The enchantment of New Mexico is deep for Sally Delap-John. After many years of seeking new horizons, the mountain villages of northern New Mexico have become home. The plein air experience always presents a battle. It starts off nice enough, but then...The sun is beating down on you, so an umbrella is necessary. This requires ingenuity to rig as the wind inevitably kicks up. Wind will flop your canvas on its face, while tying you in knots with the umbrella, and dog leash, in my case. Insects, need I say more?
At the early age of five, Sally literally "pedaled" (on tricycle) her small pencil sketches to the neighborhood in rural Minkler, California. Her affinity for art smoldered through early years and began to blossom during a year's study in Florence, Italy. Completing a B.A. and M.A. at Fresno State University, she took a teaching position in Australia. The fields of study during college of geography and art found ground for the next few years. Several years after returning to the U.S. she found the combination of teaching at the local community college and teaching students on independent study allowed time to take a few more classes in watercolor and later oils. The wealth of instructors in California's Central Valley was very deep: Sam Rae, James Soares, Gay McCline, Millie Pepper, and Paul Buxman.
As a fledgling artist Sally joined and served on the boards of many local art associations: Society of Western Artists, Alliance of California Artists, Kingsburg Art Council, Kings River Arts Council, Sanger Art Guild. She served as the gallery coordinator in Kingsburg and also for The Art Stand, a co-op near Minkler, that she co-founded. She is a member of the Door Art Gallery in Fresno; and the gallery artist for Cedar View Winery. Sally has earned many awards and has been asked to judge her
peers. Special honors include: acceptance in California Watercolor Association National show; a 40-piece one- woman show at Fresno City Hall; participating in two select shows honoring Fresno history; being published in The Vernacular Architecture of Fresno County; and being acknowledged as a contributor for the Scenic Highway Proposal for Highway 180 in eastern Fresno County. In 2009 pieces were accepted with Taos Gallery, International Show, Taos, NM. She has produced two small booklets of art featuring the surrounding beauty in Fresno County: “Recipes Along the Blossom Trail” - a collection of sketches plus recipes; “Savoring Minkler” - full-color of Sally's paintings and a light history. “Truchas Tales” is soon to be released, stories and paintings of life on the High Road to Taos.
|
