Artists

Vanessa Christie

A San Diego native, and graduate of UCLA Vanessa Christie has created art all her life. She studied art at City College, and Studio Art Center International, in Florence Italy before transferring to UCLA. Her art is inspired by music, poetry, mythology, the natural world, and especially by imagination and dreams. Her work is also influenced by her travels both in the United States and Europe. Much of her work features natural images such as trees, and constructed objects such as masks. Each of her paintings is an attempt to tell a story without words.

Mikaela McLeish

In her vibrant oil paintings, Mikaela McLeish contains solitary figures in psychological spaces. Combining realism with expressionistic brushstrokes, McLeish’s paint application and process of painting mirrors her struggle for control. McLeish describes her imagery as, “a façade of serenity, which upon closer inspection breaks down into chaos. The distortions of the body created through the refracted motifs represent erasure and a loss of self.” McLeish explores the in-between space of reality and dream, public and private, absence and presence; trying to understand the psychological walls set by society.

Mikaela McLeish, born in 1992 in California, is a Pilipina Irish American painter. She received her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2014. Mikaela has exhibited in San Francisco and San Diego, including the Diego Rivera Gallery, Cell Space Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute Courtyard Gallery, and Gotthelf Art Gallery pop-up show.

Mikaela is the recipient of the 2013 Gamblin Painting Prize, 2012 Allan Stone Painting Scholarship, San Francisco Art Institute Dean’s scholarship, Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship candidate for the Art Division of the Yale Summer School of Music and Art, Davis Projects for Peace alternate candidate. McLeish lives and works in San Diego teaching Continuing Education classes at the Art Institute of California- San Diego, hosting social painting events with Paints Uncorked, and creating new work in her studio.

Check out more on the artist website mikaelamcleish.com.

Cat Chiu Phillips

I utilize found materials and create displaced juxtapositions. This may include unusual mediums including recycled objects (plastic grocery bags), counterfeit designer bags, and other recovered items. I'm interested in the effects and evidence of post-colonialism, militarism, consumerism, the immigration experience and its process of assimilation and acculturation. Often I investigate stereotypes, the exploited, and the effects of history to today's contemporary culture.
message

Cat Chiu Phillips has exhibited through California including the Torrance Art Museum, Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, Pico House Gallery in Los Angeles, Centro Cultural de la Raza in San Diego, and Thoreau Center for Sustainability Gallery in San Francisco. She also has several public art commissions in Southern California including for City of Vista and City of Solana Beach. She received her Masters of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. Cat Chiu Phillips was born in Manila, Philippines, raised in Toronto, Canada, and lives and works in San Diego, California.

Check out more on the artist website catchiuphillips.com.

Robin Spalding

Robin Spalding earned a Fine Art Degree in Photography from University of North Florida in 2005. She found her passion in the photography genre of conceptual art.

Robin creates surreal and conceptual photography art using compositing techniques and editing them in a way to give an almost painterly feel. She draws inspiration mainly from her emotions, experiences, and moods. Favorite songs that she responds to on a deeply personal and emotional level sometimes become muses to her photos. She shoots mostly self-portraits and even when using models sees the images as a reflection of herself. “I am fascinated by this theme of things hiding underneath the surface. That things aren’t always what it seems. I am a bright and bubbly person normally when I am not worrying, yet I am fascinated by dark things, decaying matter, monsters in the shadows. I attempt to get these issues I am dealing with in my head out. So I can study them and understand myself, so I can show others who I am. In a way, my images could be considered my journal entries. Journal entries of an innocent girl wandering in a labyrinth of lost and lonely things but who is drawn to what’s lurking behind everything.” There is an undercurrent of hope in some of the images. That things might work out in the end. “I may be wondering a strange, dark land but I kinda like it here.” She feels finding ways to illustrate and express the thoughts, worlds and emotions in her head is truly an amazing experience.

I use conceptual photography to explore themes of infertility, depression and anxiety to help make sense and express what i am going through. I also use photography to create worlds of daydreams both light and dark, fairytales, and worlds unseen.

Check out more on Instagram @robinspalding, Facebook robinspaldingart, Behance robinspalding and the artist website robinspaldingart.com.

Falicia Ferrer

I was born and raised in the Inland Empire and moved here to Oceanside in October of 2014. I grew up loving art and have known how to draw and paint since I was younger. I paint with acrylics and love to use lots of bright color or just plain black and white. Art is such a perfect way to express emotions and the bright colors show such happiness. Black and white are my two favorite colors together and the silhouette of a female face or body expresses such simple beauty. I am a new out coming artist and Zen of a Woman will be my first show I will be participating in. I look forward to being in more shows in the future and any support will be very much appreciated.

Elizabeth Joy Nelson

My Art Brings out the positive energy we need in life. My life has brought many struggles and the art that I bring to life I show on Canvas. My art work draws the audience in to the canvas to feel, think and be in the art moment themselves. As an artist I work hard in developing artwork that speaks to both myself and the audience. I try to incorporate designs colors and ideas with different lifestyles we go thru. The canvas speaks to me and I answer with the strokes on my brush.

I am Joy and love bringing art to life for others may it be big or small. In my past I served as combat marine. I use art to help with PTSD . I went to Columbus Art and Design where I learned how to incorporate life into art.

Kimberly Gregg

I am the Artistic Director of Practice As Research And Dance Experiments (PARADE), an experimental dance project with present work in improvisation, site-specific performance, and contemporary partnering. I hold a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from California Institute of the Arts, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from California State University Long Beach. I have served on the faculty of Mira Costa College, Rio Hondo College, Santa Ana College, and California State University Pomona.

DANCE MOVEMENT RESEARCH
My creative practice is rooted in theory and propelled by experimentation. It is as much an intellectual investigation as it is a somatic inquiry. ‘Practice as research and dance experiments’ is a philosophy that guides my work. In 2006, I began using the acronym of this philosophy, PARADE, to give a name to the body of work it represents. I am committed to engaging the community in an active dialogue that explores performance theory as an embodied art practice.

My creative research investigates the relationship between choreography and improvisation. I examine improvisation as a method for maintaining excitement within the constructs of the choreographic structure, by providing opportunities for spontaneous choices by the dancers. Conversely, in rehearsal improvisation is often used as a tool to cultivate choreography. Spanning the range of dynamics between them, this interplay embraces the artistic impulse and negotiates between directorial and collective ideals.

My research examines the collaborative process in dance making. As each performer brings unique skills to the creative process, explorations are defined by the participants involved. Using structured improvisations, dancer creativity is sparked to find creative responses to kinetic problems, and their solutions influence the look of the dance. Through this cycle of exploration and direction, movement phrases are culled, eventually defining the vocabulary for the choreography, and the dance structure begins.

Performance cognition is an area of specific focus in my research as an integral facet of solo, partner, and ensemble work in performance. I am interested in the application of somatic education to develop a greater embodiment in performance practice, to promote cognitive awareness and authentic responsiveness. Using sensory directive and task driven improvisations for experiential learning, dancers cultivate heightened sensitivity, energy projection, and spatial awareness. Through this investigation, I apply somatic concepts to develop the performers’ ability to recognize their presence wholly, cognitively, physically, spatially, and aesthetically, to find and project their somatic embodiment.

I am particularly interested in the nature of 'liveness' in performance. This has led me to investigations of the relationship between performer and audience, performative intent and everyday actions, and the expectations assigned to 'place'. By engaging in opportunities that highlight the flexible nature of these constructs, through site specific improvisation, I raise audience awareness of the integral role it plays in performance, and engage in the fluid relationship between art and life.

Technology furthers these explorations in exciting ways to create new experiences. I have used small wireless electronics onstage in performance; worn a live microphone with amplifier to blend voice and feedback as a tense soundscape in Bob; held LED candles for a shifting dreamlike environment in Some Will Bring Flowers. I have used hardwired equipment to project images onto a perforated scrim downstage that created a virtual 3D environment in Landscape. I use digital video editing to create dance films. I am eager to undertake long distance collaborations that are facilitated with present technology, live video feeds, and new media.

I place my work within the socio-political framework of contemporary dance. My research investigates the empirical study of performance, with context, meaning, and representation considered. With place providing the context for understanding, I create dances for human and natural environments, stage and screen, and juxtapose contradictions to stretch expected perception. With the nonverbal communication of dance predating language, I examine the complexity of its inherent meaning, often using humor to frame the eccentric nature of the dance vocabulary. This is complemented by comparative studies of the aesthetic and the everyday, the represented and the real, its implication and consequence.

I am fascinated by the many functions that performance plays in our contemporary society. Performance is an expression of our intangible cultural heritage that transmits information broadly, engaging the community in a dialogue of shared human experience. Performance is a metaphor for empowerment. It is a catalyst for change. It is fleeting and immediate, visceral and intelligent, emotional and cathartic. I value the capacity of performance to serve as a conduit for ideas, a vehicle for cultural exchange, and am eager to continue this dialogue.

Check out more on the artist website kimgregg.com.

Anne Fagan

Anne Fagan paints people caught in the act of being themselves. Her love of life is reflected in the relaxed calm and contentment of her guileless subjects: friends, family and random strangers who pique her interest. Simple, quirky, direct, with minimal background and a light palette, Anne’s paintings convey a mood as much as a story.

Much of Anne’s work derives from the sunny beach towns of North San Diego County where she grew up and still lives and paints. Her collection also includes subjects from her travels in Europe, Mexico, and the Hawaiian Islands.

Anne Fagan’s paintings are in private collections around the country.

Patrick Brown

Patrick Brown is a trained artist living in Southern California. His new work is large format abstractions, heavy with textures and multiple layers of oil in the style of abstract expressionists reminiscent of Mark Rothko, Willem De Kooning and Adolph Gottlieb. Brown’s work is purely abstract but imbued with a deeply felt humanism--a sense of the sublime--derived from his own struggles living with HIV/AIDS. While Brown’s work does not directly address the AIDS crisis or his own health, the subtext is always present. His work is similar in aim to the work of Ross Bleckner, whose dark paintings with floating images evoke memory or loss, functioning as memento mori to those lost in the AIDS epidemic. Like Bleckner, Brown creates paintings that invite contemplation rather than confrontation--a kind of visual slow release, drawing the viewer close and revealing their formal complexity over time.

Check out more on VisualAIDS.org

Firelight Ladies

Amalia is originally from Chicago,IL and moved to beautiful Oceanside one year ago. Amalia brought with her a deep passion for flow art which is a type of interpretive dance using various props and dancing styles. It all started at a young age when she participated in many different forms of dance and baton twirling. Amalia got her hands on some fire poi when she was 18. After being active in the Chicago music scene she evolved into a fire performer by the time she was 21. Unlike many physical arts, learning flow arts (poi, fans, hoops) does not usually involve formal education. A strong sense of community and self-teaching are key elements of modern flow art. She found herself performing for music festivals and clubs in Chicago along the way she keeps adding to her list of props to dance with. Fire is the passion element and Amalia has a passion for dancing with fire. Being new to Southern California she is determined to start a fire flow performing group. She's currently reaching out to the San Diego flow community looking for others to perform with. During the the day you can find Amalia working at Apotheque spa where she does hair and teaches a fitness Hula-Hoop class in the spring and summer.

Kelly Halloran

Kelly Halloran is a singer-songwriter, who started writing songs in 2006.

She believes in the power of music as a universal language. Her style is countryesque and can have a kick of jazz, sass, pop, rock, whatever is needed to serve the song.

She has performed as a solo artist and with her band Sequin in the Sky. She has performed at Carlsbad Flower Fields, in Oceanside at Crossroads Stagehouse, Sunshine Brooks Theatre, Star Theatre, and sang at the Oceanside Days of Art and in “That’s Amore” at the Oceanside Cultural Arts Center Valentine Fundraiser Show.

Several of her original songs have been recognized by the Song of the Year contest online. Her song, Lonely Night in Paris was a part of a compilation cd.

Kelly has 5 music videos available on YouTube, two of them were in the Oceanside International Film Festival (Boo!Koo! in 2013 and Eye of the Storm in 2014). Her music is available on iTunes (Kelly Halloran and Sequin in the Sky). Kelly has 4 music videos in progress and is currently writing her first musical, Angel Girl. Kelly has grown to love all aspects of filmmaking and stage production.

Kelly is also a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner at Oceana Dermatology in Carlsbad.

Check out more at Facebook SequinInTheSky and YouTube SequinInTheSky

Taylor Tickner

Country singer/songwriter/musician from Southern California. My love for music started at an early age and has continued to grow. I love spending my time songwriting, and playing at gigs throughout Southern California. Some highlights in my musical journey have been the Endorsements by Daisy Rock Guitars, Capturing Couture Guitar straps, G7th Capos for acoustic guitars and winning Bluegrass vocalist for NACMAI in Tennessee in 2013  I love getting out and sharing my music.

Check out more on the artist website taylortickner.com.

Denise Nguyen

Adhering to the traditional aesthetics of Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arrangement, my arrangements express simplicity and beauty. Combining seasonal blossoms and foliage with negative space creates a sense of tranquility and air flow. In wanting to create my own vases in which to display my Ikebana arrangements, I began to develop my skills in pottery. My handmade vases give an arrangement a personal, unique look. My studio is where I escape to find zen time to practice Ikebana or work on new pieces of pottery. Most of my work features a distinctly Asian element in either its construction or images. In particular, I am inspired by my culture, heritage, and the beauty of flora and fauna. My pottery is meant to be functional as well as artistic, as each piece is safe for dishwasher, microwave and oven, and uses lead-free glazes.

Chuck McPherson

In my seventh year as a watercolorist, my artwork has garnered hundreds of awards and double Signature status with The San Diego Watercolor Society and National Watercolor Society.

During that time, I served two years as the Member Shows Director on the SDWS Board, as Third VP on the NWS Board, plus a concurrent three-year stint as Newsletter Chair on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild.

Now painting full-time, I am build my reputation through a quick wit and my infamous 6" brush, flamboyantly embellishing paintings with props borrowed from large and intimate crowds... like lipstick & coffee. I recently co-founded BallastPointGallery.com offering Art Critiques, Workshops and Demos with BPG partner, Linda Mullen. I often serve as a discerning show juror.

My forte is painting live while interacting verbally with intimate or large crowds. You can follow my public appearance schedule here.

Check out more at the artist website chuckmcphersonart.com and Facebook chuck.mcpherson.39

Carley Woods

Carley Woods is a senior at Classical Academy High School in Escondido, CA. Her focus is art and she will continue this field of study in college. Carley enjoys both oil and acrylic painting as well as drawing. She is also part of her High School’s water polo and swim team.

Carley approached the Education Department at Oceanside Museum of Art to help fulfill her senior project, a community undertaking in her field of study.

Be sure to visit Carley on the terrace at Oceanside Museum of Art and stay tuned for future projects! Past projects include: acrylic painting demonstration with fellow students; helping participants cut and design their own snow flakes using special wax paper; an art board for participants to creatively display their New Year’s resolutions; oil painting on mirror where participants took a selfie; creating a group mandala.

Marilyn Huerta

Marilyn is a local artist and advocate who enjoys all aspects of art.  Her primary focus is in painting and mixed media however she enjoys sculpture, photography and graphic design as well as many other forms of art.  She is involved in various mural projects and enjoys giving back to her community.  She especially enjoys working with community members who either love creating art or just simply have an appreciation for the arts.

Marilyn is currently the Community Liaison and Student Arts Association Advisor at California State University San Marcos where she is also a member of the university’s Public Arts Advisor Group. She is currently the President of the San Marcos Arts Council and serves as a board member on the TERI Center Fine Arts Committee, serves as an Ambassador for the San Marcos Boys & Club, and is currently a Community Liaison for the Charity Wings Art Center. Marilyn was previously the CSUSM Arts & Lectures Coordinator, CSUSM Arts Gallery  Manager,  family/children coordinator on the Carlsbad ArtSplash Committee, was previously the Sunday Artwalk Coordinator for Old California Restaurant Row, a Commissioner for the City of Oceanside Arts Commission, and a painting instructor for the Centre Artes program.

I AM an ARTIST

I first discovered I wanted to be an artist when I was in kindergarten. My teacher told everyone in the class that it was “free time” and we could choose any areas of the classroom to play in that we wanted. There was the science discovery area, the miniature kitchen, the reading area, the block building area and so forth, but what caught my attention were two easels with white glossy paper, big fat brushes and various jars of colored paint. My eyeballs immediately zeroed in on these two easels.  But then, I hesitated.  Were the easels only for the “rich kids” to use?  Was I permitted to use them? Needless to say I wondered my way towards them and ended painting picture after picture. I was in heaven.

Then a few years later, when I was in the 4th grade, I had a crush on a little boy named Bobby. He used to love to draw characters from the Planet of the Apes movies that were very popular at that time (yes, that gives my age away), and since I too, loved to draw, we sat next to each other and became close friends. Bobby used to draw very slow and methodical so even though he was a wonderful sketch artist, he often did not finish his projects. I, on the other hand, loved to draw and paint so much that I worked really fast with stomach churning excitement.  The more I could create, the more I could create!

This part of me hasn’t changed. It’s taken me a long time to actually call myself an artist because I am constantly being told that I need to “find my voice”.  I need to figure out what it is I want to create, what kind of art I want to do, and what kind of artist I want to be.  I need to figure this out and stick with it but I am now in my 40′s and I am still struggling with the same advice I’ve received from numerous people throughout my life.

Why must I do just one thing? Why can’t I dabble in it all? I love to work with clays and plasters. The messier it is the better, the more I sculpt the more I want to. I love to draw in charcoals and pastels one day, and perhaps colored pencils the next.  I paint like there’s no tomorrow and have recently started working in mixed media art that consists of paint, wax, glue, clay, strings, wax, fabric, paper and all sorts of things, all on a single canvas.  This is what I seem to love to do the most.

I enjoy going on photo shoots and find photography and the technical aspects of my camera fascinating.  Through photography I learn about composition, color, and line but I also explore and learn about the world around me. I smell the scents of the earth, the outdoors, and just everyday life.  I taste possibilities and I’m inspired by what I see.

In my graphic design work I learn to communicate.  How do I reach my target audiences to help promote an event, a business or an important message?  I am always up for this challenge and again, I love to explore what I can do.

Ever since that day in Kindergarten I’ve always wanted to be an artist but I’ve also felt it was not in my nature to just paint pretty pictures.   I had to do something with my art. Everyone on this earth has a purpose and everyone has a role that was intended for them to play. For that reason, I thoroughly enjoy sharing my art but I also enjoy giving back to my community. I believe in arts education and the healing of art.

I often wonder, is the creative self something we are born with or is it something that we nurture?  I grew up with a father who constantly drew cartoon pictures of “Bugs Bunny” and he taught me to color outside the lines and to use a color palette that was outside the norm. My mother, the most creative soul I know instilled in me the heart of creativity.  As each day passes, I learn more and more about her, about the creative self and about myself; my mother, the innate creator not to mention, my creator.

Through all the forms of art I can be true, I can be honest, I am whole. 

Rick Ortiz

I work at Biggs Harley-Davidson in San Marcos CA. I painted this piece simply named Semper Fi. Everyday we serve our Military Men and Women here at Biggs and every weekend they come in from there day of motorcycle riding and we serve them food, My family are very Military proud and it makes me feel good to see and serve these guys and girls, Basically because they get to see and do things us "normal" citizens do not, possibly even wouldn't/couldn't do. 2'x4' Acrylic on Wood panel. So I will be painting more Military related pieces in the Future.