Randy Freeman is good friends with a scrub jay. He’s cultivated a fond relationship with the bird, nicknamed Buddy, over the past five years. Buddy spots Freeman in his backyard, flies over to the artist’s side, and lands on his shoulder. “I’ll reach in my pocket and hold a handful of peanuts out. He’ll take […]
painting
A former engineer hangs her first show at CalNAM
Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan was prepared for a peaceful, solo hike with her dog this spring in the Sierra Nevada. She set up her easel and started painting at an elevation of 10,000 feet. As skies darkened and snow began to fall, Gopalakrishnan noticed that her 5-year-old labradoodle—a “strong hiker” who carries her own pack—was interested in […]
Escape with fellow misfits to Cypress Gallery
There’s always something peculiar inside Lompoc’s art showroom. Anyone who needs convincing may browse the Cypress Gallery through Nov. 29 while The Island of Misfit Art is on display. Gallerygoers will find locally crafted holiday art and gifts. “Whether you’re hunting for a one-of-a-kind gift, looking to add something new to your own collection, or […]
Personal Point of View returns to Gallery Los Olivos
Carrie Givens and Karen McGaw are once again bringing their own perspectives to the forefront of the fine art gallery on Grand Avenue. See their featured duo show, Personal Point of View, through October at Gallery Los Olivos. The painters explore their relationships with the natural world, bringing to the table their distinct artistic voices […]
Joe Gliebe-Goetz presents Landscapes, Gemstones, and New Directions at the Cypress Gallery
Shifting from realism to expressionism throughout his career as an artist, Joe Gliebe-Goetz is displaying his abstract patterns based on natural themes at the Cypress Gallery. See the featured artist show in Lompoc through Sept. 27. Landscapes, Gemstones, and New Directions reflects the painter’s passion for local, natural beauty. Gems and stones also inspire Gliebe-Goetz’s […]
A Lompoc gallery honors the life of a prominent local painter
Inside the Grossman Gallery at the Lompoc Public Library, a retrospective show will honor the life of Alan Freeman. The painter, who passed away in March last year, was one of the founding members of The Lompoc Ten. The display of Freeman’s work will be up from Sept. 2 to 29. Visit 501 E. North […]
Corazón del Pueblo displays paintings and photos by migrant farmworking students
In the second or third grade, Alicia Blanco took cover in her elementary school classroom amid the chaos of a shooting threat. Her family had just moved to Santa Maria from Mexico, and Blanco, now 16, didn’t realize how frequent lockdowns would become at school. “People would just be messing around. I thought it was […]
See All That Remains by Ojai painter Tom Pazderka at Hancock’s gallery
Artist Tom Pazderka’s solo exhibition will be up at Allan Hancock College starting on Aug. 24. Wander into the Ann Foxworthy Gallery (Building L) to see his work through Oct. 2, and don’t miss the reception on Sept. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. Pazderka titled the show All That Remains, combining paintings from two […]
Indah Gallery in Santa Ynez raises funds for the Artist Advocacy Foundation
At the opening reception for Bridging Worlds at the Indah Gallery, many of the 100-plus gallery visitors asked artist Max Gleason, “What’s going on with this one?” They stood in front of Entering the Arctic, a 6-foot-tall painting blending blues, greens, oranges, and pinks. It’s not just the colors that turn heads, though. Viewers inquired […]
One Orcutt painter channels her past to make accessible art for all
Less than 1 percent of the global population is an Olympic athlete. Catalina Bertola often compares the achievement with life in the art world. Most people will never reach Olympic status—in athletics or art—but that shouldn’t stop people from giving it a go. In her opinion, physical activity and creativity are part of a balanced […]
Joe McFadden brings his dramatic landscapes to Gallery Los Olivos
Though he now calls himself an artist, Joe McFadden spent his career in the tech industry. While he was advising software companies by day, McFadden found balance by slathering oil paints on canvases in his free time. “I wanted something I could develop over many years and maybe develop someday into a real skill and […]
A Guadalupe muralist is one step closer to opening an arts academy in town
Stephanie Krouse was trained as a scientist. In her early career, she worked for seed companies, studying different treatments that impact plant growth. But a Chicago company’s acquisition of the business left Krouse and many others out of a job. As cliché as it may sound, another door opened for her. “Once that happened, I […]

