Amundson started her working career as a biologist and changed professions several times before retiring in 2005. She said she dabbled in painting during one-week Yosemite Park vacations starting in 1988, but did not take it up in earnest until 2006.
“I have no formal training but have learned bits and pieces from other artists,” she said. “For me, a painting is successful if it captures the feeling and sense of the place, which is why I prefer to paint what I see while I am there, even if I have to finish it later.”
She also prints cards of her paintings, which are in several shops locally and in Yosemite Valley, and paints on commission from photographs.
Hodge and her husband own and operate D&N Mercantile, an antique gun website of more than 10 years. An Ohio native, she earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art and taught it in a high school before coming west decades ago.
“I arrived with my paintbrushes, pastels, watercolors and many other various instruments to develop my vision,” Hodge said. “I continue to explore new ideas to present an image on paper. I love to go out-of-the-box with uncommon materials to highlight my work.”
Harbor Village Gallery, at 1591 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura Harbor Village, has summer hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily except Tuesdays and stays open until 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information about the exhibit or the nonprofit Buenaventura Art Association, call 648-1235.
