Artist Guild to exhibit at CAVU Cellars in August

DAYTON-Current and former teachers, nurses, writers, counselors and civil servants who make up the Blue Mountain Artist Guild of Dayton all agree they are moved by a creative spark to make art. They are taking their creativity to a new level with a group art show, "Inspirations and Challenges", planned for CAVU Cellars winery, in August.

Helen Boland is a retired science teacher, homestead farmer and lifelong naturalist. Working mainly in watercolor, her art reflects her love of animals, nature and landscapes. She also leans into ink, acrylic, pastel and assemblage as she moves between detail, realism and impressionism.

"Perhaps my favorite work is created on site in nature. En plein air painting brings me to the mountains, farms, gardens and even in town."

Ellen Heath loves the outdoors, watching Dry Creek from the window of her home on Biscuit Ridge, or climbing into the hills just steps from her front door in the Blue Mountains. Her usual subjects are local landscapes, plants, people, and animals. She teaches watercolor painting in person through the continuing education program at WWCC, and on Zoom.

Lorna Barth says she can't not do art. "It is part of who I am and has always been part of any job in my life. Art should make you stop and really look at something," she said.

She will paint on anything with anything, at any time, but always for the purpose of changing whatever it is into something expressive and meaningful. Look for Barth's colorful scenes on blue jeans and on canvas prepared with sourdough.

A scavenger at heart, Bev Startin is always looking for found objects for inspiration to add to her mixed media art. She enjoys fabric and hand-stitching, so fabric art has been added to her repertoire. She will utilize some wine dyed fabrics and wearables for her presentation at the winery.

Cathy Loftus-Shochet was a sporadic artist before joining the Guild in 2021.

"Landscapes are my favorite subject. I'm always finding ideas in the amazing contours and gorgeous skies of our area!"

Working in gouache, watercolor, and acrylic, she sometimes plays with abstraction.

Brenda North was initially drawn to the medium of acrylic, with a focus on flowers. She currently paints with watercolor medium, which she finds more challenging. Her favorite subjects are portraits and animals, and, yes, flowers.

"I find art relaxing and good for my mental well-being. I can lose myself for hours in a painting," North said.

Michele Smith has been dabbling in watercolor and studying with others since joining the Guild in 2012. She is mainly attracted to atmospheric landscapes, but has recently turned her attention to portraiture, studying with Walla Walla artist Mareth Warren.

"My art is the essence of who I am. It is my story about the scene or the person I am painting."

During childhood, Kris Takemura enjoyed sketching, particularly people. When she retired from teaching, she switched to acrylic which she finds easier to control, and, from there, to watercolor, painting a variety of subjects.

"Although I find this medium very challenging at times, it has been fun trying different techniques."

Sylvia Beuhler has made art for as long as she can remember, teaching art in Utah, Texas and New Mexico public schools. She especially enjoys drawing, watercolor and printmaking media.

"The natural world around me is my inspiration and translating that onto paper is my continual challenge. The Artists Guild has been good for me in that it opens up more subject matter that I usually would not consider."

All the Guild members agree that sharing their artistic endeavors with each other, and with the public, is life-affirming. They look forward to sharing "Inspirations and Challenges "at CAVU Cellars in August.