El Valle Artists Association Artist of the Month for September is Jan Saunders, for her collage on canvas, “Autumn Nostalgia.”
Saunders is an eclectic artist who enjoys working in acrylics, calligraphy, collage and the paper arts. Currently, her favorite projects are those that incorporate techniques from multiple art forms and multiple media.
She received a bachelors degree in mathematics and masters degree in mathematics and statistics and spent 20 years in the aerospace and defense software industry in the San Francisco Bay Area. After a move to Carmel, CA., she became an active member of the Sea Scribes Calligraphy Guild where she found that she was enchanted with the exact detail and fluidity of making a calligraphic mark. This was a first step leading to a love for all sorts of art which occupy her heart, mind and talents.
For many years, she participated in the annual Letters CA Style Conference, in Pomona, CA., and in the Literally Letters workshops at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, N.M., adding to her skills in each one. She has been fortunate to attend four International Calligraphy Conferences and study with well-known artists. The COVID-19 pandemic opened up a new world of live, online art workshops on which she now thrives, in addition to the wonderful workshops available locally.
In Sedona, she is a Signature Member of the Northern Arizona Watercolor Society, past co-vice president of workshops in EVAA and is a board member of the Sedona Visual Artists Coalition. She is also a vendor in the annual Walkin’ on Main event in Cottonwood.
Her award-winning work has been juried into shows held by the Northern Arizona Watercolor Society, the Sedona Arts Center, the Manheim Gallery and the Graceful Envelope Contest, sponsored by the Washington, D.C., Calligraphers Guild and the National Association of Letter Carriers. Her work has been published in Letter Arts Review, Postal Record and Somerset Studios Magazine
The Artist of this Month’s art is exhibited at the Cottonwood Library for two months, where EVAA has an ongoing exhibit. EVAA artists can now display their art for sale in the cases at the library. Please stop by to view the artwork.
EVAA holds its monthly meeting every second Thursday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Mountain View United Methodist Church, 901 S. 12th St., in Cottonwood. Meetings are held September through May; with no meetings during the summer months.
Artists or those interested in the arts are welcome to attend. The meeting includes a selection of Artist of the Month, a preview of the upcoming workshop, followed by a 45-minute program by one of the artists after a short break, along with time to enjoy the fun people in the organization.
Visit elvalleartists.org for more information about EVAA.
