The Unfurling
Jody Nelson is a Palm Desert, California-based mixed media artist whose layered, luminous paintings have been featured in juried exhibitions and both group and solo shows, with original work available through Saatchi Art and held in private collections across the United States and Canada. Drawn to expressive color, richly built-up surfaces, and the emotional resonance of still moments, her paintings transform the quiet textures of everyday life into bold, joyful works. Working in acrylic, pastel, and collage, Nelson builds each painting through layers of torn paper and mark-making, creating surfaces that carry their own history before the figure arrives. Each piece balances energy with calm — an ongoing invitation to pause, to notice, and to find beauty in the ordinary.
I paint women in the quiet moments — not the moments the world sees, but the ones that happen in between. The exhale after the effort. The stillness that arrives when we finally stop moving long enough to feel something.
My work is built in layers — torn paper, acrylic, pastel, and mark-making — each surface carrying its own history before the figure arrives. The women I paint are never performing. They are resting, remembering, belonging to themselves and to each other. Emotion, for me, lives in the body before it reaches the face. In shoulders that relax. In feet sinking into warm sand. In a chin lifted toward the sun.
The Vanishing Point
Raffi Bashlian’s photography beautifully weaves together themes of resilience and the complexity of human experiences. With a rich cultural background from cities like San Francisco, London, New York, and now Paris, Raffi infuses his art with a global perspective. His dual roles as a clinician and researcher lend depth to his visual narratives, allowing him to capture emotional nuances with scientific precision. The stark contrasts he observed during Lebanon’s civil war—where destruction meets renewal—serve as a powerful backdrop for his storytelling.
Through his lens, Raffi reveals the hidden beauty in everyday life, encouraging viewers to appreciate both the simplicity and intricacies of existence. Each image he captures symbolizes survival and transformation, inspiring hope and resilience in those who engage with his work. His art transcends traditional photography, creating an immersive tapestry of cultural narratives that foster connection and reflection, celebrating the essence of life and the extraordinary stories within ordinary moments.
Raffi’s award-winning portfolio spans diverse genres, ignited by a transformative safari experience in Africa in 2013. From the majesty of wildlife to urban architecture and vibrant street scenes, his keen eye captures unique moments that tell compelling stories. His understanding of composition, timing, and gesture reveals a passion for symmetry and balance, whether in striking black and white or vibrant colors. For Raffi, photography is not just about capturing images; it’s about seeing the world through a fresh lens and expressing his artistic voice. Each photograph reflects his commitment to uncovering the beauty and complexity of everyday life, inviting us to discover hidden treasures in the most unexpected places.
In the “Where Worlds Meet” exhibition, my photographic series explores the dynamic interplay of urban landscapes and the ethereal realms of imagination. I have always been very curious about our wonderful world and what it visually offers. What fascinates me about photography is the ability to start a narrative, while leaving it open for interpretation by the viewer. My work ranges from abstract compositions to simple and straightforward images. When I witness a scene, I strive to visualize it as I experience it, seeking the perfect angle and patiently waiting for the ideal moment and lighting to capture it. This process can be spontaneous or require hours of dedication. Photography not only feeds my imagination but also excites my mind. It takes me to beautiful places, both physically and spiritually. I find it to be a therapeutic and fulfilling art form. I hope you enjoy my work and find your own stories within it.
Through these works, I aim to build bridges across perceived divides, inspiring audiences to embrace the multifaceted nature of connectivity and coexistence. My artistic vision seeks to celebrate the beauty and complexity that emerges when different worlds, identities, and elements meet, intertwine, and coexist within the realm of artistic expression.
The Way She Walks
Freedom is a universal need that resonates deeply with all of us. It encompasses the freedom of speech, the liberty to embrace our true selves, and the empowerment to create from our innermost being.
Ori Gjyli’s, abstract art is born from this longing for liberty. In 2020, amidst a period of isolation, Ori found solace and liberation in the creation of her abstract pieces. With an MFA in Graphics Arts, she made the transition from traditional, precision-based art to a more soul-stirring form of expression.
Driven by a longing to experience the freedom and the euphoria that nature evokes, surrounded by a myriad of colors, her expressive canvases, composed of layers of acrylic paint, portray a personal journey of imagination, embodying creativity and passion. Each stroke and hue encapsulates her boundless creativity and unwavering passion, offering a glimpse into her inner world.
Currently living in Austin, Texas, and having lived, studied, and traveled in four different countries, Ori Gjyli believes that these cultural experiences have enriched her perspective, fostering a deep appreciation for authenticity and the innate beauty that pervades the world around us.
I have always drawn inspiration from the dynamic visual forces of nature and my surroundings. My artwork reflects the beauty and romance of the world around me, capturing my inner emotions, memories, and history. Whether it is a poem, a song, a heartwarming story, or a breathtaking view, I infuse each with vibrant colors and brushstrokes drawn from my memories and imagination. I strive to convey the physical and emotional beauty of the world through my art. My goal is to create evocative abstract paintings that explore the potential of color and form to evoke sensations of energy, emotion, and authenticity.
Theatrical
Wallace Brown earned her MFA in Studio Art from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) and a BFA in drawing and painting from CVAD at the University of North Texas (Denton, TX). Selected venues exhibiting her work include The Dallas Contemporary, UTD Haggerty Gallery, Hawn Gallery, The Dallas Art Fair, The 500X Gallery, Mighty Fine Arts Gallery, Studio 832, Axis Gallery, and Texas State University.
Abstract art from the early 20th century in Western Europe provides the springboard for her idiosyncratic paintings on canvas, paper, and wall. Theo Van Doesburg, associated with De Stijl from 1917 to 1931, along with the artist educators of the Bauhaus School from 1919 to 1933, are stalwart influences on her work. Research material to support her current inquiry comes directly from Joseph Albers’ Interaction of Color, 1963, Yale University.
Originally from Dallas, Wallace Brown lives and works in Austin, Texas.
Color has multiple infinities. Color has behavior. To speak in terms of hue over-simplifies our comprehensive understanding regarding the orchestration of light reflection and refraction within constantly changing environments. I begin a painting with an idea about the simultaneous contrast of color as described by Joseph Albers in the book Interaction of Color. Repetition of the hand-painted brushstroke is a meditative process that allows me to create form using color and shape alone. I read abstract art as one would read a book. The visual elements act as language without words.
Thinking
Subodh Maheshwari was born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, North India where she learned folk art and classical music. She passionately believes: “In the threshold of my life, my present is the window to the past and a key to the future”. She acquired her degrees and studied art at Agra University, California State University of Fullerton, and the University of California Irvine. Subodh has won numerous awards, including the Regional Fellowship Award at UCI in 1986, the Bharat Gaurav Award in India in 2015, and the 60 Masters Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019. She is also registered in Marquis’ “Who’s Who in America”, the standard in biographical information. Her paintings have also won awards in a variety of categories including landscape, open, all women, nature, elements, seasons, and abstract.
Subodh is a diversified artist who enjoys telling stories through her artwork, whether it is through landscape, flowers, or abstract art. Her art is a fusion of Eastern symbolism and Western composition, influenced by 16th and 17th century Rajasthani and Mogul art, and accented by poetry, passages, and phrases in Hindi, Sanskrit, and English. She admires Georgia O’Keeffe for her floral influence, and Frida Kahlo for her courage. Whether it is the serene beauty of nature, her spirituality, or the current political climate, she finds inspiration. Having a life shared between India and America, she sees the beautiful similarities, like love which transcends all borders. Highly individual in her style, her works are described as emotional, mysterious, personal, spiritual, and humorous.
Thistle Flowers
Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA., AAOA.
“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer… That is the ultimate in self-expression.”
Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.
By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal, and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.
Although self-taught, her dedication and talent have seen her work juried into 463 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non-juried shows. She has won 718 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.
Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, and 36 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, the cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine, #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, & #21 with “The Young Cowboy”, & the latest, Artists & Illustrators March 2024. She has been featured in over 350 International publications. Cher’s works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.
I am a self-taught artist working in water-based mediums, mainly acrylic, but also at times gouache and watercolor. I am a hyperrealism painter fascinated by the world around me. I am very drawn to shiny surfaces as well as transparent objects, especially when the lighting brings them to life. I look for beauty in everyday objects that most people take for granted or just don’t truly see as they are. The seemingly boring and mundane subjects can truly be like magnets if portrayed in the right light. The shiny metal is one of those materials that can host endless visions….the light hits it and the reflections are captured on the smooth, sleek surface…people and animals especially the eyes…an artist’s dream! My future art plans are to paint the countless subjects I have chosen to become paintings and to share my art with as many people as I can.
“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer… That is the ultimate in self-expression.”
Those Cookies
Amy Lewis is a self-taught artist from Washington state. Her watercolor and oil paintings are vivid lifelike snapshots of ordinary life glamorized. Amy, inspired by fashion editorials and historic paintings of aristocracy, pairs everyday objects with rich backgrounds. The juxtaposition of the ordinary and the luxurious sparks an appreciation for the things we take for granted. She paints to cultivate joy and an appreciation for the beauty that is all around us.
My work is a practice of gratitude. It is the cultivation of joy and an appreciation for the beauty that is all around us. I’m constantly exploring ways to portray ordinary life as glamorous. Everyday objects with luxurious backgrounds create a juxtaposition that sparks an appreciation for the things we take for granted. In the beauty of the ordinary, I am reminded to be grateful and to use my privileges for the good of others. Fashion editorials and historic paintings of aristocracy are rich sources of inspiration. I work in watercolor and oil paints. For watercolors and oil paintings, alike, I paint roughly 3-4 layers. Many layers mean that the resulting painting has a smooth finish and vivid complex colors. Depending on the size, medium, and complexity of a piece they can take 1-2 days or 1-2 months. Most recently I am proud of being featured in Gita Joshi’s Art Seen Magazine and throwing my own group art exhibition in Seattle, WA.
Thoughts Of You
Freedom is a universal need that resonates deeply with all of us. It encompasses the freedom of speech, the liberty to embrace our true selves, and the empowerment to create from our innermost being.
Ori Gjyli’s, abstract art is born from this longing for liberty. In 2020, amidst a period of isolation, Ori found solace and liberation in the creation of her abstract pieces. With an MFA in Graphics Arts, she made the transition from traditional, precision-based art to a more soul-stirring form of expression.
Driven by a longing to experience the freedom and the euphoria that nature evokes, surrounded by a myriad of colors, her expressive canvases, composed of layers of acrylic paint, portray a personal journey of imagination, embodying creativity and passion. Each stroke and hue encapsulates her boundless creativity and unwavering passion, offering a glimpse into her inner world.
Currently living in Austin, Texas, and having lived, studied, and traveled in four different countries, Ori Gjyli believes that these cultural experiences have enriched her perspective, fostering a deep appreciation for authenticity and the innate beauty that pervades the world around us.
I have always drawn inspiration from the dynamic visual forces of nature and my surroundings. My artwork reflects the beauty and romance of the world around me, capturing my inner emotions, memories, and history. Whether it is a poem, a song, a heartwarming story, or a breathtaking view, I infuse each with vibrant colors and brushstrokes drawn from my memories and imagination. I strive to convey the physical and emotional beauty of the world through my art. My goal is to create evocative abstract paintings that explore the potential of color and form to evoke sensations of energy, emotion, and authenticity.
Three Calla Lilies – Easter
Steve Walag has been a photographer for nearly 50 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Religious Studies from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and a BFA in Photography from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He has enjoyed a varied career as a photojournalist, public relations photographer, freelance architectural shooter, photo instructor, and campus photographer at Inland area schools (UCR and Riverside City College). All the while, Steve has pursued his artistic path on the side, beginning decades ago with a strong affinity for the black and white photography of the West Coast “straight” photo school. It is only since 2015 that his attraction to Japanese art led him to formulate the style shown here.
Although Steve’s images may resemble paintings, they are in fact digital photographs printed on textured paper. They were inspired by traditional Japanese paintings in the centuries-old Rinpa tradition. Rinpa artists favored simple, natural subjects – flowers, trees, birds, and landscapes – set against a plain or minimized background. Steve’s fascination with Japanese art led him to emulate those works using digital imaging, lighting, software, and printing techniques.