Current Newsletter - September, 2025
President’s Message
Hello everybody,
I hope all is well.
As we return from our annual MLAA summer break in July and August each year, it's a great time to look forward to the fall and holiday season.
The MLAA Directors, Board, and Committees will meet to plan for the rest of the year. Our next Board and General Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Library Conference Room, starting at 11:00 a.m. All members are welcome to attend our board meetings. This month’s “Special” art demonstration will feature Michael Severin.
Art Change Out at the Library:
The hanging and change-out of our members’ art on the library walls will also happen at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, September 15. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your artwork (at no cost) for 90 days to fellow artists and the community. We are very thankful to Tuolumne County for allowing the MLAA to use the library walls for displaying our artwork. Contact Bill David, Venue Chair, at wgdavid@aol.com for more details and to reserve your wall space.
It is very important that we continue to support the Library Venue!!
Plein Air
The trees seem to be changing color early this year, and there is talk of a possible La Niña weather pattern. This is an ideal time to prepare for outdoor painting in the coming months. Our MLAA has a group of about 30 artists who meet at a designated location in the foothills each week, along with surrounding areas, to create plein air paintings on site. Kellie Hales is covering for Claire Chateauneuf and continues to plan the outings. Sign up for Plein Air is available on our website.
Sonora Photo Club
The Sonora Photo Club, led by Bill Heiser, will hold its next meeting on September 14, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The meetings take place at the Tuolumne County Library Conference Room, located at 480 Greenley Road in Sonora. Everyone is welcome. The club’s last field trip was held at Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple in Stockton, and the next field trip to the Eastern Sierra is scheduled for Saturday thru Monday, October 11-14, 2025. For more info, contact Bill Heiser at bill@billheiserphoto.com.
Some MLAA Things to Look Forward To
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At our next meeting on Monday, September 15, two five-foot tables will be set up in the conference room so that our members can display, exchange, and share their current artwork with fellow artists. This will be the standard setup at each meeting moving forward.
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The MLAA now has its own QR code, which will be used in our MLAA publications and take readers directly to our MLAA website, mlaa.org. A special thanks to Bill Heiser for setting this up for us.
Artist Demonstration
Our next artist demonstration is on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Tuolumne Library. Our special guest artist this month is our good friend and outstanding Plein Air artist, Michael Severin.
Mike plans to paint on a large format so everyone can see what is happening. He will paint either an autumn or a sunset scene. Mike says, “I will discuss composition, value, and color, and will demonstrate the process I use for starting a painting and working through to the end. I will have the original painting I chose for the demonstration so members can relate to what I am doing on the painting.”
Some of Mike's recent works:
In closing, our MLAA is financially stable, and we are beginning to plan for next year. Our programs remain active, committees are at work, and we continue to seek new members for the Mother Lode Art Association, founded in 1952. If you know anyone who is an artist or would like to become one, please invite them to our next meeting at the Library on Monday, September 19. There, they can learn how to paint and discover techniques from Michael Severin, a true master of Plein Air painting.
All the best,
Bob
Robert Feigen, President
Mother Lode Art Association
MLAA Board: Officers and Directors:
President Bob Feigen
Vice President Kelly Telfer
Secretary Sheri Fleming
Treasurer Keith Kelly
Directors-at-Large Pattie Henderson, Rana Ford, Bill Heiser, Maureen Nolan,
Suzanne Dudeck, Lydia Osias
Committee Chairs:
71st Annual Mother Lode Art Show: Open
Fundraising/Membership Open (Lydia Osias, Keith Kelly, Bob Feigen)
Hospitality Patti Henderson (Sheri Fleming)
Plein Air Claire Chateauneuf
Newsletter Bob Feigen/Sheri Fleming
Programs Marilyn Zinner, Jamie Showers
Social Media Rana Ford
Sonora Photo Club Bill Heiser (Catherine Stanton – V.P., Jan Alcalde - Secretary, Marie Hetherington -Treasurer, Maureen Nolan - Art Show Coordinator), Questions can be sent to hello@sonoraphotoclub.org or Bill@billheiserphoto.com.
Student Scholarships Kelli O’Brien (Maureen Nolan/Christine Halley/Rana Ford)
Venues Bill David
Website Bill Heiser (Keith Kelly)
Local Art Businesses and Shows:
Aloft Gallery 105 S. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370 (209) 288-2844 Aloftgallery.com
Kinart Gallery Unique Ceramic Art, Kinahalley@gmail.com, Christine Halley, 209-206-3593
Sally Anne Fischer Studio 19 Bradford Street, Sonora, Studio C – upstairs. (209) 988-3710. sallyanne@sallyannefischer.com
Upcoming workshop: 10/24/2025 - 10/26/2025: Ray Roberts, The Coast, Carmel, California
More info at https://www.sallyannefischer.com
Telfer Design (408) 813-7553, Kelly@telferdesign.com, www.kellytelfer.com
Susie Hoffman Fine Arts Copperopolis. Local art, cards, classes, and framing. Ateliersusie63@gmail.com
Sonora Art Studio: 14675 Mono Way, Sonora, CA. 95370 Sonoraarts19@gmail.com Lydia Osias – Owner 510-910-4718 losias@comcast.net
Art studios are for rent at Sonora Arts. Individual studios with interlocking doors range from 100 square feet ($250/mo.) to 170 square feet ($450/month). Artists can share a studio. Access is available from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, seven days a week. Two studios have windows and natural light. All utilities are included in the rent. No oils, metals, or resins. Contact Lydia for further information.
The Sonora Art Studio offers continuous instruction in clay, mixed-media paper, edible art, and watercolor classes for adults, teens, and children.
Lydia Osias (510) 910-4718 losias@comcast.net Adult/Teen/Kid Clay
Barbara McNair (510) 333-2266 needleboo@att.net. Card Making and Paper Making.
Linda Moreno (510) 334-1671 atimeforart2024@yahoo.com Cookie Decorating, Edible Gum Flowers, 3D Floral Cards, Iris Paper Folding Cards
Kelli O’Brien (209) 770-5979, sierrabrushstrokes@gmail.com Painting, Sierra Brushstrokes, Watercolor, Sip and Paint, and Watercolor Tea
Download this newsletter as a PDF
Past Newsletters
August 2025
Hello everybody,
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer activities and vacations. The warm weather also encourages many to paint and pursue other forms of art indoors.
Second Saturday
Last month, under the stewardship of Suzanne Dudeck and Lydia Osias, the MLAA hosted its fourth monthly Second Saturday Art Show at the Sonora Inn. The event was well-attended, with standing room only, and everyone had a good time. The Sonora Inn has asked us to host more events and has approved the use of the Inn for their next Second Saturday Art Show. We have another meeting with the Sonora Inn Administration this month to discuss contractual matters and explore the venue's potential as a new venue site... [Download to read more]
July 2025
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer activities and vacations. The warm weather also encourages many to paint and pursue other forms of art indoors.
Last month, under the stewardship of Suzanne Dudeck and Lydia Osias, the MLAA hosted its fourth monthly Second Saturday Art Show at the Sonora Inn. The event was well-attended, with standing room only, and everyone had a good time. The Sonora Inn has asked us to host more events and has approved the use of the Inn for their next Second Saturday Art Show. We have another meeting with the Sonora Inn Administration this month to discuss contractual matters and explore the venue's potential as a new venue site... [Download to read more]
June 2025
The MLAA is coming off a very successful 70th Annual Mother Lode Art Show held at the Opera Hall, which featured 87 artists and 237 pieces of fine art. Christine Halley, along with her team of dedicated volunteers, did an excellent job managing and coordinating the event. The show was critiqued at our last MLAA Board meeting on May 21, 2025, and recommendations are being forwarded to the chairperson of our 71st Annual Mother Lode Art Show (yet to be determined)..... [Download to read more]
May 2025
May is here, bringing the warmth of spring and the arrival of new life. Birds and animals of all types are emerging from winter, offering an excellent opportunity for artists to capture them on canvas and take in breathtaking landscapes.... [Download to read more]
April 2025
It’s Show Time!!! The 2025 Mother Lode Art Association Art Show at the Sonora Opera Hall opens on April 11, 2025!
I am proud to announce that, as of this writing, 87 artist entrants and 246 pieces of original fine art have been submitted for the 2025 MLAA Art Show. The level of participation and enthusiasm of our local artist community, both MLAA members and non-members, is outstanding and truly reflects the health and vitality of our community... [Download to read more]
March 2025
March is a time for the final planning and preparation for the 70th Annual Mother Lode Art Association Art Show. On February 26, 2025, the MLAA Art Show Committee and Board members held a formal meeting at the Visitors Bureau Conference Room to address and deal with all aspects of the Show. Christine Halley, Show Chairperson, stated the MLAA is ready and in good shape, and previous issues, such as food and drink, have been resolved. Art show entries are coming in, and it promises to be another well-attended show... [Download to read more]
February 2025
February 2025 is an exciting month for the MLAA as planning and preparing events for the calendar year are taking place by your MLAA Board of Directors. From April 10 to April 24, 2025, the Mother Lode Art Association will host its 70th Annual Mother Lode Art Show at the Sonora Opera Hall. Original fine artwork will be professionally judged, awards will be given, and the pieces will remain on display in the Opera Hall for the entire two weeks for viewing and sale... [Download to read more]
December, 2024
December brings in lower temperatures, the holidays, and good family times. Our next
scheduled monthly Board and General meeting and Artist demonstration will be on Monday,
January 20, 2025. Our Guest Artist will be our good friend Judy Cain, who will critique
everyone’s artwork brought to the meeting. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about
your and others’ artwork techniques and composition... [Download to read more]
November, 2024
Fall is definitely in the air as we experience the change of colors and seasons and
lowering of temperatures. This can be a special time for Plein Air artists and
photographers and a chance to get out with friends and fellow artists to capture
the changes on canvas and on film.
For our MLAA it is also a time to start planning for the 70th Annual Mother Lode
Art Show to be held during the week of April 6 - April 13th, 2025... [Download to read more]
October, 2024
I am pleased to report that all of our MLAA Board and Committee positions are filled, working, and communicating with each other. I don’t ever recall that being the case for the MLAA. All of our existing programs are in place and in motion. New ones will be discussed at our next meeting such as an annual membership drive and approaching different potential membership groups.
The MLAA Application for 501 (c)(3) status has been formally submitted by our Treasurer, Keith Kelly. We are hopeful for a response by the IRS by the end of the year... [Download to read more]
September, 2024
As kids return to school, MLAA continues to contribute to the Arts in Education for our
communities through MLAA Scholarship grants to our schools and involvement in their
education programs. We believe that attracting young families and involving students at
an early age helps our membership grow, and we are always open to ideas on how to
accomplish this process... [Download to read more]