ICB ARTISTS ASSOCIATION
Meet Elizabeth Geisler: Award-Winning Bay Area Painter
If you're looking for a new artist to fall in love with, look no further than the Cove Art Gallery. This hidden gem is home to a wealth of talent, and one of its shining stars is new artist Elizabeth Geisler.
Elizabeth Geisler is an award-winning Bay Area painter, best known for her water reflection paintings. We caught up with her to learn more about her artistic process and what inspires her work.
Geisler is intrigued by the intricate patterns on the water surface and how they can convey both movement and stillness. In some cases, it seems as if these reflections create an alternate reality to what we see on land or in the sky. However, beneath the surface, there is a psychological element to why she is drawn to paint water.
For Geisler, water represents life, as we cannot survive without it, and it literally flows through all of us. It is a constant that connects us to each other. When she is painting water, it is a meditative and sometimes, cathartic process. She focuses on highlighting the beauty of water in its many forms while also considering the psychological aspects of why we are drawn to it.
Working from her own source photos, Geisler captures the beauty of the natural world in all its forms. Her work is characterized by its attention to detail and its ability to evoke a sense of calm. Her paintings are often described as "meditative" and "peaceful."
Geisler’s work has been shown in group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States and can be found in collections worldwide. She began painting at a young age, and while still in high school, was awarded a life drawing scholarship to the Otis College of Art and Design. In college she studied both visual arts and mass communications, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. She continued her art studies at the San Francisco Art Institute, Barnsdall Art College, and the City College of San Francisco.
Born in Los Angeles, Geisler now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and works out of her studio in Sausalito, California.
Geisler's work will be on display at The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge from October 1-31. Stop by and check it out! Or you can visit elizgeisler.com or on Instagram @elizabethgeisler.
Christopher Chaffin
Christopher Chaffin is a painter whose studio is in the ICB Art Building in Sausalito. The two primary components of his art are autobiographical and observational. On the one hand, he sources imagery from various aspects of himself and his history, such as his experience in the world of advertising, cross-cultural encounters and past travels, both real and imaginary. On the other, he incorporates impressions of daily life such as the chaos of urban density and din, technology’s disorienting impact on our senses and random details, graphics and things momentarily noticed in passing.
His focus is on abstract painting and how the elements of color, pattern, shape and texture create visual surprise when transformed into unexpected combinations.
You’ll find Benet and Chaffin at The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge, where their work is available for sale. You can visit Chaffin Art online or on Instagram.
Meet Artist: Margaret Tcheng Ware
The Cove at Tiburon is featuring a new artist this month - and she's one to watch. Margaret Tcheng Ware is a local artist who has only recently returned to the art scene after many years devoted to other pursuits. But her talent is undeniable.
Ware’s journey to becoming an artist is an interesting one. She originally studied ballet and anthropology in college, and later earned an MFA in modern dance. It wasn't until she started a family that she turned her attention to art, but once she did, there was no turning back.
“I am inspired by the power of recording and preserving moments in time. Whether it is a breathtaking scene, grand or intimate, such as how light illuminates drops of water on flower petals, I hope viewers can be engaged with my work to experience wonder,” Ware says.
Margaret Ware's paintings are a beautiful and nuanced representation of the natural world. Paying tribute to the contours and expressiveness of her subjects, each work is a deliberate and careful exploration of color.
A former dancer and dance teacher, Ware has a deep understanding of human anatomy and movement, which is evident in her work. Her paintings are realistic and lifelike, with an added sense of movement and energy.
The detail and care with which she approaches her work reflects her reverence for the natural world and its inhabitants. This respect is evident in every work, from the bright and vibrant colors to the intricate details.
“I started out as a portrait artist but quickly became interested in other genres. landscapes, still life, and interiors," said Ware." I enjoy going back and forth between them because there are so many different kinds of media to play with or techniques that you can learn! Not only does this allow for creativity through exploration; it also allows my style- simply trying to create beautiful imagery—to blossom into something more specific over time.”
Her art has won prizes for excellence in national and regional exhibitions of the Oil Painters of America, been featured in magazines like Artists Magazine, AARP, and are in collectors’ homes in the Bay Area and throughout the country.
Ware's paintings are a must-see for anyone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world. Her dedication to her craft is evident in every aspect of her work. Check out Margaret Ware’s work at The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge. You can also visit mtwfineart.com. Or to arrange a visit to her studio in the ICB (#350-D) call 415-889-3319.
Discover Artist Anne-Marie De Rivera
Anne-Marie De Rivera is one of the latest artists to be showing her work at The Cove Art Gallery. Her work is characterized by its vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes, which create a sense of movement and energy.
De Rivera draws her inspiration from nature, people, and the world around her. She hopes to create paintings that are beautiful and that move the viewer emotionally.
"I'm inspired by people, faces, gestures, postures, nature, trees, skies, animals, sunsets, water, color, light, shadow, reflections, and movement," she says. "I hope to create beauty and interest in my work, to move the viewer, and to create feelings in the viewer that allow them to have an inner connection with the painting and themselves."
She uses colors, shapes, and movement to express her innermost feelings about her subject matter. De Rivera's work is unique in its ability to communicate her message through these elements. What sets her work apart from other artists is its diversity. De Rivera's work reflects her diverse background and life experiences.
"I feel like my paintings have really matured since I've been living in the Bay Area," Anne-Marie says. "I'm taking more chances and experimenting with new mediums and techniques. I'm also exploring new subject matter, which has been really exciting for me."
Anne-Marie's future goals as an artist are to continue pushing herself creatively and to connect with her viewers through her art.
"I want to keep challenging myself and growing as an artist," she says. "And I hope to continue connecting with people through my work."
Anne-Marie has been an artist with ICB for 34 years, and she graduated from l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Geneva, Switzerland in 1964. She has shown her artwork internationally at the Grand Palais in Paris and has received an honorable mention in Stockholm, Sweden. Anne-Marie has sold numerous portraits at the museum in Santiago, Chile.
The Cove is excited to be showcasing De Rivera’s work, which is sure to bring color and life to the gallery. Stop by The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge and check out her work or visit her amderivera.com or on Instagram: @annemariederivera.
Plein air artist Benjamin Benet
The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge is an art gallery that showcases the work of emerging artists. The gallery is dedicated to promoting the work of artists who are committed to creating original and innovative artwork. We are excited to feature Benjamin Benet, a local painter who works in plein air.
Benjamin got into art mostly by chance, though he has studied creative fields for a while. He is inspired by the bridge between abstraction and realism – a "meeting place" – and hopes to achieve a sense of simplicity in his work.
Ben's plein air work reflects his personality because in his life he leaves some things a little vague at times and allows others to make an interpretation. In his plein air work, his primary elements are thick paint and broad strokes. He uses these techniques to communicate a sense of levity and joy in his paintings, along with his color choices.
Over time, Benjamin has started to use more paint and a palette knife to create texture. He is constantly experimenting with new techniques and mediums and plans to continue pushing the boundaries of his art.
Despite all artists' challenges, Ben remains dedicated to his craft. His future goals include continuing to evolve as an artist and providing an anchor for those who wish to rest from a busy day.
We invite you to see Ben's work in person at the Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge, where his work is available for sale. You can visit Benjamin Benet online or on Instagram.
A spontaneous approach that is simply stunning
Art runs in Sharon Paster’s family. Her grandfather was a painter and she started private oil lessons when she was 14, originally copying the photos she saw in her father’s camera magazines.
Today, she continues to push the envelope, seeing how far she can go, allowing the composition to be almost unbalanced, teetering at the edge, but not going over it. “Rocks on the beach are one of my favorite subjects,” Sharon says. “I am fascinated by the relationship between objects. I see them as moving parts, communicating with one another. That’s the energy I want to capture—the rocks poised on the beach, with water and sand also interacting with them. When it all holds together you just know it.”
Sharon’s approach to the art itself is equally energetic. “I don’t like to spend a lot of time on preparation or process. My medium of choice is oil pigment sticks, which are concentrated oil paint in lipstick-like tubes. I blend the colors directly on the canvas or surface, which enables me to create contrast and a bit of mystery as I build on my vision.”
This style creates a unique quality to Sharon’s work. “I think it’s the way I contrast linear elements with spatial depth; the feeling of spontaneity that results and my use of color. There’s always a surprise pop to it, but it’s up to the viewer to complete the story.”
Sharon’s work is on display at The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge. You can also see her work online at SharonPasterArt.com and instagram.com/sharonpaster.
All the world is her canvas.
When 14-year-old Kay Carlson saw an Andrew Wyeth painting in Life magazine called Christina’s World, she knew instantly what she was supposed to do.
“I was always interested in what I saw on my walks; the changing light and seasons all around me. So I signed up for an oil painting class and started to draw what I saw.”
Today, she is a California Colorist landscape painter. Kay captures the light that transforms the scenery around us, from the waves, clouds, and waterfronts on the coast to the beauty of Mount Tamalpais, wine country, the Italian countryside, and the American Southwest.
“I use volume, air, and texture in my oil paintings to build up a surface that engages the eye. My paintings are metaphors for pairing serenity and relationships as I find intimacy with nature, seasons, and time of day. I find great joy in color and delight in places that are visually engaging, places that tell a story or bring the essence of locations to life in the contours, lines, light, and shadow.
“Light can reflect a wide range of emotions, transforming something as ordinary as a little skiff at anchor in a harbor into a treasure. I am not only presenting a view of the land or water in a place but use layers and glazes to tell its story, creating an image that has a strong iconic presence.”
Serving as director of Marin Open Studios has allowed Kay to walk that delicate line between a passion for art and a need to make a living. “It’s difficult to keep up with all the changes in the economic and political world and hold fast to a creative vision. Sustaining an artist's career over a lifetime is a challenge, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.”
As she continues to explore her artistry, she has moved from looser expressionist paintings to plein-air painting, which is an out-of-doors style of landscape painting. She is combining these two styles to create larger works in her studio. “My goal is to keep growing and to paint what exhilarates me, to express the intense sense of place that I feel.”
You can see Kay’s work at The Cove Art Galley in the Sunset Lounge, at Kaycarlson.com, or on Instagram at kaycarlsonart.
Capturing the exquisite beauty of the everyday
While Rachel Davis became an artist later in life, her love of art has spanned a lifetime. Even when she was working as a licensed clinical psychologist, her passion for the arts helped countless creatives get out of their own way and fulfill their artistic dreams.
“In the late 1990s I was inspired to take a class in Ikebana, Japanese flower arranging and that started my journey as an artist. “Ikebana and the entire wabi-sabi – the Asian aesthetic – helps me see what is lovely in the mundane and often overlooked. Rather than centering on a perfect bloom, the beauty can come from the fallen leaves or the buds yet to bloom. This provides a sense of history and transience to the work, as these are what are important.”
In an exhibit at The Cove, her botanical pieces were inspired by her own backyard garden and became a series known as “The Painted Garden.”
Other work follows a different path. “Another source of inspiration for me is celebrating women. Putting them forward and giving them a voice when they have been overlooked. I lost my mom to Alzheimer’s and The Exuberance Project is my latest series. It’s all about women taking up space with joy, attitude, and no apologies.”
Having very different ways of working allows me to bring different sides of my personality to my artistic life, Rachel says. “I love having the freedom to move back and forth between mediums and moods and thereby keeping joy at the helm - no matter what. “Sometimes artists are told to choose, to zero in on one thing only so that their audience will recognize them. The inner brat in me rebels against that, knowing it would eventually kill the joy. Plus, so many things are interesting! I want my art to be curiosity and learning-driven, and sometimes I want it to be about pure-play and abandon.”You can see Rachel’s passionate works at Cove Art Galley in the Sunset Lounge. You can also see her work online and on Instagram.
A multimedia feast for the eyes
Making sense of her world has always been important to Karen Meadows. “Seeing beauty makes me want to express it; emotional moments create the need for me to make the unseen, seen.
Karen’s journey as an artist began as a child. Her mother, a talented maker, was a source of inspiration and the home she grew up in was always full of creativity.
“During grad school is where I started to dig down inside to get at the roots of my creativity,” she says. Getting a degree in psychology became an important part of her work. “Dreams, the poetry of Mark Nepo and others have guided my imagery and purpose. I started weaving reeds together at Stinson Beach as a child, which eventually led to huge wall hangings in public buildings. I was even invited to exhibit at the Lausanne Biennale and show throughout museums in Europe. I was also invited to be an Artist In Residence at SCRAP (Scrounger Center for Reusable Art Parts) a well-known San Francisco center for the arts.”
Karen finds inspiration in the work itself as the paint is applied to the surface. Inspiration guides her choices as she unearths the meaning and structure. “I need excitement, spontaneity, flexibility, and structure with color and balance. The resulting work reflects these personality traits. My work is uniquely me. Very personal, full of surprises and has a wide range of mediums; whatever the piece requires.
Currently, Karen is working on a multi-panel piece of five to eight panels. “My goal is to continue to grow as an artist, to continue teaching workshops to help people find their own creative center and make beautiful work that hopefully speaks to the audience.”
You can see Karen’s work at The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge. You can also visit her website at karenmeadows.com or on Instagram.
From the Catskills to The Cove: Fawn Bailey
Though most of us can’t imagine life without television or video games, Fawn Bailey found it refreshing. Growing up on a farm in the Catskills, she spent a lot of time in the real world, playing with her sisters, observing nature, and falling in love with the creative process.
It helped, of course, to grow up with a very creative mother and a father who, Fawn says, was a reflective observer. “I think I inherited those two qualities that continue to nurture my art.”
Nature is still a large part of her work. “I’m mostly inspired by the shapes, colors, and relationships found in nature. I’m fascinated by the round and leggy shapes of lichens or fungi and the angular shapes of rocks and minerals, which will play a larger role in my next series.”
Fawn is able to tap into her undergraduate studies in biology as well as her experimentation with different tools and materials to add to and then excavate parts of the many layers in her paintings. Science and art go hand in hand in her work, she notes.
“I am beginning to really get in touch with the parts of me that have been pushed down or hidden,” she says. “I spent a good portion of my life letting fear guide my decisions. Now that fear is shedding away, and my art is reflecting that with each new layer revealed in my paintings. I can see my own growth and I hope that my work will help others experience emotions that help further their growth in their own journeys.”
Fawn’s is multi-dimensional. Some of her paintings are bright, bold, and playful; others are darker and more mysterious. “All of these are components of my own personality,” she says. “All of my collective experiences, thoughts, and emotions lead to each brush stroke or mark, whether they are conscious or subconscious.”
Some of the themes carry through her art. Environmental conservation and freedom in all its manifestations are two recurring themes. “I hope that the nature of my work might inspire people to pause and observe the natural world and consider how important it is to protect it.”
Fawn’s work has evolved quickly over the last year. “I try something new almost every time I’m in the studio. I’ve begun to use a more limited palette than in the past, focusing on more organic and earthy colors. As an artist, you are continually growing and learning and as I continue on this journey I want to push the boundaries of what is possible in art.”
You can see Fawn’s work at The Cove Gallery or online at fawnbaileyart.com. You can also find her on Instagram or Facebook @fawnbaileyart.
Former football player having a ball as an artist
The football program at Penn State lost a player, but their loss is our gain. When his dream of playing football didn’t quite pan out, Gordon Studer turned to art. After graduating from college with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, he set off on a more traditional career path, finding a way to channel his creativity into a job that could pay the bills.
After working at design firms and newspapers, and serving as a freelance commercial illustrator for another 25 years, Gordon decided it was time to return to his roots – fine art. A little over two years later, he set up shop as a full-time fine arts artist and has never looked back.
For Gordon, each painting is highly personal. “They hold a lot of experienced emotions, translated into abstract form,” he says. “I draw my inspiration from liminal experience, interstitial time, dreamscapes, and nature, serving as something of a conduit where the art creates itself.”
The results are strong graphically and rich in color and energy. “I like to use form and color to develop an emotional statement that is unique to me. I want the viewer to feel that emotion, to connect with it at home or at the workplace, and find it both thought-provoking and visually interesting at the same time.
“The work continues to take its own course. I recently sold a 6’ x 8’ piece. And I’m about to start a series of abstract figurative pieces.”
You’ll find Gordon at The Cove Art Galley in the Sunset Lounge, showing and selling his art to passersby. You can visit Gordon’s virtual gallery online. He’s also on Instagram and Facebook.
A childlike wonder that was almost torn asunder.
A well-meaning teacher can often be a child’s worst critic. For Bibby Gignilliat, the teacher’s words put her creativity into mothballs, her deep love of painting stopping at the age of 12.
But to quote Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, if you really want to know what you’re supposed to do in life, look at what you loved as a child.
This became a guidepost for Bibby. After running a successful cooking business for 20 years, she sold it in 2017 so she could return to what she loved most as a child. “I took an art class and was the worst in the class,” she recalls. “But I was committed to getting better. I got an art studio and was determined to reclaim what had laid dormant for much of my life. It has been a true homecoming.”
Each day she steps into her studio, Bibby enters her playground, a safe place to take new risks, let go of old attachments and experiment with fresh ideas. “Everyday materials on the street or given to me by friends are often what inspires me most. For example, my Berkeley series was based on music posters that I found on telephone poles throughout the city. I created another series that incorporated rolls of music from player pianos. Bibby’s inspiration can come from all sorts of places, from a letter to the tooth fairy and a One Way road sign to a scrap piece of a giant billboard sign.
“My spirit laughs out loud at the freedom of breaking the rules and drawing outside the lines. I’m not sure who is in charge at times – my art or me. The process is alchemical, magical, and joyful. The maverick and rebel in me are given time to play while the perfectionist is given a time-out. The result is a pure reflection of my heart.”
Bibby hopes others will see this joy and whimsy in her work, from the colors and textures to the subjects. “My hope is that my work sparks joy and provides beauty for my collectors,” she says.
As she explores that inner child silenced in her youth, Bibby continues to follow her intuition, accented by selected study with an array of teachers. The result is a more sophisticated approach, balanced by the joy of a child who found her passion and has given herself permission to explore it.
“I enjoy engaging with clients and have used my studio as an artist's showroom over the last eight years. I would like to continue to do that. While I have gallery representation on the East Coast, I am ready to find a gallery in the West. I also have an online class with 700 students from around the world and I will continue to focus on teaching online and in my Sausalito studio at the ICB Building.”
You can view Bibby’s works at The Cove Gallery and online at www.bibbyart.com. She’s also on Instagram @bibbygart.
The beauty of the earth captured on canvas
Paula Valenzuela has made art for as long as she can remember. While she had taken classes from some very talented Chilean artists, her art remained a private affair, shared with friends and family. She was working as a psychotherapist until she came to the US.
Her new homeland became a tapestry of inspiration from the textures and colors found in nature, specifically the desert and the ever-changing shapes of organic materials found in nature. “I am inspired by collective symbols used by ancient cultures, like spirals, labyrinths, trees, rocks, and minerals. The connection between archetypical symbols and primitive marks and the relation between art and spirituality, psychology and the healing arts, continue to inspire and influence my work.”
Paula says art is a way for her to return to herself and be present in the moment. “I hope to achieve a connection, grounding, and introspection when someone looks at my work. I like to make art that makes you wonder and look deeper, something that connects to your inner world in some way.”
One of the unique aspects of Paula’s work is her nearly archeological approach to her paintings. She builds the paintings in layers, adding acrylics, paper, different mediums, pigments, and rust, overlaid with polygonal shapes and symbols that appear and disappear as she adds additional layers and textures. “It is a process of revealing and hiding,” she says. “When you look at my paintings, there is always something new to be discovered. As you get closer you may want to touch the surface or find a new element you haven’t seen before.”
As she explores her art, Paula finds that she is connecting to the world around her. “It’s always surprising when I make something. I find the whole creative process that we go through fascinating. Being an artist is a full-time job that never ends.”
You can see Paula’s work at The Cove Art Gallery in the Sunset Lounge, online at paulavalenzuelaart.com, or on Instagram.
Emily Golla
My art practices started very slowly, kicking off while I was in the military (mainly photographing nature), and coming full circle after retirement, while studying at the San Francisco Art Institute. While in school, the focus of my work turned to street photography, where I became fascinated with studying people. Shortly thereafter, a personal bout with breast cancer ingrained my focus on individual experiences, and my photography practices started bleeding into painting.
Currently my work in painting is primarily focused on oil portraits, using both my street and portrait photography as catalysts for my paintings. I prefer selecting images that have underlying currents of social commentary, or individuals that have gone through personal hardships or trauma as subject matter. They remind me that strength and vulnerability can be equal in their beauty, and that our similarities as individuals are infinitely more common.
My photography work on the other hand is focused on macro images of things found in nature. Like in my study of people, I find the intricate structures we find embedded in nature also demonstrates strength within the most delicate looking things, and just how interconnected things really are.
Website: EmilyGolla.com
Instagram: @emilygolla_images
Natalia Nunez Zabala