Underwater photography for Greg Clifton represents a convergence of two longstanding passions – diving and taking pictures. Greg is excited, and quite honored, to have the chance to showcase some of his favorite images stemming from dive trips over the past four years in Central America. The exhibit (his first!) will consist of 21 images taken from the waters of southern Belize, Bonaire, Roatan, Utila, and Cayman. Consisting largely of corals, tropical fish and some larger seafaring species (including the world’s largest fish – the whale shark), the images are shared to underscore the incredible beauty and rich diversity of coral ecosystems, while raising awareness of their fragile nature and declining status in recent years.
I am teaching botanical art in my home and gave a course in botanical art at the Betty Ford Botanical Garden last year. I teach accurate drawing skills and work with graphite pencils, coloured pencils, water colours, and pen & ink. My background is an AB degree from Vassar College, MA degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and many years of taking courses in the Field Study Institutes in Great Britain: Flatford Mill, Preston Martin and Juniper Hall. I have taken many botanical workshops through ASBA, at conferences and courses in Denver and in Cape Cod. Recently, I have been studying local Colorado plants through courses given by the CSU extension service in the Vail Valley region.I teach small classes for adults only.
The Vail Valley Art Guild was begun in 2014 in order to fill a perceived need in the Vail Valley for an organization created by and for visual artists. Since its inception, the Vail Valley Art Guild has grown from 10 members to over 150 members, including over 70 photographers, many of whom are professionals. We offer the Vail Valley an opportunity to view the creativity of local oil, watercolor and acrylic painters, charcoal, pen and ink, and pastel artists, photographers, ceramicists, sculptors, jewelers, mixed media and paper artists.