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STUDIOS ON THE SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL’S Laguna Beach, CA - Up a winding road and tucked into a lush hillside, Skip Roma and Brian Allan’s home and art studios offer a relaxing retreat from the hectic work-a-day world most of us are so familiar with. The airy, Mexican hacienda-inspired home is a new stop on this year’s Art Studio Tour. The gregarious couple is excited to invite tour-goers to their slice of heaven, high above the California Riviera coast. Built by Skip’s parents in the early 1980s by leading architect Brion Jeanette, “Sunset House” takes full advantage of its glorious coastline views. An inviting terrace, framed by arching oversized windows, runs along the house providing an inspiring setting that draws the two artists and their guests at all times. “My parents came to Laguna Beach in the late 1950s and spent years planning their dream house,” Skip explains. “My mother and father were both collectors and elements of the house are items they found and stored over the years.” Beautiful wood doors were discovered by Skip’s mother when a Laguna Beach hotel was remodeling in the late 60s; two pair of French doors were unearthed by Skip’s father when he was taking a lunch break from his position of Laguna Beach Postmaster in the early 70s. “Dad would take his lunch and drive onto the old Irvine Ranch for an al fresco lunch hour. One day he found this pile of doors that must have been from an old house that had been dismantled. He came back with his convertible the next day, collected the doors, and they waited in our old garage for 10 years until they were placed in the new house.” Skip recalls. Skip has had many careers, and has only in the last decade focused on her art. She and a friend took a Chinese brush painting class given by Master Ning Yeh and she was hooked. “Chinese brush painting allows the artist to be very spontaneous,” Skip says. “My style has evolved to a modern interpretation of this traditional art.” Skip paints botanical scenes, animals and other less-traditional subjects. Skip’s partner of four years, Brian Allan, has also led a colorful life. “I’ve been an artist since I was three,” Brian says. “As well as a professional tennis player and a clothing designer.” Brian has lived all over the country including time in Hawaii and the deserts of the west as part of a life-long spiritual journey. His religious ruminations led him to study religious art including mandalas, which influence his colorful abstract canvases. The theme of chaos versus order is prominent in Brian’s work. Current pieces have evolved away from simple geometrics to more complex compositions with meticulously applied layers of metallic paint that imply the texture of woven fabric. All of Brian’s pieces are self-framed in black, which provides a contrast to the colors within. The couple also maintains studio space at the Laguna Canyon Artist complex; they opened that studio for last year’s Art Studio Tour. That studio will again be open this year, but Skip and Brian are eager to show tour patrons their personal work space. “We met some great people last year who were taking the tour. We just felt that we wanted to open our entire life to the tour-goers – this is a great way for visitors to talk with the artists and get to know how they become inspired to do their art,” said Skip. Come meet Skip and Brian and 54 other artists at the Sawdust Art Festival’s 14th annual Art Studio Tour, Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10. Tour hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day. Each day concludes with an artists’ reception from 4 – 6 p.m., with wine, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment, at the Sawdust’s Gallery 935. One-day tickets are $45; weekend tickets are $75. Tickets include transportation to the studios, tours and the reception. Call 949-494-3030 to purchase tickets with a major credit card. All tours begin and end at the Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, where free parking is available. Additional information is available at SawdustArtFestival.org The couple will be first-time exhibitors at this summer’s Sawdust Art Festival, July 1 – September 4. Digital images available
at www.SawdustArtFestival.org
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