Karren de Gorricho had never won an award for her artwork, but that all changed Friday night.
received the Best of Show and People’s Choice awards (Photo By Joyce Rudolph)
She snapped up five honors — more than anyone — in the San Fernando Valley Art Club’s Summer Art Exhibition during the opening reception at the Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery.
“I’m thrilled!” said the Studio City resident. “It’s exciting for me. I did not expect anything.”
Her Best of Show and People’s Choice awards are for the same oil painting “Lilies in My Garden.” She took a photograph of lilies in her backyard and painted the image.
She began her journey in visual arts with mixed media nine years ago and then started painting abstracts and doing collage two years later. She has been painting Impressionism and portraits for two years, studying with La Crescenta artist Margot Lennartz.
Marian Fortunati received first place in Best of Show and Best Naturescape for her oil painting titled “Casting About in the Great Unknown.” She was inspired to paint the scene of a lone fisherman in the river against a backdrop of rugged terrain while on her recent trip through the Grand Canyon on a raft for two weeks.
Great Unknown.” (Photo By Joyce Rudolph)
The title was a play on words — the Great Unknown, refers to the first passage through the Grand Canyon by river made by explorer John Wesley Powell and casting as in the fishing term, Fortunati said.
Trisha Bennett who was attending the opening reception liked Fortunati’s painting because of the scale, the color and the fluidity the artist gave to the green water, she said.
Other Best of Show winners were Jennifer Bentson, of Glendale, second place; and Jane Thorpe, third place.
Judging the show was tough task, said artist Tim Forcum of Silver Lake.
Ricardo Cerezo during the opening reception for the San Fernando
Valley Art Club show on Friday night at the Burbank Creative Arts
Center Gallery. (Photo by Joyce Rudolph)
“When I first came into the gallery, I felt all the artists should be rewarded for their hard work,” he said. “Seeing the effort, creativity and the passion here was very touching.”
The show consists of portraits, landscapes and still life that are illustrated in oil, watercolor, mixed media, cut paper and acrylic collage.
Club member Ricardo Cerezo was the exhibit chairman.
The show continues through July 25 at the art center, which is at 1100 W. Clark Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The next show, Pottery Instructors Exhibit, showcases work by those who teach at the Creative Arts Center. it opens with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 2. Instructors participating are Veronica Ferrantelli, Debbie Henson, Michael Hirsh, Claude Hulce, Jack Paul Miller, Barbara Rog, Frances Santistevan and Judy Springborn.
