Calendar / Demos

January 24, 2026, Installation/Awards Luncheon:  The back “Trophy Room” at Harry’s Hofbrau has been reserved for 11:30am.  When you arrive, nail down a seat, then go order and pick up your lunch.  The annual Popular Vote winners are listed in the chart below to ensure your presence (this used to be a secret).  Members may bring spouses or guests as this is our only annual social get-together.  We hope to have a good turnout for this event as we must pay a fee to reserve this room.  After installing our 2026 Officers, we will also present our Popular Vote and Sable Brush Awards.  Congratulations to all of you and thanks for submitting entries month after month.  Our monthly demonstrators always enjoy viewing our members’ work.

February 25, 2026, Bryan Beck (photography), in-person at the VMSC Sunset Room, 7:00pm: SAG photography member Bryan Beck will present a program on his nature photography and panoramics telling the stories behind them, how he came across the opportunity to take the picture, or how he created the opportunity to make the picture.  He has been nearly a life-long photographer, having his first camera when he was about seven years old.  He has been able to combine photography with many of his activities and interests over the years to gain experience with a variety of subjects, including travel photography, architecture and historical sites, bicycling, and auto racing.  He has a degree in architecture, although he went into a career in computer programming. In recent years he began getting more involved in environmental and conservation issues, to help protect the places he enjoys photographing and bicycling.  He served on the Board of Directors of Green Foothills, a local conservation advocacy group, until he termed out in 2021.  Now retired from his “day job,” he has recently been working on several personal photographic projects of natural subjects, such as birds and wildlife, poppies, and redwood trees.

March 25, 2026, Linda Manes Goodwin (oil female portraits), in-person at the VMSC Sunset Room, 7:00pm: Former classical pianist turned artist will present her distinctive oil painting technique which celebrates the grace and confidence of the feminine spirit. Her paintings feature women adorned in lustrous dresses, an excuse to create colorful, elaborate patterns influenced by her time in Italy. Linda’s work is imbued with the grander and richness of renaissance art.  Her musical background is evident in the harmonious interplay of color, texture, and pattern. Her paintings are characterized by Luminous Color palettes, Intricate Detail, Playful Architecture and Devine Light.  She has a studio at ART BIAS in San Carlos and her website.

April 22, 2026, John Spotorno (watercolor waterfall), in-person at the VMSC Sunset Room, 7:00pm: John will be demonstrating painting waterfalls.  He believes watercolor is a wonderful way to capture the power and beauty of nature on paper.  “Water simply mixed with pigment applied with the brush becomes the medium to transform a whole surface into a compelling composition quickly compared to other media.”  John is a fourth generation Californian residing in Redwood City for the past 40 years. He discovered his passion for drawing and watercolor painting while attending Cal Poly School of Architecture.  A recipient of a national design award allowed John nine months of travel honing his skills in sketching and painting.  He is a licensed architect practicing commercial architecture in Palo Alto.  John joined the Pacific Art League in 2021 and often has his paintings on display there and at University Art in Redwood City.  He routinely leads a summer watercolor camp for youth and teens and “Introduction to Watercolor” courses throughout the rest of the year for adults. He is also scheduled to lead “Watercolor Outdoors” at the SFSU High Sierra Field Campus this coming August.

May 27, 2026, Edna Acri (a distinct approach to displaying watercolors), in-person at the VMSC Sunset Room, 7:00pm: Edna loves painting. She enjoys starting with a fresh piece of watercolor paper or canvas and bringing a painting to life from start to finish.  Her inspiration comes from photographs she has taken and different places experienced.  She also loves seeing how each piece comes together and the story it tells. Each new painting is a chance for her to learn something new to challenge herself creatively and to learn more about her craft.   She finds joy in the creative process and in sharing it with others.  It is one of the most rewarding parts of the process.  Painting is a never-ending adventure, and Edna is grateful for every movement of it.  

June 24, 2026, Lisa Hughes (oil animal portraits), in-person at the (TBA) Sunset Room, 7:00pm:  Lisa Hughes and L Hughes Dog Studio are based in Redwood Shores, CA. After a career in finance, Lisa returned to her love of art and dog training in 2010.  Inspired by all of the beauty in nature and its amazing creatures, Lisa’s oil paintings often include rich colors, impressionist backgrounds contrasted with sharply-focused subjects, and a touch of whimsy.  Her artwork focuses on commissioned pet portraits, animals and San Francisco Bay and California landscapes.  She donates all of the profits from her artwork to charities that support causes that advocate for animals and the human-animal bond. She will be giving us an animal portrait demonstration in oils.  Visit her website for more information.

August 26, 2026, Kim Holl (mono prints), in-person at the (TBA) Sunset Room, 7:00pm: Kim’s work revolves around creating unique monoprints using acrylic paint and a Gelli plate, emphasizing spontaneity and the interplay of color, shape, texture, and value.  Guided by creativity and imagination, her process embraces imperfection and allows for instinctive responses.  Layers, mark-making, and the organic interaction of paint and pressure bring each piece to life, blending control with surrender and intention with chance.  The result is unique artwork that celebrates movement, freedom, and the beauty of impermanence, inviting viewers to connect with the immediacy of the creative process.