Very Ventura Gift Shop & Gallery is pleased to present "California Dreamin’ and Beyond” – A fine art show featuring watercolorists Ann Galloway and Julie Merrill.  Both artists enjoy plein air and in-studio painting. Julie Merrill has been teaching watercolor classes for the past 8 years and is currently teaching at ART LAB in Ventura along with Ann Galloway. Inspired by landscapes home and abroad, their paintings capture scenes delicately unfolding in the moment.  The opening reception will be held on 11/18/2017 from 6pm-8pm, in conjunction with Arts & Eats, downtown Ventura.  The exhibit runs through 1/12/2018.  Contact Angela at 805-628-3540 for full details.  Free event.

Ann Galloway

Ann Galloway majored in Fine Arts in college.  After a 28-year teaching career, she took up watercolor painting and has been painting for the past 15 years.  She has studied with Tom Henderson, Cathy Quiel, Brenda Swenson, Karen McGaw and Julie Merrill.  Besides painting locally, she considers it her good fortune to have traveled and painted in Italy and France.

Ann Galloway has been a member of The Buenaventura Art Association and has participated in their shows.  She has also participated in the Ventura Art Walk at Vita Art Center. Her work has been displayed at A Secret Place Salon, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital and The Blanchard Community Library. She’s had two landscapes displayed at a show at the Carpinteria Arts Center.  Her work is currently on display at Max’s Restaurant in Santa Barbara. Ann Galloway resides in Carpinteria.

Julie Merrill

Julie Merrill is a graduate of Sonoma State University with a degree in Art with an emphasis in Watercolor. She has studied studio watercolor with Cathy Quiel in Santa Barbara and recently studied with her in Sicily, Italy where she led a watercolor class. For the last several years she has also studied with Tom Henderson in plein air, also in Santa Barbara and has participated in workshops with Brenda Swenson, Thomas Schaller, Joseph Stoddard and Charles Reid.

Merrill has worked for Patagonia as a colorist and print designer, which has given her a lot of experience in the process of dyeing fabric and working with the coloring of products.