Your Artists in San Antonio (cont'd)

A color alchemist, texture shifter. Monica can bring any sensation to any surface through her mastery of color and shapes intermixed with the perfect hidden magic word. Since her early years in her home city, Mexico, she enjoyed working with her hands. Her passion brought her to Cancun. where she flourished and mastered her techniques. Her inspiration comes from her memories of a colorful Mexico, her dreams, passion for traveling. And her own internal journey to live in connection with her soul.

In Cancun, she is was part and founder of Trio Gallery and Pulso Terra Gallery where she was invited by great colleagues and friends to create this collective showroom as a gift from the artists to the city. Monica has also exhibit her artwork solo in the Cancun International Airport Gallery (2005), and several group exhibits in Yucatan Museum of Contemporary Art (MACAY) (2006,2007 and 2008), The International Association of Barcelona of Contemporary Art and Culture (AIBACC) in Spain (2008,2009), The Institute of Mexico in Belize (20014). The Hanna Bacco Bush Gallery in Houston TX, (2015, 2016) and most recent in Makers of Maryland.

Currently, Monica has just moved back to San Antonio ( which had been her home for 12 years) after 3 years living in St Louis, Missouri. Her works can be found mostly in private collections throughout the world, in schools, hotels, restaurants in Mexico City, Cancun and San Antonio. Monica is also an art workshop facilitator, and been doing this, first in her home/studio in San Antonio, and then online. In addition, she is part of the collective AEQUITAS which groups former gallery partners to present art shows in different locations throughout the world. 

Robert Garza places more emphasis on compositional beauty than on hidden symbolism and prefers to allow design, color, and figure to tell the story of his paintings. The focus of his paintings is on the eyes that invite us to enter and experience our common humanity. Garza is a modern master who evocatively combines the classic and the contemporary. He says, “We are all one people... the sharp sense gives the artist the ability to observe and highlight the beauty of what we see.” Garza's artistic efforts allow him to appreciate human differences, his generosity, and his desire to understand others.

Giovanna DiZurita was born in San Antonio in 1992. She is a full-time artist dedicated to her craft and the development of her career. Despite her young age, DiZurita has been awarded Visual Artist of the Year, Fashion Artist of the Year, and has even toured with her art internationally. Her art is part of the collection of individuals from all over the world in Europe, Central America, and various states in the US including many San Antonians. Some of her collectors include Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, the Mayor of San Antonio, and the Art Ambassador of Mexico City.  

Born in Madrid, Spain, JD Morera became interested in art at an early age nurtured by a rigorous education under the tutelage of Catholic nuns. He came to the US to study art. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Art, Morera opened a studio where he specialized in large-format abstract paintings developed in collaboration with architects and designers such as Pepe Cabrera, Bruno Raymond, and Michael Keller in the US. He describes his early artistic life as nomadic, having exhibited extensively in Italy, Spain, France, and Mexico as well as in various galleries in California, New Mexico, Texas and Florida where his paintings are found in numerous private and commercial collections.

Rodney Pray's inspirations have been primarily rooted in modern and abstract art with a love for color and fluidity. He has worked with a variety of media including charcoal, acrylics, and resin and is self-taught in each. Working with resin has allowed him to expand on his creativity, adding a depth and vibrancy that he believes would be unable to attain through traditional methods. "As a child of parents who were artists, I was blessed from a young age to be exposed to art in many of its forms. I credit my childhood with helping me develop my own love and appreciation of art and to the artists who bring their visions forth."

My name is Sarah Kopf and I specialize in acrylic and resin art. I am a new resident to San Antonio who enjoys exploring everything the city has to offer. The focus of my art is typically abstract, but sometimes  consists of animals in acrylics. I use a variety of techniques, mediums, and surfaces to achieve my end results. My purpose is to create an art style of my own, while appreciating the artists before me who went above and beyond their comfort zones in order to be unique. Nothing brings me more happiness than to create art for others. 

Born in San Antonio, Dunn-Harr found her artistic expression slowly, yet deliberately, and continues to explore the many possibilities in the arts. She derived much of her early experience from traditional school and continues to embrace formalism. Her works are organic forms rooted in architectural elements. The forms are sensuous and portray the force and fragility of nature. Dunn-Harr considers herself a contemporary realist; she travels and exhibits internationally.

The “Visage” works in this gallery are also painted by Vie and considered studies, working under her mother’s family name as a tribute to a mother who supported her artistic path and believed in the importance of art not becoming insipid. One must always explore...The “Visage” works in this gallery are also painted by Vie and considered Studies. Working under her mother’s family name, as a tribute to a mother who supported her artistic path and who believed in the importance of art not becoming insipid.  One must always explore……

A pandemic-induced passion  

With a garage full of car parts and lots of time on his hands during the pandemic Jim let his creative juices flow with a singular purchase of a used guitar. Thus, was born GuitarsAsCars, a new endeavor for a man full of creative ideas outside his decade-long career designing homes. 

One guitar purchase led to several more old, well-used instruments that would be ‘enhanced’ with artistic new life by the addition of, what else? Car parts! Each of his art pieces is a one of a kind with errors, flaws and imperfections. The guitars are not playable. Their new life is that of a piece of art, sometimes themed, often completely random, and always unique. Car guys will recognize the pieces used. Guitarists will find recognizable parts as well. If you aren’t one or the other, you will find lots to appreciate just looking!

Born and raised on the Southside of​ San Antonio, Veronica C. Guerrero started dabbling​ in fiber art and fine arts at the age of six. She taught herself how to crochet, draw, paint, and sew. Guerrero attended Our Lady of the Lake University where she received her BA in Art and English and her M.Ed. in Education and English. Guerrero taught high school art for several years. She left teaching to become a stay-at-home parent. She currently works on creating her art, patterns, and projects.   

Shari’s passion for art stems from her life experience. Her work is abstract and figuritive. Each piece tells a unique story. Every stroke is filled with intuition, passion, and purpose. She uses bold elements to drive each narrative. Black and white hues are used to add balance and flow. Even though her work is abstract, certain facial features are painted realistic to draw attention. Symbolism is how she creates her story. This allows the viewer dig deeper within themselves to relate. She continues to create one of a kind pieces and hopes to inspire others to follow their soul purpose.  

Mary Veronica Kampen Laskowski is an artist living in San Antonio who has been painting since she was seven. Her vivid works of art are created through a variety of mediums including watercolor, oil, pen and ink, pencils, pastels, and mixed media. Currently, her method of using acrylics makes the canvas look like an oil painting. She enjoys creating pieces that are expressive of the creation around us.

Her hope is for you to find joy and relaxation in a cheerful colorful piece of art for years to come.

Pamela Reed is an artist, painter, and writer. She moved to Belize in 1990 and lived there for over two decades to pursue her art; while there, she painted in natural spaces that are slowly being extinguished by the climate crisis. Her greatest achievements so far have been empowering women in art and creating art education in schools where there was none. Because of the increase in violence in Central America, she moved back to San Antonio, her birthplace, and hopes to find a place where she can reestablish herself to make contributions to her community through art.

Rene Cantu was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is a 1974 graduate of King High School and a Vietnam Era Veteran. Cantu served in the US Army from 1974 to 1977. After an honorable discharge, he attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. He is retired from the US Postal Service after 37 years of service and is now a full-time artist. Ever since he was young, he enjoyed drawing. Cantu has always enjoyed creating images that depict his surroundings and culture. He likes to paint still lifes, and once he has reproduced the values, lighting, and details, his paintings look incredibly realistic and highly detailed.

Born and raised in San Antonio, grito del mar has been painting for over 10 years.  He mainly paints with acrylics on stretched canvas. Many of his paintings have been reinvented over and over again during the process toward its end result. "I usually try not to think too much about the final outcome. I try to work with the idea that a so-called mistake should be taken advantage of and where it goes should not be feared. I’m not always successful in that approach, but it keeps the painting fun and interesting to me."

Fernando Giron is a self-taught artist originally from Mexico. He has lived in Texas for the past 14 years. As with many artists, Giron grew up drawing and sketching daily. He started painting in 2010. His work has been displayed in interior design stores as well as in over twelve private art exhibitions throughout Texas in the past four years. Fernando likes to experiment utilizing new materials and techniques. He dreams, imagines, thinks, feels, and communicates what moves his soul. His artwork is an explosion of color, vigorous figures, light, and shade to produce an effect and emotion. He considers himself a figurative and abstract expressionist. His dream is to transcend in this medium and continue contributing to his community through his art and charitable donations.

Jerry Gann is a native San Antonian who began painting with his grandmother at a very young age. Gann received his BFA from UTSA in 2001. He has shown artwork in local art galleries around downtown San Antonio as well as in group exhibits in Austin and New York. He has also donated artwork to local nonprofit organizations as well. "I have been an art teacher for the last 13 years. I remain dedicated to making and exhibiting artwork. My recent work is made using oil paint, collage, and found objects."

 Brittany started at a young age learning how to draw. She studied Fine Art at Coastal Bend College and continued working on her Bachelor's in Digital Communication along with a certificate in Graphic Design. While studying with the accomplished artists Jane Durea and Stephanie Harris she first explored drawing, oil painting, ceramics, and glassblowing.  

Afterward, enrolled at the University of Texas in San Antonio where she explored the exciting fields of 3D modeling, digital art, and animation. She even learned how to weave music and storytelling into her creations, giving her artwork an extra dose of emotion. Her time at university not only helped her sharpen her technical skills but also deepened her appreciation for art history, with Monet and Thomas Kinkade being her favorite artists. In between her time at the university, Brittany studied Graphic Design and Advertising and earned a certificate! After graduating, she continued showcasing her work in art galleries and marketplaces. While living in San Antonio she is inspired every day by working in an Art Gallery named Kurt Youngbloods Framing and Art. Continuing her practice she works on murals and window paintings for businesses such as Little Ranchers DayCare and Sonic Food. 

Marcus A. Cerda's synthetic Cubist paintings are each like a stream of consciousness that starts with a collage of randomly placed pieces and textures.  The universe is broken down into colors and shapes via the rationale that it is comprised of circles and right angles; Cerda paints while remaining consciously aware of color blocking and shapes. This collage style of synthetic Cubism challenges and strengthens his sense of aesthetics. The Cubist paintings depict the mundane in a colorful, vibrant, and transparent way by expressing movement in the everyday objects as a frenetic, textural juxtaposition of shape, pattern, and color. "I have developed an interconnection of self and the environment that space and time are interdependent and intermingled."

Phyllis Rosenfield has a youthful exuberance and an inner joy that allows her to see the beauty in life’s creations.  Rosenfield is gifted in many different media, but her true love and passion is painting. She studied Art at the Paier School of Art in Boston and won many awards for her work. On a constant journey to learn and hone her craft, she continues to win awards at shows and art leagues. A mother of five children and an avid gardener, Rosenfield had a suburban farm where she raised chickens, dogs, cats, and horses. One of her fellow artists said of her work, “Her joy comes to life on her canvas.”

Nancy Yarbrough's attraction to the unique and appealing art of fused glass has its origins beginning more than 35 years ago in stained glass works. After years of stained glass production, she switched her medium of choice. In 1999, she studied watercolor and drawing at the Glassell School of Art in Houston, Texas. The education she received renewed her love for painting, which had been set aside to raise a family. In 2002, Yarbrough was introduced to fused glass as an art form. Combining her love for painting and creating in glass, she has mastered a way of creating “paintings” using only forms of glass and heat. She continues to take inspiration from the beauty of creation all around us. Yarbrough and her husband of 48 years live in Boerne, Texas with a small herd of pygmy goats.

Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Armando Vasquez Rubio displayed an artistic ability early in his childhood. At 16, he obtained a diploma in Graphic Art from the National School of Fine Arts. Rubio has won various prizes and recognitions for his art as well as participated in national and international exhibitions. He was awarded a grant by the Italian government to study sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, Italy. He returned to Honduras to study Interior Design at the University of Design, Architecture, and Construction where he obtained an Associate's Degree in Interior Design. There, he continued to study Architecture, but in his third year, relocated to San Antonio where he now practices his knowledge of art to develop different artistic projects. 

Frank Cadena's natural talent was enhanced with the formal training he received in college, and he has furthered his studies with personal instruction from professional artists. Cadena also worked for Thomas Kinkade for several years as a master highlighter. These experiences have offered unlimited opportunities for his artistic ability. He is a full-time artist and resides in Helotes, Texas. His paintings reflect his love for wildlife, landscapes, and seashore scenes. His work has been displayed in the White House and at the Dallas Cowboys Football Visitor Center. Cadena's work is owned by collectors in five countries and throughout the US.