Tehama County features 'Fairies & Fantasies' art show

Local artists will offer a glimpse of fantasy worlds they have created through their imagination and visions for the “Fairies and Fantasies” art show July 12-27 at the Tehama Arts Gallery, 328 Oak St, Red Bluff.

The featured artist/illustrator for the exhibit is Steve Ferchaud, who is well-known for his whimsical fantasy

world of gnomes, frogs and other creatures and characters.

He inspires and entertains his devoted followers with his illustrations, poetry and writings and has a gift of storytelling with insight, passion and personable wit, said the Tehama County Arts Council, which is hosting the event.

Ferchaud has been a part of the Annual Red Bluff Downtown ArtWalk for many years, sketching five-minute caricatures of people.

The community is invited by TCAC to meet Ferchaud and other artists at the opening reception 5:30-8 p.m., Friday, July 12, during which guests will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite artwork to receive the People’s Choice Award.

Ferchaud, who grew up in Red Bluff, drew in the margins of his schoolwork and on his desk. He had a lot of encouragement from his teachers and parents who saw his early talents. He took all the high school and college art classes available.

He was greatly influenced by illustrators of the 1930s, especially Norman Rockwell. Mad Magazine from the 70s is where he learned to do character drawings.

All of his education and experience led Ferchaud to a career of published award-winning illustrations.

His first paid job was when he was in the 7th grade and asked to create a drawing for a school board event. After that, he says he’s just been lucky to be in the right place at the right time doing what he loves.

Ferchaud has created illustrations for commercial projects, including books, magazines and newspapers and artwork for various labels and T-shirts.

He has also illustrated over 40 children’s books including the Benjamin Franklin award-winning book “The Carpenters Legacy.”

Ferchaud received a Golden Quill Award for the best illustrations for “The Man Who Spoke to Cats,” and a CPA Award for best illustrations for “Josh and Bigfoot.” He’s written and illustrated five books of his own, which he will be publishing soon.

As a survivor of the Paradise Camp Fire, Ferchaud wrote and illustrated “My Name is Haley, And I Live in Paradise,” based on his and other’s first hand experiences of having lived through the devastation and loss of their town, homes and all possessions. He donated the book as a fundraiser for a Paradise Ridge Community Foundation. He said it was very therapeutic for him and he never gave up or stopped painting, even after he lost all his art.

“My art has meant everything to me,” Ferchaud said. “I feel so fortunate that it’s what I get to do. I enjoy it and am happy when others do too.”

His advice to artists is to keep being creative.

“Don’t worry about how good you are. Be the best you can be. Even great artists have gotten frustrated with their art and wiped their paint palettes clean. Enjoy it and let the child in you have fun with it,” Ferchaud added.

The event is sponsored by the Tehama County Arts Council.

Tehama County Art Gallery hours are Fri. 2-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information: www.tehamaarts.org, or call (530) 278-5691