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JoAnn Naylor Arts Home

Newspaper Articles 2002-08

Argus-Courieres of the art exhibited will benefit the arts programs of the Cinnabar Theater and the Petaluma Arts Association.

Aurora Colors Fine Art Gallery is at 145 Kentucky Street in Petaluma. Call 707.762.0131 or visit auroracolors.com for details.

hoice Awards will be presented at a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 PM on the 21st. Jurors are all Petaluma residents and include painter JoAnn Naylor, digital design photographer Jerrie Jerne Morago, ByYOVANNA BIEBERICH

ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Profile: JoAnn Naylor

Petaluma artist, hair colorist and designer

April 12, 2006

Name: JoAnn Naylor

Age: "I feel about 35 but am a bit older than that."

Occupation: Artist, hair colorist and designer.

Family: Naylor has two children: Andrea Gregory of Sonoma and Kyle Manford of Petaluma. She has four grandchildren.

Background: Naylor grew up in LaGrange, Ky., a suburb of Louisville. She lived in Kentucky until 1966, and then her family

moved to Westland, Mich. She moved to Petaluma in 1972. "The population was 29,000 when we moved here and we paid

$32,000 for our house," she said. "Picture that!"

Naylor has also been in the beauty business for several decades. She owned a beauty salon on B Street for about 10 years.

"My specialty is hair coloring. "I have been working in the downtown area for 25 years. I enjoy being in the middle of everything.

I am very proud of this city for maintaining the historic downtown area and keeping the new buildings in line with the older areas."

Naylor's grandmother and great-grandmother were both painters. "I had plenty of encouragement from my grandmother and we

often painted together starting at about 7 or 8. Painting has been a part of my life since grade school. My first art award was

from an art class sponsored by my school. I remember that the painting was displayed in the window of a downtown business

on the main street. The subject was a single red rose."

What brought you to Petaluma? "In 1972 we found ourselves being transferred to California; I was ecstatic. I have been in love

with Petaluma ever since. I was happy to leave all that snow behind me. When I saw the gazebo in Walnut Park, I knew that

I wanted to live here. I have never been disappointed about my choice. I will have lived here for 34 years on May 17 this year."

What got you interested in art? "My daughter Andrea was instrumental in giving me a push toward re-entering the art field.

She gave me the gift of a watercolor workshop for Christmas in 1998 and that launched me into art again. When the family

moved to California I took a break from my painting. She wanted to see me paint again."

Type of artwork you do: "I consider myself a 'learning-on-a-daily basis' artist. I continue to participate in workshops and classes.

My mediums are watercolor and acrylic. I like water-based pigments. I paint a vast array of subject matter. People have told me

that if they saw all my paintings on one big wall they would think it was several different artists. I love to paint large flowers close

up and personal. My paintings are usually bold with lots of color."

Why is supporting the arts important? "I feel that art is as important to our souls as food is for our body. It feeds that part of us that

is searching for a way to express through beauty. I feel that it is important for cities to incorporate art into their parks and common

building areas and am happy to see that it is happening around Petaluma, thanks to an active Petaluma Arts Council group."

What do you enjoy most about your art? "When I am creating I feel very blessed. I love the way the paint feels as I put it on paper

or canvas. I like how the painting transforms as I add the colors. It is a very exhilarating experience for me to be in my studio just

with myself and know that I am creating something beautiful. I must say that my work in the beauty business goes hand in hand

with this also. I consider hair and color enhancement a blank canvas on which I can create a work of art."

Who has inspired you? "I remember my first fascination with an artist was with Vincent Van Gough. I loved his sunflowers and was

captivated by his life story. Throughout my life other artists that come to mind are Picasso, Sargent, O'Keefe and Rembrandt.

There is a wonderful artist here in Petaluma who has been my friend and mentor for these past few years, Susan Adams.

She has given me inspiration with her wonderful talent and capacity for knowing just the right things to say when I am struggling

with artists' block. Jean Logan is another Petaluma teacher, artist and friend who has had a positive influence on my creative ability."

Your advice to others? "Never think you are too old to learn and create new things for yourself."

Greatest challenge? "Beginning a single life again after 25 years of marriage."

Turning point in your life? "In 1995 I began to see more clearly what I wanted to do and how I wanted to live out the rest of my life.

And, one of those decade birthdays came up in 1997. I had a big party with all my friends to begin my life anew. This is what I fee

l launched re-entering the art field. I started art classes after that decision to begin again. At almost the same time, I met my

husband-to-be. We dated about a year and married in 1999. I had been single for 13 years, and he for 15 years. It was a shock to

everyone, including us, to begin marriage again. We will happily celebrate seven years in September. My husband, George, has

been very supportive of my art. He says he is a visual arts appreciator; he loves opera and is learning to play the violin. I have my

art studio in our home and on many nights while I am painting, he is in another room practicing scales on the violin."

Greatest accomplishment? "Being a parent to wonderful, loving children who are successful at parenting and loving their own children."

Earliest childhood memory? "I was 2 years old and my grandmother and mother took me to a photographer to have a picture taken

and they kept saying, 'look at the birdie.' I spent the day wondering where the 'birdie' was."

To learn more about Naylor's art, visit her Web site at www.jnaylorarts.com.

-- Interview by Yovanna Bieberich

1304 Southpoint Blvd.,

http://www.arguscourier.com/community/news/profilenaylor060412.html

Springtime and the 'Spirit of Color'

The Petaluma Art Association and Bank of Marin host the fourth annual exhibit and sale through May 31

March 29, 2006

By YOVANNA BIEBERICH

ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Though springtime in Petaluma is getting off to a soggy start, it won't be long before the hills are painted in bright wildflowers. But for those

who just can't wait for the gray skies to clear, the walls of Bank of Marin's Petaluma office will be alive with color for the fourth annual "Spirit of Color"

art exhibit opening today.

"Spirit of Color" features more than 200 pieces of artwork by 70 Sonoma County artists, including many Petaluma artists such as: Richard Standard,

Linda Postenrieder, Renee Shipley, Phyllis Eiger, Ruby Newman, Rosmarie Brown, David Moore, Darold Graves and Karen West. The show is a

benefit for the Petaluma Art Association's grant program for art in community schools and for the Petaluma People Services Center's work in the

community.

"It's amazing to visit the Bank of Marin while the show is hanging," said Ron Kirtley, excecutive director of Petaluma People Services Center.

"Seeing all the beautiful works of art is inspiring. Art in many different mediums is represented and I am so impressed by the quality of work that

is produced here in Petaluma and Sonoma County."

It all began in 2003 when the Petaluma Art Association received a phone call from Carol Kneis, branch manager for Bank of Marin. "Out of that call,

the 'Art on the Move' quarterly exhibit at the bank was born," commented artist and PAA member JoAnn Naylor.

Kneis later asked Naylor about putting together a fund-raising art event to benefit the PAA and PPSC -- and "Spirit of Color" was born.

"Carol Kneis and I put together the first show and that came out of a quarterly art exhibit that is sponsored by PAA," said Naylor. "I am the art coordinator

for the 'Spirit of Color.' I represent the Petaluma Art Association as one of the coordinators of the event, along with Maggie Barnes, Elece Hempel, and Carol Kneis.

I will also be showing my art and will have five or six pieces in the show."

The exhibit is hosted and underwritten by Bank of Marin, which donates $3,000 in support of the show each year. The artists participating in the "Spirit of Color"

agree to a 35 percent donation to the event from all of their art sales. All proceeds go directly into a grant fund for local schools. Last year, "Spirit of Color" increased

its net profit by 600 percent, and the hope is to double 2005's income for this year's event.

Artwork will be on display through May 31 during normal bank hours. An artists' champagne reception is also planned from 6 to 8 p.m. today. The reception features

food and drink provided by Tolay restaurant, Lagunitas Brewery, Jerome's and PS To Go Catering.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artist, purchase art, and support the community through PPSC and Petaluma Arts Association," added Kirtley.

In conjunction with the exhibit, a poster contest is held each year for PAA and Petaluma Arts Council members. From the entries, a painting is chosen to represent the

"Spirit of Color."This year's winner was Else Gonella, whose painting "Tolay" is on display at Copperfield's Books along with the contest's runners-up. Posters of the painting

are available for purchase at Bank of Marin along with tickets to the artists' reception.

(Contact Yovanna Bieb-erich at ybieberich@arguscourier.com)

SPIRIT OF COLOR

What: An annual exhibit and sale of artwork by 70 Sonoma County artists. The event benefits art programs in local schools and the Petaluma People Services Center.

When: Begins today and continues through May 31. Artwork may be viewed for free during regular bank hours.

Where: Bank of Marin, 799 Baywood Drive.

Artists' reception: April 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is $25.

Information and reception tickets: 765-8488.

1304 Southpoint Blvd., P.O. Box 1091, Petaluma, CA 94953

707-762-4541

http://www.arguscourier.com/entertainment/stories/spiritofcolor060329.html

Open Studios 2002

Ready for Open Studios!!

JoAnn at her Rhode Lane art studio located off Bodega Highway, near Petaluma.