching and fun like the cartoons and video games I grew up with in the 90’s. I like for viewers to feel as though my work is also viewing them.
Daisy Magaña – A study of paint, colors, and how the paint lays on different surfaces. Chicana artist, mother of three boys, food grower.
Nani Marumbe – My paintings are intended to bring people joy. Bringing the beauty of tiny, relatable, mundane moments of life into view.
Gionna Mclean – This painting represents my pride toward those around me. As time passes, as it has in this painting, you are given the opportunity to revel in the value of your loved ones.
Roberto Mercado – The main purpose of this artwork is to remind people to give their flowers while you still can. Tell them while they’re still here. They’d like to hear it while you’re still here as well. Everybody deserves to hear it.
Tanya J. Miller – I am a mixed media artist that wants to share my artwork. I am also a founder of Brandapalooza, a suicide awareness campaign, and continue to bring awareness through many media art platforms. My art is my voice, a vibrant echo of my inner world. It’s a celebration of life, capturing the essence of moments that make us feel alive. I paint, take photos, and make sculptures. I create, not just to express myself, but to inspire others to find their own stories in my work.
Through my art, I invite you to step into a world where emotions dance on the canvas, where each piece is a step towards understanding ourselves and the world we share. Let’s embark on this journey together, exploring the endless possibilities of what we can create.
So, take a moment, let the colors wash over you, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll see something new, something unexpected, something that moves you. That’s the power of art. That’s the power of our shared human experience. Let’s keep creating, keep dreaming, and keep inspiring each other.
Alison Schlick Miniaci – The bright sun prevented me from seeing as I snapped this quick shot with my iPhone. Later, I was delighted to discover the playful polka dot lighting perfectly illuminating my granddaughter’s pizzazz. I’m proud to be her grandmother.
I see art all around me. I create art in everything I do, from serving a meal to pulling weeds in my yard. I am God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared to be my way of life.
Verne Miniaci – Depicting nature in a different medium.
Margaret Molholt – Bamboo painting: Painting for my daughter. The title is: 一枝一葉總關情 鄭板橋 translation: “Every branch, every leaf is love.” – Zheng Banqiao (1693-1766)
After retirement I signed up for Joy Harvey’s Chinese Painting class in Arts Visalia. Joy was a talented, experienced, positive, and dedicated teacher. She taught me how to apply my Chinese calligraphy experience to painting. The “Joy” of painting class and new friends enriched my retirement. Thank you, Arts Visalia.
Linda Neuhaus – To depict the pride I have in my mother and my heritage, I decided to use images of her pride and joy in her flowers and her accomplishments as wife, mother, and as a self-taught watercolorist. I used vibrant colors; a dynamic composition of her in the center showing her vitality and pride.
Linda Neuhaus lives in Visalia, but she is originally from northern Ohio. She was influenced by the many artists and craftsmen in her area and decided to pursue a BFA through Kent State University. She completed her education in 2002 at CSU Fresno where she earned a BA in fine art and a credential for art in a single subject.
From 2005 to 2020 Linda spent 15 years teaching high school visual and digital arts. During those times she continued to pursue her own visual themes in drawing, painting, and photography.
Today she works in several media, choosing which medium works the best for her subject. She defines her style in drawing and painting as American realism and her photography style as candid visual stories of people and nature.
Linda’s recent exhibitions were with Arts Visalia Community show and Arts Visalia’s Holiday Boutiques. She is currently working on project proposals for Arts Visalia 2025-26 exhibitions and entries for the Tulare Palate Club 2024 Spring Art Show. She also looks forward to returning to teaching adult students in the fundamentals of drawing and portraits and the figure.
Natalie Ovalle – The piece is meant to portray the influence my Puerto Rican culture has had on my life. As I have learned more about the island, my people, and my history, it has given me a sense of assurance in my identity and allowed me to see the beauty and vibrancy of our traditions.
The words “Brown. Bold. Boricua.” Each end with a period to indicate each word is a statement. The different fonts are meant to demonstrate I am someone who does not fit into stereotypes; there is complexity in who I am. As you move towards the self-portrait it’s in pencil to show that parts of me can evolve, can be changed, altered, and even erased as I continue to develop as an individual. Lastly, the right side depicts the color and life that my culture brings to me. The motifs are representative of important parts of Puerto Rican culture (e.g. slang, the flags, and movements).
Natalie Ovalle is a Central Valley native and appreciates the arts. She is currently in the process of completing her doctorate in clinical psychology and hopes to integrate art and therapy in the future.
Tracy Polkownikow – Through allegory, cultural mythological cues, and a focus on expressive line work, Tracy strives to give visual voice to those fleeting states of emotional being that are not easily put into words.
Tracy is currently a freelance illustrator. She grew up in the small town of Centerville, California, surrounded by oak trees and wildlife on a ranch nestled beneath the Sierra Nevada Foothills. www.TPolkArt.com
Patti A. Pranger – Being proud of my family, I introduced them to my paintings.
Mark Robinson – I work in one of the hardest mediums, making the hard look soft.
Silvia Rodriguez-Bryant – El Catrincito—My intent with this piece is not only to demonstrate the innocence, curiosity, and daring spirit of someone who wants to be unique in their own way, but also to tell the masses that it is alright to be different and that one can show pride in their individuality through their own life choices and/or lifestyles.
Coqueta—My intent with this surrealistic ceramic piece is to demonstrate the confidence, pride, and sensuality that some people radiate when they are in love or when they would like to draw someone to whom they are attracted.
Enamorada—My intent with this surrealistic ceramic piece is to demonstrate that love can have a sense of mischief and that one can act in a very peculiar way when they are in love.
John Y. Rosh – The Patriarchy’s Prisoners: This painting confronts the complex relationship between power, control, and faith. The intent is to spark a dialogue about the potential misuse of religious authority and its impact on individual freedom, particularly women.
Sunset: This painting captures the fleeting beauty of a sunset, a spectacle ever-changing and unrecreated. The vibrant flowers stand in stark contrast to the fiery sky, a visual counterpoint that reflects the delicate balance of light and shadow in life.
John Y. Rosh, a 72-year-old award-winning artist based in Visalia, creates stories not just through paintings, but through a wide range of mediums. He’s a self-taught artist with over 30 years of experience, comfortable using watercolors, oils, acrylics, and pastels. But his artist expression goes beyond the two-dimensional. John also sculpts, working with wood, steel, ceramics, and even found objects. In his hands, any material can become a tool for telling a story. When he’s not creating art or whipping up a delicious meal (John’s a talented cook!), you might find him perfecting his swing on the golf course. Whether it’s crafting or sculpture or perfecting his swing, John’s artistic spirit is evident in everything he does.
Joy Rubio – When I feel led to paint, it’s because I believe the moment I want to capture will bring happiness to the person who will receive this gift. I paint for others because I want to give them a memory that they can reflect on to bring them joy. My art journey began from watching my dad. He was always sketching on anything he could get his hands on old receipts, scraps of paper, or paper tablecloths at restaurants. His number one lesson, always sign your work no matter what! My sister and I soon followed in his footsteps and began taking art classes at Arts Visalia under the incredible teaching of Ms. Michelle Bussey. In addition, many of our family vacations included visits to art museums and art galleries to introduce us to some of the greatest works of art. For a time, my artwork revolved around drawing/sketching stories from movies or books I had read. But it wasn’t until 2017 when I really started working with watercolor. I never had formal lessons with this medium, it was more of, “I really like this picture someone took. Let me try to paint it.” Of course, I chose the most unforgiving, hardest to work with type of paint. I plan to continue my journey with watercolor and possibly explore other mediums.
Christian Salas – I Christian Salas (b. 2002) am an up-and-coming artist, actor, and filmmaker from Salinas, California. I create because my mind would explode if I didn’t. I want everything I do to be raw, honest, sometimes painfully vulnerable, and look into myself. I want a piece of my soul to be trapped in the canvas to live on forever. Hopefully, the honesty of the work will speak for itself. I hope my work will, at the very least, make whoever takes the time to look at it feel something. Maybe even see parts of themselves in it. It’s all a feeling. A window to the soul.
Christian Salas (b. 2002) is an artist, actor, and filmmaker from Salinas, California, who expresses the innermost emotions, thoughts, and ideas from his mind and soul through painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, and film. His work highlights the intricacies of human emotion and expression with a raw edge. He’s created artwork since he was in high school and is mostly self-taught; though he currently attends West Hills Community College where he studies studio arts. He has created work that has been juried in shows throughout the Central Valley. Christian Salas is currently working on his entire body of work, building up towards his first solo exhibition. He plans on making it apparent to the world that he exists and is here to stay. He will live forever through his work.
Nathaniel J. Smith – Jellyfish live a life in harmony with the currents of the vast ocean. They go wherever the water takes them and must have complete surrender to the flow of their existence to sustain their survival. I am proud to embody such qualities throughout the journey of my life and struggles endured. Resilient yet fluid, present but transparent, modest, and shocking.
This artist has lived in Tulare, Visalia, Springville, and now Porterville. He enjoys creating expressive artwork from a plethora of various media, be it visual, audio, or performing arts. Nate enjoys the possibilities of color and the vibrance of the visual spectrum which he strives to include in most of his portfolio.
James Stark – Disney Apocalypse: The great Disney empire, “Bring your children and we will fill them with the fake vision of our ‘Magic Kingdom,’ and take your money.”
Ancient Mariner: Ancient Mariner floating above the world watching the ‘American Dream’ die.
Clouds #2: Clouds are clouds.
Pioneering urban artist/photographer James Stark has worked in photography, filmmaking, and painting for over fifty years having produced series of portfolios over that time which range from the streets of New York City to San Francisco punk clubs and back streets of San Francisco to landscapes of California’s Great Central Valley. Attracted to the Bohemian lifestyle from an early age, Stark moved to New York City’s Lower East Side after his discharge from the Army in 1966. This period, part of the “Hippie” movement, was followed by his return to California and settlement in San Francisco, where he later became a part of the Punk Rock scene and worked with the band Crime producing photographs and posters. He has published two books, Punk 77 and The Band Crime, Punk 77 Revisited, documenting the Bay Area Punk scene.
Stark has since moved to the San Joaquin Valley, where his focus as an artist has turned to a large degree towards the rural and urban industrial landscape of California’s Central Valley. His work has been exhibited widely including both solo and group exhibitions featured at Arts Visalia. A member of the ShadequARTer group of artists, Stark has exhibited in The Hatchery: Free Range, The Hatchery: East of Fresno, and The Hatchery: Fortress contemporary art exhibitions held in 2010 and 2011 on the property of the former Synanon Compound in Badger, California. His work was previously included in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Arts Visalia Visual Chronicle exhibitions. Several of his photographs and posters later were published in “Hardcore California Street Art” ‘The Art of Rock’ and ‘Fucked Up and Photocopied.’ His posters for the band Crime have become classics and highly prized collector’s items. Mr. Stark was one of two West Coast photographers to have a photo published in the New York Metropolitan Museum’s catalog ‘Punk: Chaos to Couture’ and has work in the SFMOMA permanent collection.
Mr. Stark has been part of several exhibitions locally and statewide: Visalia Arts Consortium Artist of the Year 2016/Kings Hanford Art Center/Tulare Historical Museum/Imperial Tablet, San Francisco/Facha Patato, Los Angeles/Mark Belote Gallery, Oakland/College of the Sequoias Gallery, Visalia/Spectrum Gallery, Fresno. Jamesstart.com
Danielle Steinhauer – Sheep Lady: This piece is created to invoke many different feelings for many different people. It holds a sense of completion, satisfaction, and pride. It embodies the feeling of accomplishment and belonging.
Admiration: This piece is a portrait of my partner. As a lesbian couple, it was hard for us to be proud of who we are. But now we wear our identity proudly, just as I felt when I finished this portrait.
William Stewart – I use my art to express my love for the subject. As such, I try to attain a certain degree of accuracy in my work. I am a retired nurse who has dabbled with doing art since childhood. Since retiring that dabbling has blossomed into a part-time job. I am married with two boys and four grandchildren.
Lisa Takata – Members of the Handweavers of the Valley Guild based in Exeter, California, spent the past year engaging in a Conservation Breed Study. We gathered samples of various heritage breeds
of wool and shared them with group members who then spun the fiber into yarn. I wove my yarn into a Conservation Breed Sampler to showcase some of the many colors and textures available from raw sheep wool. None of the wool in this sampler was dyed, it all came from the colors grown by the sheep so there are subtle variations of color throughout the project.
Fibershed hosted a yearlong Borrowed from the Soil Design Challenge that was just completed in March 2024. As one of 30 participating designers I was asked to design and construct a garment made entirely of materials sourced from Northern and Central California. My main fiber sources were Shetland and Cotswold sheep wool from Cecilia Parsons in Ducor, California; natural colored cotton from Sally Fox/Vreseis Farm in Brooks, California, and Karakul sheep wool from Babette Turk/Hexen Wald Ranch in Aptos, California. I handspun and wove all of the fabric for the coat and jacket. I have submitted a photo of my work as it was presented at the Fibershed Design Challenge exhibition in March 2024.
Since 2000, Lisa Takata has actively supported Navajo sheep herding families and local ranches by buying and using their raw wool in her fiber arts activities. Lisa is a handspinner, weaver, dyer, and member of four weaving guilds in California and Arizona. After temporarily relocating to her hometown of Visalia, California, to provide elder care for her mother, Lisa wanted to better understand sources of local fiber arts materials in this region. Lisa is grateful to Fibershed for the opportunity to learn about and utilize locally grown materials as a participant in the yearlong Fibershed Borrowed from the Soil Design Challenge, which just concluded in March 2024.
Andrew Turner – These two works are meant to pay ode to the heroes who stand up for those who cannot defend themselves. Conflict represents generational psychological trauma. Ascalon represents the knightly hero who defeats those monsters.
Sharon Turner – My work is influenced by my faith encounters which have helped me overcome challenges, gain insights, show kindness, and spread love. Connection with a higher power in a divided world. I find inspiration in the love of God and the universal human connection that binds us all through love.
Sharon Turner, a graphic designer based in Porterville, California, teaches graphic design and photography at Summit Collegiate High School. With a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Learning from WGU, a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication from CSULB, and 25 years of experience as a professional designer, Sharon has collaborated with companies in the education and fashion sectors. Her work includes projects with Lakeshore Learning, CABI Clothing, and the Lexus/Toyota training division. Currently, she is on a personal journey of self-expression, aiming to visually touch lives and inspire others to foster love and compassion.
Radshack Wilson – Pride in myself is a quality I have worked very hard on acquiring and maintaining throughout life’s adventures. I used a bold color palate to represent myself in this portrait to remind me to be proud of where I am now. Softer, quieter hues for the clouds, so that I may recall my past but not dwell in it, and the reflection in my sunglasses is for how I have much to accomplish and be proud for in the future.
Russell A. Wright – I work with hand printed etching, each color is applied separately (green, blue and gold). Each print triangle is 3.26” long and 1.62” wide totaling 9” x9” in length. Prints are assembled to become a sculpture. There is only one original 1 of 1.
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