Sugar refinery byproduct

from Mountain Democrat, Friday, October 21, 2022

Tending to dominate

In the KNOW

Oct. 21

Visit the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville, open to the public, 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays. See the many plants, trees, succulents, natives and more. Wander through the 16 individual gardens at your own pace or ask a docent for help. Garden may be closed for inclement weather; check the website before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a senior

Oktoberfest lunch

beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the EDHCSD gym, 1021 Harvard Way, El Dorado Hills. Enjoy lunch, live music and a raffle. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

The Sierra Renaissance

Society presents Climate Change, with speaker Steve Schwarzbach, 1-3 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road in Diamond Springs. Admission free for members; public invited to attend two meetings each year free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning and hosts presentations and workshops throughout the year. For more information visit srsedc.org. The Cameron Park Community Services District hosts a Halloween Boo Bash, 5-7 p.m. at the Cameron Park Community Center. Dress up and enjoy trunk-or-treating, a floating pumpkin patch, crafts, food and more.

Musician Ed Wilson

performs at the Placerville Public House, 8-11 p.m.

Oct. 22

Check out the Swap

Meet at the El Dorado County Fair and Event

Center in Placerville, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free. Reserve a spot in advance at eldoradocountyfair.org/ swap.html. The Divide Women’s Club hosts a Pumpkin Patch, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Georgetown Park, Georgetown. (Rain date of Oct. 29, same place, same time). There will be pumpkins, crafts, games and refreshments for sale. This will be the fundraiser for scholarships for seniors at Golden Sierra High School.

Experience the Wild

West at Shadow Ranch

Vineyard in Fair Play Oct. 22 & 23, featuring live music, food and wine. For more information visit shadowranch.com/Events.

n See KNow, page B3

Local artists share the outcomes of their

“Ablazing Grace” by Annie O’Connell

creative journeys

D. Lee Reyes Special to the Mountain Democrat

Gold Country Artists Gallery, an award-winning artists’ cooperative located in Placerville, features the work of Annie O’Connell and Lori Anderson in October.

Skilled ‘latecomer’

When O’Connell retired from practicing law, she turned her passion for other artists’ work into creating artwork that others can enjoy.

“It is one thing to love and collect art; it’s quite another to create art,” she said.

As a collector, she knew what attracted her, but now her journey involved learning what moved her as an artist. She began taking classes from many talented artists who taught her the basics of color theory, structure and technique and other subtle methods that enhance a work of art.

O’Connell constantly challenges herself to keep evolving, and developing her own unique style, often emphasizing the boldness of an unexpected color or an out-of-place ruffle of a petal. Her favorite subjects include the flowers she cultivates in her own garden, especially the tulips she imbues with sumptuous color and voluptuous form. Her tulips glow “In Full Bloom” and with “Ablazing Grace,” two paintings that take the viewer’s breath away.

O’Connell is especially drawn to subtle, seemingly simple complexities. For example, in her oil painting “Cabbage Love” she defines each fold and vein of the plant in close-up, flowing detail, highlighting an incredible pattern, depth and remarkable beauty that a viewer might otherwise overlook and dismiss as mundane. O’Connell infuses light through the violet hues of the blossom against the complementary tints of leafy greens, drawing the viewer’s eye toward the center of the image and glowing heart of the “blossom.”

Her devotion to mastering her media is reflected in the fine quality of her still life work. In her painting “Ancient Jugs” O’Connell masterfully implies age with the suggestion of luminous patina to each vessel.

A five day “color intensive” workshop where each day the nuance of a single color was thoroughly explored provided her with the skill she applied to her cherry portraits, “Cherry Kiss” and “Row of Cherries.” Each piece of fruit stands out against a white background, highlights