Travel and exploration are favorite activities and a source of artistic inspiration for the artist.   With travel now on hold, take a seat and join us for some armchair traveling as the artist revisits places with memories, sparking dreams of days when we are all free to roam the earth again.  Explore numerous favorites including Yosemite, Carolyn’s homeland, England, France and African safari adventures.
A lover of textures, Carolyn Wilson specializes in creating collage that has a rich tactile surface, with partially hidden layers that create a sense of mystery and history.  Her surfaces emerge using watermedia, such as watercolor and acrylic ink, on rice paper.  She is happiest when surrounded by a mountain of hand colored papers, with glue and brush in hand.
“Communicating more than what is visible on the surface, my collages begin life in an abstract way, then grow into something more recognizable.  Using ephemera, such as maps, printed words, letters and postage stamps collected on my travels, my art is literally embedded with my life story.  You often need to step up and take a close look to discover these hidden surprises,” said Wilson.
Wilson has participated In Sonoma County Art Trails Open Studios since 2014.  Paintings by the artist have been published in two books: “The Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques,” by Hazel Harrison (UK, 2018) and the “New Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques,” by Hazel Harrison (USA, 2010).
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Reflections of Myself
​The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features Reflections of Myself by Ron Sumner, a collection of watercolor paintings that show the artist’s deep appreciation for nature, especially wildlife.  Viewers are drawn to these paintings through the artist’s masterful use of the medium, spontaneous washes with just enough detail to give life to the subjects.

​Exhibit Dates:  July 26 – August 30, 2020

Healdsburg artist, Linda Barretta, presents Suspended Memories, a collection of recent oil paintings that capture the landscape’s ever-changing light.  Seizing in paint the unique lighting on location is her most important tool – creating a memory that the carries through in her studio work.  “I love to weave the vibrant colors and textures to create an artistic experience that takes the viewer to that special time and place,” said Barretta.  Whether painted at the edge of a field or later tapping her memory, her masterful sense of color takes your breath away with its magical vibrancy.  Key works showing the artist’s color mastery are featured in the exhibit: “Wolf Moon,” a nocturn of the Russian River and “Magic Hour,” a lavender field melting into dusk.
A Sonoma County artist, Barretta lives and works in Healdsburg.  Known for her vibrant use of color, she developed her impressionist style and skills through numerous hours of plein air painting and studying with master artists.  Her works are exhibited throughout the country.

Exhibit Dates: June 29th— July 26th, 2020​

​Santa Rosa artist, Victoria A. Kochergin, presents Showcasing Nature’s Beauty, a collection of colored pencil botanicals, detailing the beauty found year-round.  Kochergin is inspired as each season showcases Nature’s beauty: from spring’s emergence of dormant bulbs, summer’s array of fruits, autumn’s orange, yellow and burgundy leaves, to winter’s white flowers.  “It is this seasonal beauty I strive to capture in detail and bring to the viewer’s attention,” said the artist.  These pieces are revelatory in their amazing translucent coloring and detail.  Achieved through hours and weeks of work layering colors, each piece is a unique pearl drawn from Nature.  “I believe every botanical in Nature deserves its spotlight, “ noted Kochergin.  These works truly inspire awe with the complexity and magnificence in Nature.
Kochergin’s artwork has been exhibited in Alcatraz, local and international shows, Art Trails and Art at the Source.  She received a BA in Fine Arts and English from UC Berkeley.  Working in various mediums during her career, she now concentrates on colored pencil.   She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Northern Society of Botanical Artists and teaches classes in the medium.  A portion of Kochergin’s sales from this exhibit will be donated to SNAP Cats, a local cat rescue. 

​The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features Between Chaos and Calm, a collection of small abstract paintings by Cynthia Sumner.  Her work is emotionally derivative and process driven.  “Frequently, I tap into state of mind or some emotional content I want to explore first.  Then I apply paint or mixed media in layers adding texture and random mark-making, before scraping back and repeating the process, until interesting elements spark my imagination, “stated the artist.    From this creative energy emerge beautiful works that are a perfect trifecta of texture, color and composition. A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, Sumner was an art educator in the Bay Area and New Orleans.

​Exhibit Dates: March 1st — March 28th, 2020

​Reception: Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 6 – 8 pm: Meet the artists and celebrate this show.  Refreshments will be served. ​

Local artist, Donna Schaffer, presents Wine Country Winter, a collection of paintings that express the special beauty that Sonoma wine country takes on in its winter phase.  Painted in oil, these works depict the swaths of fog that grace the region’s valleys like misty veils.   As the sky takes on a leading role during the winter season, color pops up in the form of stunning red-orange sunsets and sunrises.  Responding to a sense of mystery, the viewer is seduced by the quiet peacefulness of the foggy scenes.  “I’ve lived in Sonoma County twenty-five years and our “neighborhood” is gorgeous all year round and I want to share that beauty,” said Schaffer.
Art has been a main thread throughout Schaffer’s life.   It wove through her advertising and photojournalism experience and culminated when she landed in Sonoma wine country.  “How could I not be a painter,” noted Schaffer, as she contemplated the area’s jaw-dropping natural beauty.  Schaffer has been a member of the Upstairs Art Gallery for seventeen years and exhibited throughout the region, including five years as an Art Trails artist.

​The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features Short Stories by Phyllis Rapp, a collection of small mixed media paintings depicting a range of subjects, from garden flowers to exotic animals and fish.  Rapp’s magic brush brings excitement to each piece by the creative mix of amazing acrylic pours, color washes and intricate patterns. 

​Exhibit Dates:  – January 27 – February 23, 2020

Reception: Saturday, February 15 2020, 2 to 5 pm: Meet the artists and celebrate this beautiful show.  Refreshments will be served.​Upstairs Art Gallery artists Susan Greer, Willow LaLand, Gail Morgan, Phyllis Rapp, Donna Schaffer, Cynthia Sumner, Ron Sumner, and Carolyn Wilson pool their artistic talents to present “Embracing Beauty,” an exhibit expressing multi-faceted interpretations of beauty.  The viewer is taken to a garden of delights as each artist presents his or her take on the theme – the potpourri of colors, flowers, subjects is an uplifting harbinger of spring.  Carolyn Wilson’s offering, “Judy’s Sunflower” is lively and cheerful. “I think sunflowers are beauty personified; they capture the sunny energy and warmth of summer days, a reminder of bright times ahead,” said Wilson.  Gail Morgan strikes a bright note with “Jazz,” an abstract monoprint interpreting the beauty of the music.  Filled with roses, Phyllis Rapp’s painting was inspired by a Toni Morrison quote: “At some point in life, the world’s beauty becomes enough.”  This exhibit brings the world’s beauty – Sonoma style – into clear focus.

​The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features Ebb and Flow by Marsha Connell.  Rendered in oil, pastel and watercolors, this collection is imbued with the movement and flow inspiring the artist as she works direct from life.  “it’s all about the dynamic of being in the moment and a selective process that gives plein air works that special fluid quality,” remarked Connell.  Drawing on her background as a dancer, her paintings have a spontaneous quality that invites the viewer to join the dance and complete the vision.  ​

Laura Roney presents The Golden Hour, a collection of oil paintings that depict the landscape when the light is fleeting.  These works transport the viewer to that unique and magical time of day when the sun is near the horizon.   “How the changing light transforms the landscape is mesmerizing and truly inspires my work, “ said Roney.  Primarily showing scenes of Sonoma County and wine country, these paintings are so compelling, they create their own golden glow.
A wine-country artist, Roney has been in love with art her entire life.  She started studying at an early age and kept it up whatever avenue she was pursuing.  After a successful career in microbiology and pharmaceutical research, a family move to Northern California enabled Roney to focus on her art.  She recently received her MFA from the Academy of Art University. 
​​Exhibit Dates:  December 30, 2019 – January 25, 2020

​Reception: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 2 pm to 5 pm: please join artists Laura Roney and John Sumner to celebrate the show; refreshments will be served.

​The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features Speaking Cat and Dog by guest artist John Sumner.  Sumner uses creative textures and vibrant colors to capture the character and antics of our four-legged friends.  Living with many cats, painting them became second nature to the artist.   Always fun, Sumner’s work runs the gamut of realistic to interpretive.

 Wanna Kiss the 'World's Ugliest Dog' ???

Come to Our Open House
All Day Saturday, December 7
9am to 8pm
Brave the rains and come get some Holiday Puppy Kisses from Scamp the Chap, who just won the World's Ugliest (adorable) Dog contest. Scamp just returned from Los Angeles from filming an episode of "To Tell The Truth". He won $1500, a matching $1500 for the Sonoma County Humane Society, and a trophy bigger than his person. 
 
It's all part of celebrating our furry friends with an array of events throughout Saturday, and includes a Puppy Kissing Booth, a Pet Psychologist, Animal Painting Demos, etc. Holiday goodies will fuel the festivities including a specially labeled wine from Windsor Vineyards to cheer us on. Twenty percent of all sales during the Open House will be donated to the Humane Society.

The front window animal paintings by Laura Roney, Karen Miller, Andrea Cleall, Cynthia Jackson-Hein, Linda Barretta, Beverly Bird and Gwen Rosewater capture expressions and actions of their favorite pets. Paper mache cats and dogs by Nancy Winn are captivating. Rounding out the window all the jewelry on display includes Jo Tobin-Charleston's cat-inspired jewelry.


You can commission a portrait of your pet, from your choice of gallery artist, and help out the Humane Society at the same time - for anyone who commissions a pet portrait before December 29, 20% of the sale will be donated to the Humane Society. 
The Gallery will also be accepting cash donations for the Humane Society for the duration of the holiday season. 


Schedule of Events
Saturday, December 7 2019 at Upstairs Art Gallery, 306 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA

 
10:30am to 2pm - Pet Psychologist Dr. Anastasia Raschke can "analyze" your dog at the Upstairs Art Gallery. Dr. Raschke, a mostly retired people psychologist, is branching out into pet psychology for this event. A five dollar donation to the Human Society buys your pet a session with her! 

3pm-6pm - Come get some Holiday Puppy Kisses from Scamp, who just won the Worlds Ugliest (adorable) Dog contest. Scamp just returned from Los Angeles from filming an episode of "To Tell The Truth". He won $1500, a matching $1500 for the Humane Society, and a trophy bigger
than his person.

2pm-5pm Gallery artist Willow LaLand-Yeilding will be doing a live demonstration animal painting. Come watch.

So come visit on Saturday during this unique opportunity to help the Humane Society of Sonoma County and shop local this holiday season. As we shine the spotlight on animal inspired paintings, jewelry and crafts, and with a percentage of sales going to help this wonderful non-profit, dedicated to helping animals in Sonoma County.

​Susan Greer presents Conversations with Nature, a collection of minimalist landscape paintings that capture the rhythmic quality of the natural world.  Simplified elegant forms embody a serene sensitivity that is soulful and honest.  "I paint what I feel and let the viewer fill in the details.  As Edward Hopper said, 'If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.' ," noted Greer.  Viewing this collection, one is transported to a calm, peaceful corner of the world.

Growing up in the North Bay, Greer developed sensitivity for native rolling hills and wetlands as she roamed open spaces in Sonoma and Marin.  She has degrees from UC Santa Cruz and San Francisco S U and worked with George Lucas and Apple Computer.  She rounded out her studies with mentors, including Wolf Kahn, Daniel Keys and Ken Auster.

Artist Reception at Upstairs Art Gallery, Healdsburg.: 
Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 2 pm to 5 pm
Please join artists, Susan Greer and Karen Miller to celebrate their art and  - enjoy bites and samples from Revive Kombucha, a local craft brewery in Petaluma..

Show runs thru October 27 2019

Featured Artist September 2019

Beverly Bird presents Oceans 21, a collection of paintings exploring multiple aspects of our ocean-related experience. 

Works include seascapes, sculpted shorelines, and boats, even a glacier.  Highlighting both our own breathtaking Sonoma Coast and the magnificent Oregon coast, many of the paintings were painted in plein air.  Using acrylics, these paintings often feature textural passages emphasizing details and planes.  From forceful wave action to a peaceful shoreline sunset, Bird’s paintings capture the range of the ocean’s moods.  Viewing this collection, one can almost smell the salty air. “The ocean has always been a creative inspiration for me.  I love how its constancy is colored by ever-changing shifts in mood.  I work to capture this feeling in my ocean scenes, “noted the artist.

A Sonoma County artist, Bird was raised in Southern California and has always lived near the ocean.  As a child, ocean scenes became a favorite subject for the young art student.  A graduate in Art from CSU Long Beach, Bird subsequently studied landscape painting with master artists.  An annual participant in the Art at the Source Open Studio program, her work has been selected for a number of exhibits in the region.

RECEPTION: Sunday, September 15, 2019, 3 pm - 6 pm
EXHIBIT DATES: September 1st - September 29th, 2019

​The Small Works Showcase on the Upstairs Art Gallery stairway September 2019 features “A Summer Diary” by Linda Barretta. 

Celebrating the colors of summer, Barretta presents paintings of flower gardens and farms, filled with sun drenched light and color.  Painted in plein air using oil and acrylic, flowers inspire these works.  A seasoned painter, known for her striking use of color, Barretta’s current body of work is mainly in oils, while her first medium was acrylic.  She tapped into both mediums to create this delightful small works collection.

RECEPTION: Sunday, September 15, 2019, 3 pm - 6 pm
EXHIBIT DATES: September 1st - September 29th 2019

The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features “Coastal Plein Air” by Donna Schaffer.  These landscapes & seascapes explore the environment where the oceans meet the land. Schaffer strives to take you there with her color palette and brushstrokes in oil. “Painting en plein air allows me to capture in-depth the views I love," noted Schaffer.
RECEPTION : Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm
EXHIBIT DATES:  July 29 – August 31, 2019

The August 2019 featured artist, Phyllis Rapp is presenting whimsical acrylic paintings of animals, people, landscapes and flowers in dream like settings, “Day Dreams”. Rapp says her paintings start with a base of colors, stamps, stencils in abstract application. As she studies the results, she discovers various scenes and more realistic representations of familiar objects emerge. She adds detail to the "found" images and then paints out the distractions - or the negative space. Phyllis' love of design, color, and texture are evident in her colorful and imaginative resulting paintings.
 
Phyllis Rapp, is a founder of the 22-year-old Upstairs Art Gallery. She has a BFA from San Francisco Academy of Art and has been active in many art organizations, galleries and has taught watercolor classes.

Reception: Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Small Works Showcase July 2019 features "Plein Air Petites" by Susan Greer.
These petite Sonoma County landscapes capture the rhythmic quality of the natural world with expressive brushstrokes in oil, and simplified elegant forms.
"Painting en plein air allows me to explore the land I love, while doing what I love to do" noted Greer.

Meet the artist reception: Saturday July 6 2019 5:30-8:30pm

The July featured artist, Willow LaLand-Yeilding, is presenting her latest piece, "Chilled Summer Whites," showing the cold condensation on a 4-foot square glass of white wine in the warm summer heat. Her 4-foot square duo, "Alexander Valley" and "Dry Creek Valley," shares the grape harvest in action and the liquid gold pouring from the wooden slats of the wine press. LaLand loves to work big,... and tiny. Her collection of miniature 2" x 2" landscapes and still lifes beautifully complements her larger works. "Individually painted grapes, crystal clear reflections in glass, deep velvety shadows, intricate wood grain. . . I love to capture sensations - the taste of the wine, the stories being told, the breeze through the vineyard," enthused LaLand.

Wine is a natural subject for LaLand as she and her husband have been making wine for over a decade. A daughter of artists, her life as an artist began very young - her first exhibit was at eleven. Now an internationally collected artist, her work has appeared in exhibits throughout the region.

Artist Reception :Saturday July 6 2019, 5:30-8:30pm

​The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features “Sonoma Gems: a Small Works Installation” by Beverly Bird.  Scenes from throughout Sonoma County featuring vineyards, ocean vistas, local sites, forests, iconic landscape views are depicted in colorful acrylic paints and textures. 

“Everyday the beauty of Sonoma brings such a thrill, I can’t help but pull out my paints,” says the artist.

The June Featured Artist, Cynthia Sumner, an emerging local artist brings together her love of ceramics and painting in a new collection of work: “Seeking Common Language.”  The exhibit features two mediums: a series of stacked sculptural forms in clay (“totems”) and oil paintings in cold wax medium.

Her paintings reference internal and external landscapes.  “I am inspired by nature and mid-century modern ceramics,” said Sumner.  In her painting process, textures play a big role as they go through layering, scraping, applying more paint.   Cold wax medium blends beeswax, resin, pigments and solvents, which then evaporate to create a firm surface.  Wax artworks date back to the ancient Egyptians.  Once cured, these paintings can be handled like any other fine artwork.

“Whereas painting is a more recent endeavor, working in clay is like home to me.  I’ve been shaping things out of earth since I could make mud pies,” noted Sumner.  “Knives, squeegees, scrapers and my own fingers give me visceral feedback like working in clay,” she added.  The stacked sculptural forms express her vision in three-dimensions: abstract shapes play off each other in these unique works.
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A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 80’s, Sumner was an art educator in New Orleans and San Francisco; she previously exhibited as a conceptual/installation artist.  

The Small Works Showcase on the stairway features “Stoplight: a Small Works Installation” by Laura Roney.  Fruits - apples, tomatoes, pears - star in her 12” x 12” still-lifes in oil.  Painterly renderings are intensified by complimentary color or stained wood backgrounds.  So eye-catching, these paintings are delicious enough to eat.