Interior designer/artist Patti Baldiviez’s group collaborate on projects in their Santa Ynez Valley creative space
Interior designer and artist Patti Baldiviez had the idea of bringing a group of fellow artists together with the purpose of setting aside a creative space in which they would make time for their art and encourage each other to improve their skills and share techniques and ideas in a very collaborative setting.
“Our group was formed almost two years ago out of a need to support other artists’ practices here in the Santa Ynez Valley,” said Baldiviez. “We came together really quickly with this strong intention in mind. I mentioned it to a couple of acquaintances that I knew were artists to see if there was an interest in forming a group, and each of them jumped at the idea. The accountability and support of a group can really create an inspirational and productive environment in which to thrive.”
The group meets on Monday mornings for three hours. They are Baldiviez, Linda Small, Christine DiPego, Susan Buchanan, and Karen Young. They come from different backgrounds and get together to honor their art practice. Each of them brings a different artistic background and style.
“As in art, there is no uniformity to our individual styles. We can all say we have been artists all of our lives,” said Baldiviez. “Each of us participating in our art group has had a life-long passion of including art in everyday life. One of our members said it best, ‘There was no back up plan for my life. It was art or it was nothing.'”
The group’s meeting is definitely a collaborative effort.
“Each time we meet, we bring what we want to work on that day. Generally, we work on watercolor, small acrylic paintings, and all forms of mixed media. We specifically bring anything that is easy to transport and somewhat quick to dry, so it can be transported back home at the end of our art session,” said Baldiviez. “We discuss ideas and offer each other input, share art books and techniques. We have also worked on collaborative pieces, where one of us starts a piece, usually on watercolor paper, and each week another one of us takes it home to add to it. We pass it along until each one of us has added our unique artistic input, in our own style, using whatever medium we choose, and then we have a completed art piece.
“For our summer project, we have started gathering things that would be conducive to making our own brushes as a group endeavor. This type of brush is considered a mark-making brush, and the beauty of the brush comes from driftwood collected at our Central Coast beaches. We then create a brush tip that can be used to create different effects in our art.”
Finding a space to meet every week has been difficult, but that has not deterred them.
“It has been difficult to find a space to meet every week, so we have been careful to keep our group small for this reason,” Baldiviez said. “Initially we met at the Mission for a couple of sessions, but unpredictable weather and wind made that hard to continue outdoors. Next we moved to one member’s home, who had a beautiful working space on an open veranda, but that became a lot for one member to be the weekly host in her home. For the last year, we have found another local meeting place that has worked out beautifully, for now. Unfortunately, the space would not be sufficient if the group were to expand, but we would welcome more artists if we had a larger space.”
Several members of the group are currently showcasing their art at CrossHatch Winery in Santa Ynez.
“Michelle Vautier, the owner, has been gracious enough to plan two artist receptions for us since the start of the gallery show,” Baldiviez said. “Bringing art and wine together has created an experience for local visitors who come to her relaxing venue in the heart of Santa Ynez. There are three of us from our group displaying works there that include mixed media, oil painting, and photography.
“In addition, two artists from Santa Barbara are currently showing mixed media and acrylic works on canvas. Michelle has been so supportive of local artists and has said that art is one of the foundations of Crosshatch, as evident in her wine labels. I encourage people to get in to enjoy this eclectic art show soon, as it will be changing again sometime early summer.”
Baldiviez said the members of the group enjoy creating something with peers.
“Being a part of an art group is a valuable experience, especially if one is serious about sharing their passion for art making,” Baldiviez said. “In a group setting, that passion can be manifested and supported in so many ways. Getting our pieces out into the community is a very vulnerable experience, but as we encourage each other, we are able to make the experience a positive one, and our art gets out into our community and beyond.”
CrossHatch Winery is at 1090 Edison St. #104, Santa Ynez.
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