The Sedona Arts Center represents over 100 professional local and regional artists. The Fine Art Gallery on campus is a dynamic, ever-changing display of local talent in all dimensions and forms. Part of that dynamic is the bi-monthly featured artists program. Our March and April Featured Artist Exhibition will feature some of our long-time and finest artists in addition to the exhibit being a bit of a ‘Family Affair’. The McKeown family: Byron, Deanne and daughter Lesley Aine McKeown. The McKeown’s are each fine artists in their own right but together, they are incredible!

Byron began his artistic journey as a jeweler and has gone on to create a unique collection of custom handmade knives using Damask Steele blades with carved antler, bronze, wood or stone handles. Sometimes these feature turquoise or carnelian as part of the ensemble. He is also well known for his custom walking sticks, each a one-of-a-kind.

Wife, and mother, Deanne McKeown has the gift of a deep imagination as she combines her skillful treatment of form with a witty creativity in her bronze sculpture. Add to this the decades-in-the-making Cross Collection and her unique jewelry designs using sterling silver designed around beautiful stones and you have an artist with a lot of followers.

Lesley Aine McKeown is the daughter of extremely talented parents and Lesley is the first to admit “it’s genetic.” Her jewelry designs are stunning both in the materials used and the unique shapes created to showcase the lovely stones. Sterling silver and gold accent the precious and semi-precious stones of her earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pins.

We are delighted to present two well known oil painters during March and April – Gretchen Lopez and Joshua Been. Gretchen is a long-time artist and instructor with the Sedona Arts Center (and one of the most popular). Known for her figurative work, Gretchen works from life to capture the movement and expression of her model. Using colorful with spontaneous brushwork, her painting often seems to dance with her model as she captures the figure in a moment of joyful, costumed spontaneity. Gretchen will also have a selection of her delightful watercolors depicting everyday life, often in a village setting.

Artist Joshua Been is an extremely accomplished oil painter often working from life in the landscape. He has been a keynote speaker, judge and multiple award winner in the Sedona Plein Air Festival and is known for his descriptive and evocative brushwork. Value, color and brushwork work together to cause the viewer to follow the planes of form into the depth and atmosphere of whatever landscape he visits, from desert to mountains, and on to the coast, Viewers feel like they are part of the place represented in his paintings.

Please join us on Friday March 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Sedona Arts Center Fine Art Gallery. Gretchen Lopez will demonstrate her watercolor technique in the North Gallery beginning at 6:30. This exhibit will continue through the months of March and April. During First Friday on April 3, 2020 Gretchen Lopez will demonstrate figurative oil painting with a model.

We look forward to seeing you at the Sedona Arts Center Fine Art Gallery. We are open every day from 10 to 5, extended to 8 p.m. on First Fridays.