Art Works Gallery: Meet the Artist

MORE ARTISTS ARE JOINING ART cooperatives to help sell their artwork. They can show their work year-round, share their knowledge and pool ideas.

We like the co-ops because we get to meet the artists, who agree to volunteer some of their time in the galleries. It’s a more personal experience, just like meeting a winemaker.

When it comes to art, we enjoy learning firsthand what led to its creation.

“We love talking about our art,” says Sheila Cameron, one of more than 35 juried artists at the Art Works Gallery in downtown Grass Valley. “So often people feel intimated about asking questions or just coming in to look.

“Art Works offers the best of both worlds—exceptional art and personal service with a friendly vibe.”

Art Works Gallery, in a renovated Gold Rush-era building at 113 Mill St., offers an eclectic collection of art: jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, furniture, wood, glass and mosaics, as well as photography, collage, watercolors, oil paintings, acrylics and drawings.

The artists also work together to keep the gallery fresh. They rotate every three months and include new work with each rotation.

You can see a complete list of the artists at the gallery’s website, ArtWorksGalleryCo-op.com.

If there is a piece that resonates with you, you can arrange to meet with the artist to discuss it. “You can’t find this level of service and connection at a regular gallery,” Sheila notes.

In May, Art Works Gallery celebrates its third anniversary, and it continues to grow. The gallery just had its best holiday season since opening, recording a 22 percent increase in sales in December and an 18 percent rise in December over the previous year.

“Just over the holidays, I had a wonderful experience meeting a family interested in a large painting,” says Sheila. “It was thrilling to share my inspiration, and they went home with the art knowing more about me and the story behind it.”