The Annual North Auburn Studio Tour on Mother’s Day weekend is both Saturday and Sunday, 10 A - 5 PM. All artists are local and may be visited in up to 15 locations in the Auburn area. Sonja’s studio is in North Auburn and will showcase her new original work as well as so many pieces that will be found categorized in flat files, which visitors may peruse. She will have lots of cards, calendars, mostly originals but a few prints. More to follow - as a local preview showing. For a map (published in April) please visit www.northauburnartists.com.

See the “Mystery Lesson" Sonja assigned to her Intermediate/Advanced Watercolor students at Placer School for Adults at the Beecher Room of the Placer County Library, 350 Nevada Street, Auburn, CA.

A-Z FLOWERS .. A harbinger of Spring! 32 students are exhibited, either with framed watercolors or prints of their watercolor flowers on posters inside the Beecher Room or in the glass cases outdoors. We all hope you enjoy seeing the fruits of our research and results from Azalea to Zygo Petalum (orchid).

Hours are Wed - Thursday, 10 AM - 6 PM, Friday & Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM. Prices on request at the Front Desk of the Library.

Sonja is teaching Intermediate/Advanced Watercolor with an emphasis this semester on “The Light in Watercolor”. Registration started January 3.

Sonja teaches two classes. One is Tuesdays 6 - 9 PM and the other on Thursday, 9 Am - 12 Noon. There are 2 sessions for each class, both Online and in the classroom.

Session ! - 6-weeks, begins Tuesday Jan 31 and Thursday, Feb 2. (Holiday Feb 14 & 16) . Session 2 is followed with 6-weeks that ends May 2 & 4 . ( Spring Break holiday is April 4 & 6.)

Also, Please note that the pre-requisiteof at least 1 year of Beginning Watercolor is necessary; this medium is so different from oil or acrylic that those not familiar with watercolors, the properties, and useage, will not be able to keep up, since no beginning techniques are taught. You may register for both sessions at one time since classes usually fill quickly. And there is a waiting list in case you can’t get in.

Placer School for Adults, 3775 Richardson Drive, Auburn. Art room is #9 on the campus. For more information go to www.placceronline.org. or call 530. 885-8585 for more information.

Being a member of the art cooperative, Sonja’s original watercolors are always on view. The display changes approximately every two month during the year. All work is available for sale, including cards, calendars and her watercolor book, “It’s Only a Piece of Paper”. When there, check the monthly Featured Wall with special art for the month to see what creative works the artists have made. Hours are Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM. Friday - Saturday, 10 AM - 9 PM. CLOSED TUESDAYS.

Sonja Hamilton, swa, a North Auburn Artist is exhibiting Watercolors in the lobby of Marriott’s SpringHill Suites, 13535 Bowman Road, Auburn CA. The seasonal theme is Snow and Water (ocean). Also on exhibit is 3D artist, Jeannie Kaiser with her Felted Vases. Visiting is free.

Sonja is a member at Auburn Old Town Gallery, 218 Washington Street, Auburn (in Old Town, just off Highway 80). See her current exhibits which will change every couple of months. The gallery also has a monthly, themed featured wall, so check that one out as well. You may pick up a North Auburn Artists Studio Tour brochure/map at her display wall or at the front desk of the gallery. Hours currently are: Daily 10 - 6, plus 6 - 9 PM Friday and Saturday evenings. www.auburnoldtowngallery.com

Save the date! The annual North Auburn Art Studio Tour is happening this Mother’s Day weekend, May 14 & 15 from 10 - 5 PM each day. Come visit my studio and see my newest watercolors as well as paintings filed by category in drawers. All are originals! More information (with short videos of our artists) will be posted later this spring on www.northauburnartists.com.

The daytime series of intermediate/Advanced Watercolor painting, with 2, 5-week sessions begins Sept 9. The online catalogue is available Online at www.placeronline.org for registration and information. I will be teaching from the classroom on campus at Regional Park, Auburn and will have a Blended (Hybrid) class with both in-classroom learning plus Online. This class fills quickly, so mark your calendars now. Please refer to my Tuesday evening class for more information. www.placeronline.org

“Mini Rapids”, an original watercolor painted and framed by Sonja Hamilton, swa, was selected for the annual KVIE ART Auction. Actual On-air time has been announced as Sunday, October 3, 3 PM #37. Selected art is on display in the PBS KVIE lobby and common areas, August 30 - September 29. Online viewing of the art is available now where pre-bidding begins! (Check KVIE online for hours of operation for viewing art in their offices in Sacramento.) www.kvie.org/artauction

The North Auburn Artists are having a special “Fall Into Art Tour”. Several artists will be gathered together in each of 4 studios. Sonja will be in the studio of Barbra Paitich, 5841 Bell Road. With her will be Diane Wood, Fused Glass Relief Sculptures, Carved Glass Jewelry with Silver as well as Barbra Paitich, Silk & Metal, Glass & Metal Jewelry.

The tour is both Saturday and Sunday, from 10 AM - 5 PM each day. Come visit the newly remodeled, lovely studio and enjoy looking at all of our new art. FREE event

A new Fall series of 2, 5-week classes for Intermediate/Advanced Watercolor classes begin.September 7; check this site to register online: www.placeronline.org. These will be Blended (or Hybrid) classes, which means you may have either In-classroom learning or Online learning. Both will be presented at the same time from the Adult School classroom at the Richardson site in Regional Park, Auburn. Classes are 3 hours long, from 6 PM to 9 PM. Remember, registration date and information are Online You may register by phone (530. 885-8585), in person, or online…. www.placeronline.org

This Special Exhibit is featuring the Intermediate/Advanced students from Sonja Hamilton’s Placer School for Adults Watercolor Painting Class. The assignment was to select a period in art history, a favorite artist, one of his or her paintings to feature a figure or portrait, and replicate the style except for replacing the human parts with those of either a cat or dog. So… on view are the “Girl with a Pearl”, “American Gothic”, “Luncheon of the Boating Party” and a lot more.

Find these wonderful pieces at Tango Yogurt, 940 Lincoln Way, Auburn. Please check their fluctuating hours of operation. An outdoor Meet/Greet the artists will be announced soon.

The North Auburn Artists have a gallery exhibit at Blue Line Arts, 405 Vernon Street, Roseville. Sonja has two watercolor paintings with the NAAST group and one additional watercolor in the New Members Show. Opening Reception will be Saturday, June 19, 4 - 8 PM. Usual gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11 AM - 5 PM. www.BlueLineArts.org (916) 783-4117

Auburn Old Town Gallery, 218 Washington Street, Auburn (in Old Town) will be participating in the Auburn Co-Op, a street fair, on May 18 and also in September (date to be confirmed). The Fair is rotated around the town with other venues in Downtown and Mid-town Auburn during the year. Sonja will be painting inside the gallery. Parking may be tight since the streets will be closed. But do come for this event; it should be fun.

We’re BACK! Yes, our annual art studio tour is back on with the North Auburn Artists! There are 21 artists in the North Auburn area where you can visit, meet, talk to and even purchase some wonderful art during this weekend. Sonja’s studio is open both days She has a hand washing station on her studio patio, paper towels, sanitizer and a few masks. Please bring your mask. Sonja has been vaccinated, so she is safe! For a complete listing and map, please go to www.northauburnartists.com. There, you will not only be able to print a map (or pick one up at many of the local business - including Auburn Old Town Gallery - bit also see some great short videos of the artists and their studios. We all acknowledge the kindness of the FRIENDS of North Auburn Artists; see the complete listing at the studios. www.northauburnartists.com.

Come on down! So glad we will be able to see each other!

Sonja and glass artist, Diane Wood (both North Auburn Artists) are exhibiting for 2 months at the new Marriott SpringHill Suites, just off Highway 80 in north Auburn. Sonja’s theme is “California’s Seasons” with 6 watercolors - some painted on location and others either painted in the classroom as demos or painted in her studio. You may find all these plus the beautiful glass art in the lobby of the Marriott. We hope you enjoy our showing.

North Auburn Artists will be showing paintings at the Yogurt shop. Sonja will have two paintings on exhibit. Please enjoy the art and a delicious frozen treat! Also, check the business hours as they may change..

Just across from Nordstrom’s Department Store and the restaurant Land Ocean, on the second floor of the mall, you will find three storefront windows with a display from North Auburn Artists. The theme is the Beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. All art, 2D and 3D, is for sale. Enjoy window shopping, literally!

A NEW Virtual Tour of the artists in Placer County takes place this year on two, 3-day weekend dates, each from Friday - Sunday, 10 - 5 PM. However, although Sonja Hamilton’s studio will not be open during this Covid pandemic, you can visit her paintings online through her VIDEO. It will be “live” on the PlacerArts.org site in September. Anyone interested in purchasing an original watercolor painting needs to contact the artist directly. (More information on the PlacerArts site.) Click to view.

One of my framed paintings has been selected for this celebrated annual auction; this is the third time I have been honored. My landscape painting is called “Dusk, Monterey Peninsula”. Please check the KVIE website for the preview showing. My piece will be aired Sunday, October 4, 3 PM! You need to be prompt or you will miss the auction at that specific time.

KVIE.org/artauction2020

NEW! Registration is now open for Sonja’s ONLINE Intermediate and Advanced Watercolor classes with Placer Adult School. These classes will be through Google Meet (like Zoom). Placer Adult School will advise each registrant on how to connect from their computer to the program. Sonja will be in the school classroom where the electronics are located and will be teaching from there. Before the classes begin, each registrant will received information and a lesson plan for the 5-week (NEW length) session. She will do a lecture, a demonstration and critiques just as in the normal classroom situation.

Another 5-week session follows directly after the first. You may register for one or both sessions now.

Since many students haven’t painted much since the shutdown, Sonja will begin slowly with the basics - color, composition, and the Elements of Art. Be prepared for homework after each lesson; critique will follow at the beginning of the next class.

Sonja is one of the artists in the North Auburn Artists group that is exhibiting at Baked & Brewed (Coffee Shop), 958 Lincoln Way, Auburn. Peep through the window and see the beautiful art on the walls! Then order a great coffee or tea and accompany it with a delicious baked goodie!

I will have one painting in this group showing of the North Auburn Artists,provided these dates hold. A reception is tentatively scheduled for August 15 during the Roseville Art Walk.

Blue Line is located at 405 Vernon Street, Suite 100, Roseville CA. Please check their website for the most current information for times of operation.

Try your hand at watercolor classes with me, Sonja Hamilton, swa, on ZOOM. Our host will be French Escapade, the company with whom I have conducted European painting workshops in 5 countries for about 10 years. With their business being shuttered due to the Corona virus, classes are being offered on Zoom.

My two classes will be on Painting Trees and Painting Rocks. We will do sample trees first followed by a demonstration and step by step painting by all. (The sample trees will also be done step by step giving each student a chance to try this particular tree.) I will answer questions as needed and will have a mini critique at the end of each day. It is a jam-packed fun two days of painting.

So far, participants are coming from Maine, Massachusetts, Florida, New Mexico, Washington, and California. I will be doing trees that are found in these regions and elsewhere.

For registration information please go to www.frenchescapade.com/V.I.E.W. (Virtual Interactive Escapade Workshop has all the listing of teachers across our country who will be giving lessons. I will also do another short series later in the year, so check that website. )