Shirin "Sherry" Anderson is a RN who spends all her spare time drawing and painting in watercolor, acrylic and oils. Her interest is in landscape painting and is currently working on a landscape series of Channel Islands, California. Shirin was inspired by boating excursions and explorations of Channel Islands National Park and always looks for ways to express visual relationships between humans and the earth around them. The physical, emotional and spiritual transformative processes we can experience as individuals and as a group are of prime importance. Shirin attended Pima Community College: RN, Associate Degree; Attended University Of Arizona: BFA in Studio Art with emphasis on printmaking and drawing. Shirin's work is in private collections and her portfolio is available on request.

Linda Carson's involvement with ceramics dates back to workshops with celebrated ceramists Gertrude and Otto Natzler. She also studied sculpture, but put aside her artistic pursuits to pursue a twenty-six year career in psychotherapy. Fortunately she rediscovered her passion for clay, and her artistic life now consists primarily of sculpture and ceramics. A resident of Ventura and an award-winning ceramist, her work has been represented in many galleries throughout California, and has been included in many private collections, including that of the late renowned ceramist Beatrice Wood.

Favoring a bright, warm palette Billings incorporates a range of mediums in her work. Watercolors are painted onto japanese rice papers to create an underlying image. Then pastels, ink and gold leaf are applied to develop depth and create transparent layers. Billings’ final images are ultimately simple, yet complex compositions. “Billings uses color to create a subtle yet definite spirit. Her paintings leave viewers with a sense of optimism about life.” A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Billings currently splits her time between Ventura California and southern Baja—teaching classes and workshops, painting and journeying in search of new and inspired landscapes.

Liz Buis works in several media: acrylic, pen and ink, assemblage, pastels, but her favorite medium is watercolor. These techniques use fresh light or dark colors to create vivid images very quickly. She also adds collages in many of her watercolors. She earned a BA in Art and has taken many art classes at Ventura College and UC extension classes. She enjoys working at BAF where artists are weavers, photographers, sculptors, and make ceramics, jewelry, stained glass, wreaths, printings and share interesting tea information. She participates at Ventura's Art Walks and First Friday events.

Michele Foster has been an artist since childhood. She has always enjoyed expressing herself through her art and was one of the founding artists at Santa Barbara Ceramic Design. She works in clay, mosaics, airbrush, paint, computer graphics, and mixed media. Michele is also a passionate domestic violence activist in the community and has incorporated her art to use as a healing tool. Recently, she has become the director and visionary for the non-profit ARTestia, which holds art workshops in the community. Currently, Michele is also the director and lead teacher of the Bell Arts Factory Youth Arts Program.

I am grateful to be an Artist at Bell Arts Factory and I have chosen to give back to beautiful Ventura County by devoting a great deal of time to community Art. I am committed to expanding people's minds to embrace the world beyond our personal spheres. In addition to photography, sculpture and mixed media, I believe I was born to paint murals. Often, the work speaks for populations not generally heard from: children, incarcerated youth, common people in lower-income neighborhoods. In the course of creating public art projects with youth, I work directly with their ideas, often involving them in the actual production of the project. Sometimes I teach mural painting at college level. It is a privilege and an honor to be trusted with a wall or public space and to use one's talents for the benefit of young people.

Born in Michoacan, México, Maribel came to California when she was 18 years old. Amazingly, Maribel did not begin drawing and painting on canvas until she arrived in California. Her love for drawing was evident even as a child. When she was as young as four, she expressed her beginning passion for artistic creation. In rainy days she used a stick or stone to draw on the ground. The urge of a child to have color is now evident in all her current expressions in vivid and unforgettable colors. This vibrant use of colors distinguishes her current style. Today, she continues to be inspired and driven to share the drama, style, and pasión y amor of her native culture. Throughout the last years Maribel has been exposed to different medias such as: Painting, ceramics, photography, graphic design interior design and jewelry design. She works at her studio at Bell Arts Factory in Ventura California.

Ionia Design Studio is a forward-thinking, environmentally conscious graphic design firm that specializes in custom solutions that deliver effective and compelling messages across mediums and in socially responsible ways. We work collaboratively with our clients to identify and develop valuable communication approaches that achieve business and environmental goals. From engaging websites and interactive experiences to unique logos and identity systems, we can help you develop effective design options that are less straining on the environment. Contact one of our specialists. 805.804.6108

In her Studio 74, Sarah exhibits her experimental watercolors, acrylics, oil paintings and digital art, along with her Spirit of Ventura print collection which is a favorite among tourists and locals. Print sizes range from miniatures to full size limited edition Giclées. Born and raised in California, Sarah grew up with the love of art and spent years developing varied forms of creative expression. As well as fine art, Sarah has designed websites for some of Ventura County's most prominent businesses and organizations. Among them are BellArtsFactory.org, TheYellowUmbrellas.com, FadingTreasures.com and B-onmain.com. You can view both her web design work and fine art at sarahkalvin.com.

Gretchen Anne Martin has been an artist since childhood. Her professional career began in 1994, sculpting and painting prototypes for toys. She later earned her Bachelor's Degree in Theater Arts at UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television and started her own company, Little Pearls Studio, offering creative services to corporations, small businesses and private clients. Gretchen works in several mediums including sculpture and paint. She is also an avid writer, an actress, television host, voice-over artist and entrepreneur. She is currently working on a Book of Proposals - Marriage Proposals, the Good, the Bad and the Funny, and a poetry book that will feature her artistic works. She is available for artist commissions, collaboration on film and community projects, and has products/inventions available for licensing.

Entirely self-taught, Beglar Merlich began what would be a life-changing journey into the world of stained glass art in New Mexico in the 1980's. Because of his commitment to the tiniest details and his extraordinary designs, Beglar became known as one of the premiere stained glass artisans in the Southwest. His art can be found in homes, schools, galleries and businesses around the world. Upon relocating to California in 2001, Beglar began teaching stained glass to teens and adults in various locations around Ventura County. His artwork spans themes ranging from unconventional Southwestern designs, to California Coastal-inspired seascapes. His windows tell a story, and each one is a unique, one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Jennifer Merlich has been creating glass art with her father Beglar for the last 20 years. She is currently focusing on hot glass techniques for fusing or "cooking" glass in a kiln to produce vibrant colorful bowls, plates, fountains, jewelry and more. Jennifer also is an accomplished musician, teaching and performing with her African drumming ensemble, the One World Drummers, throughout the Central Coast of California.

Recently, I went to Italy and was privileged to see Michelangelo's David. It moved me spiritually, emotionally and physically and renewed my passion for the great art of the masters. They inspire me to create and touch my own spirit within. I believe, when we observe an artist's original work, we are viewing the energy of that person. My art is an evolution of many artistic interests and careers, including: computer graphics; digital multimedia; master workshops with Zig Jankowski, Nancy del Pesco, Stephanie Elise and Karen McLean; theater at Alacama, and Video for Paradise Film and Video. I've taught and created murals in Goleta, Ventura, and Ojai. My paintings have been accepted into juried shows in Santa Barbara, Montecito and Ventura, where they received honorable mention and two first place awards. I am currently a full-time artist at Bell Arts Factory and a member of the BAA, and the Artists Union Gallery.

As an accomplished painter, Beatrix is known for her visionary style using watercolor, tempera, acrylic and oils. "I am inspired by nature as well as by my life's journey and was mesmerized by colors in nature at a young age." In 1963, her first painting titled Jungle was sold at her school art exhibit in Hamburg, Germany. "What I like most about painting is that a brush stroke can change anything in a magical way - there is no need to hold back. When I see something I don't like, I can paint over it. It is still beneath, and therefore always a part of the painting, though the painting has changed significantly."

Jill Sattler is a photodramatist, painter, jewelry designer and an honor graduate of Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles. She has exhibited at the Carnegie Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Forum, Art Museum of Santa Cruz, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, and UCLA. She has created photographic portraits for Beatrice Wood, Chantal of Good Morning America, Sandy Duncan, Betty White, Susan and Jeff Bridges, and Christopher Reeve. Jill's earrings were worn by Cher for her Oscar in Moonstruck. Diane English of Murphy Brown, was featured in Elle Magazine wearing necklaces designed by Jill. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines and she has photographs on permanent exhibit at UCLA.

Cast off salvages, new yet unused… not an end… a beginning. White cotton fabric strips, cut from bolts of fabric, were to be thrown away. Instead they become the fiber that I space dye to form a new pallet of weft materials. I hope to carry the folk arts of the past into my expression of today’s handwoven rugs. Some are graphic, some are almost abstractions of another reality. I like color, bright and vibrant, designed to add light and form into interior spaces.

Gary and Pierre Silva, a husband and wife photography team, have moved to Ventura after working as professional photographers in LA mainly in the entertainment industry. Gary and Pierre won three of the VC Reporter's 2007 Photo Contest Categories: 1st Place - Pro Color, 3rd Place - Pro Color and 1st Place - Black & White. The Silvas are also the cover photographers for Ventura's own Ventana Monthly. Gary and Pierre have standing exhibits in galleries in Barcelona and Geneva and have been published by Carlton Books of London. The Silvas are now located at Studio 35 in the Bell Arts Factory and are bringing their photography expertise to the community of Ventura. Their work includes: portrait, glamour, wedding, architectural and fine art.

I am a native of Los Angeles and long-time resident, but currently I'm enjoying the beach life in Ventura, California's "New Art City". I arrived at my calling after a series of art courses which gave me plenty of inspiration and just enough instruction to develop a distinctive and unorthodox voice. My energetic style may transcend an easy label although I have been called a "naturalist abstractionist", referring to the starting point for many of my paintings. However, my process is mostly spontaneous; I refer to it as "painting from the subconscious mind". In my work, I strive for complexity of color and texture, and while the goal is always to make compelling paintings, I am most satisfied when there is something about the piece which frustrates or gently provokes the viewer.

Under the Sun Gallery, owned and operated by husband and wife, Luis Rodriguez and Veronica Valadez is dedicated to promoting cultural appreciation by offering a variety of fine paintings, international folk-art, world music, ethnic clothing, hand-made jewelry, and culturally diverse books for all ages. Both are artists who cultivate public awareness and appreciation of world cultures through the arts by having a venue where people can find unique gifts and become captivated by the beauty of various art forms representing diverse traditions. The gallery gives Latino artists the opportunity to exhibit their art to further demonstrate the vast cultural diversity of artistic flavors Ventura County has to offer. Hours: Tues. - Fri. 3:30 - 6:00 pm, Sat. 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, Sun. 11:00 am - 5:00 pm.

I create original handwoven rugs and tapestries that integrate a strong sense of color and design with weaving to make bold visual statements. Working with hand dyed wools, I explore how the fiber reflects light and color in a unique way. I weave in a painterly fashion discovering how shape, color and form unite best for each piece. A graphic designer, intrigued by the craft of weaving, I combine my graphic vision and weaving skills to create pieces that are very graphic in nature. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind expression using themes of nature or visual play of color.

Born in England & growing up in London & Cheshire, Lisette's passion for nature was nurtured early. Living in Southern California, with trips to Hawaii and Italy, generated more photography and poetry, which led to Lisette diversifying her art to include jewelry, poetry and photo/mixed media, collage, installation, assemblage, & wreaths. Her rural and urban upbringing inspired Lisette to create jewelry that reflects both a natural and urban flair. Through a variety of materials and a strong vision of 'difference,' Lisette offers lines appealing to tastes such as Hawaiian, Californian, European, vintage, contemporary, traditional and one-of-a-kind collections.

Cynthia was born and raised in Los Angeles. She currently lives in Port Hueneme with her husband Jerry. Cynthia received her Certification in Tea by the Specialty Tea Institute in New York in 2005. She has a Bachelor and Masters of Arts degrees from Arizona State University. She has spent most of her professional life as a Human Relations Consultant, Student Services Administrator and Campus Minister at various Colleges, Universities and High Schools in Southern California and Arizona. Cynthia hopes you'll enjoy the tea selection and information she offers at Tea by the Sea - An International Tea Experience, located at Bell Arts Factory.

Jerry Yoshitomi is Chief Knowledge Officer of MeaningMatters, LLC. MeaningMatters is engaged by foundations, public arts agencies, organizations and artists to research and provoke innovative new practices providing just in time knowledge to increase: participation in the arts, personal benefits/public value of the arts, adaptability, creativity and leadership in changing environments and earned and contributed income. Methods from his writings/workshops have been successfully implemented by thousands of artists and organizations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, increasing attendance and earned/contributed income.