Western exhibit on display at Arts Council gallery in Marysville

A Western-themed art exhibit, "Bits and Blinders," featuring Yuba County artists Liz Williams and Megan Elaine Luis, is on display at the Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council Gallery in Marysville through June 17.

Luis said that when thinking of what to title the show, she worked with her mother to brainstorm words that "made us think of draft horses, saddle horses and cowboys. We wanted the title to be something so that anyone reading it would know — in as few words as possible — the content of the show. 'Bits and Blinders' captures all of our work and who we are as artists, and when I shared the idea with Liz, she thought so, too."

Williams, age 76, and Luis, age 25, are both residents of Linda. "I've just within the last year gotten out there and started entering my work in shows," Luis said, "and I applied for the (YSRAC) gallery position. When they asked me if I would show with Liz Williams, I said, 'Sure!' It's an honor to show with her; I've been admiring her work at the Draft Horse Classic (art show) for many years."

Luis said the timing of the art exhibit is intended to complement the events of the Marysville Stampede, happening this weekend.

Williams said, "I've been working in art for about 56 years. When I was a kid, I used to draw my horse statues. Horses have always been what I love to draw.

"My primary media are oil and pastels," Williams added. "I also do colored pencil and pencil — of which I have one in this exhibit. And I do some sculpting. I have a small bas relief in bronze in the exhibit. And I'm working on some carving now at home, so I try a little bit of everything.

"I've juried in the Draft Horse Classic art show for 12 years," Williams said, "and this year I'm trying for number 13."

"Bits and Blinders" includes about 17 pieces by Williams and about 16 by Luis.

Luis said, "My pieces in the exhibit are all horse work except for the one dog piece. Ninety percent of what I do is all horses; I do a few dogs. I'm in the process of working on a bucking bull right now, one of Cindy Rosser's bucking bulls.

"That's pretty much what I grew up with. I grew up on a dairy farm in Linda. My grandpa had draft horses my whole life, showing up at the Draft Horse Classic, so it had always been my dream to be in that art show. I've drawn since I was a little kid and finally entered (the draft horse art show) last year and had two pieces in it.

"I work solely in pencil, graphite pencil and colored pencil," Luis continued. "I also do photography and really enjoyed the black-and-white photography class at Yuba College.

"I draw only from my own photographs," Luis said, "so every drawing that's in here was drawn from a photograph that I've taken. I've interacted with each one of these horses. Having been around them, I know their personalities — and that's real important. I like to know their personalities so I can put that in the drawing and really bring it to life.

"Out of the pencil pieces on display, my all-time favorite is 'Mack,'" Luis continued. "That's Mack the Belgian; he's with Meadowlake Belgians from Oregon, my friend's uncle's horses. Mack was just breathtaking to watch at the Draft Horse Classic. He's this big, giant horse with this huge head — kind of an odd-shaped head, so not your generally beautiful-looking horse — but he just was this massive, extremely gentle giant. I probably have 100 photographs of that horse. He just stood out; he was amazing.

"'Taps' would have to be another one of my favorites," Luis added. "This was an event I went to in Red Bluff, and it's a different style of roping than what you see done at the rodeos. They use these larger-size loops; it's ranch-style roping. They're gentler. Most of these roping pictures (in the exhibit) are from that event."

"Just about every drawing and painting has a story behind it," Williams said. "My favorite one here would have to be 'Roy Rogers.' When I was a little kid, I thought Trigger was absolutely the best thing in the West. I did this piece last year and just finished it last fall."

CONTACT Susan Benitez at 749-4773.