Featured Artists
September's Featured Artist is Elba Mora
A Journey Through Cultures and Lenses; From Mexico to California:
Capturing Nature’s Essence and Conservation Efforts
Born in Mexico and raised in the United States, Elba Mora has been fortunate to experience life enriched by two distinct cultures. Although she grew up in the US, her summers were spent in Mexico, a tradition her parents valued greatly to ensure she stayed connected to her indigenous roots and the spirit of Pachamama.
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Much of her childhood unfolded in the great outdoors, whether she was camping, working on a botanical farm, or simply climbing trees. These experiences instilled in her a deep appreciation for nature and the world around her.
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In 1989, her father gave her the first Nikon camera, a thoughtful gesture that changed the course of her life. Initially, her principal aim was to photograph anything she found beautiful. This passion soon expanded into documenting aspects of life that she deemed significant.
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Her photographic journey has taken her through Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos, documenting the vibrant art of Europe, capturing the stunning landscapes of Canada, and focusing on wildlife conservation issues in the United States. Each location offered unique beauty and challenges, enriching her understanding and appreciation of the world.
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Currently, her focus lies in documenting conservation projects with The Wildlands Conservancy and honing her skills in wildlife photography. She has had the pleasure of photographing many preserves across California, capturing the delicate beauty of endangered species such as the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog and the Unarmored Threespine Stickleback.
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Through her lens, she aims to tell stories that resonate with others, inspire action, and highlight the importance of preserving our natural world for future generations.
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On Thursday, September 18th, Elba Mora will discuss her photography and some important conservation projects she is currently working on with The Wildlands Conservancy. Through their initiatives, she hopes to inspire others to take action in protecting our natural resources. Visit Elba's website to view her photo gallery or explore the Wildlands Conservancy website by clicking below.
May's Featured Artist was Cindy Sullivan
For the month of May, the featured artist was watercolor painter and teacher Cindy Sullivan. Cindy, is a native Californian known for her photo-realistic watercolor paintings. Cindy had made up her mind at the age of seven to be an artist. Early in the 1970's, she first learned to use gouache with artist Gordon Pond and began to win awards for her work. While raising her family with her husband, she received her Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Long Beach. After graduation, she continued college art instruction in oil painting, photography, illustration, and design.
Cindy eventually settled with her family in Fremont, California and began her art career in earnest in 1985 while attending Ohlone College in Fremont, CA. Under the guidance of Dennis Collins, whom she credits with having the biggest impact on her art, Cindy became a Photorealist. Other important teachers in her career have been Dawn McLeod Heim, John Salminen, Jean Grastorf, Ted Nuttall and Alex Powers.
Cindy has exhibited in over 100 shows. Her work has appeared twice in the Oakland Museum of California. Also, her work has been juried into shows at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, the Society of Watercolor Artists in Texas, and the Western Colorado Watercolor Society in Colorado.
Cindy now resides in Redlands, CA where for the past nine years she has been teaching watercolor painting for the City of Redlands at the Community Center. She is a teaching member of, and exhibits work at, the Redlands Art Association. She has been a guest presenter and demonstrator for various groups where she speaks on her passion for art and teaching.
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