ACRYLIC PAINTING

Booth D4

Contemporary visual artist working in acrylic, mixed media, sculpture, and large-scale mural design. My work explores movement, nature, and emotional energy through vibrant color, layered texture, and expressive composition. With decades of exhibition experience spanning Hawaii and California, I create immersive works that celebrate the environment, culture and connection.

macedoart.com

Facebook: Pamela Macedo

Instagram: Macedo6340

ACRYLIC PAINTING

Booth C27

Kennith Maitland is a contemporary abstract artist with over four decades of painting experience. Originally from Orange County, he currently lives and works between Palm Springs and San Diego, drawing inspiration from the diverse landscapes, energy, and culture of Southern California.

Maitland’s work has been collected worldwide, recognized for its bold expression, rich texture, and emotional depth. His creative process is deeply personal—rooted in lived experience and an intuitive connection to the canvas. Through layers of movement, color, and form, he transforms raw emotion into striking visual narratives that invite both reflection and connection.

Painting serves as both a grounding force and a powerful outlet, allowing Maitland to channel intensity into clarity and meaning. His pieces carry a sense of vitality and honesty, often reflecting the dualities of chaos and calm, control and release.

Known for his dynamic personality and sharp sense of humor, Maitland brings that same energy into his work—creating pieces that feel alive, unfiltered, and deeply human. Each painting offers viewers not just something to see, but something to feel.

www.artbykjm.com

Instagram: artworkbykjm

SCULPTURE

BOOTH C12

As a self-taught ceramic artist, my journey with clay has been one of exploration, intuition, and boundless creativity. My whimsical animal sculptures are a testament to the joy of discovering new techniques and the freedom of artistic expression without formal constraints. Each piece I create is a playful homage to the quirky and enchanting world of animals, brought to life through my hands and imagination.

Inspired by the innate curiosity and wonder of the animal kingdom, my work aims to capture the essence and personality of each creature. I delight in the unexpected and embrace the imperfections that make each sculpture uniquely charming. Through my art, I strive to evoke a sense of joy, wonder, and connection to the natural world, inviting viewers to see the magic in the everyday.

My hope is that my creations bring a smile to your face and a sense of wonder to your heart, reminding us all to find beauty in the whimsical and to celebrate the extraordinary in the ordinarily

grizzly-clan-ceramics-and-arts.square.site/

Facebook: q=grizzly%20clan%20ceramics%20art

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grizzly_clan_ceramics_art/

PASTELS • WATERCOLORS • OIL

BOOTH D23

Mike Major has been drawing and painting since his entry into a kindergarten art competition. The support from his parents cemented his interest in creating. His mom's interest in the beauty of nature has been a guiding influence in Mikes' art. Mike is an impressionist. Mike paints in oil, pastel, and gouache. He paints in the studio and en plein air. Mike is inspired by the impossible beauty of nature and he wants his viewer to appreciate the beauty around us.

mikemajorart.com

PEN & INK • WATERCOLOR

Booth A29

I was born in 1947 in a 17” snowstorm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing up in Wisconsin, I had an idyllic childhood, playing in wide-open fields and forests, chasing frogs, and looking for garter snakes. My first interest in art started when I was 7 or 8 and I enjoyed drawing birds and other animals. But a teacher accused me of tracing my drawings and I was so traumatized that I did not draw again until I went to college. In 1965 I left Wisconsin to attend the University of Illinois. There I rediscovered my passion for art and was reassured when a famous artist teaching at the time, explained that tracing in art, is just like scales in music. He suggested that I trace the Sear’s catalog to improve my hand/eye coordination. And it truly did work. Through my studies, I was introduced to most forms of art – pencil, pen and ink, oils, pastels, and watercolors. At the time, I didn’t like the soaking and stretching involved with watercolors and initially settled into pen and ink. After I graduated in 1969 with a BFA, I moved back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and eventually joined up with a group of artisans, who were exploring and working in various mediums. We opened a combination leather shop, shoe repair, and art gallery that attracted a rather eclectic clientele and did quite well. At that time, I began working in pen and ink and the pen and ink drawings I have are reflective of that period, circa 1969-1975. In the early 1970s, I returned to Urbana-Champaign to visit friends. Although I intended to move west after that visit, fate had other plans for me. I met my future wife, got married, started working as a graphic designer, became a father, added a variety of cats and dogs to our family, and settled into family and work-life in Urbana-Champaign. In the 80’s I began experimenting. I found I could wax the watercolor paper to a piece of hardboard and I didn’t have to soak and stretch. It works very well, even with heavy washes! For the last 40 years, I have done drawings and paintings of the Midwest, Idaho, Hawaii, Europe, and California. Although I have explored various mediums, I always return to watercolors. I have 3 distinct groups of painting: landscapes, flowers, and whimsy. I enjoy painting all three types and as I grow older, the whimsy is more attractive, but I always enjoy painting flowers! I hope you enjoy my work!

rmaulwatercolors.com/

SCRATCH ART

Booth A16

Born in Chicago and raised in San Diego, Kathleen Joelle has a Masters in Counseling Psychology. Her art talent was discovered later in life and after dabbling in the popular media she discovered the more unfamiliar medium called Scratchboard. This substrate is a piece of Masonite with a layer of Kaolin clay then black India Ink floated on top. She uses scratching tools to produce dramatic images in black and white or afterward adding transparent ink for color. The main tools used are Xacto knives and fiberglass brushes. One Scratch at a Time depicts the type of work involved. It takes anywhere from 50-400 hours to complete a project. Definitely a labor of love and long term focus.

Kathleen Joelle specializes in pet portraits and has her award winning artwork in over 20 states from New York to Hawaii.

www.joellearts.com

Instagram Address: kathleen_joelle

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/kjoellearts/

LinkedIn: Kathleen McCarthy or k_mccar@msn.com

ACRYLIC

Booth A25

A native Californian, George McGhee has achieved the reputation of a artist with a unique eye for detail. Much of his early career was spent studying styles of landscape, and seascape painters of the past.

Artist such as Thomas Cole and Frederick Church have influenced him greatly. As masters of the American Luminous Style, Cole and Church studied and painted in the Hudson River School era during the 1800’s. Building on this inspiration with over 30 years of experience. George has emerged in the 21st century with his own approach in his art work. His subjects range from land and seascapes to wildlife and marine subjects.

finewhaleart.com

facebook.com/george.mcghee

Instagram: george.mcghee.737

WATERCOLOR • OIL • ACRYLIC • MIXED MEDIA (acrylic & Ink)

Booth A20

Geri began drawing and painting at an early age in Chicago, Illinois. As a child, she attended scholarship classes at the Art Institute of Chicago and later attended the American Academy of Art and then worked in the Graphic Arts field.

After moving to Southern California, she continued her artistic development by painting with watercolors. She loves their inherent qualities of transparent and glowing colors. Her art work is driven by a lifelong love and sense of awe for the natural world. Her passion is painting LIGHT in all its subtleties. She is also enjoying painting with Mixed Media, Acrylics, Oils. Each medium demands different methods which keeps her fresh, growing and excited to paint. She enjoys the challenges!!

Geri is a Signature Member the National Watercolor Society and Watercolor West, and has been an exhibitor at the juried Art-A-Fair and The Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach for many years. She has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Walter Foster Publishing has published “Step by Step Watercolor with Geri Medway,” and she is also included in 3 other Foster publications, and “Art of the American West”. A natural teacher, she has taught art workshops in locales such as Limoux, France and Yosemite National Park as well as Southern CA. Her work is held in numerous collections in the US and abroad. Her mastery of the medium has led her to receiving numerous awards for her ability to paint with remarkable vibrancy and spirit, showing her love of Nature and her quest of painting “light.”

gerimedway.com

facebook.com/GeriMedwayFineArt

instagram.com/gerimedway/

GOURDS • PAINTING

Booth B26

Workshop Instructor – sign up here

Lisa is a Southern California native who has been working with gourds for the last 15 years. After years working in the commercial illustration world, she discovered the world of gourds and never looked back.

“I am so curious about repeating shapes in nature and the universe….from chambered nautilus shells, to fiddle-head ferns, to Fibonacci numbers. From there it is a fairly short leap to make a connection between the organic, natural shapes of gourds….. to the shapes of people!”

Email: mamagourds@yahoo.com

SCULPTURE

Booth B1

T. Miles is a sculptor and painter based in Southern California, whose creative path began in his hometown in Wisconsin. As a child, he constantly modified everyday objects and furniture, driven by a hands-on approach to problem-solving and a fascination with how things work. He explored puzzles and spatial design with enthusiasm, building an intuitive understanding of form, function, and aesthetics skills that continue to shape his artistic vision.

FROM ARCHITECTURE TO ART
Initially drawn to architecture, T. Miles followed his instinct toward creative freedom and earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. After graduating, he moved to Southern California, where he built a career in advertising while deepening his commitment to painting. Through abstract work, he explored color, shape, and rhythm extending his lifelong fascination with visual structure and design.

A SCULPTOR‘S RETURN
T. Miles discovered stone sculpture during a weekend course at Otis College and quickly turned curiosity into passion. He studied further at the California Sculptor Symposium in Cambria and honed his craft at the Dellatolas Marble Sculpture Studio on the island of Tinos, Greece. Years later, he reignited this passion by joining a supportive community of sculptors working in a shared industrial space which alleviates the challenges of working with stone in an urban environment. Today, while painting remains part of his practice, stone sculpture stands at the core of his creative life.

NATURE, BEHAVIOR, AND THE POWER OF FORM
T. Miles works with marble, alabaster, limestone, and onyx, blending painterly techniques with sculptural form. He applies light, shadow, and texture to explore the complexity of the human experience. His work often investigates power dynamics between individuals or between people and nature while also honoring the raw beauty of the natural world. Inspired by hiking, camping, and travel, he continues to evolve his artistic language through a deep curiosity about the world around him.

TmilesArt@gmail.com

Instagram Address: @tmiles_art

CERAMIC SCULPTURE

Booth B23

My inspiration is life, the emotions of human beings and the need to create and the love I have for sculptor in ceramic.

I make my ceramic sculptor with clay , paint with engobes, stains and glazes. I fire them three times in low (1940 f) and high (2185 f) temperatures to reach the desired effects.

Facebook: mongrutceramic339

Instagram: pedromongrut/

PASTEL • WATERCOLOR

Booth D17

It all began with a Dream of Going Places….

Whether its watercolors where I splash and flick paint in a mindful and crafted way or pastels with my expressive mark making, these help me create from the beauty that I see surrounding me. Painting has always been my passion, it took me a while to get the courage to go out there and share the works I’ve created. It’s as if I was putting my soul on display. During 2020, I spent many weeks dreaming of all the places I wanted to go, to see wide open spaces and reflect nature from my brushstrokes, the paint, the pastels, the paper and my heart. This allowed me, actually forced me, to pull out the stash of paintings I’ve had in my drawers and cubbies. I am so excited that I embarked on this part of the artistic journey, finding these amazing pieces again reignited the spark in me.

I desire to capture the aliveness of a place and the translucent moment when the world stands still, and so I paint from a place of intuition deep inside The colors I chose flow from my soul and create the wonder people feel when they look at my paintings. The passion I feel when I paint is expressed, as one of my recent clients told me, in each finished piece. She said she could feel the calm and love in the painting.

Let the art heal, calm, excite, inspire and remind you to dream. As that’s what all art does. We all know life is short and beauty is forever.

My work has been showcased at the Art-a-Fair Festival (2023-2025), SOCALPAPA (Southern California Plein Air Painters, LPAPA (Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Association) Shows and is held in private collections. In addition, I am a member of Watercolor West and the Pastel Society of the West Coast.

sandramorrison.com

Instagram: @smorrisonfa

Facebook Address: smorrisonfa

MIXED MEDIA (Leather & Jute) • FABRICS

Booth B10

Elena Mukhina (b. 1975, Moscow) is a Russian‑American mixed media artist based in San Jose, California. She discovered her love of drawing in early childhood, completing three years of art school by age fifteen and later earning a degree in Fine Art Criticism from the Glazunov Academy of Art in 1998. Elena began teaching art to children in 1996 and continues to work with young artists alongside her own studio practice.

After relocating to California in 2013 with her husband and three children, Elena gradually expanded her artistic practice, exploring a wide range of two‑dimensional media. For more than a decade she has been developing her work with leather collage, a technique that allows her to combine drawing, relief, and sculptural form within a single surface. Each piece is built from many carefully hand‑cut and shaped leather elements that are layered to create complex textures, subtle relief, and nuanced color relationships, while reflecting her goal of creating art that connects people with nature and encourages viewers to notice beauty in everyday surroundings.

Her works often depict plants, landscapes, and natural patterns inspired by the California environment. Leaves, flowers, branches, and geological forms are translated into simplified shapes and assembled like visual mosaics. The tactile qualities of leather—its grain, flexibility, and depth of color—become an integral part of the composition, allowing natural textures to echo the subjects they represent.

Elena’s work reflects an interest in structure, rhythm, and the quiet order found in nature. By combining precise handwork with layered materials, she creates compositions that invite viewers to slow down and notice small details that might otherwise be overlooked.

Since 2021 her work has been presented in solo and group exhibitions throughout Northern and Southern California. Through her mixed media practice and teaching, Elena continues to explore how traditional craftsmanship and contemporary visual language can meet within a single artwork.

www.elenamuruart.com

PHOTOGRAPHY
Booth B27

Wildlife photographer Jeff Nadler specializes in award-winning fine art wildlife and nature photography from around the globe, with a special talent for exposing nature’s soul through black-&-white and color artistic imagery. With a passion of advocacy for the protection of endangered species, Jeff’s photographic mission is to create an emotional connection with his natural world subjects for the viewer and encourage active support of wildlife conservation. A percentage of his sales is donated to support an anti-poaching organization in East Africa.

Jeff has been especially fascinated by Africa for as long as he can remember. “As a child, I was always drawn to movies and stories about the African ‘jungle’, from Tarzan to Hatari, from King Solomon’s Mines to the Man-eaters of Tsavo.” A career in scuba diving and exploring the world’s oceans pushed aside adult thoughts of Africa until an overseas business trip provided the opportunity for a safari in Botswana. That experience not only re-awakened his childhood dreams of Africa, it turned that fascination into a passion for its animals. Jeff has returned to Africa seven times since that first safari in 2001.

Jeff’s images have received awards in numerous international contests, with recognition for art originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, his fellow exhibitors at Laguna Art-A-Fair selected Jeff as Best in Photography. His work has been featured in fine art magazines, with one reviewer noting “Although it’s fair to say that artwork involving animal subjects has universal appeal, the manner in which Jeff presents his subjects far surpasses conventional documentation. It is said that the eyes are the windows of the soul. Nowhere is that more evident than in the sensitive, soulful portraits of Jeff’s subjects. He possesses an extraordinary ability to connect with wild animals on a level of intimacy and serenity that belies the risks and dangers of working in the wild.”

How does Jeff create such unique images? He explains, “Unlike landscape photography, where pre-planning the composition, lighting, etc., is crucial for a successful image, in photographing wildlife it is impossible to ‘edit within the camera’. When the action is happening fast and furious, it needs to be captured quickly. It is only after the action is over that I can actually see what I have to work with. Later that night, as I look at each of the day’s images, I listen for those that speak to me; that tell me what they are meant to turn into. Just as a group of painters will look at a bowl of fruit and each create a completely different still-life, each photo tells me what I need to do in my editing to ‘paint’ my vision of it. Sometimes I instantly know what the final image will be. For others, it may be months (or even years) after numerous viewings before an image unlocks its secrets and reveals itself to me, just as a block of marble eventually reveals the statue hidden inside it to the sculptor.”

Jeff’s image library includes: African wildlife of all types photographed throughout Eastern & Southern Africa; jaguars, birds & other South American wildlife photographed in Brazil; Grizzly bears, black bears & spirit bears (white-furred black bear sub-species) photographed in Canada; wolves, elk & bison photographed in Yellowstone; giant pandas & other Chinese wildlife photographed in Sichuan Province, China; wild horses photographed in France’s Camargue region. His work is printed on canvas or archival photo paper, in custom sizes to meet each client’s specific needs.

Galleries:

SmartSpace Art Gallery - San Diego, CA

SmartSpace Art Gallery - Vista, CA

facebook.com/jeffnadlerphotography

instagram.com/jeff.nadler.photo/

ACRYLIC PAINTING

Booth C11

Gina Nickels is a Las Vegas–based artist whose acrylic paintings explore themes of nature, animals, and the beauty found in everyday life. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from San Diego State University, where she developed a strong foundation in composition, color, and visual storytelling.

Early in her career, Gina worked for an archaeology firm, creating detailed graphics and illustrations of historic and prehistoric artifacts. This meticulous work required a disciplined attention to form, texture, and nuance—skills that continue to shape her artistic practice today.

Blending precision with creative interpretation, Gina brings a distinctive artistic perspective to her paintings, intertwining careful detail with expressive, contemporary flair.

www.studio17th.com

FIBER & TEXTILE

Booth B24

Louise Nielsen is a mixed-media fiber artist who loves transforming bits of wool into colorful, textured pieces that feel part painting, part tactile experiences-art you can reach out and touch. She draws inspiration from nature, travel and the small moments in life that we often rush past. Her process is intuitive and hands-on, layering and shaping natural wool fibers until each piece develops its own unique personality. No two are ever the same, which is part of the joy. Through her work she hopes to bring warmth, joy and a touch of whimsy into your space. 

Enjoy her soft, colorful wall art and wearable art-created from the heart for you.

Instagram:heartfelt.finery

OIL PAINTING

Booth B134

I am a portrait artist based in Pasadena, California, specializing in bold, colorful works that seek to capture the soul of each subject. Originally from Taiwan, I began painting at the age of five and have developed my practice as a self-taught artist.
My work is deeply inspired by people, culture, and diversity. Through expressive color and dynamic composition, I aim to reveal not just the likeness, but the inner life and energy of those I portray.

Travel plays a vital role in shaping my artistic perspective. Experiencing different cultures and communities continually influences my work, enriching my approach to storytelling through portraiture.

 www.limeiartworld.com

ACRYLIC PAINTING

Booth B15

From an early age, I have held a deep passion for the arts.

In 2016, I traveled to the United States to visit my daughter. During that visit, I encountered a hummingbird for the first time and instantly fell in love with its delicate beauty.

This experience sparked my fascination with nature and birds, particularly hummingbirds, which have since become a central theme in my work.

I am honored to present my art at my first exhibition of this scale and am eager to share my creations with you.

Currently, I showcase my work at various art walks in Long Beach, Downey, and Santa Ana.

My artistic journey is continually evolving, and I look forward to exploring new directions. I often collaborate with my husband, who has been a tremendous source of inspiration and support throughout my creative process.

Instagram: ksyusha_creates_art

Jewelry

Booth C1

I’m Laura—jewelry artist, metalsmith, and the hands behind Novaura Jewelry.

After a career in engineering, I found myself drawn back to a quiet childhood passion—making jewelry by hand. What began as a creative outlet became something more: a way to blend my love of precision with my desire for meaningful design.

Today, in my Southern California studio, I create each piece with care, blending engineering skill with artistic soul. I work in sterling silver, turquoise, and natural gemstones—each chosen for its strength, energy, and natural beauty.

My designs are for women who are stepping into their next chapter. Women who honor where they’ve been, but are always reaching for what’s next.

NovauraJewelry.com

Facebook: NovauraJewelry

Instagram: novaurajewelry

LinkedIn: lauraroesgen

WATERCOLORS

Booth B13

Mark O’Hare is a Southern California watercolor painter whose work captures the quiet moments of outdoor life. Inspired by the coastal light and neighborhood scenes of Laguna, his paintings often feature animals and everyday life, with pets and small creatures acting as quiet observers of the human world.
Alongside his studio work, O’Hare has spent more than two decades working in animation as a story artist and director on films including Despicable Me, Minions, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, and Spongebob Squarepants. He is also the creator of the comic strip Citizen Dog.

www.markseanohare.com

FIBER/TEXTILE

Booth D5

Carrie Olsen is a contemporary quilt maker and fiber artist from Laguna Woods, California. Her artwork is firmly grounded in the craft of quilt making. It has taken her many years to acquire the cutting, piecing, and quilting skills she now uses daily. Her studio is her happy place. She works intuitively while listening to her favorite music. Color, line, texture, and design ignite her passion for making art.
She uses fabric and thread as a painter uses paint and a brush to inspire her creative process. She is an artist. She simply loves it!

Art has been a thread throughout her life. Graduating with a degree in Photography from Art Center College of Design was the beginning. Working as an advertising photographer was exciting and fulfilling. Returning to school for a master’s degree in education, seemed right. She became an educator and taught school for twenty-five years. After retiring, she continues to teach workshops at the Laguna Art-A-Fair and quilting classes for the Orange County Modern Quilt Guild and The Quilt Bee in Orange, California.

Instagram: @carrieolsenstudioquits

WOODWORK

Booth A18

Tim O'Neill's relationship with wood began as a quiet obervation of his father building the family's garage in the backyard at age 11. His obervation then turned in to a participant with his father to finish the project.

Based on his workshop in Southern California, Tim transforms raw salvaged timber into objects of tactile significance.

Each piece of wood is a dialogue between the lathe and the soul of the grain.

His work is not merely turned, it is uncovered, honoring the slow growth of woods from around the world.

www.oneillsworkingsinwood.com

OIL

Booth D8

I am a local artist based in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach, CA, creating under the name ShyeArt. This year marks my second participation in the Laguna Art Fair, and I am honored to return and share my work with the community.
Specializing in oil painting, I focus on capturing the beauty of nature and cityscapes through warm, vibrant color palettes and refined detail. My work seeks to evoke a sense of joy, serenity, and nostalgia, offering light and quiet reflection to those who experience it.

shyeart.com

Instagram: shye.gallery

ACRYLIC

Booth D12

My name is Dale Patterson. I have just recently retired from running a high-end finish carpentry business, doing my best to put beauty into client's home with custom woodworking. I have done artwork all my life but it always had to take a back seat to the woodworking and making my living. Now I have the time to devote to my artwork as I have always wanted to do. I hope you enjoy my artwork as much as I do creating it. I live in San Clemente and have worked on custom homes up and down the coast for over forty-five years. I still love woodworking but now it will be taking the back seat so I can create the artwork.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ENJOY MY PIECES

abreathoffreshart.com

instagram.com/abreathoffreshart/

GLASS • WATERCOLOR

Booth A23

Bonnie has been drawn to water and its inhabitants since childhood. Growing up on Lake Michigan, she spent her early years surrounded by water, captivated by the way colors reflect from a blue sky and how the waves catch the sun’s rays. Her love for the ocean would go on to shape both her artistic vision and career.

From a young age, Bonnie’s artistic talent was apparent. She consistently received A+ grades in Art classes from Kindergarten onward, often taking assignments to a higher level. A bit defiant in her approach, she sought to express herself uniquely, never content to follow the crowd.

Bonnie earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Throughout her studies, she explored various mediums, including serigraphy, pencil illustration, watercolor, photography, and graphic design. After college, she relocated to California and worked for 15 years in computer graphics, electronic prepress, and desktop publishing.

Eventually, Bonnie left her successful corporate career to start her own company, specializing in international marketing for ocean and marine-related clients. As a passionate scuba diver and underwater photographer, she uses her talent to not only capture the beauty of the ocean, but to raise awareness about the need for its protection. She teaches photography workshops worldwide, sharing her knowledge and love for the underwater world with others.

Her art is deeply influenced by the Fibonacci sequence, particularly the Golden Mean and Golden Spiral composition, which she incorporates into many of her creations. She describes it as having “inexplicable aesthetic appeal”. For the past five years, Bonnie has focused on glass art, developing unique fusing techniques, molds, and original designs that set her work apart.

Bonnie resides in Laguna Beach and continues to travel the world looking for new reefs to photograph, hiking trails to explore, and adventures to experience. When not traveling, she can be found in her studio, perfecting her glass art pieces or painting in watercolor.

Instagram: instagram.com/underwatercolours

Facebook: facebook.com/ArtistBonniePelnar

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/bonnie-pelnar-dietz

UnderWatercolours.com

MIXED MEDIA (Oil & Acrylic)

Booth C25

Joseph Anthony Peterson (aka Tony) is an artist based in North County San Diego, living in "The Hidden City" of Escondido, California. He started his interest in art while at Berthoud high school in Colorado and at Fort Lewis College in Durango Colorado, beginning with drawing. Having moved to Arkansas, he continued his journey in pastels, displaying his work in Pine Bluff, AR while doing consignments. After moving back to Colorado, he began to learn acrylics and did consignments painting murals.

His early art consisted of painting popular sports figures and portraits but later he shifted to primarily painting landscapes. After retiring from his job as a restaurant manager with Taco Bell, he moved to the mountains of Colorado and began to explore oils. He became a member of the local artist guild and displayed his work in Westcliffe, CO, at the Sangrias Art Guild 3rd Street Gallery.

Today, he works in acrylic's & oil, and other mixed media, including resins. He likes the flexibility to express different ideas which results in his finished art. He is introducing his miniature original seascapes & landscapes called "Portals". He loves the beauty living by the ocean and surrounding areas, giving him endless opportunity and inspiration to learn and grow.

www.ArtistJosephAnthonyPeterson.com

SCULPTURE

BOOTH B12

I am excited to return for what will be my 2nd year in this show. I create nautical themed 3-Dimensional Steampunk Wall Art in polymer clay. I am originally from the UK where I was always creative but only as a hobby, something to do on all those rainy days. When we moved to the US in 2010 my neighbor introduced me to polymer clay. Having started with jewelry and wine glass charms I took a steampunk class in 2018 and it quickly became my passion. Since becoming a studio partner in the Spanish Village Art Centre down in Balboa Park, San Diego in 2021 it has become my sole focus. My art is whimsical, my fish are always wearing hats and up to some sort of mischief (cooking, playing tennis etc.) … I wonder what they’ll be up to next.

denisepinnelldesigns.weebly.com

Facebook: denisepinnelldesigns

Instagram: denise.pinnell.7

FIBER/TEXTILE

Booth A6

Martine is native from Paris, France, she has lived in several cities across North America including New York, Chicago, Vancouver, Seattle, Hillsborough (NJ), and Costa Mesa. She now calls Laguna Hills home, where she has finally settled. Upon retiring, her creativity and attention to detail blossomed, leading her to discover a passion for the art of macramé. She embarked on a journey to create unique pieces, continuously exploring new techniques and pushing the boundaries of her craft. Her dream of mastering macramé became a reality as she embraced her passion and unleashed her inventive spirit.

Instagram: @mp_macrame

MIXED MEDIA (oil & acrylic)

Booth C14

Anja Prescher creates layered, tactile paintings that bridge realism and abstraction, exploring texture, space, and meaning. Inspired by the landscapes of the American West and the fleeting presence of hummingbirds, her work balances depth with openness, weight with lightness.

Using natural materials like raw linen, sand, crushed seashells, and gold leaf, Anja Prescher builds surfaces rich with textures—weathered, woven, and alive. Her palette reflects the soft pinks of canyons at dusk, the serene blues of the Pacific coastline, and the radiant golds of the Californian sun. Hummingbirds often emerge in her compositions, symbolizing resilience, connection, and transformation.

Originally from Germany, she studied under European artists before settling in California, where she refined her artistic voice at the Milan Art Institute. Her work has been exhibited at juried shows like Laguna Beach’s Art-A-Fair and is held in private collections worldwide.

anjaprescher.com

Instagram: @prescherart

MIXED MEDIA (acrylic & foil) • WATERCOLOR

Booth C20

Emilee spent over 30 years working for the best boss ever, Mickey Mouse, at The Disneyland Resort; The Happiest Place on Earth.  In her retired life, she’s just as happy at ‘The Second Happiest Place on Earth’; Laguna Art-A-Fair!  Emilee has been a Juried Artist at LAAF since 2010.

Emilee’s artwork has developed into two worlds.  She loves watercolors for their brilliant colors, dramatic lights and shadows and incredibly precise details.  When she wants to “loosen up”, she turns to her Liquid Art/Paint-Pouring.  There are no limits to these creations, and no two are ever alike.  She loves to add layers of resin to some of her pieces, as doing so really makes the vibrant colors “POP”!

Emilee lives and paints in Anaheim, California.  She is a published artist, a current Board Member and Juried Exhibitor at Laguna Art-A-Fair in Laguna Beach.  She is a Juror, an Art Demonstrator and conducts Watercolor and Paint Pouring Workshops and lessons at Laguna Art-A-Fair, in her Anaheim studio, and when booked, travels to various locations to teach.

Emilee is a member of Watercolor West, Spark OC and Orange County Fine Arts Association.

Emilee Reed

facebook.com/emileeereed

Instagram Address: artistemilee

OIL

Booth A19

I started painting seriously about 20 years ago when my daughter decided I had a gift and that I needed to explore it.

The decision to focus on animals, particularly pets was an easy one. For years my friends would enjoy watching me react to every cute pet I encountered. Since I think that every dog or cat I encounter is adorable, this became a full time activity for my acquaintances. I added some wildlife and outdoor paintings into the mix when I had the opportunity to explore our wild planet.

I began offering pet portraits to the public and was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming positive reactions. When I paint someone's pet dog or cat, that pet becomes mine for the duration of the project. I become possessive about the pet and want to capture its very soul, what makes it so lovable.

I have a passion for inviting people into my world of art:
If I can make someone feel the love that pets bring into our lives then I've been successful.

When someone steps into my booth and smiles at the celebration of pets following them with their eyes and happy faces, then I've been successful.

Stop by and allow me to show you how we can make a lifetime memory together for you and your pet.

lifeinoils.com

SCULPTURE

Booth C4

Raquel Atibagos Roberts is a multi-faceted artist whose sculpture work exhibits this summer at Laguna Art A Affair. Her sculptures of welded steel reflect her interest in the emotional world and charisma of humans and animals. A more whimsical mood is reflected in her welded flower bouquets. Originally from Manila, she developed her skills largely through mentors and self-study. She credits her imagination from an upbringing which required resourcefulness. Since immigrating to the United States she has sold her artwork at a variety of shows, fairs and galleries. She is currently attending Cal State Bernardino for a B.F.A. in Studio Art and received an A.A. in Fine Arts from Victor Valley College.

www.raquelaroberts.com

Instagram: raquelatibagosroberts

PHOTOGRAPHY • JEWELRY • OIL • MIXED MEDIA (acrylic & oil)

Booth B7

My art career started quite by accident. I owned a company and hired an ad agency to help me with promotion. Part of the job required them to take advertising photos of our building and our workers. When I saw the photos I was very disappointed and told the agency how I felt. It was suggested that I take the photos myself and show the agency photographer what I wanted. I took the photos and my partner and I decided that they were just what we wanted and used them in our ad campaign. Shortly thereafter we sold the business and the ad agency asked me if I wanted to work for them. I began my career as a photographer.

After a number of industrial jobs I was offered a commercial photo shoot for a clothing designer. During that time I started wildlife photography. For the next few decades I sold wildlife photos, lead wildlife tours and did commercial photography.

In 2008 I started painting. What you find here is my progression as an oil painter. I’ve decided that I will only paint what moves me, and what moves me is painting from my own photos.

In particular this holds true with my wildlife paintings. Not only do I want to paint scenes that I have personally observed, but the photo has to have been taken in the wild, not a captive animal, so that I can feel and portray the emotion of the moment. Recreating that wonderful sensation I felt when a truly wild and free animal is in my personal space.

I hope the emotion I feel, the exhilaration, the feeling of being in the presence of such a beautiful animal comes through to you. I have been lucky enough to have traveled the world over. I love what I do, feel truly blessed that I can do it. I want to spend the rest of my life taking photographs of fantastic animals and places and paint those moments that catch my fancy.

robertrossfineart.com/

ENCAUSTIC • MIXED MEDIA (wax & oil)

Booth B14

"I failed miserably in my art history classes in college. I studied each image as if it were the last image I would ever see, but the names of the artist who created the masterpiece would escape my mind. My father was a physicist who captured life around him with his father’s Leica when I was a child. He bought a 110 camera when I was about 10, so it was easier to carry around and I somewhat absconded with it. When I would return from an airplane trip, he would delight in the images I took of the cloud formations in the sky. My father and I would go to the library, and I would walk out with my arms full of photography and film books, any book that was full of images. My life was images, I loved images. As I got older, I took a photography class in Jr. College, while still in high school. I went on to study commercial photography and ceramics at Cal State Fullerton and ended up working in a commercial photography studio in Orange County, Ca in the early 1980’s. I soon started my own commercial/portrait studio and began to custom print black and white photographs. I moved on to wedding photography and my life took a big detour. I wouldn’t pick up a camera again for 15 years, until I met my husband, Steve, 11 years ago. I credit him for bringing me back to artistically expressing myself again. He started by teaching me to paint with oils, something my mom had done before I was born. I could create any world I wanted to. I was soon introduced to an encaustic artist. I saw her work and the ideas of what I could do with this newfound medium, raced through my head. I had found a medium that I could manipulate the medium to express my feelings and ideas that had been lingering in my head for so many years. I use collage with my encaustic work just as I used collage in my photography work in college and I also paint with straight pure encaustic wax with color to evoke different feelings. Encaustic art allows me to incorporate all my experience as an artist into one medium. It blends design with texture and has visual depth. You can delve down into the layers of wax, exposing hazy details, just like a person.

Selected Exhibitions

2022 Solo Show, Bunny Gunner Gallery, Claremont, CA

2021 Group Show, Old Broads, Riverside Museum of Art, Riverside, CA

2020 Group Show, The Old Broads, Roswell Space Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2020 Dual Show, Hillcrest Gallery, La Verne, CA

2019 Dual Show, Progress Gallery, Pomona, CA

2019 Group Show, Square I Gallery, Claremont, CA

2019 Group Show, The Old Broads, Middle Ridge Winery Gallery, Idyllwild, CA

2019 Group Show, The Old Broads, Bunny Gunner, Claremont, CA

2018 Group Show, The Old Broads, UCR, Riverside, CA

2017 Group Show, The Old Broads, Progress Gallery, Pomona CA

2015 All You Can Eat, Bunny Gunner, Claremont, CA (group show)

2013 Dual Show, Illuminated Methodology, DPOA, Pomona, CA"

monkeybox-studio.com

Instagram: @susan.ruiz_art

OIL

Booth A30

After making my mark in the Native American Music world, as a flutist, my roots are calling. I’m being pulled back to my love of painting by the smell of the oils and the feel of the brush. I find peace and tranquility in my studio. It’s my meditation in this crazy world.

Steven Rushingwind-Ruiz a California native is of Native American & Mexican descent, has been interested in art and music his entire life. He was raised within a family of artists, including musicians and painters. As a child he spent time with his uncle, oil painter Alfred Flores 1913-1997, in his studio. Rushingwind remembers sensing the full rich smell of oils, the buttery texture of the paint on his fingers, — he was hooked.

Money was tight in the Ruiz family, since his parents had six children to feed. Steve didn’t have enough money to buy oils so he took the discarded tubes from his uncle’s trash can and squeezed out every blob he could possibly get so he could amass enough paint for a painting. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it taught him how to mix an array of colors out of the three primary colors. As we fast-forward to his early thirties, the love of music and the outdoors became his passion, so it was only natural to step outside and paint what was in his heart. He did several plein air paintings. Many have acquired Rushingwind’s landscape paintings, plein air paintings, award winning music and wood sculptures. He is known as the “matchmaker” for his wood carved eight-foot-high burnt matchsticks. Rushingwind is fascinated by ordinary objects becoming bigger than life as is shown in his latest work, the fishing lures, commonly called “Big Fish”. These paintings of the old lures show the use and history and of each one. His work can be found in corporate, private and museum collections. He has been featured in catalogs and many newspaper articles. Rushingwind is a self-taught artist, coming from a family of artists.

He has owned two galleries, The Blue Core in Pomona California and Ruiz Studios in Monterey, California. His work is part of the permanent collection at The Latino Art Museum in Pomona, California and The Pomona Valley Hospital. His work has also been shown in hundreds of one-man and group shows including the Millard Sheets Gallery, Claremont Museum of Art, Square I Gallery in Claremont, CA, dA Center for the Arts, Metro Gallery, Blue Core, Buddhamouse, Division 9 Gallery as well as galleries in Monterey, Sand City, Carmel, California and Washington DC. Steven has judged and curated many art shows throughout his career. Steven is also an accomplished international award-winning Native Flute musician, known as Steven Rushingwind.

rushingwind-art.com

facebook.com/steven.rushingwind

instagram.com/rushingwind_art/

GLASS

Booth C5

Born in Laguna Beach, Shelli is a true Southern California native and beach local who now calls Dana Point home. With a vibrant creative spirit, she brings glass to life through a distinctive and expressive style.

For over 30 years, Shelli has worked in the original Tiffany method of stained glass, continually inspired by the beauty and movement of light through color. She enjoys sharing the magic of art glass with others and creating pieces that brighten both spaces and spirits.

From ocean life to custom animal portraits and intricate three-dimensional designs, Shelli’s thoughtful glass choices and rich color combinations allow each piece to sing as it catches the light.

Instagram Address: @she_she_lala_mb

ACRYLIC • COLORED PENCIL • BOOKS • MIXED MEDIA (acrylic & pencil or paper/fabric)

Booth A28

An Andover, Massachusetts native, this southern CA-based artist is a poet as well as a painter.  Laura is the author & illustrator of several award-winning gift and picture books.  Her newest book is a renovated version of her 1990 title, which was awarded winner for Best Children's Literature by The Council of Authors & Journalists.  With the book's recent hefty makeover, it now presents with fresh design, modified art and even hidden words to find in the shadowbox art along with items and creatures.  Now titled "The Search & Find World of Shadowboxes, Rediscover the ABCs", it won The Mom's Choice Gold Award in 2025.

Laura taught commercial, editorial and children's book illustration at The Atlanta College of Art, and co-piloted the Authors in Schools programs, inspiring children to write and draw from their hearts and minds.  Her interactive school programs focus on the importance of rough drafts and each session includes drawing step by step with the students and teachers, wrapping with book signings.

In 2018 Laura's gift book "A Cat Never Tells" was Laguna's Festival of Arts' best selling book in their 85 year history and in 2013 she was voted Laguna Art-A-Fair’s favorite new artist.  Since then, many of her summer days are spent at Art-A-Fair, just a few miles north of her Dana Point gallery and studio.

Besides books, her POETRY IN PAINT Collection metaphorically depicts life, with a verse in each painting.  Whimsical cats are often Laura's star subjects along with dogs, dolphins, seahorses, even a purple dragon.  Her art repertoire also includes abstract, beach & sea, music and inspirational words.

Laura’s paintings have been shown and sold in galleries with shows from San Francisco, New Orleans, L.A., Laguna Beach, San Diego and Palm Springs.  Her cats have graced the Royal Canin-supported San Diego Cat Fanciers’ Club poster and the cover of the International Cat Fanciers’ Association Yearbook. 

As an animal advocate, Laura supports their rescues and causes.

Laura Seeley Studio & Best Friends Art Gallery are at 24682 Del Prado, in Dana Point, CA. 92629.

bestfriendsartgallery.com/

Facebook Address: facebook.com/lauraseeleystudio/

Instagram Address: instagram.com/lauraseeleystudio/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lauraseeley

ACRYLIC PAINTING

Booth B16

Kruti is a contemporary artist whose work blends cultural heritage with modern visual expression. Her paintings are known for their masterful use of color and an intricate, pointillism-inspired technique in which thousands of carefully placed marks create rich texture, rhythm, and depth. Central to her practice is her evolving meticulous approach—an intuitive system of patterned mark-making that results in emotionally resonant compositions.

Her artistic perspective is shaped by a unique background spanning both in science and the performing arts. Kruti holds advanced degrees from institutions in India and the United States, an interdisciplinary foundation that informs the precision and rhythm present in her work.

A regular participant in the Los Angeles art scene, Kruti exhibits actively and engages with the city’s vibrant creative community. Her work is held in private collections internationally, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, India, Canada, and Dubai.

Instagram: kmsartstudio

WATERCOLOR

Booth D14

B.A in Korean painting, Ewha Woman's university.  Seoul, Korea

1986, 1987
13th, 14th Group Exhibition "Chunchu Hwae" in Korea

1994 
Copper print part in Group Exhibition

2014-2019 
Ewha Woman's University Group Exhibition "Chae Yeon Jeun" in Korea

2014 
Wharang Art Festival invitation of October in Korea

2014,2017 
Contemporary Art Fair in Hong Kong 

2016 
Solo Exhibition " The flowers whisper" in Korea

2017,2018 
"EchaeJeun" Group Exhibition in Korea

2019 
Home table deco fair in Korea

2020
Hillcrest art festival award

2021-2025
Laguna Art A-Fair Fine Art Festival

bunchaesuki.com

OIL PAINTING • MIXED MEDIA (Oil & Paper)

Booth A22

Deborah started painting during the pandemic in 2020, taking numerous online classes. She soon went from using oil only for her paintings to mixed media. She uses Gelle prints, molding paste, alcoholic ink along with oil paint to get the texture and effect in her paintings

She has exhibited in Europe as well as numerous local shows. Her paintings have been published in numerous magazines and has won awards at the San Clemente Art Association
She enjoys using nature as an inspiration. She loves impasto and color to express how she sees beauty in her flowers. landscape and seascapes.

www.Deborahjoyshriverart.com

Facebook:DeborahZaricorShriver

Instagram:DeborahJoyShriverartist

MIXED MEDIA (acrylic & oil) • KINTSUGI

Booth B4

Ilze Sims is a self-taught multimedia artist based on the lush Hamakua Coast of Hawai‘i Island. Her luminous, textured works - often described as “glowing and flowing” - shimmer with gold leaf and raised relief, capturing the movement of water, the radiance of inner light, and the quiet power of nature.

Originally from South Africa, Ilze followed a spontaneous dream that led her to sail across oceans before ultimately making Hawai‘i her home. That leap of faith shaped not only her life, but her art. Each piece becomes a journey - layered, dimensional, and alive with emotion - guided by a golden thread of remembrance that runs through her work and her life.

Working with plaster, acrylics, oils, and delicate metal leaf, Ilze creates surfaces that reflect light like sun dancing beneath tropical waters. Lagoon blues, molten gold accents, and organic textures echo coral reefs, volcanic landscapes, and the sacred rhythms of the Pacific.

Exhibiting in Hawai‘i and Laguna Beach, and internationally in Tahiti, Ilze’s work continues to evolve through her connection to Polynesian culture and oceanic landscapes. At its heart, her art is an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect - to the light within, to the present moment, and to the quiet knowing that exists before everything else.

IlzeSimsArt.com
Facebook: HawaiiArtStudio
Instagram: ilzesimsart

MIXED MEDIA (repurposed paper & acrylic)

Booth C21

As a self-taught artist, I’ve explored a range of styles and materials while carving out a signature voice rooted in texture, repetition, and intention. My current passion is creating intricate paper artworks from repurposed grocery ads and flyers—rolling, shaping, and assembling each piece into vibrant mosaics that celebrate color, everyday beauty, and mindful transformation.

mindfulart2022.etsy.com

OIL

Booth A2

Viviana Stone is a Southern California painter whose bold, color-forward oil work bridges the charm of mid-century design with the spontaneity of modern abstraction. After more than three decades of private artistic exploration, Viviana now paints full-time, often en plein airletting the local landscape infuse her work with warmth, sunlight, and flow.
Her work is both intuitive and structured, joyful and introspective. Viviana’s paintings have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including Art-A-Fair Laguna Beach, the Newport Beach Art Exhibition, La Quinta Art Celebration, and Modernism Week Palm Springs. Her collector base spans interior designers, gallerists, and art lovers drawn to her unique fusion of color, composition, and emotional resonance.

vivfineart.com

Facebook: vivianafineart.net

Instagram: vivianafineart

PHOTOGRAPHY

Booth B21

My experience with photography began early. As a preteen I would sit in my fathers' "wet dark room" and observe the images magically appear on the white paper, smelling the pungent odor of the chemicals as the photo paper was dipped from bath to bath, under the glow of a red light. I watched, learned, and practiced as he taught me about the techniques of modifying black-and-white photos to change their outcome.

With my father's encouragement a Minolta 35mm camera with a long lens would come into my life. My parents would 

drive me to the beach to take surfing photos along the Southern California coast where I grew up. By my mid-teens I become consumed  with cars, and started taking photos at regional sports car races.       

This led to entering and winning numerous photo contests early on with "black and white" photography, and later by the early 80s with "color" photography having images published as magazine covers. Now, my film cameras only collect dust and enjoy the use of digital.

As a current member of the "Motor Press Guild," I have the opportunity to use my camera constantly to improve my craft, whether "B/W" or "Color."

As an artist I find something magical about storytelling with a camera and being an image maker, respecting the past but unafraid of innovation.​​  My images celebrate memories, rusted or old, shiney or new and will immerse you in their soul, color, texture, and design. They are unique interpretations. 

I put the same thought into my uniquely different vintage images, with attention to color, composition and quality of light. If I was asked to describe them, I would call them "A little raw with an attitude."

Let me know what image to print for you from table top size to full wall size prints!

www.JohnStraubDesign.com

facebook.com/john.straub.315

instagram.com/johnstraubimageworks/

OIL

Booth A14

Monique describes her unique and distinctive painting style as Contemporary Bohemian. Marked by bold and diverse color schemes that incorporate warm earth tones, bright accents, and neutral base colors, her paintings enjoy a vibrant and energetic mood.

Contemporary Bohemian is versatile enough to blend with both contemporary and traditional decor, adding warmth and personality. Each expressive work of art is a magical journey into a world of bold color and lively brushwork.

Her unique style is the result of formal training in technical illustration, art history, traditional painting, and commercial photography. A painter and a festival artist for over 30 years, Monique currently works in oil on canvas, determining the composition through the lens of her own photography, while creating her own version of the landscape. She enjoys the use of simple and traditional painting techniques, hand sketching in charcoal and using only brush, paint, and canvas.

A San Diego native, she currently resides in San Clemente, CA.

www.moniquestraub.com

GOURDS • WOOD • BASKETRY

Booth D9

My interest in gourds began as a small child, born and raised in Nigeria. The Nigerian people use gourds for everything from storing food to spoons to holding cosmetics. when I saw a class on gourd art offered by San Diego Botanic Garden I decided to give it a try. The feel and smell of the burning gourd just took me ‘home’. I was hooked.

I purchase my gourds from Welburn Gourd Farm just north of Fallbrook — uncleaned and uncut. First I soak and scrub off the farm dirt and mold. Then I look at each gourd carefully for any flaws or cracks. Each gourd has its own personality and that often dictates what design I will burn into the gourd and whether it will stay whole or become an opened vessel. Some gourds may take as little as two or three hours to complete. Others may take days or weeks.

The gourds are cut, dremeled, sanded, dyed, carved, painted, beaded and finished with an acrylic spray. The surface of a good quality gourd is almost like wood. The difference being that there is an outer “skin” that is smooth. Dyes and paint can be wiped off. Beneath this skin is a softer flesh that absorbs dye and paint very readily and can create very interesting effects.

Gourds are grown in many shapes and sizes ranging from tiny “jewelry” gourds to very large ones used as drums. Even though no two gourds are the exact shape and are never perfectly round or symmetrical, there are some basic shapes including apple, bottle, canteen, pear, snake and so on.

I also make pine needle art and pine needle baskets. The pine needles are sourced from the Southwest United States. Each piece is unique and takes many hours. a real labor of love. Some may hang on a wall, and others may be displayed on a stand.

Taken from techniques I perfected on gourds, I now burn and dye professional wood art boards. They are wired to hang on a wall but may also be displayed on a stand.

All current gourds available for purchase may be viewed at

GourdsByGrace.com.

facebook.com/grace.a.swanson

instagram.com/grace.a.swanson/

MOSAIC

Booth B11

Elliott Sylvester (they/them) is an LA-based abstract paper mosaic artist fueled by an obsession with color, rhythm, and precision. Their work invites you to see the world through bright geometry and handcrafted joy, combining bold patterns with meticulous craftsmanship to create vibrant art that is as playful as it is entrancing.

Their creations follow a one-piece-at-a-time philosophy. While designs begin on the computer, the final form is achieved by hand-cutting each paper element and manually adhering it to the surface. This slow art approach lets them stay connected to the piece, introducing subtle imperfections that make each work unique.

Elliott creates from a deep internal need for expression to help them navigate the world. This process allows them to reconnect with a sense of freedom and joy unburdened by judgment. That freedom translates into a style using rhythmic patterns to create movement that is entirely relaxing and grounding. They hope their modern perspective on geometry leaves the viewer mesmerized by their intricate designs.

angularitydesigns.com/

Instagram: @angularitydesigns

OIL • ACRYLIC

Booth C2

Aurelia's love of nature and her Polish heritage influences her artistic expression. Inspired by God's beautiful creation, she uses her raw talent to bring a glimmer of that natural wonder to life.

Born and raised in Southern Poland, outside of Krakow, art, culture, and music were fundamental components of her family heritage. Her great-grandfather was an accomplished painter whose works adorn the walls of several churches and monasteries in Poland. Artistry is in her blood and comes to her naturally from within. She often refers to the art she creates as "Art from my Soul" since it flows out from the depths of her soul without previous formal training. 

Aurelia's passion for art started at an early age but did not blossom until later in her adult life, after becoming a mother and having a successful career as a registered nurse. Living her passions of being a mom, a nurse, and an artist makes her feel complete. Creating art brings her peace, joy and recharges her soul. Aurelia enjoys painting in vivid colors in hopes to bring a glimmer of joy and inspiration to others. Aurelia is often driven by her faith and appreciation of nature to find an inspiration for her paintings. She favors painting portraits, flowers, landscapes, and still-life pieces. Her preferred medium is oil, although she paints in acrylics and watercolors. 

Over the years, she has developed into an award-winning artist, often participating in local art shows, including the Arts Colony in Corona, Riverside Art Museum, Anaheim Art Association and Huntington Beach Art Center, California. Her paintings have been featured in several exhibitions throughout the Inland Empire and Orange County. She has been honored to exhibit at the Laguna Art-A-Fair for six consecutive years.

aureliathompson.com

facebook.com/ArtfromySoul/

instagram.com/artfromysoul/

SCULPTURE

Booth B32

Gary and Cindy Van Roekel are enjoying their retirement years together creating rusty sculptures.

We both enjoy traveling, taking road trips to explore new locations looking for those "Tossed and Found" rusty treasures. We are always surprised on what we find, and how it got there. The Internet is especially useful in researching new locations, it's history, and use of satellite imagery to visualize the area.
It's a team effort from start to finish. During the creation of an art piece, we sit across the work bench together and assist with our contributions. We surround our work bench with multiple tables loaded with trays of somewhat organized categories from our picking adventures.

Inspiration for our creations are often customer driven with images of things that make them happy. That makes us happy too! A tractor sculpture for a doctor that enjoys time working his property. A Rhinoceros head for a doctor. A heart sculpture celebrating their 50th anniversary. A Labrador Retriever sculpture for Ziggy who passed. We met a wonderful lady that collects owls from around the globe and contracted us to create one for her collection. We have created a few horses, several eagles, and lots of fish sculptures for myself and fishing clients!! Each piece is a one of a kind sculpture. Each sculpture tells a story in the rusty scraps we use. The background metal on a sculpture is a cut-up Lion's Head oil can from the 40's. The fins on a fish are likely 80 to 100 years old using flat nails. We know we are in a good picking spot when the trash doesn't include plastics or aluminum!!!

Rusty Artworks gives us purpose that brings us enjoyment. We have our kids, our grand kids, gardening, fishing, travel, and our passion for creating art that people enjoy. 

Gary & Cindy Van Roekel

rustyartworks.com

Instagram: @rustyartworks

WATERCOLOR

Booth C13

Alondra Villacorta is a fine artist based in Southern California, creating realistic paintings inspired by wildlife, nature, and the animals closest to our hearts. She was born in El Salvador, one of the world’s smallest countries, and grew up in a household filled with art and creativity. The third of four children, she was raised alongside her parents and her grandfather, a remarkable fine artist, cartoonist, and calligrapher, whose work first sparked her love for art.

One of Alondra’s earliest memories is standing beside her grandfather’s drawing table, captivated as he painted portraits and landscapes in rich oils. She quietly absorbed his process, developing a deep appreciation for art. At 14, her family moved to the United States, where she explored a wide range of art classes and mediums in high school. She ultimately pursued a career in graphic design, keeping drawing and painting as a personal passion.

In 2022, following the loss of her beloved dog, Maya, Alondra returned to drawing and painting to honor the bond they shared. The process was deeply healing, and what began as a personal journey soon evolved into a renewed artistic path. She began creating custom pet portraits for friends and family, capturing not only the likeness but the spirit of each animal, while also continuing to create original paintings inspired by wildlife and nature.

Today, Alondra’s work brings together her lifelong connection to art and her deep bond with animals. Whether painting wildlife or creating custom portraits, she aims to capture the beauty, individuality, and the essence that makes each one unique. 

This will be her first time exhibiting her portraits and wildlife-inspired paintings at Laguna Art‑A‑Fair.

www.alondra.com

Instagram: alondravillacorta

Facebook: alondravillacorta

MIXED MEDIA • STAINED GLASS

Booth D20

I was born and raised in southern California. My parents took me to art shows, galleries, and museums throughout my childhood, and encouraged a love and respect for the beauty of nature. Glass art in all its forms caught my eye at a young age. A wedding at The Mission Inn in Riverside when I was 5 and a stained glass class in middle school sparked my interest in the art. In 1997, after expressing my desire to revisit stained glass, my husband gifted me an instructional book, tools, and supplies for a stained glass project. I fell in love with the craft, and after a year and a half of experimentation and practice, I was honored to take stained glass classes from a master craftsman. In June 2000, I opened Glasspirations Custom Stained and Leaded Glass. I feel so blessed to do something for which I have such passion. I love to celebrate nature and light by 'playing' at the workbench

glasspirations.biz

PHOTOGRAPHY

Booth C23

Dena Young is a fine art photographer born and raised in Southern California. She fell in love with the ocean at a young age and often attempted to draw and paint it. Never coming close to what she envisioned, she eventually picked up a camera and decided to translate her concepts in a different way.

It took a move away from the ocean to the Pacific Northwest that brought about her love of abstract water photography. It was there that she found her love of reflection, color and motion in the constantly changing ripples of the water. Her greatest day as a photographer was when she was asked if one of her photographs was a photograph or if it was actually a painting.

Dena returned back to Southern California and is now lucky enough to be back by the ocean spending most of her time by the water.

If Dena isn't out taking pictures, you will find her with her husband, two kids and her dogs.

www.denayoungphotography.com

Facebook: denayoungphotography

Instagram: @denayoungphotography