NEWS FROM THE TRAIL

Hello Artists, Artisan, and Friends,

 Sierra Art Trails 2006 has passed, and we have all had a bit of time to rest. For the artists, planning committee, and volunteers, the weeks leading up to the show can be exhausting, with countless details that must be dealt with before the event.  At the same time the excitement is palatable, and the thought of hundreds of others working throughout the region to make the show a success is both exciting and inspirational.

 In many ways 2006 was a groundbreaking year.  The reputation of the event has grown to attract serious art buyers, as well as many return visitors who look forward to the show with enthusiasm each year.  More people than ever came from outside the area, spent the weekend in area hotels, and patronized local restaurants.  While there will always be room for improvement, and challenges to be faced as the event evolves, there is no doubt that the 2006 show was a great success!

 Sierra Art Trails would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to those who participated in the show. To the artists & artisans; without your commitment, Art Trails would not exist. To our sponsors and advertisers; your generous contributions provide the funding to make the show possible. To all the volunteers, friends, and family members who helped; your time, effort, and support are invaluable.  To all, thank you! A special thanks goes to the Sierra Star, Mariposa Gazette, and the Fresno Bee for the wonderful editorial exposure given to the art tour. We appreciate your time, your expertise, and your commitment to the art scene in our foothills communities. Thank you: job well done!

 Stellar Gallery, headquarters for Sierra Art Trails, showcases one Sierra Art Trails artist each month. November’s artist of the month is Donald “Putt” Putman. Stellar Gallery is located at 40983 Hwy 41, Oakhurst, 93644; (559) 658-8844.  www.stellargallery.com

 “An Artist must be himself in his subject matter,  his technique, his design, his color.”

 Donald “Putt” Putman, was born in Spokane, Washington in 1926 and was a child of the depression.  During WWII he was in the Navy, and after the war won a scholarship to Fresno State College, later transferring to Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, where he graduated. For a while he was a member of the Barnum & Bailey circus, working for several years as an acrobat. During this period he continued to paint, fine tuning his skills and focusing on the many characters of circus life. His artistic talents grew by continuing his career as a Scenic Designer for MGM studios. Thereafter he spent ten years teaching at his alma mater, Art Center College of Design. He paints a diversity of subject matter but has a love for creating images of women and the American West. 

Putt has shown extensively throughout the country, including one-man shows in New York, Scottsdale, Houston, Tulsa and Los Angeles to mention a few. He has had featured articles in American Artist, Southwest Art and Artists of the Rockies. A life-long opinion of Putts is “Good artists take chances, experiment. Who says the sky has to be blue or the grass green? An opposite color gives the artist a chance to portray something that has never been done before.”