Gallery 'N' Gifts welcomes hometown artists, June 7

Provided.

Cora Sweeney, self portrait, oil on canvas.

Cora Sweeney and Saida Woolf started off entering the Gallery 'N' Gifts Young Artist shows as students of Valley Oaks Charter School. They received art instruction from local artist Colleen Ferrel and sought out opportunities across Southern California where they could improve their skills.

Today, they are both studying Art at San Jose State University; Sweeney works in Studio Art where she hones her passion for painting, and Woolf pursues Animation Illustration creating animation reels and storyboards.

Having joined forces in the past as the "dynamic duo" presenting their work at Bakersfield Comic Con and the Tehachapi Library Mini-Con while they were still juniors in high school, they are excited to share the guest artist space at Gallery 'N' Gifts where they will have the opportunity to showcase both of their work in a duo exhibition.

Sweeney and Woolf received scholarships from the Tehachapi Valley Art Association (TVAA) when they left home to attend college, and have returned to Tehachapi during school breaks to visit and share their progress with TVAA's Gale Caldwell, who has always been supportive of them in their unique artistic journeys. Sweeney completed her foundation year at Otis College of Art and Design, and Woolf took a gap year to promote her graphic novel "Soulstream." They are both happy to have ended up together at San Jose State University studying what they love.

Sweeney's artist statement shares her purpose: "I'm not an artist because I need a job, or it's all I know how to do. I'm an artist because I love making visual representations of my thoughts. I make art because it's how I communicate and express ideas that I believe in."

Woolf's artist statement gives insight into her motivations as well: "There are stories burning inside of me that I want to bring into the world. To add my own creative fuel to the industry's hearth, to share my stories and help others fully realize theirs..."

Both young women are happy to be following their hearts studying what they have always wanted to do. Still, they are far from home, and studying art is hard, demanding and messy. But it's all worth it for both of them.

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Saida Woolf, self portrait, charcoal reversal.

Woolf explains "...through all the cubes and charcoal stains, the tears and all-nighters, there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be."

Sweeney sums it up perfectly, "....I am an artist because I would never have the words to express how grateful I am that I get to experience papercuts and spilled paint."

The opening for their June show "Papercuts and Charcoal Stains - the Art of Cora Sweeney and Saida Woolf" will be on Friday, June 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gallery 'N' Gifts, located at 100 W. Tehachapi Blvd.

It's a great opportunity to not only view their work, which will be on display for the month of June, but also a chance to meet the artists themselves. Any aspiring young creators who want to learn more about what it's like to study art and/or animation at the college level are encouraged to attend and ask questions.

Their bodies of work are as varied as their interests, and Woolf and Sweeney will be showing everything from charcoal and ink sketches; acrylic and metal prints; and oil and acrylic paintings. There will be many original works and limited run prints available for sale. You won't want to miss this First Friday event!