Northern California watercolorist, Cara Brown, is the poster artist for the 24th La Jolla Festival of the Arts, June 26-27, 2010

Inspired by striking light, intense color and the astonishing beauty that can be found in the natural world, Cara Brown paints florals, fruit and culinary subjects.  There is an emotional quality to her paintings – mostly of subject matter that reflects her connection to home, people and a deep appreciation of light and color.

Brown uses Arches 300 lb. paper and only lightfast pigments for her original paintings.  Giclee prints are printed on 100% cotton rag paper with pigmented inks.  She has developed a unique treatment for the edges of her reproductions.  Each giclee is hand-torn to the printed image.  Then she re-mixes the watercolor paints and extends the painting over the torn edge.  The result can then be framed floated and has an original-painting look.   

Awards: 

• California State Fair:  Art of Wine Category Award, 2008 and Publisher Award, 2009.
• Marin County Fair Fine Art Exhibit:  Awards including First Place Watermedia & Second Place Giclee Prints,  2007, 2008 & 2009
  

Juried Exhibitions:

• American Women Artists National Exhibition 2010, Marin Society of Artists 2007
• Marin Museum of Contemporary Art 2007, Marin County Fair 2006-2009.
  

Juried Art Festivals:

• Sausalito Art Festival, 2008-2009; Tiburon Art Festival, 2007-2009; Healdsburg Art Festival, 2008-2009;
• Los Altos Rotary Art Show 2009, La Jolla Festival of the Arts 2009.
  

Gallery Exhibits:

• Aurora Colors Gallery, Petaluma, CA
• Village Gallery, Mississauga, ON, Canada
• North Bay Gallery, Sonoma and Yountville, CA
• Loanna Clark Gallery, Petaluma (show March-April 2010)

“I am so excited to be the poster artist for the La Jolla Festival of the Arts this year!  2009 was my first year exhibiting in the Festival, so to be given this honor and opportunity in my second year is quite an acknowledgment.  I went to UCSD for a year and then got my bachelor’s degree from SDSU.  The La Jolla-San Diego area will always seem like another home to me, making this all the more meaningful.”

Aside from formal courses on color theory and a few workshops, Brown is self-taught.  She’s been painting in earnest just 6 years and began showing and selling her work in 2007.  She has won several awards and has shown in these juried shows and exhibits:

Contact:
Cara Brown, (415) 785-4701, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.lifeinfullcolor.net