For the last year and a half, Carson Valley artist, Teri Sweeney, along with her husband Bill, have devoted their time to the promotion of art and artists in the Valley in their gallery, Artistic Viewpoints in Gardnerville. During this time, Teri has worked hard to promote everyone's work other than her own. But, Sweeney comes with a long list of credits and her watercolor work is award winning. She will be the featured artist for the month of January at their gallery.
She had lived in Arizona for 35 years where she studied interior architecture at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., with continued studies at Glendale Community College and classes from Julie Gilbert Pollard. She has spent the past 20 years as an interior designer with 10 years in various residential interior design studios, five years as a manager for Builder Design Center and then owning her own company for five years, specializing in remodeling and space planning.
In May 2005, Sweeney and her husband Bill moved to Gardnerville, looking for a rural atmosphere, to escape the big city and to be closer to daughter Cris, her husband Brenden Keirsey and two grandchildren with one more on the way.
"It was between the Carson Valley and Kauai, Hawaii," Sweeney said, "but my need to be close to my daughter and grandchildren helped make the decision. I feel much more comfortable here."
The Sweeney's opened Artistic Viewpoints in July 2005 and have been part of the Carson Valley art world ever since. The Sweeney's tried to offer the Valley a fresh approach to art both in their displays and in their tireless promotion of the artists they represent, according to Sweeney. They have also provided an area where various artists can offer classes in their particular expertise and where Sweeney offers regular watercolor classes, sharing her tips and techniques in the medium she loves to work with.
Every Wednesday is her class day starting with her intermediate/advanced class from 9 a.m. to noon and her beginning class from 1:30-4 p.m. and then she has a 6:30-9 p.m. class that she calls her "free-for-all because everyone 'kinda' does their own thing," she said.
She taught many workshops and classes over the years including at the West Valley Art Museum, Sun City Grand and Sun City West in Surprise, Ariz., and recently she organized a workshop in Kauai, Hawaii, in early October. She is now organizing a three-day workshop in Sedona, Ariz., sometime in May.
Teri has explored the many facets of watercolors for a number of years now.
"The distinctive qualities of watercolors intrigue me and keep me experimenting with different ideas," Teri said. "I love the fluidity and transparency of the medium and try to let those elements represent my vision in each painting. My goal is to not give a photo realistic impression of a subject, but my artistic rendition through the many unique and surprising 'accidents' that can happen when using watercolors. Although I have a tendency to try to control my art, I strive to turn control over to the medium and still achieve a recognizable image."
Her current painting interest is the many subjects of the Valley landscape, including the ranches and open lands that may be lost forever to development.
Besides viewing her work at Artistic Viewpoints, she is also represented by Tahoe Country, located in the Marriott Center in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Aloha Images in Kauai, Hawaii.
Teri will be offering a Second Saturday demonstration Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at Artistic Viewpoints with a reception at the gallery from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information contact Teri Sweeney Designs-Artistic Viewpoints Gallery and Studio, 1368 Highway 395 Building B, Gardnerville, or call 783-0633.
