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Victoria_Sebanz

Mediums
Mixed Media
Photography
Assemblage

President - Victoria Sebanz

Victoria Sebanz was elected president of the esteemed historic Chaparral Artists group in 2023. She spent decades developing her art while living in the Brewery Artist Colony in Los Angeles. Victoria came to the desert as often as she could, finally moving with her husband and cat in 2018. She is a life-long advocate for the Arts, artists and educators. Victoria has a dual Bachelor’s degree in Dance production/performance and Art Illustration. She has a Master’s in Multicultural Interdisciplinary Education. She has danced and drawn her entire life and enjoys expressing herself in a variety of mediums and materials. Victoria most often works in watercolor, pencil, photography and mixed media. She encourages others to “shine their light” by sharing their own self-discoveries, expertise and diverse creative talents.

Victoria is also an author and poetry. Her first book “She has a Penchant for Passion” is in paperback on Amazon. It consists of a variety of her artwork and poems. She is editing her second book about her death experience (NDE) at 17 and the after-effects and lessons.

Victoria’s other interests are exploring and travel with friends, dancing to live music and enjoying the natural beauty of the desert. A long time camper at Burning Man, she is interested in the technology of light and sound as well as the power of creating interactive installations. She is currently working on a series of doors with poetry and sound, as well as her “Veenus” female torso and “Occupy” photo series.

Her latest show consists of a series of botanical images in the form of photographs, torsos and paintings.

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CassellMyrtle-photo

Mediums

Watercolor

Acrylic

Mixed Media

Hobbies

Gardening

Cooking

Creating Salves & Lotions with herb/essential oils

Vice President - Myrtle Cassell

Myrtle Cassell has been a member of Chaparral Artists since 2020. Since moving to the High Desert, she has pursued her passion for art and creativity, most recently immersing herself in watercolor. All her life she has enjoyed many art & craft genres, including painting, drawing, ceramics, beading, sewing, crochet, basket making, resin work and much more. Her other creative interests include gardening, cooking, and using herbs/essential oils in salves and lotions.

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darla.mcalister

Mediums

Watercolor

Pen & Pencil

Hobbies

 

Membership - Darla McAlister

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Raini Armstrong at Presbyterian Church

Mediums
Photography
Watercolor

Hobbies
Writing
Gardening
Mucking-about

Secretary - Raini Armstrong

A little bit about myself could turn into a lot, so I will try to keep this brief!

I have been delighted to serve as Secretary for Chaparral Artists since 2021. Many already know me as a fill-in Secretary, a part of the show hanging committee, and the newsletter coordinator since 2019. I will always have big shoes to fill, knowing that Patricia Quandel had put her heart into the Chaparral Sketch for years before I came alone! Thank you, Patricia, for setting the stage and making it possible to take on the task without any hiccups.

So, what do you need to know about me? I am a bit crazy with what I try to juggle! I try to balance several hobbies - not well, I might add. I work for a Tribe in the Coachella Valley. And I have a few pet-children that keep me occupied.

My notable hobbies include watercolor painting, photography, and character writing on a board that I fell into nearly fifteen years ago. I am known to grab hold of other mediums if I am not careful, but I try to focus on those three primarily.

I rarely merge my passions together, although I would love to figure out how to do so if the inspiration ever hits me. My photography comes the closest to coordinating, as it supports my watercolor endeavors by providing me with imagery to paint. My writing, however, remains on a different plane of focus entirely.

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Miehle-Nancy-ProfilePhoto

Mediums
Acrylics
Oils
Stained Glass
Watercolor

Hobbies

Treasurer - Nancy Miehle

My goal is to create a realistic 'Wow' image of real-life by putting it on canvas with vivid colors. I usually paint from photographs, because I can take them back to my studio where I manipulate the scene to my liking. My art is what I see; if I can't see it, I can't paint it. The medium I use is oil; it seems to have the colors I want, the richness and extreme intensity that I prefer, and the medium flows onto canvas smoothly in a way I enjoy. When looking for inspiration, I choose scenes that let me walk into the 'frame' so that I can become part of the picture. Something magical happens when a painting turns into a finished product. Another type of magic occurs when others experience that particular mood you were trying to create. Art is my world, and I love it.