In Carol’s own words: “The glorious beauty of nature is an amazing motivation for my paintings! Each place has its own scents, spaces, and integrity that makes me feel both humble and alive. I absolutely love the ocean, but my sense of awe from being on the water would be incomplete without the corresponding and equally sublime sense of grandeur from all of nature; the mountains, trees, plains, deserts, forests, and streams; all can stop me cold with wonder. I hope to share all my feelings of joy with everyone who views my works.”

FEBRUARY FEATURED ARTIST LANI BRICELAND PASTEL PAINTINGS Lani is a California native and resident of the Central Coast since 1996. Her interest in drawing and painting goes as far back as she can remember. Her love of nature has always been her inspiration. Like many of us, her interest in art took a back burner to family and career for a time.  In 1996 Lani had the opportunity to take a six-week road trip through the Western States and many of their National and State Parks.  The incredible beauty of the landscapes compelled her to dive back into painting.  Pastels seemed an obvious and convenient choice for a medium.  Since then she has refined her skill as a Pastelist.  Her landscape paintings are a tribute to nature’s beauty.  Also known for her portraits of pets, she enjoys capturing the personality and attitude of these special companions.

Karen Peterson and Craig Kincaid are Central Coast photographers photographing nature and our nation’s landscapes. Both photographers are fascinated by the beauty of our land, sea and sky.  “Land, Sea, Sky” will be on display through the month of November 2013.

My earliest recollections of photography are of my grandfather taking me on photo shoots at the age of four.  He let me shoot my own images while all along teaching me about cameras, light and composition. In school, my studies were always centered around art and light, earning me degrees and certificates in B&W/Color Photography, Graphic Art/Design, Medical Imaging, Radiography and Landscape Design/Installation. One of my earliest jobs was Forest-Land-Structure restoration along the coast and mountains. While there, I developed a great appreciation of nature and an everlasting love for nature/landscape photography. Some of my ongoing projects are landscape and nature photography of Tulare, Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties, the 2011 Wildflower Season and Farm and Ranch images.

Art is not new me. As a child I remember crawling behind our couch to draw on the wall a whole village of circle people. My skills have come a long way since my wall drawings, but the passion is still there. I love to paint, to create, to watch as an image appears. It’s always exciting to me to see how colors come together on my canvas, and my art reflects this love of color.   While painting is not new to me, being in a gallery is a new experience. I’m so excited to join the many talented artists at Gallery at Marina Square. I have two degrees in art: an AA in Fine Art from Cuesta College and a BS in Art and Design from Calpoly. Since gaining my degrees this  is the first time I’ve been able to dedicate myself to my fine art and I’m looking forward to where it takes me.

I remember taking pictures as a young girl, drawn to capture and preserve the moment. I see art in everyday life and photography allows me to capture what I see.I have attended classes and lectures from gifted photographers and artists, and studied extensively on my own. The knowledge I acquired and continue to seek gives me the tools to make my creative vision a photographic reality. Each of my photos has a story and comes from my heart.  From my first Kodak with a cube flash to digital SLR’s of today – technology allows me to capture art in the world around me. I continue to be amazed at what life has to offer.  See MY world…Thru Catz Eyes