Gallery features a whimsical view

Local artist, Richard Moore, is the featured artist for September at Art on the Divide Gallery in Georgetown.

The Gallery will host a reception for Moore on Sunday, Sept. 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. Come meet the artist, see his work, and enjoy some refreshments as well as the artwork of the other talented gallery members.

A deer watches as rafters enjoy the thrill of lively waters. A normal scene in El Dorado County, you say? But the deer swims along with the paddlers, the water rushes down Main Street of Placerville between nearly submerged parked cars. Onlookers perched on the cars or rooftops look on as the flood rolls by. This is one of many enchanting images created by Moore.

Moore’s photo illustrations are a delightful blend of humor, fantasy, and often social commentary, all served up with a charming element of play.

Photographic images provide the building blocks for his works. But they quickly move into Photoshop where they are arranged and manipulated, with a fine sense of color and form, to create images otherwise only seen in his mind.

A marriage and family therapist in the Bay Area prior to retirement, Moore has always been interested in the arts. He pursued ceramics for several years, built a home darkroom for his film photography, made linoleum block prints, collages, and tried watercolors and oils.

He also wrote books for children and a professional book for other therapists.

Nearing retirement he enrolled in a Photoshop course and was enthralled with the opportunities to realize his artistic vision.

Several courses, two digital cameras, and three printers later he and his wife became enamored with the Georgetown Divide and retired there.

Soon he was delighted to be accepted by the Art on the Divide Cooperative Gallery where he found a community of other artists who share his commitment to and pleasure in their work.

Art on the Divide Gallery invites local artists who are interested in joining the cooperative to stop by and pick up an application.

The gallery is located at 6295 Main St. in Georgetown, between the fire station and the American River Inn. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.

For more information call 530 333-2787(ARTS) or visit the Website at artonthedivide.com.