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Many years of hard work and dedication has paid its rewards for Grace Swanson of Encinitas. Grace’s involvement with the San Dieguito Art Guild includes much more than painting excellent art pieces, she has been instrumental in organizing and coordinating the guild’s latest galleries in Encinitas, promoting the guild, researching and documenting the history of the guild as well as serving on the board of directors. In recognition for many years of effort she has been rewarded with a lifetime membership in the guild. This rare reward has been given to very few people in the forty two history of the San Dieguito Art Guild.
Most recently Grace’s mixed media piece won the Best of Show honors in June’s monthly show at the Off Track Gallery. Her piece titled “Matilija Poppy” was first painted in watercolor, then acrylic on Masa paper, which has been glued to a stretched canvas. This was then covered gently with a layer of semi gloss soft gel. When that was completely dry, the painting was sealed with a satin finish varnish. Matilija poppies are a California native plant that can be seen in bloom all around our local coastal canyons and hillsides during this time of year and are easily recognized by the large white flower that looks like a fried egg. Grace explains “I love to paint flowers. What attracts me first is the color. Then the structure and the delicacy. Although I try usually to paint realistically, I love to enhance, change, and simplify the configuration and color of the flowers and leaves”. Her skill and creativity are reflected in the winning painting as well as her other work shown in the background in this image of Grace at the galley where her work and the work of many other local artists can be viewed and purchased seven days a week at the Off Track Gallery located at 500 Second Street in Encinitas. More of Grace’s paintings can be seen at the Off Track Gallery 2 located in the Lumberyard in Encinitas. Call (760) 942-3636 or visit their website at www.offtrackgallery.com for more information.
Grace Swanson is shown holding her winning mixed media piece “Matilija Poppy” with some of her watercolor paintings in the background at the Off Track Gallery located in Encinitas.
Story and photo by Dave Ombrello
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