2008 Featured Artists

Marie is inspired by the Native American culture, and a great respect for the people. Marie sculpts in clay, and uses the lost wax method to cast her bronzes. Marie likes the beauty and warmth she can achieve with this metal.
Marie Barbera has exhibited widely throughout the United States and has placed her work in many collections including works collected in Asia. She is represented in Museum Collections and has become a sought after artist working in her genre of figurative Native American bronzes.
As of late, Marie Barbera has started working on and producing life size works that are well suited to public and private outdoor installations. She is an artist who is reaching her prime and looks forward to a productive life as a successful working artist.
You can reach Marie Barbera at her studio in Escondido, California at 760-746-0802, or online at www.mbarbera.com

Jane Darin - Sculpture

Together, in both cloth and bronze, I strive for that moment that creates a dialogue between you and me. Here I am at the beginning of sculpting "Waiting." I sculpt from real people who live in San Diego, CA which is a port city, with a gas lamp quarter, a active street scene and artist communitiy, a bohemian culture, military personnel, computer technology and biomedical workers.
Let me call your attention to how my sculptures can be enjoyed in three layers.
* In the first of these layers you may see the expressive faces, feel the moods suggested by the postures, observe the subtle play of light and shadow and catch the indication of movement.
* The unique pleasure of owning a three dimensional sculpture is its capacity to present over 360 views as you observe a figure from every conceivable angle including top and bottom. This is why I often display my sculptures on turntables. There's no real back to face the wall and the front is often not the most intresting view. As I'm sculpting I notice and develop a continuous series of changing line, shape and attitude. You can see the texture, the pattern and the color as light passes across the surfaces. This is the second and more long-term joy of owning my sculpture.
* And finally, you can probably agree that as human beings we share certain life experiences in common. My intention is to have a dialogue with you about these commonalities, this unity in diversity. If you already own sculptures then you already know the tremendous pleasure and delight that is yours to have this special figure catch your eye in your home or office. This final layer of enjoyment is possession, owning this unique dialogue that you share with me.
You can reach Jane Darin online at www.janedarin.net

In my work , I am drawn to the concepts of universal archetypes and symbols. My goal is to engage the subconscious mind through the use of these representations.
Natural processes such as erosion, oxidization, rust, and other things in nature that leave distinct patterns, draw me to try and recreate those patterns in my work.
My love of metal, and the ability metal provides to create the feeling of age, depth and sculptural dimension, allows me to add mood and mystery to the mixture.
I love to work with texture. I think of the first stage as purely sculptural. I like to build up the surface of the canvas or wood with thickened gesso, copper, sand, glass, or any thing else that appears interesting. By creating deep highs and lows, it suggests a feeling or direction I want the painting go in. Then I add the color.
Adding texture to a piece, as in mixed media, changes how a piece is viewed. It introduces a sculptural aspect that draws the viewer in. This can create shadows, changing the mood of the painting as the light moves across it’s surface.
With every painting, my intention is to explore technical as well as creative goals. I often find myself needing to create a new tool or process to accomplish the effect I wish to create. I find not being bound by traditional methods gives me the freedom to be as inventive and innovative as my creative inspiration allows.
Reach Brian at his Irvine, California studio at (714) 745-9135, or online at www.indigolights.com

Back when I was a little bambino I knew I wanted to be an artist.  My school notebook was covered front to back with my drawings.  Being raised in a  creative environment fed the flame.  I guess you could say art is in my blood.

My work reflects my interests in mid century artifacts  deco style, tiki lounge, atomic futurism to mention just a few.  Images of past pop culture mixed with current  day pop culture provide an endless source of inspiration and  possibilities for me.  This creative energy is what I thrive on and live for.

I graduated from the Colorodo institute of art with a background in graphic design and illustration.  After working for various ad agencies and in house art departments I had a burning inside to be painting again. I quit working for the man to pursue painting full time.  That was over 10 years ago and I've never looked back.
-Doug Horne

Reach Doug online at www.swampfirelounge.com

My love affair with jewelry started at a very young age. As most little  girls do, I would try on my Mom's jewelry and play "dress up", and than  parade around the house feeling very mature and pretty. Who would have thought (I know she didn't) I would end up where I'm at today, designing and making jewelry full-time.

I didn't always know I wanted to be a designer though. I went through my "rebel" phase were I road motorcycles and played drums for a punk rock band. After finally realizing that this wasn't going to really amount to anything, I decided I needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Then it dawned on me.....I wanted to be a jewelry designer!

I have now been at it for over 5 years and loving it! There's a lot of up's and down's but I haven't looked back since. Keeping a small business a float by myself is not always easy but the rewards are very satisfying. I keep one thing in mind when designing and that is "how would I want this to piece to look if I was making it for myself?"  So I don't skimp or cut corners.

I feel so unbelievably lucky and honored to be doing what I love for a living that words can not express it. I feel that the name "Happy Chi Jewelry" sums it up.

Stacey Morris

Reach Stacey Morris online at www.happychijewelry.com

I have been making jewelry for the past twenty-eight years. The first fifteen years of which I was solely fabricating jewelry. During this time, I was introduced to carving jewelry out of wax, which allowed me more freedom for design. My wife Kitsana and I are currently using this wax carving/model making technique to design and make our jewelry.
We create unique one-of-a-kind 18K gold jewelry. We carve designs out of wax, cast, clean and polish. We use many different semi precious and precious gemstones of the finest qualities. Our mountings are solid and are not stripped for weight and not hollowed. They are gallery weights, not commercial weights. We match colored stones with exotic inlay material. Some of our inlay stones are Opal, Dinosaur Bone, Petrified Palm Trees, Petersite, Verisite, Green Mau-Sit-Sit, and Gaspieite and of course more common materials like Lapis, Turquoise, Coral and Black Jade. Our products are Park Avenue with a southwest flare. Fine diamonds sittings with beautiful colored stones such as Emerald, Tourmaline, Topaz, Citrine, all colors of Garnet and Saffires and many others. These combinations are trimmed in diamonds creating the best of both worlds.
What makes our jewelry art form unique is how we are able to mix a more formal and traditional diamond and colored stones techniques with the use of fine lapidary inlay work consisting of high quality exotic and natural materials not found anywhere else. Our contemporary approach and designs feature fancy cut gemstones accented with diamonds and rare and beautiful inlay materials set in 14K and 18K yellow and white gold settings.
You can reach Randy Polk at his studio in Fountain Hills, Arizona at 480-445-0345 or online at www.randypolk.com.

RD. (Randy) Riccoboni - Acrylic Artist

Artist Statement
Color is the first thing you notice about my work. What makes it ‘pop’ is the placement of color and texture.

The primary colors in my palette are derived from the colors in the original rainbow flag which represent sexuality, healing, sun, nature, art, harmony and spirit.

As a painter I am a visual storyteller. A message comes with the art - perhaps it is playful, calming, erotic, disturbing, political, or even sacred. I like to flirt with the issues and experiences we face in everyday life, the things we do and the places we go that define our lives.

Whether positive, humorous, or thought provoking, my work portrays events people relate to while creating a sense of place for the viewer.

-   RD. Riccoboni

Biography
RD. (Randy) Riccoboni is an innovative American-born painter (California, 1960), influenced by his early years living in the suburbs of New York City.  A self-taught artist, he credits encouragement by family and teachers for his drive and inspiration.  The artist resides and paints in San Diego, California.

Riccoboni’s paintings on canvas and paper depict his travels and local interest. Subjects include California landscape, cityscape, portraiture, street-scenes, public events, and everyday happenings and friends. His palette is derived from the bold colors of the original rainbow flag. Colors that represent, sexuality, healing, sunshine, nature, art, harmony, and spirit. Riccoboni’s internationally recognized work represents community, a sense of place in a positive and life affirming manner.

Riccoboni continues to paint actively, and resides in San Diego, California. Reach him online at www.beacon-artworks.com

Robert Kawika Sheer - Phorography

SPIRIT SHADOWS, SPIRIT IMAGES, & STAR-TRAILS
“I perform everything in front of the camera: No Photoshop, no multiple exposures, no manipulations of the negative.”
Award-winning performance-art photographer Robert Kawika Sheer brings spirits of city landmarks to life.  See his photograph titled "The Spirit of Kate Morgan at the Hotel Del Coronado" on display this weekend September 20th & 21st at the Old Town San Diego ART Festival.
  “I came to fine art photography from a cinematography background. I’m a motion picture guy, so I decided I wanted to put motion into my still work; that’s what got me going out in front of the camera. Initially, I was just trying to make circles of light with a flash unit on the night landscape, stuff like that. However, one fateful night in the Mojave Desert, I got caught in the way of the bounce of light; I didn’t duck out of the way properly. And the figure that appeared on the negative ended up being this translucent silhouette… When I first saw the figure on the proof sheet, I said to myself, wow; I have something here. Now, I’ve got to try to recreate it.”
“In traditional motion pictures, the film moves through the camera. My motion picture technique is reversed; the film stays still while I motion in front of the camera.”
See more by clicking on www.RSheer.com

Michael Weinberg - Raku Pottery Artist

Michael Weinberg's primary focus is on decorative vases.  He strives to create contemporary wheel thrown forms with exotic finishes that are unique.  Much of Michaels work has a mixed media aspect. He mixes traditional glazed surfaces with gold leaf, blown glass, copper metal, lacquer, antler and stone embellishments.  Michael enjoys exploring new ways to bring color, design and texture to a finished piece. 
Michael Weinberg received his formal art education at the University of California at Irvine.  Since 1976 he has divided his time between Southern California and Northern Arizona studios.
You can reach Michael online at www.weinbergceramics.com

Click here to enter to win $100.00 in ArtFest Bucks.

If you have a question, comment, or want additional information, sign up for the Old Town San Diego Art Festival Email List. See you at the Old Town San Diego Art Festival, September 20-21, 2008.