I enjoy such outdoor activities as field biology and bonsai. I'm especially interested in California native plants. Indoors, I do a lot of cooking, and watch many anime series. I also enjoy video games. But my greatest interest is photography.

Interestingly, my grandfather was a student of Ansel Adams. One of the first photo assignments I had was to visit a gallery of Adams' photography. Afterwards, I was at a park where the resident ground squirrels were accustomed to human activity. I got some very good close up shots.

My Autism makes my art more unique…I see things from a different perspective, which appeals to people more than art modeled blindly after famous artists. As of now, I have three pictures in the Voice Magazine show at Café Today in Paradise. Following are details of my first solo show. I'm donating the proceeds to President Clinton to help kids and teens with AIDS.

Texture is what drives me towards my composition in painting. I find that the more texture I have to work with, the more naturally I can paint. I see the canvas as a base to build from, a smooth surface just seems empty to me. I like to experiment with different ways of finding this texture in which to paint on. I find my inspiration through stories and journey's I've taken, or ones I hope to embark on.

Figures seem to draw me in, I like to watch how people move and flow, and try to capture the subtle glances they perform. The figures I paint seem to be in some timeless moment, going about thier day, or pausing to watch it go by. For me, making art is to create experession in people and in nature.

The shades of the earth is the palate I am most comfortable with. I feel grounded and humble in my art making when I am using those tones. What I choose to paint is a random experience. I continue to search for the style of art that I want to represent me.

Please visit my website at http://www.artbymorea.com

BACKGROUND: I was taught by many fine teachers during my school years. Since high school graduation, I have never stopped painting. Now I've taught myself new ways to paint. I mix sand with Gesso or Acrylic. This mixture give my paintings a raised effect, what I call "Raised Art"...

ARTIST STATMENT: Painting takes me where I long to be. I'm inspired by life, people and living my dreams.

Artist Quotation: " I paint the beauty I see and create the fantasy within"...

Please visit my website at http://www.yessy.com/debrachamberlin or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Artist's Bio 2006

Dr. Cris Guenter is a professor in the Department of Education at California State University, Chico. She holds a B.F.A. degree in painting and a B.S.degree in Art Education from Penn State University.  She earned her M.A.T. degree in painting and graphics and Ed.D. degree in education foundations and instructional technology at the University of Wyoming. She served as a high school art teacher in Pennsylvania and a gifted & talented coordinator and teacher in Wyoming before coming to CSU, Chico to teach teachers.  Her 28 years of teaching art and education span the kindergarten-university spectrum. She serves as a consultant and contributor to Glencoe McGraw-Hill Publishers for their art education text books. She specializes in teaching that focuses upon arts education, computer graphics and technology in education, creativity across the curriculum, and interdisciplinary education. She was named CSU, Chico's Outstanding Teacher for 2000 and California's Outstanding Visual Art Educator for 2001-2002. Cris is a practicing artist who exhibits her paintings, prints, and photographs in local, regional, and national juried exhibitions.

Artist’s Statement

Growing up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania with the rugged hills of the Seneca Highlands and virgin timber stands of the Alleghany Mountains, nature has always inspired me and taught me.  Line, color, shape, and composition that surround us daily influence the images that I create. Watercolors, acrylics, oils, wood-block and monotype printmaking, and photography are among my targeted mediums. Nature is a powerful presence. Nature's ability to cause us to wonder, to relax, and question are ongoing threads in my work.  These words I wrote for one of my solo exhibits provide a summary for viewing my work.

"An invitation to step inside,

The will to dare is the guide.

Observe, absorb to learn and grow;

Perception leads us where we go."

    --Cris Guenter

Open Studio Tour Information

Cris Guenter has a studio in her home. She displays her work and conducts demonstrations for the Open Studio Tour from her garage.  The space and open air of the garage make a visit to this studio stop easy, interesting, and fun. This year Dr. Guenter will be demonstrating a printmaking process known as monotype during the Open Studios Tour. There will be a small printmaking press set up and the process will be demonstrated for those who are interested.

Paintings, limited edition prints, photographs and cards from many of the art pieces will be available at this stop on the Open Studio Tour.  Prices range from $6-$600.