The Atrium Gallery EDH

Exhibit Dates: September 21 – November 15, 2026
Artist Reception: Saturdays, September 26 and October 24 • 5:00-7:30 PM
Location: Atrium Gallery EDH, Town Center (Building 102)

Capturing the essence of a figurative subject has long been a challenge for artists. In this exciting exhibit, both people and animals are portrayed by eight artists from the El Dorado Hills Arts Association. Media includes a variety of techniques in oils, acrylics, and photography.

Artist Statement:

My work is rooted in a deep fascination with the interplay of light and shadow. Viewers often comment on the strength of my shadows and the way they reveal a clear light source—something I’m always pleased to hear, as this is a central focus in everything I paint. Whether I’m working on a landscape, portrait, still life, or a more complex scene with figures, I strive to use light and value to create depth, atmosphere, and emotional resonance. I paint primarily from photographs I’ve taken myself, always with an eye toward how the scene will translate onto the canvas. I often see compositional or color potential in an image that may not be obvious in the original photo. Since returning to painting in 2018, I’ve developed a heightened visual awareness of the world around me—viewing everyday moments through the lens of composition, color, value, and visual interest. My goal is not to convey messages or commentary, but rather to evoke feeling—warmth, curiosity, calm, or even joy. I want my paintings to invite viewers in, to make them pause and linger—to engage with the technique, brushwork, and color choices. If someone stops to really look, then I know I’ve succeeded in capturing their attention.

rna@robertnandersonart.com

Judy’s oil and acrylic landscape paintings are a reflection of her years of camping and exploring her environment with family and friends; hiking, sailing, cross-country skiing and ATV’ing in the back country of California. Her travel experiences also inspire her to capture the similarities and differences she sees in the people and places she visits in the art she creates. Her gourd sculptures’ three-dimensional surfaces challenge her to tell stories; illustrating a beginning, middle and surprise ending on each piece. She calls them “Story Gourds”. The subjects she chooses for her gourd sculptures often reflect memories of family activities, children at play and/or vacations she’s experienced. Every piece of art she creates reflects her life experiences; values, memories or travels. The older she gets, the more stories she has to tell through her art. Judy’s paintings and sculptures are created in a realistic style, using ordinary people, doing normal activities (at work and play) in recognizable environments. Her goal is to create art that everyone can relate to.

arrigottijudy@gmail.com

Randall Benton has devoted more than sixty years to the art and craft of photography. For twenty-two years he served as a staff photographer for The Sacramento Bee, documenting news, sports, and the human condition with clarity and integrity. His work has appeared in major national and international publications, including The New York Times, People magazine, Sport Diver, The Times of London, and National Geographic. His work has been honored with awards from the National Newspaper Photographers Association, Pictures of the Year International, and the esteemed international World Press Photo. Benton’s photography spans astrophotography, underwater exploration, sports, and the natural world. Whether capturing the quiet grandeur of a night sky, the kinetic energy of athletic competition, or the intimate details of wildlife, his work is grounded in patience, technical precision, a deep respect for his subjects and a belief that every scene contains a moment worth preserving. At the heart of his practice is a lifelong curiosity about light — how it shapes story, reveals emotion, and transforms fleeting moments into enduring images. Each photograph reflects both disciplined craftsmanship and a sense of wonder that continues to guide his work.

rbenton2321@gmail.com

Artist Statement:

Lynne Edwards retired from her professional career in business consulting in 2001 and finally found time for her artistic desires. Wherever she has lived she has been involved in the artist’s community – either in art organizations, shows and/or galleries. Once retired, she became a serious, self-taught wildlife photographer and began traveling throughout the world for the opportunities that nature allows one to experience if you are patient to stop, look and listen. Lynne’s desire is always to capture the “raw” moment of nature while enjoying the uniqueness and beauty of every “critter” she encounters. Some of the photographs are of big cats from Africa or India; whales or bears from Alaska or the Artic; penguins and marine from the Antarctic; or little cats from the local humane society. About 5 years ago she took up painting her images in a process called Watercolor Batik on rice paper. Lynne has been showing her work in various galleries and shows throughout California and Washington and has received recognition and awards in numerous art shows. She also was awarded 1st place winner in the wildlife category in the 10th annual Julia Margaret Cameron International Photography Competition for Women – with her cheetah in full running speed, “The Chase”.

lynne@reflectionsbylynne.com

Artist Statement:

Always the family photographer, after moving to Folsom in 2008, Terrie replaced her point-and-shoot camera with a professional-quality Nikon and refined her craft through a series of local, online, and field-based learning opportunities. Her background as a science teacher, innate curiosity, and love of nature keep her excited about exploring new environments and sharing images of creatures and landscapes. One thing that Terrie finds most rewarding about her photography is hearing people say, “Thank you for being my eyes! I will never go where you went, but now I can experience the beauty of it through your photography.”
Terriegrayphotography.com

terrieg@mac.com

Artist Statement:

Ron enjoys creating art that uses vibrant, free-flowing color that borders on pop, abstract, and surrealism. He mostly works in acrylic and mixed media. Ron utilizes bold coloration to capture his viewers’ attention and strong movement and emotion to pull his audience in further. Ron loves to paint and create art that captures a variety of themes and diverse subject matter, including musicians, dancers, capturing the coloration, grace, movement, and emotion of a performance in progress. Furthermore, he loves to capture people from diverse perspectives and cultural backgrounds, capturing a quiet personal moment. Ron is inspired by the works of Degas, Van Gogh, Dali, and Basquiat. Completing this form serves as permission to use information and images submitted, for public consumption and publication.

hepcat2art@att.net

Artist Statement:

Photography is a powerful medium that allows me to freeze moments in time, transforming ephemeral experiences into lasting visual stories. Whether I am capturing the majestic presence of wildlife like buffalo or the intricate beauty of a bee, each photograph serves as a window into a unique perspective. Through my lens, I can reveal the overlooked details of the world, encouraging viewers to engage with the textures and colors present in everyday scenes. The art of photography not only enables me to share my individual experiences but also invites others to explore and interpret these captured moments through their own eyes. I see abstract patterns and designs in everything in nature. I value linear lines in buildings and architecture. I create whimsy through illusion. I design my pieces based on the emotion it generates and the inspiration I receive. I want to bring the beauty and surprises of the world to everyone. I see things that many have not thought of, or had the opportunity to view in person, which I strongly believe helps to broaden everyone’s perspective of the vast world we inhabit. I believe the more you travel, the more you open your mind to endless possibilities. I believe art is for enjoying and experiencing, not just for displaying to fill in a space on a wall or a shelf.

kmahar@comcast.net

Artist Statement:

Volha Naruta-Johnson (b. 1989, Belarus) is a California-based self-taught contemporary artist, working across textured and figurative oil painting. Member of Oil Painters of America OPA and American Artists Professional League AAPL. Educated in Art of Cultural Heritage and later trained in embodiment practices and hypnotherapy. Her practice explores the psychological and emotional dimensions of contemporary womanhood, focusing on the tensions between motherhood, autonomy, and societal expectations. Since 2025, Volha has established an active exhibition presence in Northern California through solo and group exhibitions. Her work has received several international awards and has been featured in publications such as Arts to Hearts Magazine, Woman United Art Magazine, 100 Emerging Artworks of 2026, Art and Woman, The Woman Artist Award, Curatone Art Magazine, Visual Art Journal, Art Seen Magazine by The Curators Salon, The Alchemical Art Magazine, Novum Artis and local ‘Style’ Magazine (November 2025), ‘Around Here’ and ‘El Dorado Hills Lifestyle’ (July 2026), etc.

olganaruta0777@icloud.com