Local Art Walk

Lauren Nygard

Honoring the tradition of Dia de los Muertos, these images reach into the celebration of families gathering to pray for and remember those who have passed on. The spiritual journey of those in eternal rest is dignified with the beauty of the women posing as la Catrina.

Collaborating with other artists to create these Dia de los Muertos images was such an honor. Working together, we were able to come up with different looks for each model--who were able to express their visions through the images captured.

MUA and Hair: Brandi at Beauti On The Go
MUA: Claudia Tripp
Hair: Shannon Winans
Models: Sara Prok, Destiny Ferguson, Maddie Christian, Natalie Waters, Lauren Rendler, and Pam Tripp
Production Assistant: Nancy Murray
Stylist: Sandra Buczek at Sandra Nicole Designs
Jewelry Designer: Marisol Apostal at Wink Artisans

Check out more at the artist website, Facebook LaurenNygardPhotography, Instagram @laurennygard and Twitter @laurennygard

Francesca Heyer

My work is created from layers of paint until I am happy, the final painting is then painted.

BOLD, BRIGHT AND PASSIONATE.

Self taught artist originally from UK. Love to paint. Color is my passion, the brighter the better, acrylics my medium typically, flowers, butterfly's, elephants and Buddha's my favorite to paint presently.

Check out more on the artist website and Facebook Art for the Heart from the Heart

Todd C Hummel

The beauty of the ocean is unsurpassed. Majestic colors, mesmerizing movement, and captivating sights all thrive below the surface and create a sense of peace and intrigue. It is an honor to be able to capture this dreamlike world and share it with others.

Todd Hummel is an advanced certified diver who has visited some of the world's top dive destinations, including Indonesia, the Great Barrier Reef, Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Hawaiian Islands, Aruba and many other treasured locations throughout the Caribbean.

Rick Keene

I try and take advantage of all aspects of sunlight and its colorful and often mysterious effects to create unique works of photographic art that really makes you think.

It all started with my Dad taking pictures of us kids. Then it was me taking pictures of my kids. And while they didn't like it at the time, they now love being able to see those special moments in their lives that help them remember what it was like to be a kid.

For me, photography is a huge part of my life. Even when times are tough, what better way to get away from it all than by simply taking pictures of beautiful things. To do something I am passionate about ever since I was a kid is a dream come true. I've been taking beautiful pictures for years. Especially since the pristine Dana Point Headlands are my backyard and the Pacific Ocean is my swimming pool. I couldn't ask for better surroundings to allow my creative spirit to flow.

Add my fascination with nature, an eye for patterns, and deep understanding of light and its effects, and they all come together for making what I believe are truly unique and colorful works of photographic art that is worth sharing.

From Bakersfield to Balboa to Dana Point. My passion for capturing special moments in time has been there throughout. Photography to me is about so much more than just taking pretty pictures

Isaac Ortega

Hello I'm isaac a fairly new passion has led me to want to get my art out and get some feedback on what people think about it. I have interesting art that mixes a variety of techniques all including pens , spray cans, or 3d objects.

Check out more on Instagram @manic_inc_co

Jeremy Lawson

photo is a sport of observation. As a shooter, I aim to capture the best of both context and story in a frame. I understand that moments leading up to a great shot and those included in a frame are linked by importance. As an observer of everyday life, I gravitate toward utilizing subtle visual ques like body language to provide insight and depicts an overall raw, unapologetic story. I use the lens to inform the viewer by focusing on habits and behaviors. More than anything, the service of a photographer provides behind the lens is to tell a real, unapologetic story. Lastly, I look to present the ordinary world in an extraordinary light focusing on the details and truth.

More than anything, the stories that are told simply need to be packaged correctly to provide a voice and platform to those who are otherwise overlooked.

Check out more on Twitter @hoodlumjeremy, Instagram @hoodlumjeremy and Tumblr OPP.SD

Jennifer Magallon

I’ve made it my life’s mission to photograph the beauty of the natural world using photography as my medium. I’ve always had an adventurous spirit, and as a young child in Germany, I vividly remember wandering through the grassy fields that surrounded my village, traversing winding streams, climbing through tress, and just being completely enthralled by the outdoors. As I grew older and began to travel more, I developed a deeper appreciation for the many wonders this planet has to offer.

I have to admit, though, that no place has piqued my fascination more than the deserts of the Southwestern United States. As I trekked across the shifting sands of the Algodones Dunes, bouldered the many bizarre rock formations of the Alabama Hills, and walked among the beautiful Joshua Trees, I became enamored with the unique geography of this region. It was such a completely foreign environment to what I had ever experienced in Germany, that I felt an immediate and overwhelming desire to explore it. As an extension of this desire, I also felt a need to share what I saw . . . to convey to others what I encountered at that moment in time. I feel if people can connect in this way, if they become completely drawn into the image, then maybe they’ll experience the same sense of allure that I did. Maybe, they’ll also be inspired to help us preserve this amazing planet.

Check out more at the artist website, Facebook JMagPhotography, Instagram @jmagfoto and Twitter @JMagPhotography

Devora Maximova

I see art as an extension of the conversation we have with ourselves, nature, loved ones and strangers. As I create, I aim to communicate in all spectrums of our lives. Sometimes, it's as simple as a playful palm, sometimes more complex like a junction in your life, which you're looking to define. Currently I am having fun taking in all the green around me (perhaps because I live in a desert). It's exciting to create a relationship between a plant and a vivid geometric pop of color, while using the negative space to reinforce that tension or connection. These green beauties are under #mysortofgreenthumb, because you know, it's way harder to over water a painting.

I live in Oceanside, raising my young daughter, teaching art, painting and freelancing with graphic design. My husband, daughter and I are often exploring Oceanside, looking for new places to grab dinner and enjoying the growing craft brewing community.

Check out more on the artist website devoramaximova.com and Instagram @devora.maximova.

Angela Kiyono

"1,438" is a series of works that explores the idea of written memory and visual mementos. Each subject in the series was asked to pose with their personal diary or journal for an intimate photo shoot. Questions about personality, privacy, and memory arise. The subjects also priced their diaries for sale and the total dollar amount of the combined prices gave the series it's title "1,438." The diaries were exhibited with the photographs at the first showing.

There are 11 artworks in this photographic series. All are printed, matted, and framed by Angela Kiyono. The exhibit was shown in 2011 at the Guggenheim Gallery in Orange, CA. These are the only set of prints of the artworks.

"Painted Woman" explores the connection between beauty and art. Questions about self image and portrayed image arise, along with ideas regarding individuality, self esteem, and influence.

There are six artworks in this photographic series. The exhibit was initially shown in 2009 and has been kept by the artist since. These are original works with no digital copies.

Susan Owens

I collect stone on Oceanside beaches and hand shape, grind, sand and polish surfboard pendants and miniatures. I also use the polished stones to make wire pendants and necklaces etc,

My theme is "The Hidden Beauty of Southern California" It is all inspired by local lifestyles as I have been a resident of Oceanside for at lest 12 years.

Jesse Moncur

My photos consist of macro shots of flowers. I try to find things you won't normally see in you every day life. I am a fourteen year old that found out he might have a talent. I have only been practicing different ways to shoot for about a month or two.

I would really like to be a part of this because I would like to show people that anyone can do things with a little practice. I hope to inspire.

Check out more on Instagram @jesse.moncur

Trina Louise Barnes

I am an inspirational Photographer and shoot anything and everything that inspires me. I sell my canvases, metal, Photo Gifts etc. My goal as a photographer is to inspire each and every person I come in contact with through my lens. I am a mother of four beautiful children and absolutely love what I do.

Check out more at the artist website and Facebook An-Inspirational-Touch-Photography

Pete Harwood

My passion is capturing and sharing local natural beauty with my camera.

I've lived in North San Diego County side 1987. Raised a family and spent many happy hours on Oceanside beaches. The kids are grown and pretty much gone (there's one 23 year old on his way out) and my wife and I are Oceanside residents just a quick walk from the harbor and pier.

Check out more on the artist website.

Maria Elena Cruz

Throughout my life, art has been a way for me to feel and heal. When I didn't feel safe enough to express myself verbally or by writing in journals that someone could read, I would draw. Drawing out my emotions was my release. Just as much as I need to release anxiety and pain, it is also an opportunity to create a new vision for my life... to paint the picture that I want to see in my reality. Because my work has always been so personal, I was very shy about sharing it. But once I realized how much my paintings inspired others, it became my ambition for my art to not only be a journey of self discovery, but to arouse passions of hope for humanity and to speak in a universal voice for the family of man. I hope to bring my lexicon of emotions into the lives of people who are searching for inspiration, optimism and love.

I also work with various organization by setting up interactive art workshops that engage community member. Please visit dialart.org for more information.

Check out more at the artist website.

Neil Brooks

My Art : Drawn on site with color studies to guide me in the studio garage where I then “arrange” my paintings thru trial and error relying on intuitive studies rather than photographs.

Work tends to be large - even when I start small tend to take work off stretcher bars and start to do collage. So my process kind of goes in and out of trying to stay in a frame and finding a way out of the frame to get away from a "traditional" motif.

Check out more on the artist website.

Jason Luper

I try to allow the purest, most random thoughts to spill onto canvas, as if each painting is capture a fleeting moment of thought. Art, to me, is the expression of what cannot otherwise be spoken, a reflection of the human experience.

Recently I have been moving towards a series of "micro paintings", mostly 6"x6" but not limited to those precise dimensions. The idea being to collect them in small groups, the sum being more than the individual parts.

Check out more at the artist website, Facebook Jason-Luper, Instagram @Jasonluper, Twitter @Jasonluper

Kellie Dantzler

As a teaching artist I use my art to encourage out-of-the-box thinking, and to bring entertainment fetes that celebrate the beauty rhythms within you.

I have started an art movement called, "The Younique Experience." Under this umbrella, I have created all times of art activities, outreach programs, and performance workshops to encourage and support fellow artist and entrepreneurs in finding ways to pursue their art or life work, while exploring how to achieve financial freedom and security.

Check out more on Facebook The Younique Experience