Artists

Alexandra Giasullo

Two years ago all I wanted was a good camera so I could take nice pictures of things like the sunset and trees. Before my camera, I started to take pictures on an iPhone 4. I thought they were so good (I laugh now because they're blurry and terrible). Eventually, I not only discovered that I had some real potential in photography, but that I'm passionate about it beyond words. I've never taken a photography class in my life, and since I got my camera I have barely educated myself on how to use it. At first this used to discourage me and I felt like I could never progress if I didn't learn more, but I realized that's not true. I'm so proud of my work because of how little I know; its raw talent, and I wouldn't want it any other way. To take it to the next level I started setting up photo shoots and working in a hospital as a newborn photographer. I didn't feel in my element. As much as I have clear vision of where people should be in a photo or what angles to capture them in I don't feel comfortable giving direction. I slowly backed off and started to feel discouraged, again. I went from taking pictures all day every single day to barely once a week, until I realized I had to go back to where the passion comes from. My passion is to capture art in day to day life; that's what I'm good at. Instead of trying to force myself to take pictures of events or doing scheduled photo shoots I decided to go with the more difficult route because it's what I truly want. I don't want to do weddings or engagement shoots as much as I want a picture of what I find to be an artistic looking door hanging up on the wall in an art museum. My dream is to make it in the art industry, I can't picture myself doing anything else.

Tim Flood

Tim Flood plays music from and for the soul. A versatile multi-instrumentalist with a special Love for the guitar, Tim performs original songs and instrumental compositions influenced by his Love for the Earth, its people and Love itself. Tim’s music is a soulful journey that uplifts the spirit and inspires the heart.

Check out more on the artist website timfloodmusic.com.

Pharaohs Cape

We want people to like good music

We are a local sandiego two-piece band with two full albums as well as a strong experience playing live shows in the san diego area with great success for each show. Currently we consist of a drummer and guitar player with vocals switching between us two for a doo-wop styled sound.

Check out more on Bandcamp  Pharaohs Cape

Brandon Hubbard

In the spring of 2011, I began a small business in my home town of San Diego called Signs of San Diego, where I sell panoramic photography along with hand sketches and watercolors of well known landmarks at local farmers markets, and art walks. Since that time, I have produced more than three hundred original art pieces, using both photography and pen & ink drawings.

I sketch mainly with the use of pen & ink, while my watercolors manipulate my ink drawings by adding pockets of color, which differs from traditional watercolors. Most watercolors are drawn in with light pencil and the lines are covered over, but I glorify the lines boldly and add the color after completing the drawing. I have an extensive collection of sketches and am able to create custom pieces from any photo for both personal and professional use.

The thing that makes my panorama product unique is my innovative framing technique. Every photo is snapped by my finger and every frame is built by my hands. I create my panorama pieces by using a method I like to call deconstructive panorama photography, where I merge multiple separate photos into one larger image, then I break them back apart as separate photos, only to merge them back together at the end, having the individual photos make up the larger piece. These pieces range in size from small 4x10 desktop pieces to huge, ten foot wall sized posters, perfect for large blank walls in offices and homes.

Check out more on the artist website signsofsandiego.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.

Julianne Ricksecker

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Julianne Ricksecker lived in New Mexico and Rhode Island, Rouen, France and Yokosuka, Japan before settling in San Diego. She studied at the University of Pittsburgh, Universite de Rouen, the University of New Mexico, and the San Diego Acadamy of Fine Arts.

Inspired and delighted by the beauty of landscape, I try to express the awe and wonder I feel through a variety of media on paper. I am fascinated with the effects of light on the colors and textures of the landscape, and with the rhythms and patterns of the shapes I see. I hope to evoke in the viewer some of the pleasure, peace and joy I feel when I experience these natural wonders.

I portray realistic landscape imagery in pastel, monotype, intaglio printmaking (etching and collagraph), and watercolor. My imagery comes from actual places I have visited, such as waterfalls in Yosemite, vistas of Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, the Sierra Nevada mountains, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons. I also portray local scenes of the Cuyamaca Mountains, the La Jolla coastline, and desert scenes of Anza Borrego. Residing in San Diego County since 1975, I still thrill to see our local beaches, bays and canyons.

Julianne has exhibited in local, regional, national and international exhibitions. She has won numerous awards for her etchings and her pastels including 2nd place at the 8th Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking. She is a member of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild, the Pastel Society of San Diego, the Artists Alliance, and the Allied Artists Association of San Diego. Sign up for her personal newsletter to receive information about new work and upcoming exhibits.

Check out more at the artist website artbyjulianne.com, Facebook ArtByJulianne, Twitter @ArtByJulianne and the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild.

Amy Koumaras

Amy Koumaras is a self-taught artist residing in San Diego. Her early work centered on the sensuality and strength of the female form. Her “Women” series reflects femininity in the postures and subtle nuances of the placement of a hand, or the tilt of the head. These portraits show the vulnerability, joy, contemplation, and even fury that a woman can possess – sometimes all at once!

After finding success with the “Women” series, Amy has turned her attention to abstract work, using bold colors to saturate the canvas. These abstracts continue to express the emotions of her earlier pieces, without restriction of the physical form. Sometimes, the feminine can be found woven into the nonfigurative landscape of contrasting color fields. From fiery reds and oranges to pensive blues and greens, Amy’s work always centers on the many passions of the female spirit.

Check out more at the artist website amykoumaras.com.

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

Abigail Borders

Abigail is fluent in three languages, grew up in Asia, studied History in the UK, and now calls sunny Southern California her home. When not working with flowers (and daydreaming about what a ranunculusflower fairy looks like) she sings about Winnie the Pooh while baking treats like pineapple tarts and sand dollar cookies for her son, El Kiddo.

She has an on-going love/hate relationship with all things chocolate, although coffee will always remain her first love. She also holds graduate degrees in International Management and Special Education.

In December, Abigail presented her new book: The Burned Bridges Protocol published by Giant Squid Books.

Seven hundred years ago, disaster forced humanity to abandon Earth. Life on the colony ship New Edinburgh is all sixteen-year-old Lilliane, the best programmer in her year at the Institute, has ever known.

A week ago, Lilliane woke up in a life-pod. Its destination? Earth itself. Because it’s time to rebuild. It’s up to Lilliane and the four other survivors of the New Edinburgh to reclaim humanity’s ancestral home.

Today, the life pod arrived at Lady Diana–the lunar holding station that was once the luxury holiday destination for Earth’s super-rich. It’s supposed to be a good place. A safe place.Not anymore.

Today, Lady Di is a battlefield. Because while Lilliane and her friends thought they they were the only humans left, somebody else got to Lady Di first.

And he will stop at nothing to keep Lilliane from ever getting to Earth.

4th n Cedar

4th n Cedar is a four-piece band based in Escondido, CA. 4th n Cedar specializes primarily in Rock and Reggae, but aren't foreign to variety. Front man Elijah Gutierrez has become an experienced musician since his enrollment in guitar lessons at the young age of eight, and makes all efforts to achieve an astounding sound.

Band members:

Elijah Gutierrez (Lead Vocals/Guitar/Other Instruments)
Eli Ayub (Lead Guitar)
Trevor Johnson (Bass)
Jake Thelen (Bass)
Anthony Venezuela (Drums)

They have had some successes recently, including performing at the San Diego County Fair, House of Blues San Diego, Brick by Brick, The Epicentre, and festivals around North County. 4th N Cedar also recorded with PH Productions, and made a CD.

Check out more at the artist website 4thncedar.com or Facebook 4thncedar

Raziah Roushan

From Coast to Coast, Raziah Roushan has been making her mark on the American public. For over fifteen years, Raziah has been working as a professional artist in mediums such as oil, acrylic, charcoal, pastel, aerosol, printmaking, as well as wood working. Upon receiving her Bachelor’s of Fine Art from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland Oregon (2004), she has traveled the planet teaching, networking and contracting for the purposes of visual art.

Raziah’s art ranges from a variety of symbolism, visual genre collage and a palette of diverse techniques. Trained through a traditional painting degree, she is not only capable of developing illuminated figurative paintings, she also brings many contemporary styles such as graffiti, text, stencil and content driven inspirations to a body of work that some call “statement and purpose.” It is through a juxtaposition of imagery that Raziah develops a story on the canvas by which she invites the viewer to open into conversation and debate. Such works in her portfolio as “Does Your Freedom Come Gold Plated” or “How Trustworthy is Your Health Insurance” portray the confusion of our current affairs through a melting of figure and symbol.

In the spring of 2012, Raziah successfully completed her Master’s Degree in Art Administration from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Her pursuit of a Master’s Degree not only assists in advancing her business skills as a professional artist, it also offers a deeper service of her talents to the many non-profit organizations she currently volunteers and partners with. The Carlsbad ArtSplash has been an influential organization in Raziah’s community and directorship skills since 2004. As well, the Philadelphia Mural Arts opened doors to working with at-risk-youth through both classroom settings and legislative involvements. These experiences continue to affect Raziah’s community activism.

Her continuously positive attitude, love of art and constant traveling, have drawn her into massive networking, teaching and mentorship to artists of all ages and mediums. Whether it is grocery store conversations, hosting at community events or classroom lectures, Raziah Roushan continues to inspire hearts and activate minds.

Check out more at the artist website raziahroushan.com and Facebook RaziahRoushanArtist

Steven Yamasaki

Steven A. Yamasaki is an outrageously talented artist from sunny California. He has done watercolors, charcoal, pencil and ink drawings, airbrushing, and sculpture-but his favorite is digital art. He has honed his craft through tools like Illustrator and Photoshop. Steve lives out in horse country in SoCo with his Lovely Wife and two Awesome Kids.

Check out more at the artist website yamosart.com