Article in Contra Costa Times Dec 7, 2006

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Art show an exhibit of ‘Joy’

Event that begins today features pottery, ceramics at Civic Drive location, paintings, photography at Shadelands Auditorium

By Janice De Jesus

STAFF WRITER

MARTINEZ – Stephanie Riechmann is uplifted by creating her own art.

Her wish for the holidays is to spread that joy around. She gets her wish of sharing her art with other artists and the public at the Civic Arts Education and Clay Arts Guild Holiday Show and Sale today through Dec. 10.

“Through art, I wish to bring beauty to people’s lives and touch people’s hearts,” said Riechmann, a Martinez resident.

Dozens of artists will be featuring their creations in two locations: hand-crafted pottery at the ceramics studio on Civic Drive, and paintings, jewelry, photography and all other media at the Shadelands campus on Wiget Lane.

Riechmann will be showing her watercolor series aptly titled “Joy, Peace and Harmony,” which presents landscapes in soft, luminous colors.

Her watercolors contrast the vibrant, bold acrylic abstracts she’s been leaning toward recently.

Bright, strong, vivid colors such as orange tell the whole world her one abstract painting is indeed a “Celebration.”

Like most artists, Riechmann paints what her mood, muse and dreams inspire her to paint. But painting is more than just a form of creative expression for Riechmann. It’s a spiritual journey to finding herself.

“Every medium brings its own beauty and challenges,” she said. “When you do representational painting, you have an object as a guideline. But abstract comes really from inside you — comes from your soul. So, it’s really freeing.”

Riechmann worked in banking and real estate for many years before she answered her true calling to create art just at the right moment when she needed something to lift her spirits.

“Art came as the cradle that caught me during hard times,” she said. “Once I got into it, I couldn’t stop. It helps me to have peace and joy in my life.”

Printed on Walnut Creek Journal on Thursday Dec 7, 2006

 

Posted on Contra Costa Times website on Fri, Dec. 08, 2006

Central Contra Costa County

 

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/contra_costa_county/central_contra_costa/16193315.htm