Art springs to life at annual show

“The secret of life is in art” — Oscar Wilde

What: Spring Member Art Show

Who: Placerville Arts Association

Where: El Dorado County Government Center, 360 Fair Lane in Placerville

When: Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Cost: Free

Information: placervillearts.com

Art can inspire, enrich, transport and lift the human spirit to new horizons.

The annual Spring Member Art Show is Placerville Arts Association’s opportunity to share with the community some of the artistic treasures that exist in El Dorado County. One of PAA’s commitments is to promote the visual arts through art shows.

Many of the artists whose work will be on display are local and national award-winning artists with their works hanging in area galleries, in universities, businesses and many homes.

The PAA Spring Art Show runs from Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

A wide variety of art will be on display at the unique and beautiful venue of the El Dorado County Government Center, 360 Fair Lane in Placerville.

The public is invited to enjoy this free event. Come and be enriched.

Throughout the year, the PAA’s 180 plus members sponsor a number of free art events, including two member art shows, the national Mother Lode Art Exhibition, a 3-D 3 by 3 show and a meet the artist’s Studio Tour.

The group invites young or old, beginning artists as well as advanced artists and patrons of the arts to visit the PAA Website to get current information about meetings and events, and to learn about the artists and their work. New members are welcome throughout the year.

The PAA is very pleased to have Mike Bagdonas, a nationally recognized plein air oil painter, as this year’s judge. He comes as an experienced award-winning artist and show judge.

Currently residing in the Sierra Foothills, Bagdonas is a native Californian. His formal art education was acquired at the California Art Institute in Southern California as well as many workshops by a number of living master artists in plein air, landscape, figurative and portraiture genres

Bagdonas believes that great works of art are painted primarily from life, and takes pride on being able to paint from life quickly and accurately.

Colleagues refer to Bagdonas as a draftsman in that his renderings are very accurate while his style is impressionistic. His portraits show a spark of the subject’s personality.

During the past eight years, Bagdonas has participated in numerous art competitions and exhibits. He has won many awards and honors at the national and international levels.

Along with his paintings currently being available in galleries in California, Bagdonas’ paintings are in a number of collections in the United States and abroad in England, Japan and Switzerland.

For more information visit his Website mikebagdonas.com.

The PAA art show will display diverse works of art from realism to abstract and experimental. Works of art created in watercolor, oil, pastel, charcoal, acrylic, pencil, photography, digital art and mixed media in categories of seascape, landscape, portrait, still life, animals, miniature and experimental will enhance the walls of the county government center.

Most works of art will be available for purchase. Greeting cards will also be available.

At the close of the show, the winner of the drawing for a donated painting will be announced.

Proceeds from the drawing go toward PAA’s scholarship program which supports an annual scholarship for a local graduating senior continuing in art studies.
Even though the membership show is professionally judged, the visiting public is encouraged to cast a vote for a favorite work of art for the People’s Choice Award.
The PAA members invite the public to come and enjoy the show and cast a vote.

For more information visit placervillearts.com.