​Sonoma County artist, Carolyn Wilson, presents Connected to Nature, a collection of mixed media paintings that capture the artist’s feelings of awe in nature and express the energy and aliveness she observes in flowers, trees and creatures.  In “Poppy Patterns” we find dancing poppies and pods that come alive in this piece.  “Incorporating both impressionism and realism allows me to convey the energy and spirit of the natural world.  When painting, I am completely absorbed, get lost in the flow and totally tap into my intuition.  It is mystical, magical, meditative,” says Wilson.  Like magical puzzle pieces, thousands of pieces of tissue and rice paper converge to transport the viewer to a special place in nature.
An artist for over 20 years, Wilson has participated in Sonoma County Art Trails Open Studios since 2014. Her collage paintings have been published in 2 books: The Encyclopedia of Watercolour Techniques by Hazel Harrison (UK, 2018) and The New Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques by Hazel Harrison (USA, 2010).

Press Release
Date: For immediate release 3/15/2019
 
African Adventures, mixed media paintings by Carolyn Wilson
Exhibit runs April 1- April 28 2019
Artist reception: Saturday April 13th 5-8pm
 
Is an African safari on your bucket list? Artist Carolyn Wilson has recently crossed it off hers, and it was truly an experience of a lifetime. Wilson's  new series of mixed media collage paintings share her feelings of privilege and awe at being able to observe these magnificent animals up close and personal. Her paintings capture some of her favorite wild animal encounters, especially her favorites, the elephants. 
In Carolyn's collages you will find imaginative use of color and a tactile, textured surface that you may want to touch. Her paintings are also infused with personal history as the beginning layers of collage  are embedded with ephemera, such as maps, words in foreign languages and tickets collected on her travels. So that adds to the story of the piece. Each painting starts very spontaneously with elements of randomness and eventually gets reigned in and refined as it evolves.  "Each painting takes on a life of its own, and the end result is a surprise even to me.  Creating is nothing short of a magical and totally absorbing process." says Carolyn Wilson.
Carolyn Wilson was born and raised in England, and emigrated to the USA when she was in her mid-twenties. She has been an artist for 20+ years and  lives in Sebastopol. Carolyn has participated in Sonoma County Art Trails open studio tour since 2014. Her paintings  have been published in 2 books: The Encyclopedia of Watercolour Techniques by Hazel Harrison (2018) and The New Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques by Hazel Harrison(2010)
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Gallery is open 11-6 Daily
306 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA 94558
www.upstairsartgallery.net
(707)431-4214
 
 
 
 

"Art can memorialize a joyous occasion, but it  can also strengthen, inspire, encourage and support us in difficult and challenging times".... begins the article written by artist Jan Schultz.

Thanks to the generous crowd that attended the Santa Rosa Symphony League fundraiser "Evening in Vienna" multiple thousands of dollars were raised to help pay for 70 excellent young musicians to go on tour  in Austria. My violin alone raised over $1,000 during the live auction portion of the evening.
24 Artists from Sonoma County were given broken and unplayable instruments to turn into works of art. To see pictures of many of the other creative violins  check out the article in the Press Democrat here.

This 'cause' has my support, as I know first hand what a fantastic opportunity this is, so I jumped at the chance to get involved! My multi-talented daughter was a flautist in the SR Symphony Youth Orchestra and, as a High Schooler, had the opportunity to go on tour with the orchestra and  play concerts in the Czech Republic and Berlin.

This year, as a fundraiser to send this years' top musicians to Austria and Vienna, the Santa Rosa Symphony League has organized "An Evening in Vienna" event of eating and waltzing and bidding. Among items to be auctioned off, over 25 violins have been painted by top local artists, 10 of those have been selected for the live auction, and my "Fountaingrove Round Barn" violin is one. To see the violin in person, visit Corrick's Stationery Store, 637 4th Street, in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa (maybe while you are in line for some limited edition Pliney the Younger at Russian River Brewing?)

Click here to buy Evening at Vienna tickets online from Santa Rosa Symphony.
Cost:$25 per person.
Date:April 14th 7-10pm.
Location: SRJC Shone Farm in Forestville
https://tickets.srsymphony.org/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent1344.html