For Women – Saturday Retreat Focuses on Comfort and Well-being (June 9th)

Comfortable in Your Skin

“If you are not in your body, you miss the source of all significance, meaning, and satisfaction.”  ~ A.H. Almaas


Kelly Minor Ph.D., is offering a special one day workshop for women only on Saturday, June 9th open to a total of 16 attendees in Woodside, CA.

Gather at a luxury retreat center for a day aimed at becoming more authentic and at ease in the body.

Thoughts from Kelly:

When your attention is placed in the body, there is an immediate sense of increased clarity, flexibility, and ease. It is the direct route to groundedness. It is the gateway to self-love and genuine connection with others.

This workshop is about becoming comfortable in your skin so that you can fully experience the vitality of life — presence, power, connection, and joy.  Using teachings, guided explorations, and discussion we will experience firsthand the immediate benefits of embodied living.

We will focus on two aspects: 1) experiencing mindfulness of the body and 2) increasing authenticity in relationships. Specifically, you will:

~ Learn how to become grounded (in any given moment)
~ Practice techniques for anxiety reduction and conscious eating
~ Identify relationships that support your authentic self
~ Learn to relate with greater authenticity (with yourself and others)

Kelly Minor Ph.D is a licensed clinical psychologist working exclusively with women. She trained at Northwestern (doctoral) and Stanford (postdoctoral) Universities. She specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — a compassionate, mindfulness-based approach aimed at transcending emotional obstacles in order to live a more rich and meaningful life. Website for more details.

Information

Saturday, June 9, 2012 (10:00a – 4:00p)
Stillheart Retreat Center, Woodside CA

Registration

$190    Regular Registration
$165    “Attend with a Friend” Registration (Save $25)
Bring your own sack lunch

Pre-registration required. Space is limited to 16 women.
Two work scholarships available-based upon need and first-come, first served.

Continuing Education Units
4 CE credits are available for MFT and LCSW licensure requirements as per the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, provider #PCE4835. Preregistration required.

Enchanting World of Animals by Robert Bissell

Critically Acclaimed Painter Robert Bissell’s Art Represents Finest in Imaginary Realism – Seem him at Studio Seven Arts in May

A May art exhibition in Pleasanton California (400 Main Street) features the world renowned painter  of nature, Robert Bissell. Bissell’s award winning work is focused on the natural world and animals, with paintings of scenes that range from bears to frogs to bunny rabbits and whimsical bees and butterflies. His paintings deliver an experience that is rooted in the natural world yet brushed with fun and fantasy.

On Saturday May 5th from 10am to 2pm, Bissell will be present in the gallery to discuss his work.   Throughout the month a collection of his art, including Giclée prints on canvas and paintings will be on display timed with the middle of spring. Bissell’s paintings explore the idea that animals have metaphysical importance to our own spiritual well-being. Lured into a realm devoid of humans, the animal characters require we consider our own condition and place in nature. While whimsical at first glance, there is underlying tension and precariousness beneath the images. Disarmed, we objectively consider ourselves without familiar references.

“Robert Bissell offers fantastically creative paintings that people are captivated by at their very first look and we look forward to a terrific exhibition throughout May,” said Dirk Christiansen, owner of Studio Seven Arts.

About the Artist:
Bissell grew up in Somerset, England, and retains in his love of art, a love of rural life, Celtic legends and panoramic landscapes. His keen interest in visuals began at an early age while documenting life around him through photographs. After studying graphic design and obtaining a Master’s Degree from The Royal College of Art in London, Robert moved to San Francisco and began a successful career in retail advertising. After 15 years, he decided to devote all his time to painting. He currently lives in Northern California with his wife and their Springer Spaniel. Robert regularly exhibits in museums and galleries across the United States and Europe.

Tri-Valley Wines and Handcrafted Jewelry at Special Spring Trunk Show in Pleasanton

A Weekend Escape: 

  • Evening Reception Friday 4/27 featuring Steven Ruse’s Exemplary Hand-crafted Jewelry Combined with Tasting of Tri-Valley Wines from Wente, Ruby Hills and Steven Kent
  • Unique materials such as Black Pearls, Onyx, & Opal make for one-of-a kind rings, bracelets featured throughout Weekend trunk show

A special Spring event weekend event is happening April 27th/28th for locals looking to escape the mundane.  The event features the precious jewelry pieces and carvings of artisan Steven Ruse, a veteran jewelry maker, carver and local favorite.

The weekend events also features a special evening reception on Friday night (April 27th) with wine tasting offering gallery visitors selection of Tri-Valley wines from Steven Kent, Ruby Hills and Wente Vineyards. The reception is Friday night between 6:00 and 9:00pm and the trunk show continues on Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Steven Ruse will be displaying and discussing his hand-made jewelry that is colorful, and crafted to be entirely unique through the use of a wide variety of gemstones for Spring 2012. Selected jewelry pieces include a brilliant collection of rings, earring, bracelets, pendants and fossilized carvings, featured at the Friday reception and Saturday morning Trunk Show on Saturday, April 28th (from 10am to 2pm).

And for the first time, the gallery will offer a selection of Tri-Valley wines, such as fruit-filled, bold and complex varietals like Cabernet, Zinfandel and Petit Syrah.

“Steven has the widest assortment of hand-fashioned rings and bracelets–some oversized and others made of fine silver that is soft to the touch–reflecting his passion for his little masterpieces,” said Dirk Christiansen, owner of Studio Seven Arts.  “Coupling his personality with a fun selection of Tri-Valley wines makes for an easy escape this weekend.”

Ruse’s work is inspired by the environment, bright deep colors and the natural wonders of the coast. A former sea diver, Ruse began fashioning his vast collection of artifacts and precious stones to create jewelry for his wife, and later, for everyone. Ruse’s work inspires natural appeal, due to the artisan’s use of fine silver and distinct metals, beautifully colored precious stones, and fossilized ivory, polished and fashioned for his carvings.

About Studio Seven Arts
Studio Seven Arts is the Bay Area’s largest art gallery right in downtown Pleasanton has been voted by readers as the ‘Best Art Gallery in Pleasanton’ by the Pleasanton Weekly in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and recently awarded the ‘Best of the East Bay’ by Diablo Magazine. The gallery specializes in fine art from nationally collected and regional artists, uniquely handcrafted jewelry and custom art framing.

March Exhibition: “Mix It Up” Features Dazzling Diversity of Works

Raku Ceramics, Asian wall hangings, and Varied Abstract and Oil Paintings Inspire Unconventional Gallery Exhibition 

PLEASANTON, Calif.; Mar. 5, 2012: Studio Seven Arts, the top destination for fine art, handcrafted jewelry and custom framing in the East Bay, today announced its March exhibition, “Mix It Up” featuring five Mixed Media artists.

Liz Collins, Corey West, Sylvia Thompson, Georgia Quinlan and Jordan King will display their diverse talents with an assortment of hand-made works of art, including abstract paintings, ceramics, fiber and metal wall hangings, oil pastels, paper map musings, and paintings with wine-inspired foils and corks.

Light and Twilight by Corey West

Additionally, visiting the gallery will be Sylvia Thompson, to display and discuss her latest works including textured paintings inspired by New Orleans Jazz and the various indulgences of California Wine Country. These events are planned for the St Patrick’s weekend; Friday night, Mar. 16th (6pm to 9pm) and Saturday, Mar. 17th (10am to 2pm) during the Pleasanton Brew Crawl on Main Street.

“Fortunately, there is no limit to art and our ‘Mix It Up’ exhibition throughout March takes this to another level of creativity,” said Dirk Christiansen, owner of Studio Seven Arts. “The featured collection of local, mixed media artists pushes boundaries, excites the eye and delivers something different each week.”

Sylvia Thompson Jazz and Wine

Mixed Media Featured Artists

  • ·       Liz Collins artistic works feature award winning oil pastels that are whimsical, colorful and fun with an often odd perspective. She makes use of oil pastel, acrylic, maps, music and writing on panel and paper 
  • Corey West displays an artistic passion stemming from brushing ‘layers of texture’ into her paintings with mixed media and abstract expressions – combining layer upon layer of acrylic, ink, soft pastels and papers. Her works are often abstract and meant to be touched by the hand.
  • Sylvia Thompson is a New Orleans born artist also residing in the Bay Area. She is inspired by Napa’s wine country and collects unique wine bottle foils and features them in her acrylic paintings as a medium for the images, giving them texture and new dimensions. Her paintings range from wine themes to those based on New Orleans jazz music, architecture, and culture.
  • Georgia Quinlan of Pleasanton specializes in Asian influenced wall hangings and various artistic pieces that she hand makes from a variety of materials, including fabric, glass, beads, silk flowers, wood, wire, rock, and whatever else might catch her eye. Her works can be born of pure serendipity and the results are always entirely unique.
  • Jordan King is a ceramic artist residing in Pleasanton who features both decorative Raku and functional soda-fired vessels. He draws a connection between his firing methods and the practice of mindfulness with the instinct to slow down life to enjoy the present moment. His goal is to create vessels that contrast the mundane and mass produced ceramic wares and instill an awareness and appreciation of true craft and traditions.

Pleasanton Winter Gallery Exhibition: ‘Love of Art in Pastel’

Studio Seven Arts Announces Winter Exhibition: ‘Love of Art in Pastel’ Featuring Trio of Award Winning Artists

 Studio Seven Arts, the top destination for fine art, handcrafted jewelry and custom framing in the East Bay, today announced a late winter exhibition, “Love of Art in Pastel,” featuring bold and colorful works of three master artists.

Master pastel painters Debbie Wardrope, Bonita Paulis and Marla Baggetta are featured with varying works featuring breathtaking landscapes, California vineyards and other colorful scenes.  A special event is scheduled for Saturday, February 18th, (from 10:00am to 2:00pm) with Debbie Wardrope visiting the gallery to demonstrate her pastel techniques and to showcase her latest works.


“Nothing matches the color and inspirations of Pastels and our featured works by Debbie, Bonita and Marla typify some of the finest work in natural scenes,” said Dirk Christiansen, owner of Studio Seven Arts.

Featured Paintings from the Exhibition:

‘Petite Syrah Sunset’ by Debbie Wardrope

‘Creek in the Meadow‘  by Bonita Paulis

‘Finally” by Marla Baggetta

  • Debbie Wardrope is a signature member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast who also works in oil and acrylics. She teaches art through the city of Pleasanton for children and adults.
  • Bonita Paulis also a signature member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, who has created paintings from a diverse collection of areas in the western United States, from the high sierra, to the California coast and the desert southwest.
  • Marla Bagetta, also a signature member of the Pastel Societies of America and Oregon, who has been a professional artist since 1983 when she began painting the landscape. She is one of the Wests’ leading representational painters with her compelling and sophisticated imagery.

About Studio Seven Arts
Studio Seven Arts is the Bay Area’s largest art gallery has been voted by readers as the ‘Best Art Gallery in Pleasanton’ by the Pleasanton Weekly in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and in 2011 was awarded the ‘Best of the East Bay’ by Diablo Magazine. Located in the heart of downtown Pleasanton, the gallery specializes in fine art from nationally collected and regional artists, uniquely handcrafted jewelry and custom art framing.

“With Love” for the Valley Humane Society of Pleasanton

It’s the holiday season and a natural time for giving.

At Studio Seven Arts (400 Main Street Pleasanton), a beautiful painting on display, called “With Love” by the Artist Hines will be sold with all cash proceeds going directly to Pleasanton’s Valley Humane Society (VHS) a no kill shelter that has served stray animals and the people of the Tri-Valley for many years.

It’s a beautiful piece, sized at 36″x36″ and listed at $1,650.   Please visit the gallery if you are interested in this cause

Personalize Your Holiday -Pleasanton Gallery Goes Handmade

Handmade Jewelry Appeal and Personal Works of Artisans Make 2011 Holidays Special – November and December Trunk Shows Highlight Holiday Downtown Shopping

Personalization can be the key to making a terrific holiday season. This holiday season in the Tri-Valley can be made memorable with carefully selected purchases that reflect unique, handcrafted and truly personalized decorations and gifts, from artisans creating customized jewelry, hand blown glass and paintings.

  • Creator Michael Michaud “Silver Seasons” jewelry Saturday (Nov. 12th-31st)
  • Jewelry by Bay Area’s own “Pom” (featured Saturday Nov. 19th )
  • Twisted Silver of Pleasanton’s Debra Mitchell (featured Saturday Nov. 26th)
  • Anna Whitmore – (featured Saturday Dec. 3rd)
  • Amy Faust – (featured Saturday Dec.11th)

Studio Seven Arts promotes “Personalize Your Holiday” throughout the season, where carefully selected and expert artisans will be present in the Gallery to discuss and offer unique choices, works that are always original, 100% handmade, and use high quality materials, such as precious metals, gemstones, and crystals that make for the very best available.

Pom's Handmade Earrings - Feature Pearls, Green Amethyst and Labradororite

Personalize Your Holiday at Studio Seven Arts is typified by the Silver Seasons jewelry collection to be shown in Trunk Show on Saturday, Nov. 12th. The Silver Seasons collection combines his exceptional experience and knowledge in jewelry making along with vast creativity, depicting the elegance of nature, featuring brilliant silvers, bronze around botanical themes.

Anna Whitmore is a jewelry designer in Northern California who works with oxidized sterling silver, precious and semi-precious stones.

Debra Mitchell of Pleasanton’s Twisted Silver makes stylish, eco-friendly hand-made jewels of silver, and various recycled materials.

Amy Faust makes jewelry with beautiful color, fine metal smithing, uncomplicated, very wearable jewelry designs that stand out by using eco-friendly silver, gold, beach glass, vintage glass, pottery, pebbles and gems.

Pom’s jewelry pieces feature both classic and fashion-forward looks, delivering brilliant designs with high-quality semi-precious stones at their foundation. From Thailand originally, Pom’s necklaces, earrings are anything but low profile. They are tasteful, unique and sparkle when worn.

 

‘Artist Hines’ Visits Studio Seven Arts with ’20 Paintings in 20 Days’ Project Benefiting Valley Humane Society

Studio Seven Arts announced special events supporting the unique efforts of “Artist Hines” by purchasing and donating one of his fine art works to Valley Humane Society (VHS), a Pleasanton-based no-kill animal welfare organization benefiting stray animals, and families and pets in the Tri-Valley for the last 25 years.

The Artist Hines, recognized globally, will be present live in the gallery during the Pleasanton Brew Crawl, Saturday Oct. 29, from 5-8 p.m.

On October 15th, Hines began a series of “20 Paintings in 20 Days” where a stunning collection of abstract paintings, all 36”x36”, are being produced.

One of Hines’s paintings will be selected by the gallery staff and donated to the VHS by Studio Seven Arts.

Beginning that Saturday evening, a silent auction box will be on display so that those visiting Studio Seven Arts can place their bid to win the painting. The winning or highest bid will be selected on November 5th at 2pm at Studio Seven Arts.

All proceeds from the silent auction will donated to VHS.

Those visiting Studio Seven Arts can bid on this original painting and help contribute to the number of animal lives saved by this Pleasanton based no-kill animal rescue organization.

“The Artist Hines is the most visual and exciting painters we’ve seen and his project, ’20 Paintings in 20 Days’ is a testament to his creativity and inspiration,” said Dirk Christiansen, owner of Studio Seven Arts. “To make the most of it, Studio Seven Arts is acting on behalf of a highly worthy cause, Valley Humane Society (VHS) here in Pleasanton, where countless pets and people are helped every day.”

“The creativity and stunning works of Artist Hines at Studio Seven Arts in support of Valley Humane Society makes for a great way for the community to come together, both to recognize local art and in supporting the ongoing needs of animals in the Tri-Valley,” said Melanie Sadek, executive director of the VHS. “Pre-holiday is a great time for giving and getting together for a greater cause.”

Deep Sea Diver, Fossil Carver and Global Traveler: Pleasanton’s Can’t Miss Reception

Come to Studio Seven Arts on Friday night (Oct. 14) at 7:30 for a  casual reception, there you will meet the last of a dying breed.  Steven Ruse comes with a rare personality and even rarer hand-made jewelry.

Ruse has been around the world, to the lush bands of the equator in Singapore and Thailand, to the bitingly cold Arctic Circle on St. Lawrence Island in the Berring Sea, and to the depths of the ocean as an accomplished diver and mineral collector.  

This weekend Steven is back in Pleasanton once again showing his remarkable jewelry and sharing his gift for conversation.

A veteran jewelry maker and carver, Ruse is a local favorite in Pleasanton and he will be displaying and discussing his hand-made jewelry that is colorful and bold for Autumn 2011.Featured works will include an extraordinary collection of Ruse’s rings, earring, bracelets, pendants and fossilized carvings, featured at a special Trunk Show on Saturday, Oct. 15th (10am to 2pm). A special Friday night preview reception will occur at 7pm.
 


Sparkling, Unique and Earthy Appeal
For Studio Seven Arts, Ruse makes use of stunning gemstones such as black and white pearls, onyx, garnet, amethyst, carved tourmali and coral rose in addition to soft, 99% Fine Silver that is soft to the touch.

“Jewelry pieces from Steven Ruse are hand fashioned to be worn and look like nothing else available, and his passion in creating his little masterpieces shines through in every work,” said Dirk Christiansen, owner of Studio Seven Arts.  “For Fall ’11 we have more than 10 new exclusive pieces that further his tremendous following.”

Ruse’s work is inspired by the environment, bright deep colors and the natural wonders of the coast. A former sea diver, Ruse began fashioning his vast collection of artifacts and precious stones to create jewelry for his wife, and later, for everyone. Ruse’s work inspires natural appeal, due to the artisan’s use of fine silver and distinct metals, beautifully colored precious stones, and fossilized ivory, polished and fashioned for his carvings. 


About Studio Seven Arts
Studio Seven Arts is the Bay Area’s largest art gallery has been voted by readers as the ‘Best Art Gallery in Pleasanton’ by the Pleasanton Weekly in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and recently awarded the ‘Best of the East Bay’ by Diablo Magazine. Located in the heart of downtown Pleasanton, the gallery specializes in fine art from nationally collected and regional artists, uniquely handcrafted jewelry and custom art framing.