Original Conejo Valley Area Landscape Paintings by Karen Winters

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Karen Winters gave us permission to display these original oil paintings here on Conejo Valley Guide. She is a published author, award-winning designer, Emmy award-winning producer and now first and foremost a talented artist based in La Canada (near Pasadena/Glendale).  Visit her website at www.KarenWinters.com and visit her blog at www.karensblog.com  Beautiful work, Karen! Thanks for sharing!

Boney Mountain as Viewed Near Circle X Ranch

"Sunset Spendor" Satwiwa Village Area of Sycamore Canyon

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The Coolest Foam Coffee Cups You've Ever Seen!

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Boey is a Foam Cup Artist based in Orange County. Yes, he draws pictures on disposable coffee cups! Boey does he!  I'd never seen anything like this as my boys and I enjoyed checking out his online gallery of cups today.  With Boey's permission, I've posted some of our favorites below.

It takes Boey anywhere from hours to weeks to months to create these unique pieces of art. And he sells many of these cups, nicely mounted on cork in a nice case for anywhere between $120 to $220.  Boey does not sketch the cups out, thus leaving little room for error.  If you are looking for a truly unique gift for someone...maybe the coffee drinker in your life...look no further!

The beauty of a work of foam cup art is that you can drop the cup and it won't break! Though actually drinking coffee in them would probably not be a smart move!  Learn more about Boey and his cool work at www.iamboey.com.

"Harder Faster" Added 8/31/09

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Camarillo Artist Chuck Trunks Selected as One of 12 Essential Artists by 1800® Tequila

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Chuck Trunks, whose work has been prominently featured throughout Conejo Valley Guide, has outdone himself again as one of only 12 artists selected for special limited edition 1800® Tequila bottles.  One of Chucks' originals, "You Got a Problem?" will be featured, in color, on a limited quantity of bottles of 100% Agave Silver Tequila! 

Congratulations Chuck!  Visit Chuck's website at www.trunksart.com and the 1800® Essential Artists website at www.1800tequila.com/essential.

Lifelong Conejo Valley Resident Helps Animals Through Her Art

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It was through Twitter that I recently came into contact with Stella Violano, a lifelong resident of Newbury Park.  Stella is a professional artist who has a distinct passion for painting animals.  In fact, she has dedicated thousands of hour of time to an organization she founded called Art Helping Animals (www.arthelpinganimals.com). AHA raises funds for non-profits that help animals in need.

Take a look at this amazing montage of some of the over 200 paintings of homeless animals that Violano painted between 2000 and 2006. All of the animals shown found loving homes.

And I love this touching video of Brigette, a homeless senior dachshund who found a home through Old Dog Haven, a charity supported by AHA. Violano's work transforming the aging pooch into Queen Elizabeth is magical. 

Given the Conejo Valley is named after a rabbit, I asked her if she had any bunny art to share with us.  Oh she certainly does!  I selected 3 of the 6 pieces she sent my way. If you like these, let me know and maybe I'll post more at a later date!

For more of Violano's work, visit http://smvstudio.com and http://paintingaday.blogspot.com.

Sheep to Chic: North Ranch Sheep Herding Pictures From January 1983

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Photographer Scott Harrison took these wonderful pictures of Mario Palomino of Peru and 800 sheep he was tending in the hills of North Ranch before it was fully built out in January 1983. Palomino lived in a trailer along with his two sheep dogs. I don't see too many sheep around North Ranch these days! For more pictures and commentary from Scott, visit his website at www.harrysonpics.com.  Thank you for bringing us baa-ck in time, Scott!