Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, Ben Lomond, California, non-profit Arts Organization

"The Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center supports and encourages the arts

through education, exhibition and cultural activities,

reflecting the unique and diverse environment of the mountain communities."

 

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS ART CENTER

9341 Mill St.      Ben Lomond, CA      (831) 336-3513

 

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Please click on the thumbnails below to view larger images

 

Lost with Gauguin

 

Looking for Gauguin

FROgard Butler

602 Old Vine Court

Pleasant Hill, CA    94523

(925) 381-9584

Email: FRO

I was born in Hamburg, Germany and immigrated to the United States in the 50’s with my parents and two sisters.

 

We settled in New Jersey where I went to elementary school and two years of high school. In 1961 we all moved to the Bay Area in California.

 

I was enrolled at San Francisco State College, where I declared studio art my major, and took several classes (Sculpture, Drawing, Art History, Painting, Design Classes).   My goal of completing my BFA was seriously side tracked and put on hold for over 30 years!  I married, raised 3 children; remarried and helped raise two more.  During this time I became an Early Childhood Educator.  I received my BA degree from Cal State Hayward in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education.

 

At Left:    "Lost with Gauguin", Watercolor, Full Sheet, (NFS) and "Looking for Gauguin", Full Sheet  ($500)

This watercolor is a study of some of Gauguin’s oil paintings.  I learned to layer and have fun with color.

 

Recently I have returned to college and have taken watercolor, ceramics, and drawing classes.  I plan to obtain my BFA degree.   As I paint, I find myself lost in the “puddles” and in the world of color and mixing.

 

My most recent college educational experience took place in Italy.  I always wanted to be an overseas student.  This summer I lived and studied in Florence for 6 weeks.  My classes consisted of Art History and Drawing.  My goal was to see the “real thing” and draw it.  I got to do both!

 

At Left: "Saving the White", watercolor, Full Sheet.

This close up flower is a study of some of O Keeffe’s work.  I learned how to save the white of the paper.

Please click on the thumbnails below to view larger images

 

   

 

 

The Cuttlefish was a project which was timed.  It helped me to develop a more free flowing style. I also learned to pop the image by going darker.

 

At Left: Cuttlefish Series Top: Cuttle Fish, Watercolor, Full Sheet, below: Cuttlefish #2 and #3, "Looking Closer", $900 Set

Please click on the puppy above to view a larger image

 

 

My latest interest has been the dogs!  Over the years I have had 5 dogs of my own.  Now that I travel and no longer have dogs, I enjoy painting them. 

 

Send me your favorite photo or have me meet your puppy and I will take a photo.  Then I'll turn it into a watercolor portrait for you or a friend.

 

Puppy Pawtraits   are 5 x 7", matted with white mat, framed to 8 x 10, and cost $100.

At Left: In the Dog House

Please click on the thumbnailsbelow to view larger images

 

At Left: French Bread

acrylic  24" x 20"

Up • Bruce-Bangert • Jody Bare • Dale Bates • Brenda Berg • Fro Butler • Carolee-Burrows-Artist • Frank_Borovich • Roberta Friedman Ceramics • Helene • Dan & Laurie Hennig • Shirley-Hudson • Anouk-Johanna • Leah King • Linda A. Levy • Tina Masciocchi • Geoff-Jenny-Morten • Stephanie Schriver • Lorri Scott • GloriaS • Kathleen Miller Thomas • Breda Voss • Larry Worley
 

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:   

 Arts Council of Santa Cruz County   Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County

         California Arts Council   Bruce Bangert   North Glass   Phoenix Ceramics  

       Earth Matters Foundation    Valley Women's Club    New Leaf Market Felton

 

This web site was created by an Artist for Artists.  Your comments are welcome. This page was last updated on 03/19/14. 

All written and visual information in this web site is copyright ©2014, Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, and may not be used or reproduced without permission.

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