Artists

Robert Piser

Robert Piser was born in Milford, Connecticut in 1952. Raised in the San Fernando Valley, Piser was profoundly influenced by postwar middle class Americana and the burgeoning Pop Art movement. Piser’s earliest works were primarily realistic portrayals in colored pencil, watercolor and gouache, although he soon moved to creating “Sculptural Paintings.”

Piser developed “Sculptural Paintings” at California College of Arts and Crafts (later California College of the Arts). Required to study sculpture yet resisting tradition, his response was to paint three-dimensional volumes.

In the 1970s, Piser created his street-based art gallery, “The Daily Palette”, a collection of newspaper vending machines installed outside art venues around the San Francisco Bay Area. The machines were supplied weekly with silk-screened prints, which sold for 25 cents, or, as Piser put it, "Significant art works at popular prices." According to art blogger Matthew LeClair, “The idea of the vending machine as an alternative art gallery began in the 1970s with Robert Piser's Daily Palette.” LeClair writes, “Piser's work was significantly different from the Fluxus artists. The Fluxus artists vended work by single artists inside a gallery. For Piser, the vending machine was the gallery, selling work by a variety of artists in locations not typically associated with art, such as on street corners.”

According to Piser:

I was a young art student and was frustrated with the straight / closed gallery scene in the bay area and was just looking for a way to show my work and it was a cool way to do it. I was part of the bay area underground music and art scene of the late 70's and 80's. The Ant Farm, Survival Research Laboratories, Flipper, Dead Kennedy's, Cramps, etc. I taught lithography and silkscreen printing at Berkeley and was part of a group of alternative printers and artists who were involved with the "mail art" movement. (The Mac and email weren't designed yet). The machines were $55 and I had 8 of them at one time. The cost of the operation wasn't close to the money I got back at 25 cents a piece, but a quarter seemed like the best price someone would actually let go of at the time, besides, it wasn't the point really. It was the cheapest gallery in the world. People liked the concept and I showed all kinds of people's work, (too many), and people mostly stole more than they paid for. The UC Berkeley police actually confiscated some machines as they said they were on university property and I had to bail out the machines and I had a show accordingly at UC Berkeley art museum. Too many stories...I ran it for about 6 years...

Piser also studied art at Otis Art Institute and San Francisco Art Institute, and fine art lithography at U.C. Berkeley. Piser actively participated in the vibrant San Francisco/East Bay underground art scene, appearing in gallery and group shows, and co-founded the East Bay “Mail Art” movement.

Piser’s years of experience as an industrial printer fostered a deep appreciation of the art and science of fine art printing. During the pre-digital heyday of San Francisco Bay Area printing, he worked with notable printing houses (e.g., Foster & Kleiser, Mike Roberts Postcards, World Litho Co., etc.), creating everything from post cards and posters to billboards.

Jeff Comulada

In the tradition of his Italian ancestors, Jeff is an artisan who builds custom furniture from his fertile imagination. Born in Washington, DC, but raised in Los Angeles and schooled at UCLA, Jeff has been building and selling fine furniture since the 1990’s, first in Pasadena, then in Temecula and now in his new hometown, the avocado capital of the world, Fallbrook, California (and not incidentally, Jeff makes a mean guacamole).

Jeff’s furniture pieces range from the purely practical (tables of differing sizes and heights) to whimsical steampunk creations. He is currently crafting a writing desk with room for a computer and printer but what a desk this is! Using H.G. Wells’ time machine as a starting point, Jeff has added drawers, a map pull-out, a time travel lever, lights, knobs and all sorts of added timepieces to give the illusion of a time machine, complete with a steam locomotive front with a tube for discarded paper!

Unique, one-of-a-kind furniture is Jeff’s specialty. If you are looking for an unusual pub/game table or a kitchen island or a gardening bench, please give us a try. We use re-purposed wood and knobs and pulls whenever possible. Steampunk, antique reproductions, Craftsman and mid-century are all styles that Jeff works with and creates. If you have an item in mind, Jeff can probably build it for you.

Check out more at the artist website fallbrookfurniture.com.

Wesley White

Most people may find the art of WESLEY WHITE inspiring or too loud. But whatever your opinion, you must admit that it pops.

An Oceanside artist (b. 1986) via Laguna Beach, Calif.—the work of WHITE is recognizable for its wacky candy-like colors and “cute” subculture marked by POP art fetish, hip-hop, and street inspiration. Original pieces feature playful imagery like oversized eyes, cartoon Technicolor and contemporary characters marked by dark humor.

WHITE began honing his skills of sculpture and woodwork as a teen, but didn’t take up painting till his early 20s. Original pieces utilize acrylic and molding putty—drawing inspiration from leading edge artists Banksy and Tyler Warren. His travels to Spain, Ibiza and Costa Rica impacted his graffiti obsession. In his own words “My art is fun and LOUD with lots of bright colors. I love to make people smile and laugh, baby!”

Popular works include his Wu-Kitty, Spew (a spitting rainbow), and Jerry (Homer Simpson lookalike unicorn). Current collection on exhibit at BANANA DANG! is a retrospective of works from the past 10 years. When he is not in the ocean or walking his dog, WHITE can be found in his Oside studio painting to audible backdrops of Joy Division, the Smiths and Nicki Minaj.

John Martinez

John has been a stained glass artist for more than 20 years. He also is a stained glass painter who does restoration work. Johns is constantly learning new techniques from videos and other glass artists. On larger projects he works with Don Meyers Stained Glass in Oceanside. John also creates blazingly colorful abstract works of art on canvas, which are available in a multitude of sizes and is a highly skilled custom sandblasting artist as well. His canvas art has been displayed with the Phantom Gallery in Carlsbad, CA and also as entries in the Del Mar Fair.

Check out more at the artist websitewww.johnsstainedglass.com.

Stella Divina - Sarah Jo Antonucci

I handcraft luxury home décor products made from recycled, upcycled, and repurposed materials.

My coasters are created using recycled tiles, and an assortment of vintage advertising material and antique labels. The tiles are painted with abstract colors and designs to perfectly match the colors of the labels. I apply a mixed-media coating that makes the coasters waterproof, alcohol-proof, heat resistant to 200 degrees, and I add UV-protection to preserve the historic labels, so they will not yellow or fade over time. Finally my products come to life when the coasters are backed with high-quality, super-absorbent, 100% Portuguese cork.

Stella Divina coasters are a form of “functional art.” They are upscale home décor pieces, made with luxury quality materials, with a mixed-media composition of abstract painting and vintage designs. Each coaster is masterfully crafted to be durable enough for every day use.

I scour the country for unique vintage commercial advertising finds, such as Pre-Prohibition alcohol labels, vintage postcards, and antique citrus crate packing labels. When I find citrus crate packing labels, I scan them, digitally enhance them, fixing scratches, cracks, and rips, and size them to fit perfectly on the hand-painted, multicolored backgrounds of each tile.

My work is a mix of contemporary and modern art, blended with cultural, historical, and mass media references. Stella Divina pieces have been described as “Andy Warhol meets Martha Stewart,” because each piece has an artistic, pop-art element and colorful abstract backdrops, combined with a meticulous approach to product design and functionality.

By incorporating vintage advertising designs into my handcrafted coasters through a mixed-media approach, my home décor art pieces breathe life into historic objects and tell stories of America’s cultural past, helping to keep history alive in away that can be displayed and celebrated as part of daily life.

Check out more at the artist website stelladivina.com.

Elizabeth Keating

I make art because to me it feels like revealing a hidden world. I approach each piece with a question, “What’s next?” Line by line, color by color I map out a visionary landscape of an otherwise unexplainable world. I am inspired to create these drawings because I want to find out for myself what will turn out. Every piece is a response to that question.
Because the creation of these images is such a mystery to me, nothing gives me more joy than to see and hear the interpretations of others, to explore the meaning of the work anew with each person’s unique perception of it.

I am fascinated with ornamentation. To me, these patterns and designs are the language of the visionary world. I like to layer and twist them around one another to create a sense of three dimensionality among the single dimensional patterns. My work blends styles of ornamentation throughout time and culture. I like to incorporate delicate Victorian floral patterns with rhythmic Aztec geometric pattern, to depict ancient Hebrew symbolism in Peruvian electric pink and green.
My art mirrors my life taking each moment in one tiny detail at a time forging ahead with faith that the end result will be worth the effort. I hope that my drawings serve as an inspiration to their viewers to explore the unseen world, to let go of expectation, and to accept no limitations.

I have no formal training. My work has all been created over the past 2 years as a result of a spiritual transformation.

Madeline Jachim

Tap. Create. Express.

I am a tap dancer/tap teacher in the community. I live in Oceanside and teach at Carlsbad Dance Centre. My art is tap dancing and my mission is to communicate to my audience through rhythm and sound. Tap dance is a unique art because it is non-verbal yet can speak such important messages to the audience. Tap is its own language. It is intricate, rhythmic and compelling and I want to share this language with my community!

Check out more on the artist website Project Rhythm

Allissa Thompson

Ansel Adams said, “You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” As much as I love capturing beauty through the lens, it is the power of a photo to evoke feelings, share stories, and connect with people that is most meaningful to me. They say a picture is worth a thousand words; that's exactly what you'll get if you stop to chat with me about a photo. I love sharing the stories behind my photos and am truly honored when people ask about or enjoy them!

I was born and raised on a farm in Orange County, New York, but have called Oceanside home for the last five years. My creative passion was kindled long ago by a high school photography class, where I was educated in the fundamentals of lighting and composition, yet I subdued my artistic voice for years in favor of academic and athletic pursuits at Duke University. Returning to my artistic roots has given me wings along with insatiable wanderlust; my love of travel has taken me from the jungles of Thailand to the Australian Outback and the Great Wall of China. I still find endless beauty right here in Oceanside, and love the thrill of chasing my next shot. As a member of Carlsbad Oceanside Art League (COAL) and Oceanside Museum of Art's Artist Alliance, I enjoy sharing my work while learning from the many talented artists in our community.

Check out more on the artist website allissa-thompson.fineartamerica.com, Facebook AllissaThompsonPhotography, and Instagram @allissathompson.

Anne Hall

I am a local photographer that loves the beauty that Oceanside has to offer

I am retired and enjoying my passion of capturing those "special moments" I also travel so I have works from coast to coast but I tend to favor Ensenada and the Gaudalupe Valley with all of it's wonderful wineries.

Thomas Smith

Photography is an amazing process that allows me to capture one specific moment in time for eternity. Pictures can tell a story, or just show the beauty of the moment, or the horror. If I am lucky, I will capture some of those moments.

Check out more on Facebook ImagesbyTSmith

Dana Diane Patterson

I enjoy capturing not only the astonishingly beautiful physical world we inhabit, but digitally editing those images to share the mood that drew me to the scene. I love the color, movement, contrast, and fantasy elements of ordinary objects and telling a story with my artwork.

My childhood memories involve making a camera out of a shoebox and black electrical tape, wondering what my dad was up to in his closet darkroom, and driving into the desert at all hours of the morning or night to take photographs. I started taking digital photographs as references for all the paintings I wanted to make. I would never be able to paint them all or ever perfect my technique enough to do it, but thought I would share some of these images with everyone.

Gabriele Bitter

Gabriele has exhibited her work in southern California as well as in Germany and just recently showed her work at the Angel Orensanz Foundation in Long Island, NY, as well as the Mkrtchyan Gallery in Glendale, Sulkin/Secant Gallery at Bergamont Station in Santa Monica, Art 4 All People Gallery in Malibu and at the Orange County Center of Contemporary Art in Santa Ana. Her art work was part of the “Project 36” with Theatre Arts West as well as the Playwrights and Artists Series II.

Gabriele’s work has an identifiable look with its strong colors and textures. Many of her compositions are anchored with geometric shapes and lines which can create both balance and tension. She often incorporates charcoal or chalk as drawing elements. Texture is a very important element in her work.

Recently she started to incorporate new and old printmaking techniques which she enjoys tremendously. Mono-prints, intaglio and linocut have become an intricate part of her work.

Raised in Europe, Gabriele was influenced by many different painting styles. When she moved to the Unites States she enrolled in many art classes and attended a private art school in Irvine. She has continued taking classes and workshops whenever she can find the time.

She is represented by the Copperwood Gallery in Orange and the Lark Gallery in Los Angeles.

Check out more on the artist website gabrielebitter.com.

Arron Weis

I am a local teen from Oceanside going to the beach any chance i get. I am trying to get my name out there in the wave photography industry. All shot with a Gopro Hero 3+ black edition

Check out more on Instagram @_.arron

Scott Guhin

I have been an O'side resident for the last 15 years. I have been exhibiting with D Gallery, Phantom Gallery and Arts Alive over these few years. I am a graduate of San Diego State's Art Department. After graduation, I lived in Northern California, starting in San Francisco, moving to West Marin County, then Sonoma before coming down to Los Angeles. I am represented in private collections internationally.

I have always been mesmerized by color and light. My challenge has been to capture a sense of light in all of my pieces, I work large format (average size 4ft. x 6ft.) acrylic on canvas. Inspiration is all around me and so I paint things familiar to me. My garden and local landscape have been my central theme.

Elisabeth Sullivan

My paintings are a visual representation of the impact nature has on my senses fueled by my imagination and dreams. I’m interested in creating a peaceful, happy mood, evoking fond memories of a time or place, and arousing curiosity. I leave the story in my “dreamscapes" open to interpretation, inviting the viewer to experience the scene in their own way.

Check out more on the artist website elisabethsullivan.com and Facebook ArtbyElisabeth

Pavan and Rita Gupta

Pavan and Rita Gupta have been traveling all over India since 2006, recording and capturing the mages in places like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim. Significant numbers of these images have become rare since the ground realities have changed.

Our Exhibitions are titled EHSAAS - A Visual Movement. Ehsaas means Realization or Feeling. In the current context, this visual movement is to make the people realize that what we see today may not be available tomorrow. India is changing like the rest of the world but the change in India is destroying the very culture of this ancient civilization.

Check out more at the artist website pavanandritagupta.com.

Blake Kern

“I begin with an idea or sense of where I want to go, and by the end of the process I often find myself somewhere unexpected. The piece just takes on a life of its own. I know when the piece is complete because it just feels right.” My goal is to not only evoke an emotional response, but to tell a story.

Blake Kern, an Oceanside resident who has lived in North County since 1975. Married for nearly 43 years, she has two adult children, and two grandchildren. Blake is a retired educator and is enjoying her new found time exploring her personal creativity. Blake has found her niche in collage and mixed media work, whether it be on canvas, in a box, or a book. Blake enjoys writing poetry, which becomes the story behind the art in her sometimes rather dark and mysterious books. Creating altered books and altar boxes is a way for her to focus on a particular theme and develop the layers of texture and 3-D effect that is not obtainable with canvas or paper.