Casey is a lifelong, Half Moon Bay local. She created Layers Of Intention during the beginning of her Master’s degree program in Mind-Body Medicine nearly three years ago as a grounding tool, through the creation of jewelry and her Reiki practice. Now as she enters her Ph.D. program in Mind-Body Medicine at Saybrook University, she still finds comfort in creating pieces of jewelry that are layered with intention through the metaphysical properties of crystals.

Daniel Ambrosi is recognized as one of the founding creators of the emerging AI art movement and is noted for the nuanced balance he achieves in human-AI hybrid art. Ambrosi, an El Granada resident since 1996, has been exploring novel methods of visual presentation for over 40 years since entering the Program of Computer Graphics at Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Masters in 3D Graphics. In 2011, Ambrosi devised a unique form of computational photography that generates exceptionally immersive landscape images. More recently, Ambrosi’s “Dreamscapes” build upon his previous experiments by adding a powerful new graphics tool to his artistic workflow: an enhanced version of “DeepDream,” a computer vision program evolved from Google engineers’ desire to visualize the inner workings of Deep Learning artificial intelligence models. With proprietary access to a customized version of DeepDream expressly modified by two brilliant software engineers, Joseph Smarr (former principal engineer at Google and also a resident of El Granada) and Chris Lamb (vice president at NVIDIA and resident of Los Gatos), to operate successfully on his giant images, Ambrosi has been empowered to develop large scale artworks that display exquisite sensitivity and intricacy. Ambrosi’s engaging AI-augmented artworks and grand format landscape images have been exhibited at international conferences, art fairs, and gallery shows, installed in major tech offices, featured in multiple publications, and are collected by enthusiastic patrons worldwide.

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Growing up in Half Moon Bay I’d find shells with holes in them. The day I found beads that resembled sea glass I strung them and made my first Sun Catcher. Coastal living inspires me to make Sun Catchers. Art gives me energy. Treasure hunting for inspirational pieces to use in my art is like a vacation.

Glass artist, Douglass C Brown, is on a personal mission to share hot glass experiences with all those want to see/learn what they can about the process of blowing/sculpting hot glass. Using the time between classes, he creates glass art that is a mix of his takes on nature and functional glassware. He is currently operating 2 glass blowing studios in The Bay Area, Half Moon Bay Art Glass and Mare Island Art Glass. He has also created the Glass Troubadours, which is a mobile glass blowing studio designed to do single events like parties/or craft shows or medium to long term stays on corporate campuses. Look for him at the local Make it Main Street Thursdays in Half Moon Bay blowing glass on the street.

Originally from New Haven CT, Android majored in sculpture and ceramics. Interested in the ideas and philosophies of perspective; how each individual experiences their own reality- he moved to photography as a conceptual medium in 2008.

Influenced by artists such as William Eggleston and Stephen Shore, Droid began studying and shooting full time in 2010. Shortly thereafter, he became the California segment’s Operations Manager for a small production company based out of TN. Both directing and producing videos and stills for local commercials and real estate, Droid then went to full time freelance photography in 2012. Now with more than 13 years behind the camera, he continues to contract for realtors, architects, and interior designers. His work can be seen throughout California, both in print and digital form.

Electra Field is a local photographer who lives with her family in El Granada, California. Ms. Field fell in love with photography at an early age with an Instamatic camera. After a cross country road trip in her late teens, she decided to pursue a degree in Photojournalism from Boston University. Ms. Field started out as a reporter and photographer for a semi-weekly newspaper and later photographed weddings and family portraits. Her latest photographic passion is the world of macro photography, where she finds beauty in everyday objects and turns the chaos of the world around her into something peaceful.

She has been published in the El Defensor Chieftain, the Socorro Chamber of Commerce and the Half Moon Bay Review, and has won awards at the Pacifica Fog Fest and the Peninsula Photo Contest. Her work has been shown at New Mexico Tech, the Sanchez Art Gallery, Filoli Historic House and the Palo Alto Art Center. You can also view more of her work at electrafieldphotography.com and follow her on Instagram at electrafieldphotography.

Erika Adkins creates two-dimensional works in both acrylic and encaustic. Her pieces rely on layering colors, textures, and meanings, often the result of multiple paintings on a single canvas. As a third-generation artist, Erika grew up assuming everything can be viewed for its aesthetic merit. Recently her work has explored conflict: between humans and the environment, between her dogs, or between history and individuals. Her current subject matter explores borders, barriers, and bridges. Born in Pittsburgh, PA and now based in Half Moon Bay, Erika holds a degree in Fine Art from Yale University and an MBA from the Leavey School of Business. She has spent the last 20 years working in Tech, while keeping her “Batman” art life alive and well.

Since 2013 I have been diving deep into the ceramic practice, with immense gratitude to the incredible mentors along the way. no matter where i go, the joy of pottery making follows me and continues to offer me life lessons. i am embracing the opportunity for others to enjoy my pieces.

Having a chef partner reminds me of the importance of striking a balance with beauty and functionality. i strive to make beautiful and functional pots while continuing to explore new designs and techniques. since childhood, exploration in art has always been embraced, which consistently influences my work. the practice of pottery is full of life lessons. embracing the moment, learning from mistakes, meeting yourself where you’re at, and letting go. it’s a beautiful practice which can also yield beautiful and many times unexpected results. experimentation and exploration are fundamental as i continue to explore expression in clay. nature plays an important role in the color and design of my pieces with inspiration from the oceans, deserts, mountains, and forests.

These wheel thrown and hand built pots are hand crafted, air dried, bisque fired, glazed, and glaze fired. this is a patient, careful, and rewarding process i hope you will also enjoy.

Helen (she/her) is a 23-year-old female artist and wood recycler. Born and raised in Half Moon Bay, Helen began working with wood while attending Half Moon Bay High School. She began her art work creating gifts for loved ones. Since that time, her work has become well-known in the coastal community.

Beginning in early 2021, she began working with local wood cutters and sawyers who reclaimed wood from fallen trees destroyed in the CZU Lightning Complex wildfires that burned in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties August – December 2020. The fires started at 6:41 AM on August 16, 2020, the result of a thunderstorm that produced close to 11,000 bolts of lightning and started hundreds of fires. Two days after the fires began, a change in wind conditions caused the Santa Cruz and San Mateo County fires to rapidly expand and merge, growing quickly to over 40,000 acres. It was later discovered that the fires were not completely extinguished and trees continued to smolder well into 2021.

Helen chose local redwood for the Vault but also works with maple, acacia, oak, and beyond. Outside of the Vault, Helen also commissions art working with numerous woods, sometimes provided by customers. She can work on virtually any wood surface–including barn wood, benches, surfboards, signs, earrings and so forth. In addition, she is a calligrapher for weddings, events, and store signage. Helen has donated proceeds of her profits to CoastPride, Black Earth Farms, American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region, Stop AAPI Hate, Coastside Hope, First Nations, Wounded Warrior Project, UNICEF Ukraine, AAUW (HMB Branch), Andreotti Family Farms Barn Fundraiser, and more. 

Read more about the artist in a recent interview with the HMB review: https://www.hmbreview.com/news/coastsider-burns-for-her-artistic-expression/article_ad46a6f2-aacf-11ec-8d24-fb20e80c7813.html

Follow along her artistic journey, ask questions, or commission a piece through the links below: 

I am an eclectic creative. I’ve spent my life in the arts, first captivated by sculpture, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in this tactile discipline. Later, I developed a deep affection for painting, serving the immediate impact that color has on me. I’ve been an arts educator at the University level for the last 30+ years, building and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in color theory, painting, and design. 

For me, teaching is a meaningful way to touch the lives of the creators of the future. What inspires me? The people I encounter and Nature: the ocean, the air, the terrestrial. I strive to create living works of art, providing sources of mystery, meaning, and joy. After the challenges of the last couple of years, it is a delight to exhibit and share my work alongside other artists.

I’m excited to be part of this season’s show at The Vault in Half Moon Bay! I’m happy for this opportunity to share my painted furniture with the community.

My furniture originates mostly as found, second-hand pieces that need new life. I love to see an old table or chair reborn with new color and a fresh purpose. My passion is to experiment with vibrant colors and unique shapes so that my furniture can inspire happiness in a new home. For me, it’s all about the shape of the “canvas.” I love to find discarded furniture and other objects with interesting curves and lines that come to life with vibrant violet, cobalt, tangerine, or magenta. Recently, I have started adding beads to some of my pieces because who doesn’t like playing with beads! My recent favorites include a telephone table, plant stand, shelves, and dollhouse furniture. 

I was lucky to end up on the northern California coast in the 1990s. My children grew up in Half Moon Bay, and through my talented artistic daughter, Genevieve, I started exploring the inner artist in myself. When Genni was 5 and started after-school art classes at Fly on The Wall Art School, the studio’s owner, Susan Carkeek, became her teacher and my mentor. My daughter is now an art student at the California College of Art in San Francisco, and I aspire to be half as good as she is. Susan continues to mentor and inspire me, and I feel privileged to live in a community that supports and nurtures the arts. 

Kim Zaidain

https://www.instagram.com/zaidainfurniturestudio/

Larry Salveson is a Software Developer in the San Mateo, CA area. He has enjoyed a lifelong passion for photography, which has evolved to include creating digital paintings. Larry’s images span a broad range of interests including people, abstracts, nature, and landscapes. 

Custom sizes are available for most images. Contact me directly for signed prints that I make myself. Other prints can be ordered from my website. 

Larry Salveson 

Larry@LarrySalveson.com 

LarrySalveson.com

My name is Maddy, I was born and raised on the coast.  My jewelry designs are a reflection of who I am. As an artist, I love clean lines and abstract yet simple designs. As an outdoor adventure enthusiast and someone who grew up outside, I am also influenced by my experiences in the natural world. I fuse all of this together in my favorite jewelry creations. Incorporating sea glass, gemstones, abalone, freshwater pearls, and other items found in nature.

Online store- woodstowire.com

Instagram- @woodstowire

Contact- woodstowire@gmail.com

Northern California-based artist, Marie LaCour, explores shape, texture, color and storytelling through an array of media including drawing, painting, digital graphics, paper and sculpture. Born in Southern California, she spent most of her childhood moving from one state to another which has contributed to diverse perspectives and many landscapes & people to observe and embrace.

As an avid gardener, beekeeper, farmer of 1200+ fruit trees and a 25yr. professional graphic designer she captures the beauty and form found in live plants in her larger-than-life sculpted flowers – invoking emotion and connection to nature’s most vibrant and softest moments.

Marie works with interior designers, event planners and home décor retailers designing textured art that can connect you to your personal space or celebratory event creating an environment that has depth, dimension, interest and story.

Expansive sculpted floral wallscapes can whisk you away to an enchanted and vibrant fantasy world or calm one’s mind as if in a peaceful meditative garden. The journey is all your own.

I was born & raised in the Bay Area & feel so blessed to be able to call The Coastside my home for the last 18 years. My love of this area and the ocean began on trips to Fitzgerald Preserve as a child and continued throughout my college years at UCSC. My practical scientific mind & love of animals led me to a degree in Biology and my first job as an educator at a nonprofit teaching science & natural history. The bonus for me were the animal educators I was privileged to work with.   While I’ve had many jobs over the years, none of these exactly prepared me to become an artist.

My first real art class was an art history course in college that allowed me to explore the museums in San Francisco as well as learn about the masters. The opportunity to create my own art wouldn’t come until much later. Years later, I was able to participate in my children’s Art in Action lessons as a docent & the spark was rekindled. Creating examples of the lessons for the students forced me to confront my insecurities regarding creating art. It also allowed me to remind students as well as myself that everyone is an artist in their own way and the only person who needs to like your art is you.  

When I began to contemplate a return to the outside workforce, the practical scientist in me began taking classes at my community college including a career exploration class. Now if I had only read those evaluation results a little more thoroughly…. I went back to my roots in science and was able to gain an acceptance into a Dietetic Program when the Universe threw me a curveball. After some health challenges forced a suspension of my carefully laid plans, the Universe nudged me again. A chance video in my YouTube feed introduced me to my current art form & life has been much messier & much fuller as a result.

During my exploration of this art form, my use of painting surfaces has expanded from river rocks to canvases, to jewelry. I’m currently delving into the recycling and upcycling of items that can be redesigned through my painting. I find myself drawn to everyday items such as wooden bowls and boxes that seem to cry out for a makeover. Oh, and that evaluation test result… the one that listed possible careers… the number one profession, ahead of all my scientific career choices…craft artist. 

Noemi Manero was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain. She moved to the United States two decades ago, landing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Noemi is a Balance Body Comprehensive Pilates instructor and intensely studying and teaching Pilates since 2016. She is also a registered teacher with Yoga Alliance since 2013.

One of her biggest passions is to paint. Today her paintings hang in private collections throughout Europe and California. Her work is known for its movement and emotion shown in it.

Many pieces have been sold to local and international collectors. Several of her paintings have been featured at Silicon Valley art shows, in addition to several private exhibitions. And two of her Barcelona pieces won in Barcelona, Spain.

When not painting at her studio, Noemi spends her time teaching yoga and pilates at her privately owned studio. She has a passion for deepening her knowledge of anatomy to better support her clients.

Noemi earned her Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Tourism University of Barcelona. Her early professional career was spent in consumer marketing at some of the best known companies in the world, including Virgin Airlines, GAP and Visa.

Contact her to receive updates on Noemi’s work via email. She also regularly posts pictures of her paintings and other information on Instagram at #noemaneroart.

Websites, social media links
www.noemimanero.com

@Instagram; noemaneroart

I’ve been in the creative arts all my life. First it was in the performing arts, then graphic design and teaching and now, many years later, painting. Although I was a “Sunday Painter” in watercolor media for many years, I’ve now transitioned into acrylics! (Life is about never-ending change, after all!) So I now find myself completely immersed in acrylic media —both pigments and textures — and absolutely enjoying the adventure. I love to go into my studio and just follow my muse on any particular day —wherever that takes me. I don’t always know where I’ll end up, but it’s all about the journey, right?

When Covid hit, I just couldn’t get the image of the Heart out of my mind’s eye. I felt we all just needed a little more Heart during that difficult time to lift us up and give us courage and hope. My ongoing heart series was a result of that challenging time. I also envisioned that dogs were probably struggling during that time too. They undoubtedly wanted to go out and play just as badly as we did during quarantine, so those wonderful pups were the inspiration for my Covid Canine series. (I’m currently working on a Post Covid Canine series and I’m happy to report that the pups are looking much happier now.)

Along with my smaller pieces of fruits, veggies and flowers, I’m always working on larger pieces filled with various textures and vivid color in which I try to capture the joy and gratitude I feel in each and every moment of life. Thank you for letting me share my artwork with you!

Patt Sheldon is local—born in San Francisco and raised on the Peninsula. She taught mostly middle school English and Health Education in Belmont for 35 years, and never considered herself artistic, though her flair for color aways showed.

Patt became a knitter, then a weaver after moving “over the hill” in 1999. Experiencing two summers of heavy coastal fog, she realized she needed indoor sports to combat the fog. She took a few weaving classes and many knitting technique workshops, learned ice dyeing one afternoon, and is self-taught in jewelry design. She creates unusual pieces and prefers being ahead of the crowd rather than part of it. Her works are one of a kind. 

Hanging woven or fabric pieces on walls soften the hard edges of rooms, and after hearing how her dyed fabric and weavings should be showcased, she began creating wall hangings.

Ice dyeing natural fibers became a passion, preferring its soft patterns to deliberate designs. She dyes clothing and large array of home goods, as well as fabric for walls. The most exciting part of her ice dyeing has been collaborating with a former 6th grade student, now a fashion designer in Los Angeles.

Realizing how isolated artists can be, particularly after retiring from teaching and working at home, Patt started a group called Colony of Coastside Artists in Feb, 2010. The group is open to any level artist living on the coast interested in socializing, art discussions, and group projects, and is currently 100 members strong. Prior to 2020, CoCA met monthly, and has resumed annually sponsoring Open Studios in November, which is available to all coastside artists.

Besides selling through CoCA’s Open Studios, her diverse work sells in stores, and several in-person shows, mostly on the coast. Her website www.pattsheldon.com highlights her vivid colors and textures. Patt also sells through Harvard Market, Make It Main Street, SVOS, and Etsy and GoImagine online under the name Patt711. 

She is very excited to be part of The Vault’s inaugural art group.

Spence Platt is a local artist, born and raised in San Jose. Spence grew up loving the western genre and country music and pulls his inspiration from that love. He uses a mixed media technique which includes but not limited to inks, watercolors, acrylics, spray paint, and resin. This blending of media provides texture and dimension to his work.

As many galleries closed during the pandemic, Spence intertwined his love of nature and the outdoors with his passion for art, traveling and adventuring throughout California finding beautiful places to display his work. You can follow his journey on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

I am grateful to live in this
place where on my daily walks
and sometimes in our own
backyard) I encounter a
spectacular variety of life. I’ve
fallen in love with our local
birds, and sharing photos of
them has delighted me and my
friends. I marvel at the diversity
of sizes and shapes, so these
prints depict each bird in
exquisite detail, and at its actual
size, from the tiny to the huge.
There is a QR code next to
each photo that takes you to a
web page describing that bird.
Thank you for visiting.

I’ve been a maker from my earliest years. As a child, I drew horses, made paper dolls, greeting cards, garments, cooked and baked. I could draw all the Flintstone characters, and a pencil drawing I did of Peter Tork of The Monkees was published in a teen magazine. I painted 40 murals in a hospital when I was 18. By the time I got to high school, I decided to major in art, stepping away from my high academic achievement and probably disappointing my parents. I went to Pratt Institute but quit in my second year. Since then, I have been on the journey. Always creating — my hands are never idle! I had a long career in graphic design, including my own sign company in the 80s and 90s, and a career in advertising until my retirement two years ago. I now devote much of my time to painting and have completed over 700 paintings in the last 40 years, mostly in private collections.

I like to paint outdoors from life (en plein air) and about 50% of my paintings are done that way. I pack my gear and take it when I travel. Having a focus on depicting the places I visit gives added meaning, and mementos galore! Visit my website for more details on my long and varied career.

Susan Grabowski, originally from New Jersey, spent 22 years on Cape Cod before making her way to the San Francisco Bay Area. She captures the fleeting moments in her light-filled paintings in the California plein air/impressionist style.

Instagram: @susan_grabowski_art

Website: susangrabowski.com