"Creating mandalas allows me a therapeutic release and a reminder to slow down, relax and enjoy being in the moment."

VIVA Gallery’s September Show Features Emerging Artists Brittani O’Hara and Lauren McElroy as our Guest Artists

“My inspiration and passion is found in the natural world, and daily life. Printmaking, especially Etching provides opportunity for detail, texture and surprises . . . all which I adore! I have enjoyed art, gardening, and the changing seasons all my life.“

“I classify myself as a scratchboard artist. I was attracted to this medium 10 years agobecause of the dramatic contrast that can be achieved.”

“As a disabled artist, the methodical lines and symmetry of the mandalas and sacred geometry help bring me full circle to embrace the complexity and simplicity of my life.”

“When I am out in the woods or by the water, I sometimes get a feeling like they are trying to show me something , so I wait, watch, and listen.”

“For me, sculpture is a more complete physical interpretation of emotion. It is an encompassing way of communicating ideas that are complicated, by providing three dimensions in order to simultaneously offer multiple perspectives.”

“Collaborating together through our art is our way to build love between us and sharing this with the community on our favorite places.”

“I love the physical nature of printmaking and pottery – how throwing on the wheel, handbuilding, carving a block, and the act of printing a block to paper involve not only creative and mental labor, but also physical labor. Both are sculptural acts.”

“Anne Butera is a self-taught artist who finds inspiration in the beauty of her garden and the magic of nature. She works primarily in watercolor but also loves challenging herself to try new things. Her sketchbooks are her creative playground.”

“When Georgia draws, she feels the medium transports her into a fantasy realm.”

Reverence for nature, serenity, and peace.

“The spirit, nature and cosmos has influenced my work. My inspiration is the world around me, seen and unseen.”

“I am an emerging artist creating traditional, representational oil paintings using classical techniques, in hopes of bringing beauty and a sense of wonder into the lives of others for generations to come.”

“I create using an intuitive abstract expresionist approach, working to create the essence of a place or emotion. Accepting the imperfections and finding joy through the chaos, I paint life.”

“Creating nature inspired art is my passion. It makes me feel more alive and grateful for the experience of living. Hopefully my images will connect with you, and serve as valuable possessions, stirring your passion for the natural world each and every time you view the piece.”

“I love textiles of all kinds, and colored yarns and colored pencils of all hues yet I currently have a soft spot for hand stitching improvisational quilts and working in journals.”

“I weave tapestries and fiber collages with a wide variety of materials. My pieces draw their inspiration from sky, water, land, and vegetation. In my current work, I am concentrating on what we stand to lose because of climate change and the dire necessity of countering this threat.”

“Using simple shapes and minimalistic lines, I aspire to design and build artistic and functional pieces that highlight the intrinsic beauty of the material I work with. I enjoy experimenting with balance, proportion, and angles to produce unique and challenging designs.”

“Watercolors, for me, are a metaphor for life. They require a delicate balance of control and letting go. The magic happens when I have a vision but can trust and allow the paint to guide and surprise me.”