CHARLOTTE HOFFMAN DEMONSTRATES HER SKILL AT LAST YEAR’S Sierra Art Trails welcomes visitors to its eighth annual open studios tour.

Artists and artisans will open their studios or show their work at various locations around Mariposa and Eastern Madera counties for this two-day event on Oct. 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sierra Art Trails showcases local artists and artisans working in a wide range of media including painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, fiber arts, woodcarving, ceramic, glass and more.

Visitors can plan an Art Trails weekend by purchasing a catalog (a ticket for two), which provides details about the artists and their locations, as well as detailed maps to their show sites. A preview exhibit featuring representative work by all Sierra Art Trails artists will be open to the public from Sept. 4 through Oct. 4 at Stellar Gallery in Oakhurst. A preview exhibit reception and fund raiser will be held on Sept. 11 at Stellar Gallery.

This year’s event features 11 artists in the Mariposa area with three locations: Bobbie Lyden, watercolor; Fran Shell, ceramics; Vicki Thomas, watercolor; Hillary Richard, wire sculpture; Helen Willoughby-Peck, fused glass; Ira Estin, photography; Alison Grove, watercolor; LothLorien Stewart, jewelry; Michelle Capela, mixed media; Charlotte Hoffman, pastel; David Hoffman, photography.

Three returning artists this year are Charlotte and David Hoffman and Capela. The three will be located at the Hoffman’s home studio, 2354 Coachman Road.

David Hoffman, a landscape and nature photographer says, “Whether shooting with film or with digital, I’m drawn to the natural world. Not necessarily to the grand scenes of the California landscape, but usually to quiet, more intimate scenes that are often bypassed without notice. My emphasis is not on subject matter, but on the visual, and sometimes emotional, impact of an image. I would like to think that my photographs may encourage the viewer to take a closer look at the world around them… to notice the rich imagery in our surroundings that so often slips by unnoticed and unappreciated,” he said.

Charlotte Hoffman uses pastel as her medium. She is inspired by the textures, moods, colors and lighting of the landscape. “I love being surrounded by nature and I hope to impart that feeling when you view my paintings. Pastels have proven to be the perfect medium with which to express my inspirations,” Hoffman said.

Capela, the Hoffmans’ daughter, has developed her artistic talent by experimenting with mixed media. She explained, “Using different colors, textures and various found objects, these ‘experiments’ have allowed me to push my creativity to the next level.”

Show catalogs may be purchased in Mariposa at the Mariposa County Visitors Bureau or the Mariposa Arts Council. To purchase a catalog by phone or the internet, or to learn more about Sierra Art Trails, its events, or its scholarship and sponsorship programs, contact sierraarttrails.org or call (559) 658-8844.