The Heat is ON 2026 Virtual Exhibition

A Virtual Exhibition Presented by the Arizona Art Alliance
As summer settles over Arizona and temperatures climb, The Heat Is On 2026 celebrates the creative energy rising alongside it.
This annual virtual exhibition brings together a curated selection of artwork created by artists from Arizona Art Alliance Member Organizations, showcasing the depth, diversity, and vitality of our statewide arts community. Though open in theme, the exhibition reveals a rich range of artistic voices, perspectives, and approaches—offering viewers an inspiring cross-section of contemporary creative practice.
Featuring original 2D and 3D artwork, photography, digital media, jewelry, and mixed-media works, The Heat Is On highlights both emerging and established artists working across a wide spectrum of styles and disciplines. From bold visual statements to quiet moments of reflection, each piece contributes to a vibrant collective experience.
The virtual format allows this exhibition to extend beyond physical boundaries, making the artwork accessible to viewers wherever they are and inviting broader engagement with the artists and their work.
We invite you to explore this year’s exhibition, celebrate the award recipients, and discover the remarkable talent within the Arizona Art Alliance community.
The show runs from July 11 through August 15, 2026 and will also be posted on social media. Be sure to like and follow AzArtAlliance on Facebook and Instagram.
Reception and awards ceremony July 11, 2026 at Noon | via zoom
click here for the zoom link.
One-hundred works of art were entered into the show. Juror Mary Beth Buesgen had the daunting task of selecting the work for the exhibition. Sixty-three pieces were ultimately selected for the show.
Meet the Juror….
Mary-Beth Buesgen is an American art curator and artist based in Arizona, currently serving as the Lead Curator at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum within the Mesa Arts Center. Recognized as an influential figure in the region’s cultural landscape, she was named one of the “15 Women Curators to Know in Arizona” by the Phoenix New Times.
Personal Art: Beyond her curatorial roles, she is an active ceramic artist and metalworker. Her personal artwork frequently takes inspiration from micro-landscapes, desert flora, and regional wildlife.Education: She holds a Master of Science (MS) in Graphic Information Technology and a certificate in Museum Studies.
Education: She holds a Master of Science (MS) in Graphic Information Technology and a certificate in Museum Studies.
Enjoy the show!
Amalie DiMiceli
Amalie DiMiceli
Hot Mess
Mixed Media
16.5 x 15 x 16
$950
Amalie DiMiceli was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and has primarily studied and worked in veterinary medicine. Over the last few years, she has embraced her artistic nature; taking art classes in the Maricopa Community College System, participating in local art workshops and volunteering with the Arizona Artists Guild. She enjoys creating sculpture and mixed media art while taking an experimental approach and using a diverse range of media.
In this series, I am exploring the balance of representation and abstraction with minimalist animal sculptures. I hope to recognizably portray an individual pet’s defining characteristics despite the limited detail allowed by low polygonal design.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
Amalie DiMiceli
Amalie DiMiceli
Stan’s Horse
Mixed Media
18 x 18 x 8
NFS
Amalie DiMiceli was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and has primarily studied and worked in veterinary medicine. Over the last few years, she has embraced her artistic nature; taking art classes in the Maricopa Community College System, participating in local art workshops and volunteering with the Arizona Artists Guild. She enjoys creating sculpture and mixed media art while taking an experimental approach and using a diverse range of media.
In this series, I am exploring the balance of representation and abstraction with minimalist animal sculptures. I hope to recognizably portray an individual pet’s defining characteristics despite the limited detail allowed by low polygonal design.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
Anita Oksanen Morford | In his Prime
Anita Oksanen Morford
In his Prime
Watercolor
16 x 22
$950
I was born and raised in Finland and moved to Arizona in 1995. Since I remember I have always been fascinated about animals and Art. I started my career with animals at age 16 at dairy farm and have worked with different species throughout my career. I am still involved with animals and work at local veterinary clinic few days a week. I feel like all the years working with animals have helped me understand how to capture the essence and details of each animal.
I work mostly in Watercolor and paint Pet Portraits and Wildlife. I am here to express how I feel about them and share my vision of so many wonderful species of animals that are there in the world. I want to be advocate for the animals of all kind.
Member: Scottsdale Artist League
Anita Oksanen Morford | Observer
Anita Oksanen Morford
Observer
Watercolor
15 x 11
$625
I was born and raised in Finland and moved to Arizona in 1995. Since I remember I have always been fascinated about animals and Art. I started my career with animals at age 16 at dairy farm and have worked with different species throughout my career. I am still involved with animals and work at local veterinary clinic few days a week. I feel like all the years working with animals have helped me understand how to capture the essence and details of each animal.
I work mostly in Watercolor and paint Pet Portraits and Wildlife. I am here to express how I feel about them and share my vision of so many wonderful species of animals that are there in the world. I want to be advocate for the animals of all kind.
Member: Scottsdale Artist League
Briana Lego | Our World Now
Briana Lego
Our World Now
Acryl Gouache
23.5×13.5.0.8
$300
With a career spanning over two decades, Briana Lego (27) is a Phoenix based multimedia artist whose work is defined by a deep, lifelong commitment to the visual arts. She has dedicated countless hours refining a unique aesthetic language, evolving from a dedicated student to a self taught specialist in painting textures and form. At the heart of her practice is a rigorous love for the craft of composition. While the work often embraces a rich, tactile complexity, every element is anchored by a deliberate spatial logic. By balancing weight, line, and color, she can transform the surface of a canvas or wood panel into a structured narrative, ensuring that even the most experimental materials feel intentional and harmonious. Briana has a “everything is a tool” philosophy; layering traditional fine art mediums with found objects and unconventional textures. Her multi-layered approach results in pieces that are as much sculptures as they are paintings. Working primarily on stretched canvas and wood, the artist utilizes a diverse toolkit filled with many materials such as Acryl gouache, watercolor, and tempera paints for vibrant color depth. Oil pastels and spray paint for bold, expressive mark-making. She will also include many tactile elements such as hand sewn imagery, pieces of paper, and sticks to create dimension. Through this intersection of classic technique and modern experimentation, Briana Lego continues to push the boundaries of contemporary painting, creating immersive works that invite everyone to explore the beauty of organized chaos.
These works confront the stark, often isolating reality of modern existence, utilizing sharp lines and juxtaposing tones to evoke a sense of our world’s collective grief. Each piece explores the concept of defiance through neon colors that clash with its environment, refusing to blend in or conform to the sadness around it. Here, the darkness is vast, but it is actively being pushed back by a stubborn, blooming luminosity. Each light represents the human imagination and our persistent drive to create, heal, and hope against all odds. It is a reminder that we are not merely passive witnesses to the world’s pain, but active torchbearers capable of generating our own dawn.
Briana Lego | City Of Sisters
Briana Lego
City Of Sisters
Acryl Gouache
23.5×13.5.0.8
$200
With a career spanning over two decades, Briana Lego (27) is a Phoenix based multimedia artist whose work is defined by a deep, lifelong commitment to the visual arts. She has dedicated countless hours refining a unique aesthetic language, evolving from a dedicated student to a self taught specialist in painting textures and form. At the heart of her practice is a rigorous love for the craft of composition. While the work often embraces a rich, tactile complexity, every element is anchored by a deliberate spatial logic. By balancing weight, line, and color, she can transform the surface of a canvas or wood panel into a structured narrative, ensuring that even the most experimental materials feel intentional and harmonious. Briana has a “everything is a tool” philosophy; layering traditional fine art mediums with found objects and unconventional textures. Her multi-layered approach results in pieces that are as much sculptures as they are paintings. Working primarily on stretched canvas and wood, the artist utilizes a diverse toolkit filled with many materials such as Acryl gouache, watercolor, and tempera paints for vibrant color depth. Oil pastels and spray paint for bold, expressive mark-making. She will also include many tactile elements such as hand sewn imagery, pieces of paper, and sticks to create dimension. Through this intersection of classic technique and modern experimentation, Briana Lego continues to push the boundaries of contemporary painting, creating immersive works that invite everyone to explore the beauty of organized chaos.
These works confront the stark, often isolating reality of modern existence, utilizing sharp lines and juxtaposing tones to evoke a sense of our world’s collective grief. Each piece explores the concept of defiance through neon colors that clash with its environment, refusing to blend in or conform to the sadness around it. Here, the darkness is vast, but it is actively being pushed back by a stubborn, blooming luminosity. Each light represents the human imagination and our persistent drive to create, heal, and hope against all odds. It is a reminder that we are not merely passive witnesses to the world’s pain, but active torchbearers capable of generating our own dawn.
Debra Goley | Divided
Debra Goley
Divided
Fiber
22 x 39
$1100
Art is Debra’s language. She is an award-winning international and inspirational artist, beginning with a career as an architect, now a full-time artist and instructor for all ages and abilities. Her work in fiber is an exciting extension of her portfolio, adding depth to her work by collaging fabric and drawing with her needle. Her life’s work is a continued exploration which has its roots in a life lived overseas and the experience of a multicultural community.
Working with fabrics, I create pieces that are colorful and curious. In my studio I can cut it up. I make “random notes” where I say things without feeling I must be responsive. A person, place or a bloom emerges into the piece reflecting a time or place. This process has come to symbolize moments of peaceful contemplation for me. My work reflects my interest in art history, landscapes, architecture, life overseas, student teaching, and more.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild and WHAM
Debra Goley | Back In Time
Debra Goley
Back In Time
Fiber
35 x 28
$1800
Art is Debra’s language. She is an award-winning international and inspirational artist, beginning with a career as an architect, now a full-time artist and instructor for all ages and abilities. Her work in fiber is an exciting extension of her portfolio, adding depth to her work by collaging fabric and drawing with her needle. Her life’s work is a continued exploration which has its roots in a life lived overseas and the experience of a multicultural community.
Working with fabrics, I create pieces that are colorful and curious. In my studio I can cut it up. I make “random notes” where I say things without feeling I must be responsive. A person, place or a bloom emerges into the piece reflecting a time or place. This process has come to symbolize moments of peaceful contemplation for me. My work reflects my interest in art history, landscapes, architecture, life overseas, student teaching, and more.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild and WHAM
Dyanne Locati | Rocamadour
Gerri L Beadle-Murray | The Flooph
Gerri L Beadle-Murray
The Flooph
Colored Pencil, Pan Pastel
11 x 14
NFS
I am a native of Phoenix, AZ. Majored in art at ASU, however, I never finished and ended up taking a different path. I worked as a Veterinary Technician for 12 years then 30+ years as a Chemist in the compliance water industry. Once retired, I returned to art and combined my work experiences with my passion for art. Currently I am working with colored pencils, graphite and pastels.
With the destruction of wild places, our national parks being attacked for minerals and now WW3 is looming, I want to expose the blatant disregard of wildlife and forests by mankind. I draw these pieces to express my weariness on the disrespect for wildlife. My art depicts the ravages that come with mining, drilling, poaching wildlife and chopping down trees, things that threaten a healthy plant. Without a vigorous planet we are doomed to a life of famine, fire and dust. The beauty seen in wildlife will be gone. My hope is that the viewer will understand the meaning of my pieces and start a conversation on saving wild places.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild, and Phoenix Artist Guild
Ira DellaMonica | What Light Remembers
Ira DellaMonica
What Light Remembers
acrylic on panel
24×30
NFS
Ira DellaMonica was born and raised in Southern California, graduated from Sonoma State University with an art degree. Her deep connection with animals stems childhood pets and 25 years of competitive horseback riding. All are a repetitive theme in her work. DellaMonica moved to Mesa, Arizona in 2017 to pursue a master’s degree. Through a series of life altering events during Covid 2020 rekindled a spiritually with painting, nature and the animals a her.
My entry is a small collection of a year spent strengthening my perceived areas of weakness and exploring new mediums and subjects. The portrait is a tribute to my father. It is the result of a search to process grief and celebrate his bond and unconditional love for life and his family.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild and Tempe Artists Guild
Janie Blake-Zunino | Copper Curls
Janie Blake-Zunino
Copper Curls
Mixed Media hard shell gourd, copper metal clay and wire embellishments, acrylic inks
12 inch high; 7 inch wide at base
NFS
Resident of Arizona for 17 years after 40 years in California in healthcare. Currently live in Sun Lakes (Chandler) Arizona. Member of the American Gourd Society and state gourd societies. Member of the Ocotillo Artists Guild and the Artists of the Superstitions. Prior gourd class instructor in California.
After years of work in the healthcare industry, my retirement afforded me the opportunity to return to my artistic endeavors. Years of pencil drawings, painting and collage, woodwork, metalwork and wire work gradually found their way to meld together with a hard shell gourd as a canvas. Texture, shape, color reside in every piece I produce.
Member: Ocotillo Artists Group
Janie Blake-Zunino | Leaning Tower of Color
Janie Blake-Zunino
Leaning Tower of Color
mixed media hard shell gourd; acrylic inks; hammered/twisted brass embellishments; carved surfaces; wooden base
20 inch high; 8 inch at base
NFS
Resident of Arizona for 17 years after 40 years in California in healthcare. Currently live in Sun Lakes (Chandler) Arizona. Member of the American Gourd Society and state gourd societies. Member of the Ocotillo Artists Guild and the Artists of the Superstitions. Prior gourd class instructor in California.
After years of work in the healthcare industry, my retirement afforded me the opportunity to return to my artistic endeavors. Years of pencil drawings, painting and collage, woodwork, metalwork and wire work gradually found their way to meld together with a hard shell gourd as a canvas. Texture, shape, color reside in every piece I produce.
Member: Ocotillo Artists Group
Janie Blake-Zunino| Metallica
Janie Blake-Zunino
Metallica
mixed media hard shell gourd; acrylic inks, brass embellishments, brass/wood beads
18 inch high; 9 inch at base
NFS
Resident of Arizona for 17 years after 40 years in California in healthcare. Currently live in Sun Lakes (Chandler) Arizona. Member of the American Gourd Society and state gourd societies. Member of the Ocotillo Artists Guild and the Artists of the Superstitions. Prior gourd class instructor in California.
After years of work in the healthcare industry, my retirement afforded me the opportunity to return to my artistic endeavors. Years of pencil drawings, painting and collage, woodwork, metalwork and wire work gradually found their way to meld together with a hard shell gourd as a canvas. Texture, shape, color reside in every piece I produce.
Member: Ocotillo Artists Group
Joan McGue | Inner Light
Joan McGue
Inner Light
Createx, alcohol ink, markers
16×20
$300
I use a variety of media in my artwork, including oil paint, alcohol ink, India ink, black gesso, colored pencil to create random images.
The fun of abstract art is to create ambiguous images that people see in different ways. The real world is the same way. Rocks can look like faces. Saguaros can look like figures waving at us. Objects in real life and art aren’t strictly tied to what they actually are. We can look at them and imagine them as something different.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
Joan McGue | The Cave
Joan McGue
The Cave
Createx, marker
12×16
$300
I use a variety of media in my artwork, including oil paint, alcohol ink, India ink, black gesso, colored pencil to create random images.
The fun of abstract art is to create ambiguous images that people see in different ways. The real world is the same way. Rocks can look like faces. Saguaros can look like figures waving at us. Objects in real life and art aren’t strictly tied to what they actually are. We can look at them and imagine them as something different.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
Joan McGue
Them Fishbones
Alcohol ink, textured paper, createx, marker
16×20
$300
click for more information
Joan McGue | Them Fishbones
Joan McGue
Them Fishbones
Alcohol ink, textured paper, createx, marker
16×20
$300
I use a variety of media in my artwork, including oil paint, alcohol ink, India ink, black gesso, colored pencil to create random images.
The fun of abstract art is to create ambiguous images that people see in different ways. The real world is the same way. Rocks can look like faces. Saguaros can look like figures waving at us. Objects in real life and art aren’t strictly tied to what they actually are. We can look at them and imagine them as something different.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
John Peelle | Ask Directions
John Peelle
Ask Directions
Oil on Canvas
12 x 12
$450
Graduated 1971 from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS degree in Professional Photography. 1971-1973 worked for the Miami News, Miami Fl 1973-1976 Mercury Marine as a corporate photographer 1976- 2016 Self Employed Peelle Photography Studio Corporate Work 1992 took up oil painting
My life’s career is made up of two sections, photography for 65 Years and painting for 35 years. The two mediums have a great deal in common, both can record an Image using color and light, composition is required in both, each limited only by imagination.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
John Peelle | F 8
John Peelle
F 8
Oil on Canvas
12 x 12
$350
Graduated 1971 from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS degree in Professional Photography. 1971-1973 worked for the Miami News, Miami Fl 1973-1976 Mercury Marine as a corporate photographer 1976- 2016 Self Employed Peelle Photography Studio Corporate Work 1992 took up oil painting
My life’s career is made up of two sections, photography for 65 Years and painting for 35 years. The two mediums have a great deal in common, both can record an Image using color and light, composition is required in both, each limited only by imagination.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
John Peelle | Where Time is Made
John Peelle
Where Time is Made
Oil on Canvas
20 x 20
$900
Graduated 1971 from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS degree in Professional Photography. 1971-1973 worked for the Miami News, Miami Fl 1973-1976 Mercury Marine as a corporate photographer 1976- 2016 Self Employed Peelle Photography Studio Corporate Work 1992 took up oil painting
My life’s career is made up of two sections, photography for 65 Years and painting for 35 years. The two mediums have a great deal in common, both can record an Image using color and light, composition is required in both, each limited only by imagination.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
Lynne Reid Rogers | The Day the Desert Melted
Lynne Reid Rogers
The Day the Desert Melted
Pen and Ink
18 x 24
$460
I’ve loved art ever since I can remember and am mostly self taught except for my high school teacher and one college class in both drawing and weaving. It seems I think outside the box. Way outside.
As an artist, I like to have fun with my art. Both for me and for you, the viewer. In my ink and colored pencil I hide various characters for you to find. In my yarn work, I love the tactile aspect.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild, Phoenix Artists Guild, WHAM, Scottsdale Art League, Vanguard Arts
Margaret McNeal | Magnolia Dreams
Margaret McNeal
Magnolia Dreams
Oil
36 x 54 x 2.5
$3,800
My name is Margaret McNeal and I am currently residing in Chandler, Arizona. As an early retiree, I picked up my paint brush in 2021….. “ I found my passion”. I took a few introductory classes to oil painting and the journey began. I have been cultivating my craft over the past 5 years. Starting in 2026, I altered my direction to a wider audience while working on cohesive works of body. My early years were spent in Michigan, where the changing seasons have given me a plethora of inspiration. Painting, and other forms or artistry have always been in my life. My background is in Automotive and Aerospace Engineering, and that rigid discipline has given me the foundation to break free. The signature reflects my Polish heritage, Gosia (Polish for Margaret). Painting are reflections of what inspire me, what is beautiful, and brings art to my soul.
Member: Scottsdale Artists League
Marsha Lazar Klinger | The Boulders
Marsha Lazar Klinger
The Boulders
24 x 18
$650
Studied art at Kent State University and have taken workshops with Daniel Greene, who painted JFK’s portrait, Carl Samson, David Mueller and Shalmah Lee Prince, all portrait artist artists. Portraits in oil and Color Pencils were the bulk of my work along with House Portraits in Watercolor. I have won many awards in all the mediums named above and have many of my artworks in both Private and Public Collections in Cincinnati, Ohio.I am currently an Active member in the AAAliance and the Scottsdale Artists League. Served as Show Chairman, Publicity Director and as President for 3 years. I also coordinated the Scottsdale Veterans Art Outreach Program until COVID shut the operation down. In Arizona I have taken workshops with Roger Moore, J Russel Case and Matt Ryder. Won “Best of Show” at the Scottsdale Artists School juried show for the Scottsdale Artists League Spring Show. Won many awards for my artwork and have participated in many shows such as the Desert Botanical Gardens, Westminster Village, Sweetwaters Coffe and Tea, Fountains Hills and AZ Art Alliance. I have many of my artwork in Private Collections.
“Eye Candy” is how I view this lovely place called Arizona and that is what I wish to convey in my art. How can a person not look everywhere and see beauty? It is the light that covers the Valley with magic. The setting Sun on the McDowell Mountains with a pastel palette of the softest pinks, blues and lavenders. It is the light that makes a cactus flower’s petal look almost transparent. It is the delicately, lacy light dancing on the ground filtered through a me quite tree. The bold light hitting the rocks in an outcropping on the mountains giving them their strength and proper. The wonderful light I want my artwork to tell.
Member: Scottsdale Artists League
Marsha Lazar Klinger | Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Marsha Lazar Klinger
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
16 x 20
NFS
Studied art at Kent State University and have taken workshops with Daniel Greene, who painted JFK’s portrait, Carl Samson, David Mueller and Shalmah Lee Prince, all portrait artist artists. Portraits in oil and Color Pencils were the bulk of my work along with House Portraits in Watercolor. I have won many awards in all the mediums named above and have many of my artworks in both Private and Public Collections in Cincinnati, Ohio.I am currently an Active member in the AAAliance and the Scottsdale Artists League. Served as Show Chairman, Publicity Director and as President for 3 years. I also coordinated the Scottsdale Veterans Art Outreach Program until COVID shut the operation down. In Arizona I have taken workshops with Roger Moore, J Russel Case and Matt Ryder. Won “Best of Show” at the Scottsdale Artists School juried show for the Scottsdale Artists League Spring Show. Won many awards for my artwork and have participated in many shows such as the Desert Botanical Gardens, Westminster Village, Sweetwaters Coffe and Tea, Fountains Hills and AZ Art Alliance. I have many of my artwork in Private Collections.
“Eye Candy” is how I view this lovely place called Arizona and that is what I wish to convey in my art. How can a person not look everywhere and see beauty? It is the light that covers the Valley with magic. The setting Sun on the McDowell Mountains with a pastel palette of the softest pinks, blues and lavenders. It is the light that makes a cactus flower’s petal look almost transparent. It is the delicately, lacy light dancing on the ground filtered through a me quite tree. The bold light hitting the rocks in an outcropping on the mountains giving them their strength and proper. The wonderful light I want my artwork to tell.
Member: Scottsdale Artists League
Mary-Jo Okawa | Almost Paradise
Mary-Jo Okawa
Almost Paradise
Silk Painting
28 x 39
$3,275
MJ Okawa is an Arizona artist known for her vibrant hand-painted silk artwork inspired by nature, light, and the beauty of the Southwest. Drawing on a background in arts education, theater, and community arts leadership, she creates luminous pieces filled with color, movement, and joy. Her work is represented by On The Edge Gallery and Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery and has been collected nationally, including recent acquisitions through New Mexico Arts’ Art in Public Places. Okawa lives in Chandler, Arizona.
I paint on silk because it captures light, color, and movement unlike any other surface. Using flowing dyes and metallic accents, I create luminous landscapes, florals, and nature-inspired imagery that celebrate beauty and connection. My work is rooted in wonder and gratitude for the natural world. Through vibrant color, layered detail, and expressive design, I strive to create moments of joy, peace, and reflection, inviting viewers to pause, connect, and simply enjoy the experience.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild, Scottsdale Artists’ League, Tempe Artists Guild, and a juried member of the Sonoran Arts League
Mary-Jo Okawa | Here Comes The Sun
Mary-Jo Okawa
Here Comes The Sun
Silk Painting
24 x 24
$1,900
MJ Okawa is an Arizona artist known for her vibrant hand-painted silk artwork inspired by nature, light, and the beauty of the Southwest. Drawing on a background in arts education, theater, and community arts leadership, she creates luminous pieces filled with color, movement, and joy. Her work is represented by On The Edge Gallery and Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery and has been collected nationally, including recent acquisitions through New Mexico Arts’ Art in Public Places. Okawa lives in Chandler, Arizona.
I paint on silk because it captures light, color, and movement unlike any other surface. Using flowing dyes and metallic accents, I create luminous landscapes, florals, and nature-inspired imagery that celebrate beauty and connection. My work is rooted in wonder and gratitude for the natural world. Through vibrant color, layered detail, and expressive design, I strive to create moments of joy, peace, and reflection, inviting viewers to pause, connect, and simply enjoy the experience.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild, Scottsdale Artists’ League, Tempe Artists Guild, and a juried member of the Sonoran Arts League
Mary-Jo Okawa | Summertime
Mary-Jo Okawa
Summertime
Silk Painting
16 x 32
$1,800
MJ Okawa is an Arizona artist known for her vibrant hand-painted silk artwork inspired by nature, light, and the beauty of the Southwest. Drawing on a background in arts education, theater, and community arts leadership, she creates luminous pieces filled with color, movement, and joy. Her work is represented by On The Edge Gallery and Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery and has been collected nationally, including recent acquisitions through New Mexico Arts’ Art in Public Places. Okawa lives in Chandler, Arizona.
I paint on silk because it captures light, color, and movement unlike any other surface. Using flowing dyes and metallic accents, I create luminous landscapes, florals, and nature-inspired imagery that celebrate beauty and connection. My work is rooted in wonder and gratitude for the natural world. Through vibrant color, layered detail, and expressive design, I strive to create moments of joy, peace, and reflection, inviting viewers to pause, connect, and simply enjoy the experience.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild, Scottsdale Artists’ League, Tempe Artists Guild, and a juried member of the Sonoran Arts League
Melanie Harman | Lake Powell I
Melanie Harman
Lake Powell I
Watercolor on canvas
12 x 12 x 1.5
$335
Melanie Harman is an Arizona-based artist working in a variety of watermedia, including watercolor, acrylic, and collage. She began her artistic journey in 2005 as a mid-life beginner and has since studied with nationally and internationally recognized artists including Tom Lynch, Lian Quan Zhen, and Laurie Goldstein-Warren. Her work is held in private collections throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Harman is an active member of numerous Arizona and regional arts organizations and volunteers in several capacities within the arts community. She is also available for workshops and demonstrations in watercolor and acrylic gel print collage.
Harman’s work reflects the world around her — people, places, flowers, and everyday moments. A full range of values is central to her process, regardless of medium, as she seeks to capture what first compelled her to paint: striking contrasts of value and color, or emotionally resonant subject matter. In recent years, she has been drawn to subjects that evoke a quiet mood — peaceful, contemplative, and at times gently melancholic. Her current work with poured watercolor from dark to light allows the paint to move organically across the paper, creating soft edges and luminous transitions that mirror the meditative nature of the process itself. mharman.art Instagram: @mharmanart
Member: Arizona Artists Guild, Arizona Watercolor Association
Melanie Harman | Lake Powell III
Melanie Harman
Lake Powell III
Watercolor on canvas
12 x 12 x 1.5
$335
Melanie Harman is an Arizona-based artist working in a variety of watermedia, including watercolor, acrylic, and collage. She began her artistic journey in 2005 as a mid-life beginner and has since studied with nationally and internationally recognized artists including Tom Lynch, Lian Quan Zhen, and Laurie Goldstein-Warren. Her work is held in private collections throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Harman is an active member of numerous Arizona and regional arts organizations and volunteers in several capacities within the arts community. She is also available for workshops and demonstrations in watercolor and acrylic gel print collage.
Harman’s work reflects the world around her — people, places, flowers, and everyday moments. A full range of values is central to her process, regardless of medium, as she seeks to capture what first compelled her to paint: striking contrasts of value and color, or emotionally resonant subject matter. In recent years, she has been drawn to subjects that evoke a quiet mood — peaceful, contemplative, and at times gently melancholic. Her current work with poured watercolor from dark to light allows the paint to move organically across the paper, creating soft edges and luminous transitions that mirror the meditative nature of the process itself. mharman.art Instagram: @mharmanart
Member: Arizona Artists Guild, Arizona Watercolor Association
Pat Beans | Desert Rat
Pat Beans
Desert Rat
Watercolor
20 x 16
NFS
For many years, Pat was a member, and often times an officer, in several of the valley art groups. She went on painting trips, attended workshops and art shows. Now, at age 96, she has slowed down considerably but she still enjoys dabbling now and then. She still has a great sense of humor and has recently published two books, “Nailed It” and “It’s Okay to Laugh”
I enjoy watercolor. The spontaneity and lack of control make it a challenge. It’s fun.
Member: Scottsdale Artists League
Pat Beans | Cemetery
Pat Beans
Cemetery
Watercolor
16 x 20
$250
For many years, Pat was a member, and often times an officer, in several of the valley art groups. She went on painting trips, attended workshops and art shows. Now, at age 96, she has slowed down considerably but she still enjoys dabbling now and then. She still has a great sense of humor and has recently published two books, “Nailed It” and “It’s Okay to Laugh”
I enjoy watercolor. The spontaneity and lack of control make it a challenge. It’s fun.
Member: Scottsdale Artists League
Pat Beans | Early Morning
Pat Beans
Early Morning
Watercolor
20 x 16
NFS
For many years, Pat was a member, and often times an officer, in several of the valley art groups. She went on painting trips, attended workshops and art shows. Now, at age 96, she has slowed down considerably but she still enjoys dabbling now and then. She still has a great sense of humor and has recently published two books, “Nailed It” and “It’s Okay to Laugh”
I enjoy watercolor. The spontaneity and lack of control make it a challenge. It’s fun.
Member: Scottsdale Artists League
Pat Isaacson | Emerging Circles
Pat Isaacson
Emerging Circles
Fused Glass
16 x 12 x 4
$650
I was a systems analyst for many years and always loved art. In 2008 I took a fused glass class and fell in love. It has become my passion, the way I escape from the world.
These pieces combine my love of glass and color with my mathematics background. You will see geometric shapes in much of my work.
I get great pleasure from initially selecting the color scheme and then deciding on the final look of each piece. Precision cutting and multiple firings are usually involved.
My hope is for you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy making it.
Member: Sonoran Arts League
Pat Isaacson | Carnival
Pat Isaacson
Carnival
Fused Glass
15 x 10 x 4
$275
I was a systems analyst for many years and always loved art. In 2008 I took a fused glass class and fell in love. It has become my passion, the way I escape from the world.
These pieces combine my love of glass and color with my mathematics background. You will see geometric shapes in much of my work.
I get great pleasure from initially selecting the color scheme and then deciding on the final look of each piece. Precision cutting and multiple firings are usually involved.
My hope is for you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy making it.
Member: Sonoran Arts League
Pat O'Brien | Traces of Yesterday
Pat O’Brien
Traces of Yesterday
Oil
12 x 12
$150
Pat O’Brien
patobrienfineartist.com
[email protected]
I received my BFA from the University of Cincinnati, DAAP program, majoring in painting and then received my MA from Miami University, Oxford, OH. I taught art in both high and college while continuing to expand my own personal art growth. I taught at McNicholas, Badin and Ross High Schools, and developed AP art programs to advance opportunities for my students. I also taught at Brescia University and Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. Since, retiring I have taught numerous workshops, teaching painting, pastel, and ceramics. I have been involved in many exhibits and am currently a membership of several different professional arts associations. Presently, I am teaching painting at Utah State University. WAOW-associate member, exhibited in the Settlers West Gallery in Tucson McBride Gallery in Maryland Phippen Museum, Prescott, AZ Clarksville Museum and Cultural Ctr. Salmagundi Club in New York Herberger Theater – Women International Exhibit Miami University-solo show Cincinnati Art Association – group and solo shows Sonoran Art League, Hidden in the Hills Show and – group shows Tubac Art Center – group show Arizona Art League – numerous group shows Ground Floor Artist – group shows I have received many awards in my career as a professional artist and have had several pieces purchased from my collection. Miller Brewery Co, Ohio Bar Assoc., Peoria Civic Center and Duke Energy are just a few of the companies that have purchased paintings for their collections.”
Recently, I have been exploring new styles and techniques in oil painting. This has been a very challenging yet rewarding experience. I have been researching the different subjects and landscapes of this region. It has given me a new perspective and motivated me in ways I haven’t experienced in years. The beauty is awe inspiring, from the rugged mountainous terrain, the breath taking sunsets and the beautiful color canyons; the southwest has much to offer. I am also experimenting with abstracts, incorporating textures and patterns, palette knives, stencils and simplifying forms. Also trying to create new challenges and possibilities!
Member: Vanguard Arts
Pat O'Brien | Crimson Eclipse
Pat O’Brien
Crimson Eclipse
Oil
$500
Pat O’Brien
patobrienfineartist.com
[email protected]
I received my BFA from the University of Cincinnati, DAAP program, majoring in painting and then received my MA from Miami University, Oxford, OH. I taught art in both high and college while continuing to expand my own personal art growth. I taught at McNicholas, Badin and Ross High Schools, and developed AP art programs to advance opportunities for my students. I also taught at Brescia University and Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. Since, retiring I have taught numerous workshops, teaching painting, pastel, and ceramics. I have been involved in many exhibits and am currently a membership of several different professional arts associations. Presently, I am teaching painting at Utah State University. WAOW-associate member, exhibited in the Settlers West Gallery in Tucson McBride Gallery in Maryland Phippen Museum, Prescott, AZ Clarksville Museum and Cultural Ctr. Salmagundi Club in New York Herberger Theater – Women International Exhibit Miami University-solo show Cincinnati Art Association – group and solo shows Sonoran Art League, Hidden in the Hills Show and – group shows Tubac Art Center – group show Arizona Art League – numerous group shows Ground Floor Artist – group shows I have received many awards in my career as a professional artist and have had several pieces purchased from my collection. Miller Brewery Co, Ohio Bar Assoc., Peoria Civic Center and Duke Energy are just a few of the companies that have purchased paintings for their collections.”
Recently, I have been exploring new styles and techniques in oil painting. This has been a very challenging yet rewarding experience. I have been researching the different subjects and landscapes of this region. It has given me a new perspective and motivated me in ways I haven’t experienced in years. The beauty is awe inspiring, from the rugged mountainous terrain, the breath taking sunsets and the beautiful color canyons; the southwest has much to offer. I am also experimenting with abstracts, incorporating textures and patterns, palette knives, stencils and simplifying forms. Also trying to create new challenges and possibilities!
Member: Vanguard Arts
Paula Cullison
Chess Players at the Szechenyi Baths
Photography
16 X 20
$250
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Paula Cullison | Chess Players at the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest Hungary
Paula Cullison
Chess Players at the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest Hungary
Photography
16 X 20
$250
Have Passport – Will Travel .. Journey through the Emerald Isle .. To Cuba with Love .. A South American Adventure .. VAMOS! are Paula’s photography exhibits which reflect her love of international travel. They have been viewed and enjoyed by over 100,000.
Guest Curator for In Celebration of Women 2020, 2022, 2023, a juried art exhibit of over 35 female artists; Creator / Organizer of A Celebration of Women in the ARTS – 2024 www.paulacullison.com
Through my photography, I hope to encourage others to step outside of their comfort zones and enjoy the wonders of travel. Call me a dreamer, but I do believe that peace is possible if/when we understand and experience other cultures.
Member: Arizona Artists Guild
Penny Bentley | Cool Drinks
RB Anderson | Saguaro Sky
RB Anderson
Saguaro Sky
Oil on Canvas
24 x 30
$1200
A 4th generation artist from New Mexico I received a BS in art, moved to San Francisco and created art for Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock and John Paul Jones. Moved to Arizona where I paint and, show work in juried shows. I have many works in private collections internationally. Currently, along with painting, I am an art instructor for the City Of Tempe, ASU Emeritus Collage, teach private class, speak, hold demonstrations and workshops.
The works I have entered have been painted recently and fit the namesake of the call for art.
Member: Tempe Artists Guild
Rebecca Wilks | Pandemic Backlighted
Rebecca Wilks
Pandemic Backlighted
Digital Art
NFS
Photography has been a striking kind of magic for Rebecca since she started working in black and white with film and a traditional darkroom in her teens. The advent of digital photography technology has only multiplied the alchemy, and the medium is now her primary means of self-expression. Her camera is a tool for interacting with new friends and a stellar excuse to be outdoors, camping in remote locations in her sprinter van. Rebecca has blogged on photography and life for 15 years and over 300 posts. Rebecca enjoys the privilege of contributing to Arizona Highways Magazine and other publications, and her work has also been included in Outdoor Photographer, Cowboys and Indians, Budget Travel, Vermont, Rotarian, Focal Points and other magazines. She lives in tiny Yarnell, Arizona with her husband and Gypsy the Wonder Dog. More of Rebecca’s work can be found at skylineimages.net
These images are part of a recent project; digital art using my own photographs as inspiration.
Member: Wickenburg Art Club
Rebecca Wilks | Glory
Rebecca Wilks
Glory
Digital Art
NFS
Photography has been a striking kind of magic for Rebecca since she started working in black and white with film and a traditional darkroom in her teens. The advent of digital photography technology has only multiplied the alchemy, and the medium is now her primary means of self-expression. Her camera is a tool for interacting with new friends and a stellar excuse to be outdoors, camping in remote locations in her sprinter van. Rebecca has blogged on photography and life for 15 years and over 300 posts. Rebecca enjoys the privilege of contributing to Arizona Highways Magazine and other publications, and her work has also been included in Outdoor Photographer, Cowboys and Indians, Budget Travel, Vermont, Rotarian, Focal Points and other magazines. She lives in tiny Yarnell, Arizona with her husband and Gypsy the Wonder Dog. More of Rebecca’s work can be found at skylineimages.net
These images are part of a recent project; digital art using my own photographs as inspiration.
Member: Wickenburg Art Club
Rebecca Wilks | Twisted Forest Toothpicks
Rebecca Wilks
Twisted Forest Toothpicks
Digital Art
NFS
Photography has been a striking kind of magic for Rebecca since she started working in black and white with film and a traditional darkroom in her teens. The advent of digital photography technology has only multiplied the alchemy, and the medium is now her primary means of self-expression. Her camera is a tool for interacting with new friends and a stellar excuse to be outdoors, camping in remote locations in her sprinter van. Rebecca has blogged on photography and life for 15 years and over 300 posts. Rebecca enjoys the privilege of contributing to Arizona Highways Magazine and other publications, and her work has also been included in Outdoor Photographer, Cowboys and Indians, Budget Travel, Vermont, Rotarian, Focal Points and other magazines. She lives in tiny Yarnell, Arizona with her husband and Gypsy the Wonder Dog. More of Rebecca’s work can be found at skylineimages.net
These images are part of a recent project; digital art using my own photographs as inspiration.
Member: Wickenburg Art Club
Rupali Holmes | The Head that Wears the Crown
Rupali Holmes
The Head that Wears the Crown
Watercolor
14 x 11
$475
Rupali Holmes is a computer engineer by education and career, but a visual artist at heart. After a few years making art with colored pencils, she tried watercolors and fell in love with the medium. She has been painting regularly and exclusively in this medium since 2017 and has taken several online and inperson workshops to learn from accomplished watercolorists. She primarily paints florals and animals in a realistic style and aspires to paint landscapes in an expressive style. Rupali is a juried member of the Arizona Watercolor Association (AWA) and Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona (CWA). Her paintings have been juried in exhibitions organized by the AWA, CWA, Arizona Art Alliance, Arizona Artists Guild, Shemer Art Center, Herberger Theater Center, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the West Valley Arts Center. She has also painted numerous pet portrait commissions.
Website: rupaliholmes.com
Instagram: @rupaliholmes.art
My current art practice centers on painting using transparent watercolors with a focus on light, shadow, and the creation of spatial depth on two-dimensional surfaces. I primarily paint florals and wildlife because I am drawn to their visual complexity and subtle variations in color and form. While my work is grounded in realistic rendering I am increasingly interested in exploring varied subjects and more expressive approaches.
Member: Arizona Watercolor Association
Sally Clark | Could I Have This Dance
Sally Clark
Could I Have This Dance
Pastels
11 x 14
$550
After a childhood of frustration with drwing that never seemed to match what I saw, my jouney as a pastel artist began unexpectedly in my early 30’s. It wasn’t until a friend persuaded me to take a $6 drawing class that everything changed. What started with simple shapes and shading evolved quickly into a newfound passion when I discovered I could create recognizable portraits. With growing confidence in my abilities, I explored portraiture and animal studies, falling in love with the vibrant depth and texture of pastels. Today, I create art that reflects not just technical skill, but the joy of discovering a hidden talent and power of seeing the world-people, animals, insects… and all in vivid color.
I have chosen three of my favorite creations that depict my favorite subjects. Animals of any kind can capture my heart and artist’s eye. These examples of my work seem to be the ones that stir the most emotion for many of the people who see them. I also want to exhibit my skills with pastels and colored pencils, two of my favorite mediums.
Member: Wickenburg Art Club
Sandra Neumann Wilderman
Step Family
Acrylic on canvas
25 H x 25 W x 2 D
$1,250
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Sandra Neumann Wilderman | Step Family
Sandra Neumann Wilderman
Step Family
Acrylic on canvas
25 H x 25 W x 2 D
$1,250
Sandra Neumann Wilderman has been painting with watercolor, acrylic and oil mixed media collage for more than 30 years. Wilderman grew up in the Midwest, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL and moved to AZ in 2003. She is an award-winning artist and her solo exhibitions include Triangle Gallery at the Old Town Arts Center in Chicago, IL, the Arizona State University’s Gammage Auditorium in Tempe, AZ and The Herberger Theater Art Gallery in Phoenix, AZ. Wilderman is a signature member of the Arizona Watercolor Association and her Corporate Collectors include Intel Corporation, in Chandler, AZ.
I have included birds and butterflies in my work for the past 10 years because I am fascinated by their behavior, inspired by their beauty and determined to capture their essence. The insects in the painting, We Are More Alike Than We Are Different, symbolize humankind. The message is a response to ongoing social issues. The two different birds in the painting, Step Family, are symbolic of the Artist’s family.
Member: Arizona Watercolor Association
Sharon Hernly | A Grasshopper's Watch at Sunset
Sharon Hernly
A Grasshopper’s Watch at Sunset
oil
16 x 12
$770.
Sharon Hernly is a traditional oil painter whose early years in rural New Mexico continue to shape her artistic vision. Working in a realistic style, she creates narrative paintings inspired by the landscapes, culture, and history of the American Southwest.
I am committed to creating historically grounded, story-driven oil paintings that honor the land, heritage, and resilient spirit of the American West — preserving its legacy while revealing how its history continues to live on in the character, customs, and enduring traditions of the Southwest today.
Member: Wickenburg Art Club
Sharon Hernly | Miner's Cabin - Robson Mine, AZ
Sharon Hernly
Miner’s Cabin – Robson Mine, AZ
oil
20 x 16
$1,280.
Sharon Hernly is a traditional oil painter whose early years in rural New Mexico continue to shape her artistic vision. Working in a realistic style, she creates narrative paintings inspired by the landscapes, culture, and history of the American Southwest.
I am committed to creating historically grounded, story-driven oil paintings that honor the land, heritage, and resilient spirit of the American West — preserving its legacy while revealing how its history continues to live on in the character, customs, and enduring traditions of the Southwest today.
Member: Wickenburg Art Club
Susan Millan | Roadrunner Rising
Susan Millan
Roadrunner Rising
Watercolor
24 x 18
$200
Millan began formal art training at the age of nine, studying chalk pastels, watercolor, and oil painting. Over the years, she has developed a visual language that emphasizes movement, atmosphere, and connection to place. Her work is influenced by both the vivid landscapes of Arizona and the emotional storytelling found within folk art and contemporary Southwestern art traditions.
Susan Millan is a Phoenix-area artist whose vibrant watercolor and acrylic paintings explore the emotional beauty of the Southwestern landscape through expressive color, flowing linework, and symbolic imagery. Originally rooted in realism, her artistic style has evolved into a distinctive contemporary approach that blends abstraction with recognizable natural forms, often featuring desert flora, radiant skies, celestial elements, and horses inspired by the spirit of the American Southwest.
Member: Scottsdale Artists League and WHAM
Tanya Lemma | Peace
Tanya Lemma
Peace
Watercolor
11×14
$495
Tanya is a Signature Member of the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Arizona Watercolor Association and Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona. She is a member of the Vanguard Artists and the Sun City West Art Club. Tanya has studied watercolor painting for the last 28 years and has taken classes from many internationally recognized artist and teachers including Ron Ranson, Stan Miller, Ron Stocke, Alvaro Castagnet, Tom Lynch, and Ted Nuttall. An elementary teacher by trade, she’s offered adult watercolor classes for more than 26 years.
Many of Tanya’s paintings are influenced from living and traveling overseas for many years. Tanya takes pleasure in painting sunsets and memories of the lush European countryside or the tropical forests and beaches of Thailand. In addition to dramatic skies and landscapes, Tanya is painting watercolor portraits and experimenting in acrylic and mixed media. She loves being challenged by new techniques and strives to learn more to share with her students, art groups, and friends.
Member: Arizona Watercolor Association and Vanguard Arts
Tanya Lemma | The Sidewalk Cafe
Tanya Lemma
The Sidewalk Cafe
Watercolor
30 x 22
$1,200
Tanya is a Signature Member of the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Arizona Watercolor Association and Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona. She is a member of the Vanguard Artists and the Sun City West Art Club. Tanya has studied watercolor painting for the last 28 years and has taken classes from many internationally recognized artist and teachers including Ron Ranson, Stan Miller, Ron Stocke, Alvaro Castagnet, Tom Lynch, and Ted Nuttall. An elementary teacher by trade, she’s offered adult watercolor classes for more than 26 years.
Many of Tanya’s paintings are influenced from living and traveling overseas for many years. Tanya takes pleasure in painting sunsets and memories of the lush European countryside or the tropical forests and beaches of Thailand. In addition to dramatic skies and landscapes, Tanya is painting watercolor portraits and experimenting in acrylic and mixed media. She loves being challenged by new techniques and strives to learn more to share with her students, art groups, and friends.
Member: Arizona Watercolor Association and Vanguard Arts
Thomas Watkins | Heat Abstract
Thomas Watkins
Heat Abstract
Photography
36 x 48
$3,750.
Rooted in conceptual defiance, his abstract work is entirely indifferent to interior design or color swatches. Rejecting the notion of art as a domestic accessory, Watkins creates autonomous, visceral images. His work does not exist to complement a space, it is built to create psychological friction and actively challenge the room’s inhabitants.
My viewfinder acts as a hard stop to stack texture, light, and form. Influenced by de Kooning, Kandinsky, and Siskind, my abstract photography abandons the physical world to explore the raw tensions between idea and observation. These compositions are engineered to feel alive and dangerous. They exist solely to rip away visual safety nets, disrupt the predictable patterns of a space, and actively challenge the room’s inhabitants.
Member: Sonoran Arts League
Tim Morrison | Hawksbill
Tim Morrison
Hawksbill
Colored pencils
28 x 24
$750
Tim Morrison was born in Omaha, Nebraska in May of 1953. In 1959 the family moved to Phoenix and he graduated from Alhambra High School in 1971. It was here, the artistic seed was planted. A variety of Art classes were taken each of his four years. Following High School, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he spent two years majoring in Business. In 1975 he graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Business/Real Estate. He spent his entire professional career as a commercial real estate appraiser beginning in 1974. Following employment at numerous appraisal businesses, he started Strategic Valuation Group, with local experts in 2007. It is here he retired in 2020. He is currently a member of the Phoenix Artists Guild and has entered, won awards, and sold numerous pieces of art at local art shows including WHAM, Holland Exhibit, Glendale Art Show, Madison Art Show, Arizona State Fair, GPEC Art Show, and the Resistance Show at First Studio Gallery.
It wasn’t until retirement (and a son Brett expressing his own artistic ability) that he was motivated to start drawing again. Art has become a meditative and calming presence in their lives, and it is with these intentions that this art has been created.
Member: Phoenix Artist Guild
Tim Morrison
Lazy Day or Looking the Otter Way
Colored pencils
22 x 27
$350
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Tim Morrison | Lazy Day or Looking the Otter Way
Tim Morrison
Lazy Day or Looking the Otter Way
Colored pencils
22 x 27
$350
Tim Morrison was born in Omaha, Nebraska in May of 1953. In 1959 the family moved to Phoenix and he graduated from Alhambra High School in 1971. It was here, the artistic seed was planted. A variety of Art classes were taken each of his four years. Following High School, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he spent two years majoring in Business. In 1975 he graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Business/Real Estate. He spent his entire professional career as a commercial real estate appraiser beginning in 1974. Following employment at numerous appraisal businesses, he started Strategic Valuation Group, with local experts in 2007. It is here he retired in 2020. He is currently a member of the Phoenix Artists Guild and has entered, won awards, and sold numerous pieces of art at local art shows including WHAM, Holland Exhibit, Glendale Art Show, Madison Art Show, Arizona State Fair, GPEC Art Show, and the Resistance Show at First Studio Gallery.
It wasn’t until retirement (and a son Brett expressing his own artistic ability) that he was motivated to start drawing again. Art has become a meditative and calming presence in their lives, and it is with these intentions that this art has been created.
Member: Phoenix Artist Guild
Mari Abbott | A Sky in Bloom Over Stone
Mari Abbott
A Sky in Bloom Over Stone
Acrylic
12.5×36 inch
$800.
Raised in Japan and later settling in Arizona, I am a painter whose work is rooted in a lifelong connection to nature. The contrast between the landscapes of my upbringing and the Sonoran Desert continues to shape my artistic perspective. Through decades of travel and more than forty years of painting, I have developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. Working primarily in acrylic, I create landscapes that celebrate the desert and invite viewers to pause and reconnect with their surroundings.
Working primarily in acrylic on live-edge walnut, I create paintings that celebrate the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Inspired by Arizona’s mountains, native vegetation, and wildlife, my work is rooted in observation and respect for the natural world. The organic edges and grain of the wood become part of each composition, making every piece unique. Through landscapes and contemporary cactus-inspired works, I invite viewers to pause, reconnect with nature, and experience the desert’s warmth.
Member: Sonoran Art League
Mari Abbott | Desert Sentinel at Sundown
Mari Abbott
Desert Sentinel at Sundown
Acrylic on Wood
12 x 36
$480.
Raised in Japan and later settling in Arizona, I am a painter whose work is rooted in a lifelong connection to nature. The contrast between the landscapes of my upbringing and the Sonoran Desert continues to shape my artistic perspective. Through decades of travel and more than forty years of painting, I have developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. Working primarily in acrylic, I create landscapes that celebrate the desert and invite viewers to pause and reconnect with their surroundings.
Working primarily in acrylic on live-edge walnut, I create paintings that celebrate the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Inspired by Arizona’s mountains, native vegetation, and wildlife, my work is rooted in observation and respect for the natural world. The organic edges and grain of the wood become part of each composition, making every piece unique. Through landscapes and contemporary cactus-inspired works, I invite viewers to pause, reconnect with nature, and experience the desert’s warmth.
Member: Sonoran Art League
Mari Abbott | Camelback Escape
Mari Abbott
Camelback Escape
Acrylic on Wood
10 x 10
$250.
Raised in Japan and later settling in Arizona, I am a painter whose work is rooted in a lifelong connection to nature. The contrast between the landscapes of my upbringing and the Sonoran Desert continues to shape my artistic perspective. Through decades of travel and more than forty years of painting, I have developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. Working primarily in acrylic, I create landscapes that celebrate the desert and invite viewers to pause and reconnect with their surroundings.
Working primarily in acrylic on live-edge walnut, I create paintings that celebrate the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Inspired by Arizona’s mountains, native vegetation, and wildlife, my work is rooted in observation and respect for the natural world. The organic edges and grain of the wood become part of each composition, making every piece unique. Through landscapes and contemporary cactus-inspired works, I invite viewers to pause, reconnect with nature, and experience the desert’s warmth.
Member: Sonoran Art League
Hank Keneally | Taped Triangles
Hank Keneally
Taped Triangles
Acrylic Digital Collage
20 x 18
$600
Hank Keneally has spent a lifetime immersed in the arts. From learning piano with his grandmother, a piano teacher, to discovering classical music through his brother, music became an early foundation for a deeply creative life. Over the years, his artistic path has included photography, painting, and digital media, alongside a 42-year career in counseling and social work — a practice he views as another form of artistic process grounded in compassion and observation.
Keneally creates daily, beginning with attentive and empathetic observation of the world around him. Rarely without a camera in hand, he works at the intersection of painting, photography, and digital technology, embracing the unexpected discoveries that emerge when mediums converge. For him, the most meaningful moments occur where disciplines merge and creative reciprocity develops between artist and material.
His work reflects an ongoing dialogue between intuition, technology, and lived experience — always open to surprise within the act of creation.
hankkeneallyfinearts.com
Member: Sonoran Art League and Arizona Artists Guild




































































