Artist Demos are presented after our regular meetings. See our home page for dates and venue. We bring in notable artists to share their skills and enthusiasm. Our demos are free and open to anyone.
Upcoming Demo
Rana Ford and her painting gear
Our March 20 demo will be something definitely different! Some of MLAA's active group of Plein Air painters will be on hand with their outdoor gear to share their insights and demonstrate their techniques. A lot of people like the idea of painting outdoors but aren't sure where to begin. This event will fire your enthusiasm and answer your questions. We'll have many examples of plein air work on hand. We'll discuss the special challenges of working outdoors (changing light, unpromising subject matter, what to leave out, cold hands, no restrooms . . .) and the special benefits it brings to each of us. We're hoping the weather will allow us to move the proceedings outdoors but if not, we'll bring a setup to demonstrate our different approaches. Please bring your sketchbook and art materials so you can join in! Spring weather is on the way and we hope you'll be inspired to join us on our regular painting excursions!
Maureen Carden at Courthouse Square
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Monika Stattner at Sierra Village
Value sketch by Barb Young
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Recent Demos
February 20, 2023. Starting off a new year of art demos, Joy Willow was our February presenter. Joy is a Foothill-based painter, poet and musician. You can see her striking nature-inspired abstracts on her website and in the Aloft. Here's what Joy said about her presentation: "I will share the exciting, un-planned experience of process painting: adding and subtracting elements, staying loose and layered with spontaneity as the guide. Organic fields of texture along with gestural mark making get things started; then its “just" about letting go and being spontaneous." MLAA members love a hands-on demo and Joy's presentation enticed us to sit with our eyes closed making marks on paper, then watching Joy herself demonstrate how she starts a painting.
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Our demo artist for November, 2022, was Heine Hartwig, an old friend and supporter of the MLAA , noted for his colorful, compelling landscapes in a realistic, but loose, style. He completed the painting above entirely in the demo session, with special insights into his methods. Always a great presentation and well attended!
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Image, Connie Cassinetto, 2022
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The Mother Lode Art Association demonstration artist for October, 2022 was Connie Cassinetto, an award-winning photographer and member of MLAA, Sonora Photo Club and American Photographic Artists. Connie is an Adobe Certified Expert and instructor in Adobe Lightroom and has written articles for Nikonian.org. Connie has been concentrating on wildlife photography and recently returned from a camera safari to Eastern Africa. She shared captivating photographs of wildlife, plus insights into her techniques and details about her equipment, with a large group of attendees.
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Mixed media piece by Marilyn Zinner
September 19, 2022. Marilyn Zimmer, our September presenter, states that becoming and being an avid re-cycler and re-purposer brought her to the mixed media world of art. Marilyn earned a Master’s Degree in Arts and Consciousness at John F Kennedy University where she previously completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. She followed this with post masters work in Art Therapy at the University of California, Berkeley. Among her various experiences in the arts, she has served as the art director for a Boys and Girls Club in San Francisco, taught art for women at a half way house in Oakland, and worked with art students for a charter school in Modesto. Her hands-on event drew 20 participants who shared a wide range of materials to make mixed media pieces. We sure did have fun; many thanks to Marilyn for this great presentation!
June 20, 2022. Jeannie Vodden was our presenter at the June meeting. Watercolor, especially in pure staining transparent hues, is Jeannie's medium of choice. Her method is to use a glazing process, applying layer upon layer, changing color and letting it mix on the paper. Jeannie demonstrated a very limited palette, starting with only three colors,. For our presentation, Jeannie painted several bluebirds on a wire, in various positions, in a horizontal format.
Judie's subject was a handsome hen
May 16, 2022. Judie Cain, our May presenter, is an award winning, widely exhibited artist. Her workshops focus on the basics of oil painting and color. Her presentations are always engaging and informative! The focus for the demo was the process of painting: the breaking down of the subject into basic shapes and values, composition. The subject reflected Judie's strong interest in our food supplies, family and our return to our ability to take responsibility for ourselves, through organic farming and supporting new life.
By Stephanie Rose Long
April 18, 2022. Stephanie Rose Long Working primarily in soft pastel, Stephanie’s interest lies in western art, depicting the people, animals and landscapes of the ranching and horse world. She says, "I am enamored with all things western, and love to add a bold use of color to grab the eye, while also representing the intimate details which otherwise might be overlooked," Stephanie's work can be seen at www.wildrosewesternart.com and Wild Rose Western Art on Facebook.
Iris, watercolor, by Carolyn MacPherson
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 Carolyn MacPherson
March 21, 2022. Carolyn MacPherson, a versatile artist who lived and worked for many years in the Mother Lode, is now based in Washington, where she paints and teaches. Carolyn returns once a year or so and we look forward to her entertaining and informative demos. This year her topic was "Color Mingling", a watercolor technique in which wet-into-wet colors merge to create dynamic blends, achieving an intense, highly saturated effect.
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Judie Cain
January, 2022. Judie Cain is an award winning artist, represented in galleries in Washington, Oregon, New Mexico and California, including Murphys, Sonora, Copperopolis and Carmel. Judie has taught her workshops, “Basic Nuts & Bolts of Oil Painting” and “Color Demystified” in the western states as well as other local venues, and her presentation in January again focussed on the basics. Starting with a still life setup, Judie addressed composition and color through multiple sketches.
Michael Severin and his work
November, 2021. Michael Severin is a noted Mother Lode landscape artist and lifetime member, and current Vice President, of the MLAA. This month, members both old and new brought their work for a critique by Michael, who brought good humored and practical technical commentary, focused on color, value and composition, to art ranging from watercolor landscapes in a realistic style through varying levels of impressionism and fauvism to abstract collage. You can find out more about Michael and his art at his website, www.michaelseverin.com .
Jack Forkner
October, 2021. Jack Forkner is a retired Air Force pilot who began developing and printing black and white images in 1970 while stationed in Japan. Photography became his lifetime hobby and he has always loved to master something new. Over the years he specialized in aerial photography from a remote controlled aircraft and, later, from a drone which he built himself. Later, he moved on to astro photography using a telescope. Recently he has explored macro photography, capturing unexpected images of tiny subjects, and on the effects of drops of liquid into water. Jack illustrated his talk with some gorgeous and original photographs. His audience, both photographers and fine artists, found his enthusiasm and creativity inspirational.
"Zebras of the Serengeti"' by Andrea Morris
September 2021. Andrea Morris is a member of the Aloft and the MLAA. . In this demo, Andrea focused on the thorny issue of backgrounds.Through a series of pre-painted canvases and onsite painting, she showed us her process to build an integrated, finished work in which the colorful, loosely painted background supports the .finely detailed, realistically painted subject. .