Art Boutique provides showcase

The Porterville Art Center was a busy place Friday and Saturday, transformed into a holiday marketplace of creativity.

The Porterville Art Association‘s fourth annual Christmas Boutique and Art Show provided a showcase for work ranging from jewelry to pottery to paintings. And a number of artists were available to talk about their work, as well.

At the gallery entrance were two tables covered with one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.

“I use a lot of glass. I love glass,” said the Art Association president, Carol Byker. And her art is functional, including decorative stretch bracelet watches. “As ladies get older, it’s harder to do the clasp, so the stretch works,” she said.

A couple of visitors, Ellen Jordan and her daughter, Renee, 14, asked Byker questions about how to make jewelry. The younger one said she is interested in picking it up as a hobby.

“It’s a good place to come, because the ladies that we’re talking to know what they’re talking about,” said Ellen Jordan.

Although the rain kept crowds away Friday, turn-out was better on Saturday, Byker said. “I think we’ve done very well for the rain. A lot of people have been coming in.”

And when there weren’t customers, the vendors and art association members chatted comfortably, sharing plenty of laughs with one another.

Polly Powell, who works with miniatures and oils, pointed out a couple of reasons to love the annual event.

“This is a real fun place,” the artist said. “I love coming here and saying ‘oh, so and so is doing abstract now [for example], because people evolve over time. And, they‘re all local people. You don‘t think of Porterville as an art center, but there‘s all these high quality people in Porterville. [Their projects] are nice gifts, too,” she said. “An original painting is better than getting mass-produced stuff. There‘s something emotionally satisfying about it, person to person.”

Local artist Kaye Hayes had displayed some of her original water color paintings of various flowers. “She is just so good at the floral. It’s amazing, she sits down and the brush just flies,” Byker said of her fellow artist.

Powell showcased her miniature oil paintings, which tiny portraits. Some of her work also included small designs and images painted onto shells, beads, ornaments and pendant necklaces.

“A lot of the great masters used oils,” said Powell. She described the way that she got into painting a few years ago: “I wanted a painting of my dogs to put on my desk at work. I didn’t want a picture of my dogs, I wanted a painting. And, I couldn’t find anyone to do it, so I thought, ‘I’ll try it,’ and I liked it.”

Another oil painter, Ruby Alacron, worked in the art studio Saturday, on one of her latest color pieces, of an angel described in the Book of Revelation as having white hair, sitting on a white cloud, having his robes dipped in blood, and holding a sharp sickle. Michelangelo is one of her greatest inspirations, she said. Having painted for about 13 years, she said it is only her first year painting with color.

Also featured in the boutique was a newer form of painting that is done with the aid of computer. Pastel artist Jan Harris created various items including cards and book marks, with portraits of cats and dogs, which she created by taking pictures of real animals and then using a program on her computer to draw and paint them. Proceeds from the sales of her items go to the Porterville Animal Shelter.

Also on sale were some pieces of Richard Norbeck’s scratch board with watercolor portraits, and a collection of ceramic pieces by David and Val Tyrrell. Judy Hanggi, owner her own business, Jewelry Creations on Thurman Avenue, showcased her pieces as well.

“The inspiration for me comes from just wanting to accessorize what I wear,” she said. Hanggi buys different types of jewels and beads every time she travels or goes to antique stores. “I try to take things apart and try to make it unique,” she said.

Also on display were 47 different miniature items, donated by members of the art association for a fundraising drawing. Some of the artists donated pieces that can go for up to $100, Byker said, while a ticket for the drawing costs $5, or $10, for three. Tickets are on sale through Dec. 16.

The Porterville Art Center is located at 152 N. Main Street in downtown Porterville, and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 784-4323.