July 2-August 30 Artists: Luz Shepard & Elsa Orozco Toops
July 2-August 30, we are delighted to have Luz Shepard and Elsa Orozco Toops, with their award winning and wide-ranging artistic talents, decorating the walls of the Winer Family Community Room & Art Gallery of the San Carlos Branch Library. They will discuss their unique techniques at their July 19, noon-2 pm Artist Reception. 
Luz Shepard’s artistic talents were obvious as early as kindergarten. Showing a maturity beyond her years, Luz’s early drawings of people were more life-like than the usual preschool stick-people. Born and raised in Bolivia, South America, Luz came to the United States in 1969.
Over her lifetime, Shepard has enjoyed taking many art classes using a variety of techniques which included photography, jewelry design, ceramics, painting with watercolor, acrylic, and pastels. Over the past 30 years, Luz has focused on pastels and Sumi-e (oriental brush). Luz says that she continues to take art classes to, “keep the brain going.”
Shepard’s art is inspired by the beautiful nature of San Diego. She enjoys painting sceneries at Lake Murray and Balboa Park. Some of her favorite drawings and paintings are the stunningly unique epiphyllum flowers in her own backyard. Luz has won multiple awards from participation in fine art exhibitions at Del Mar Fair, the Foothills Gallery, and Balboa Park Japanese Sumi-e special events. She is excited to be holding her fourth exhibition at the San Carlos Branch Library.
Elsa Orozco-Toops is a fascinating woman who started painting later in life after raising her children. A graduate of SDSU, she holds the following credentials: M.A. Ed, M.A. in American Literature and Hispanic Applied Linguistics, M.F.A. in Writing Studies, and has worked both as a teacher and translator. As an artist, Elsa express the exquisiteness of the world in which we live with its wondrous inhabitants, in oil, water, acrylic, ink, ceramics, and couture.
Toops tells us, “At the moment, I have continued in the art of Japanese ink brush painting which requires balance, harmony, and flow, and the essential principles of Zen Buddhism, which emphasize mindfulness and simplicity. The meaning behind my artwork is my passion for life, nature, and the study of humanity. I paint in plein air, focus on every flower, leaf, or crag on the mountains that look realistic or abstract, focusing on the drops of water, and every light in landscape. I converge on the characteristics of faces and try to bring out their personalities in portraiture. I now and again pick up the brushes to bring out the surreal of my world with wild color, with large brushstrokes.”
Toops’ works have been exhibited in Mexico City, Rosarito Beach, and Chula Vista, and San Diego, CA and have received several first, second, and third prizes. Following her retirement from teaching, she has also volunteered at the Norman Park Senior Center and Chula Vista Civic Center Library.
