Artist Reception for Bishops and Zanini at PAA, Dec. 3

The latest Porterville Arts Association exhibit features the work of Bill Bishop, Susie Bishop and Ron Zanini. The exhibit is currently open, however, the artist reception is Sunday, Dec. 3 from 2-4pm.

Bill Bishop’s expertise in reproducing both fish and birds from wood stems from a true love for fly fishing and watching birds. He believes in accuracy and his clients are pleased.

He is a graduate of Art Center School of Design. His world-class sculptures of birds and fish are in private collections throughout the United States.

An accomplished artist, Bill Bishop combines his God–given artistic ability with his love of the outdoors. He creates world-class wood sculptures of birds and fish for private collections.

Bishop worked in Freelance Illustration, Technical Illustration in the Aerospace Industry and as a Medical Illustrator at UCLA, School of Dentistry. When he attended a Duck’s Unlimited fundraiser he knew what his next creative endeavor would be. He began craving water fowl and in 1987 won World Champion in the Champion in Open Class Decorative-life size division. For 34 years he has been sculpting detailed art from wood.

Susie Negus Bishop knew at a very young age she loved nature and art. She was raised on a ranch in Springville and spent summers at the Balch Park-station her family owned. This legacy has greatly influenced her art. She is happy to reside again in Porterville with her artist husband, Bill.

She is a self-taught artist, learning from nature and directed by her rock, her faith in God. Early in the late seventies, she painted for Ducks Unlimited and at a fundraiser met her future husband Bill. Private collectors enjoy her oil and most recent acrylic paintings of wildlife and landscapes.

Susie Bishop loves to share her abilities in painting. She gives beginning lessons to all ages. She and Bill are retired from foster parenting but still realize that art is very important for self-expression and healing and growth.

Ron Zanini has been making decorative wood boxes since his retirement from teaching in 2002. Using spalted, distressed, patterned, burl, and other otherwise unusual woods, Zanini creates something special that is truly “one-of-a-kind.”

Decorative box by Ron Zanini.

After working as a teacher, while simultaneously being his grandfather’s estate executor, farming the ranch– driving, spraying crops, and signing checks– all work stopped. That was the beginning of discovering his passion for creating the wooden boxes. Zanini converted his garage into a workshop, purchased some band saws, and started collecting wood– buckeye, sycamore, walnut, peach, orange, pecan, mulberry, and many others– for his projects. He estimates he has completed more than 300 boxes, has another 300-plus boxes in various stages, and more wood than he could ever use.

Among the designs he has created are redwood trees, black bear, birds, flowers and a peacock. His work has incredibly intricate sheer piece of wood that he had to glue on to of another. Each little piece got inlaid with tons and tons of little pieces, sometimes in different colors of woods to bring out the design.

The Porterville Art Association present show will remain up until January 10. The gallery is located at 151 N. Main St. For more information, call (559) 784-4323.

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