Do You Want to Be an Artist? Come to the October 19 Open House
Art Club pool party
Emily Grotta
When people move to PebbleCreek, the choice of activities can be overwhelming. Should they learn pickleball? Join PC Players? Play golf every day?
For many, PebbleCreek offers the opportunity to return to hobbies that were dropped as life got in the way. That is why the Art Club is one of the community’s most popular clubs.
Whether you have not picked up a paintbrush since grammar school or are a seasoned artist with years of experience, the Art Club exists to help you develop that inner creativity. With workshops geared to beginners and classes for all levels or artists, you are bound to discover new interests and develop your skills when you join the club.
There is an Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, in the Creative Arts Center. You will be able to observe and ask questions of artists working in acrylics, oils, and watercolors. You will see some of the “PC Sketchers” developing their drawing skills. And everyone will be ready to answer your questions about the club.
While all classes are open to residents of PebbleCreek, many of the activities are limited to members only. Membership is just $25 a year, and members enjoy discounted class fees and many member-only events, including field trips and the opportunity to display and sell their work at art shows. See the classes available in October in this issue of the Post and what is planned for November and December online at pcartclub.org. You can learn more about the benefits of joining the oldest club in PebbleCreek by clicking on “Membership Benefits” on the club’s home page.
Member-only events scheduled in October—all designed to build on the camaraderie among artists—are below. After all, our motto is “Laugh, learn and grow with us!” Wouldn’t you like to join us?
October Members-Only Events
* Oct. 4: First Friday Lunch at Eagle’s Nest. Shmooze with your fellow artists at our monthly lunch. Usually on campus or at an area restaurant.
* Oct. 9: All mediums critique, 1 to 3 p.m. When you are stuck on a painting, this monthly session is an opportunity to hear friendly suggestions from other artists—and offer your expertise to others!
* Oct. 10: PC Art Club Sketchers Workshop, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Drawing is fundamental to all kinds of art, but too often ignored by folks who cannot wait to put paint on a canvas.
* Oct. 14: Mid-Month Mingle at Eagle’s Nest—another opportunity to socialize.
* Oct. 24, 4 to 7 p.m.: Pool party at the Oasis. Partners can join us so they can learn how much fun we have!
* Oct. 25: Art Club Meeting, 9:30 a.m.
Look at All the Art Classes!
Emily Grotta
The PebbleCreek Art Club’s calendar is chock-full of classes and member events in the coming months—whether beginning or advanced painters, there is something for everyone in every medium. While classes are open to any resident or renter in PebbleCreek, other events are for members only—a great reason to join the club!
New and returning instructors will be offering classes. Please see the website, pcartclub.org, for supplies and other information and to register.
Edward Sprafkin is an impressionistic painter whose favorite subjects include landscapes, portraits and figures. He strives to create a great sense of depth, mood, and atmosphere in his paintings, and he is just as passionate about teaching as he is about painting. His classes, which are not a “series” but can be taken whenever your calendar permits, are an opportunity to grow your skills in your medium of choice. He teaches at the Scottsdale Artists School and in communities throughout the Greater Phoenix area.
His classes focus on landscapes and live model portrait drawing. All classes are $50 for members and $70 for nonmembers and run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See the calendar for additional classes in November and December.
Landscapes
* Friday, Oct. 4 and Friday, Oct. 11
* Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 26
Live Model Portrait Drawings
Two live model portrait drawing classes with Edward Sprafkin. The base of artistic training for centuries. There is no better way to learn drawing or painting than working directly from the source.
* Saturday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 12
* Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Tuesday, Oct. 22
Beth Zink, who is best known for her colorful, bright images of desert plants that span the entire canvas, is one of the Southwest’s most popular artists. Her name has become synonymous with color and the desert, and it’s what attracts people the world over to her energetic depictions of the Southwest. Beth regularly participates in the Hidden in the Hills art show and the Celebration of Fine Art at Scottsdale’s White Tents.
She is offering two classes this fall at the highly discounted rate of $126 for members, $146 for nonmembers. All supplies are included! Both classes are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. She will take students step-by-step through her process.
* Oct. 17: Painting Quail and Hummingbirds in Acrylic with Beth Zink
* Nov. 5: Painting Sunsets in Acrylic with Beth Zink
Julie Larson taught more than 1500 seniors the thrill of painting in workshops throughout the area. On Sunday, Oct. 20, she will be here for an Acrylic Painting Tutorial for beginners. The instructor provides all supplies. $38 for members, $58 for nonmembers.
Cynthia Lavin Honored as Artist of the Season
Cynthia Lavin
Cynthia Lavin
Nature has provided an endless source of inspiration for my art. The richness of colors—deep oranges, the vibrancy of yellows, and all the variations of blues and greens—find their way into my work. People and earth’s flora and fauna provide both sensuality and contrast in their shapes, relationships, shadows, and defining lines.
During my undergraduate study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I used specific imagery to tell a story. My thirst for a classical foundation led to my participation in a variety of workshops across the United States. Through these workshops, I discovered the beauty in drawing a simple line that gives shape to form and spirit. This carried over to my painting and remains a part of it today.
While living in Chicagoland, my days were filled with work, painting, dance lessons, and performances. I exhibited in various juried shows, including one at the Art Institute of Chicago. As a free spirit, my subjects are varied. I love playing with reflections, with multiple realities, with changes in scale—all a different way of “seeing.” When I step back to look at my work, I experience my paintings as having a voice of their own; that voice guides my direction.
My husband Frank and I and our beloved pup, Boo, moved to the Sonoran Desert Valley, building our dream home in the PebbleCreek community in 2022. My lifelong dream of having an art studio in my home is realized; our casita is my studio, and it is in that wonderful space that I create my work.
As a member of the PebbleCreek Art Club, I have taken workshops, shown and sold artwork, and continue to enjoy the camaraderie and networking within this vibrant community. Also, as a member of ShowTime, I’ve danced in shows performed in the community.
My current artwork on display in PebbleCreek’s clubhouses and the Creative Arts Center is influenced by my new life in Arizona, specifically the Sonoran Desert and Sedona. My painting Freedom is an exploration of oil paint on a mixed-media surface, and was inspired by the spirit of the horse, whose form and energy have always resonated with me. Larger Than Life is the first in a new series capturing the beauty and energy of succulents utilizing a more abstract approach in representing their organic form. The newest painting, Sedona Energy, is based on my recent time there, wherein my pastel drawing and photograph served as a reference.
Almost every painting I have done in the last 20 years is accompanied by an oil-painted cloth that, while connected to these paintings in colors, is an emotional abstraction, a stream of consciousness, a free form that has evolved into its own story. I am deeply grateful to be acknowledged and recognized for my work, and to have my paintings adorn the walls of my friends’ and clients’ homes.
Free Tickets Available October 1 for November 16 Fine Art Show and Sale
Emily Grotta
The Fall Fine Art Show and Sale is one of PebbleCreek’s most anticipated events, as residents and guests look forward to finding beautiful pieces of art for their homes. Reserve a free ticket beginning Oct. 1, and you will be able to stroll the Tuscany Falls Ballroom, view the artwork by PebbleCreek Art Club’s talented artists, sip a complimentary glass of wine, and enjoy the music of “Happy Hour.”
Original paintings, drawings, and sculptures will be available for purchase in oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink, graphic and colored pencils, mixed media, and fiber clay. All the artwork—except those in the works in the “emerging artist” category—must be the original work of the artist to be in the show, and you will have the added pleasure of personally knowing the artist. In addition, the special challenge, “In Your Wildest Dreams,” encouraged artists to create a special piece.
One of PebbleCreek’s most popular events, the show will be from 2 to 6 p.m. and admission to the show is limited to 200 people per hour to maximize their enjoyment. The free tickets, which are available beginning Oct. 1, are quickly claimed, so we recommend you reserve your place early at the Art Show website, pcartclubshows.org. In addition, you will be able to purchase raffle tickets online for one of the six beautiful baskets created by club members. Each is worth more than $300. Tickets are $10 for 15 tickets or $20 for 40 tickets, and you do not need to be present to win.
The Art Show would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors, whose donations cover the cost of the show. We thank these generous individuals and vendors and encourage you to patronize them.
Gold—$500
Arete Financial Solutions, Wealth Management and Tax Preparation
Burkhart Realty
Desert Sage Landscaping
Southwest Golf Carts
Silver—$300
Catitude Arts, Art Education, Bonnie McDonald Lewis
Free Spirit Vacations
Lupo Airport Services
Osborne Jewelers
Pino’s Construction
Rapid Roofing and Pigeon Control
Roanoke Rental LLC
Bronze—$100
Argent Solar Electric Inc.
Juice Plus
TNT Lighting Pros—Landscape Specialists
West Valley Air Conditioning & Heating, LLC
Donors
Kinetico Water Systems $850 system
Maggie and George Phillippon $250
Patrons of the Arts
Gustafson Family
Julie Kelly
Loretta Pruett