Featuring Artists: Doug Souza and New Artist Maggie Green
Doug Souza Bio:
I was born in 1948 and grew up on a dairy farm outside Woodland, California and have been making art, in some form or another, all my life. I guess it all stems from growing up in a natural setting and having animals around me all the time. Growing up with sunsets over the nearby California Coast Range Mountains, every evening, didn’t hurt either. When I was eleven years old, I won an art competition sponsored by the local newspaper.
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It was a big deal to me because it was open to all ages. I think it was a pencil drawing of George Washington.
As a youngster and growing up six miles from town, I loved my bicycles, as they were my only way of getting around. I got my first two motorcycles on my twelfth birthday. Two junk Army surplus Harley Davidson’s that cemented my love for two wheels.
I was spared a lot of work on the ranch because I showed some baseball talent at a young age and was always allowed to spend time in town, practicing and for games. This love for baseball also contributed to my development as an artist as the first painting I ever sold was to the wife of my boyhood hero, Willie Mays. It was in 1965 and really gave me the confidence to continue developing my art. I have won lots of awards over the years but I try not to dwell on them, so I won’t get caught in a rut and not be able to continue growing as an artist. I was honored to be selected as guest artist for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, in 2010. That was pretty cool. As the title above states, I really appreciate things created and hand crafted by creative minds and busy hands. Things designed by computer and built by machines are really precise and useful, but things made FROM THE HAND OF MAN have a soul, and will exude that soul forever. I now live in Yuba City, California to be closer to the subject matter which I tend to come back to most often, in the many wildlife refuges of Northern California.
New Artist
Maggie Green Bio:
Although she has been at it for just a little more than a year, MAGGIE GREEN has made beautiful bowls, vases, and wooden spoons from a variety of different woods. Serving spoons made from basswood, which lends itself to hand carving, are intricately carved and functional. All of her work is food-safe and hand washable. Using a scroll saw and a band saw, Maggie uses a ring method for assembly and then hand sands and shapes her bowls and vases.
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Laminating various woods together creates interest in her pieces. She uses nontoxic finishes, such as walnut or Danish oil, to highlight the natural beauty and durability of the woods she uses for her functional and decorative pieces.
In addition to these great artists Blue Wing Gallery will have Cork It Again from Davis
Serving up some of their fantastic wine. If you haven’t had the opportunity to try Cork-It-Again wines now is your chance you will not be disappointed.
Jake Lenz will be serving up a few of these wines.
Old Vine Zinfandel:
A full bodied wine. Fruit forward with hints of raspberries and a nice smokey oak finish.
Chardonnay:
A lightly oaked Chardonnay with hints of green apple, tropical fruits and vanilla.
Sauvignon Blanc:
A bright crisp wine with hints of green apple, peach and grapefruit.
Petite Sirah:
A medium bodied wine with hints of raspberries and a subtle smoky oak finish.