Raymond J. Stovich (San Jose, California, United States)
Polish Christmas Caroling
Acrylic paint on canvas
In Poland, groups of carolers would go through neighborhoods and visit friends' houses. In the Krakow area, the groups would be led by a person carrying a large star, and others carrying a large "nativity." This was a church-like building made of cardboard and covered with colored foils. Nativity characters, also made of foil, were placed on this structure. In Chicago we celebrated with a 3-day festival in the school hall. Each group wore costumes from their native region and lead local carols.
Melissa Cannioto (Navarre, Florida, United States)
First Snow of Christmas
Digital illustration made with Procreate
https://www.instagram.com/melissa.cannioto
The magic and stillness of the first snow of the season. That incredible moment as a child, filled with awe and excitement, when the first white flakes fall. Christmas in the countryside of England is always accentuated in those rare years when snow actually falls in time for December 25.
Karen Joy Spratt (Petaluma, California, United States)
Sweet Tidings
Oil paint on canvas
https://www.instagram.com/KSprattArt/
I am fascinated with Hokusai's Great Wave. I think it's the fractal nature of the wave that draws me to paint in different ways.
Kevin Ang (San Francisco, California, United States)
A Helping Hand
Digital, sculpted in VR, Photoshop (on canvas)
https://www.instagram.com/bingkoland/
During 2020, I made this piece in dedication to all the frontliners who have, and continue to, put their lives on the line, keeping us all safe despite the lack of PPE on a daily basis. May they receive all the light they need in these dark times.
Audric E. Goo (San Francisco, California, United States)
Look to the sky...for a sparkling New Year!
Acrylic paint on canvas
A brighter New Year for San Francisco!
Audric E. Goo (San Francisco, California, United States)
Mele Kalikimaka
Acrylic paint on canvas
May your holiday be sunny and bright!
Keila Marciel (Fairfield, California, United States)
A Sweet Gathering
Digital illustration
https://www.instagram.com/keiladraws/
For me, the holidays are all about gathering around the table with your loved ones. Whether you celebrate with the family you were born into, your chosen family, or maybe just your dog begging at the edge of the table, make the most of the holiday season this year! I chose to depict a feast, because I feel this is the highlight of everyone's winter festivities. Of course, the one shown here is on the sweeter side and includes just a bit of magic.
Alex Name (Alexandria, Virginia, United States)
Xmas 2020
Watercolor paint
https://www.instagram.com/alex_watercolors/
https://www.watercolorsbyalexname.com/
A very special Xmas…
Ava Kennedy (San Francisco, California, United States)
Batteries Not Included
Screws and zip ties
https://www.instagram.com/hulahoneyava/
A playful interpretation of a dilemma faced by children and adults alike on Christmas day. You have a brand new toy only to realize you are missing the one element needed to make it work.
Madelyn Hsieh (United States)
A Few Fun Things in Christmas
Marker
Some of my favorite things about Christmas as a Google Doodle.
Sophia H. Lee (San Francisco, California, United States)
Under the Ivy, Entrance to a Secret Garden
Hand-cut urban waste with encaustics on plexiglass over photo print on an LED light box
https://www.instagram.com/barkingowls/
The garden is a sanctuary for my mother. I learned my love for plants and flowers because of her. When she became ill a few years back, I thought to create a series that would make her smile. The series explores abstract patterns that mimic the movement of leaves and petals, through reclaimed material collected from food packaging, cosmetics, and junk mail. Collaged into multiple layers, the refuse creates textured surfaces of bold colors.
Jasmine Grace Lee (Millbrae, California, United States)
Palm Springs Christmas
Acrylic paint
Christmas in the Palm Springs area isn't quite like anywhere else. It's colorful, vibrant, still sunny and warm, and yet surrounded by snowy purple mountains. It's home for the holidays!
Katie Carone (California, United States)
Gifts from La Befana
Paper cutouts and gouache paint
https://www.instagram.com/katie_carone/
I grew up hearing the story of La Befana from my Nonni. We receive gifts from Befana on the 6th of January because she missed the opportunity to visit baby Jesus with the Three Wise Men since she was busy sweeping. She delivers gifts to all the children in hopes that one will be received by Jesus. This story is very sweet and I love having a unique Christmas tradition from my Italian background. Included in my piece are the cookies I make with my Nonni every year around Christmas.
Pragati Sharma (Sunnyvale, California, United States)
Durga - Mahishasurmardini
Mixed media on canvas
https://www.instagram.com/pragati_sharma_artist/
Durga - Mahishasurmaridni is a triptych showing the warrior Goddess "Durga" who is worshipped to celebrate her victory over the demon "Mahishasur." In this triptych she is holding various weapons in each painting as if she is ready to "Slay the Demon." With these strong stances I celebrate the power of a mother that is within each one of us. My artworks are done in a maximalist tradition and I draw subtly from the miniature and folk paintings of India.
Reshma Bhoopal (Mountain View, California, United States)
Santa Wreath
Glass
https://www.instagram.com/artsfromglass/
Christmas is such a festive holiday. Glass is a beautiful medium to work with and I wanted to make something that embodies the festive spirit which is so magical. I have enjoyed making this wreath using two different techniques. The Santa has been fused in the kiln and is put together with the wreath using the tiffany copper foil technique. Fused glass holly accents are added to complete the wreath.
Juliana Rincon (San Francisco, California, United States)
reimagine
Ink on paper
https://www.instagram.com/julesrincon/
Pan-American Hispania with a BA in Dramatic Arts, exploring fiber, textile, paper, and sculptural media. A proto-Peruvian retablo pays homage to the country of my birth, its prosceniums ready to receive the viewer in planning and reimagining the spirit of the season. Candles are used to give ambiance instead as a response to the blackouts from the yearly Xmas terrorist attacks on power towers I remember from my childhood. Red for the Peruvian flag, meaning swapped for love and abundance.
Alyssa N. Fierro (Galloway, New Jersey, United States)
Memories
Digital illustration
https://www.instagram.com/anfdesign_/
https://anfdesign.myportfolio.com/
The holidays do not have to be a certain date or a special occasion, but that special time you spend with the ones you love the most. Whether you spend every day with them, or only see them ever so often, taking the time to enjoy each other's company always feels like a holiday—warm and loving. In this piece I chose to use a rough, line art style in a "scrapbook"-like design to emphasize the happiness felt when reminiscing on old photographs of you with your family.
Alejandro Carrillo De La Fuente (Saltillo, Mexico)
Magical Seasons, Magical Memories
Digital illustration
https://www.instagram.com/alexcarrillo.art/
This time of the year is full of magical moments & traditions. Just like Walt, I believe that holidays make us relax, celebrate, and create beautiful memories with the people we love. As a commemoration of WDFM's Spirit of the Season exhibition, I created this artwork with a village full of magic, from people all around the world celebrating their different traditions. It represents the union of a village embracing these traditions and lighting up the town with our beautiful hearts and spirits.
Alejandro Carrillo De La Fuente (Saltillo, Mexico)
Cheers to the Memories
Digital illustration
https://www.instagram.com/alexcarrillo.art/
Different holidays are celebrated around the world during this season. Just like Walt, I believe that holidays make us create new memories. As a commemoration of WDFM's Spirit of the Season exhibition, I created this artwork full of beautiful memories and traditions like Toji, taking a selfie, etc. Just like Walt, I believe that what makes us love this time of the year is that we get time to relax, spend time with our loved ones, and celebrate beautiful traditions.
John Frederick Barrows (Belmont, California, United States)
Dickens Carolers
Oil paint on board
The spirit of the season to me is that of the Christmas holiday. Christmas not only represents the birth of Jesus, but is when people take time off from their usual concerns and enjoy family and friends. My wife and I enjoy going to the Dickens Christmas Fair where the choir sings songs of "Joy to the World."
Jessica DePrest (Los Angeles, California, United States)
The Wintergreen Dalecarlian Horse
Acrylic paint and artificial greenery
https://www.instagram.com/morganandthe56/
The Dalecarlian Horse is traditionally a wooden toy horse, painted with bright colors. Originally made in Sweden, the decorations on traditional Dalecarlian Horses often would reflect the localities in which they were produced. This series of three Dalecarlian Horses reflects my own family and our traditions.
Jessica DePrest (Los Angeles, California, United States)
The Belgian Dalecarlian Horse
Acrylic paint
https://www.instagram.com/morganandthe56/
The Wintergreen Dalecarlian Horse represents my earliest memories of celebrating the holidays with my family; The Belgian Dalecarlian Horse represents those family members that I don't get to see every year, but celebrate with in spirit; and The Revelling Dalecarlian Horse represents the community, song, and dance of the holidays.
Jessica DePrest (Los Angeles, California, United States)
The Revelling Dalecarlian Horse
Acrylic paint on foil cardstock
https://www.instagram.com/morganandthe56/
The Wintergreen, Belgian, and Revelling Dalecarlian Horses are to me reminders of the traditions, community, and joy that defines the holiday season.
Ana Lazaro (San Francisco, California, United States)
The Three Kings
Acrylic paint on wood
https://www.instagram.com/lazaroarts.sf/
The Three Kings hold special significance in our family. Much like Santa, kids in Spain await with eager anticipation the arrival of their beloved "Reyes Magos" bringing presents on January 5th. Astrologers have looked at historical records in search of evidence that could explain the Christmas Star that guided the Three Wise Men. A recent theory is that the bright planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Venus could have guided the Three Wise Men, which was used as inspiration for this painting.
Mackenzie Bowles (Oakland, California, United States)
Tis the Spirit
Digital illustration using Procreate
https://www.instagram.com/doodlesbymack/
Ata'ataoletaeao McNealy (San Francisco, California, United States)
Kwanzaa is Lit
Digital print
https://www.instagram.com/afatasitheartist/
This piece is dedicated to Kwanzaa which means "first fruits" in Swahili. It is a holiday rooted in African traditions, and celebrated by many communities across America. Each candle in the KINARA or candleholder represents the 7 Kwanzaa Principles, which are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Stay lit everyone!
Alex Name (Alexandria, Virginia, United States)
Eyes
Watercolor paint
https://www.instagram.com/alex_watercolors/
https://www.watercolorsbyalexname.com/
"We are watched
Color of our lives
Beauty of our neglect
Eyes skies open
To all the nothing
Something we missed
Though they look
Patches of blue
Root un green
Beneath the scene
Earth Birth Turn”
Story by Kevin Eubanks
Judith Roach Komoroske (Menlo Park, California, United States)
Winter Sky
Photography
Judith Roach Komoroske (Menlo Park, California, United States)
Winter Walk
Photography
Judith Roach Komoroske (Menlo Park, California, United States)
Winter Quiet
Photography
Julia Vann (Martinez, California, United States)
Winter Soulstice
Oil paint on canvas
https://www.instagram.com/julia_the_creative/
Winter Soulstice celebrates my deep connection to nature and a tradition I practice during Winter Solstice. As our Earth has its seasonal shifts and transitions, I see solstices as our time to disconnect and reconnect to the things that matter most to us, especially energy, as we are all part of this greater energetic ecosystem. For me, this means taking the day to submerge myself into the ocean, which flows with one of the biggest energetic currents. As Earth shifts into the winter solstice, I see my soul on the brink of shifting and evolving into the new year. I take the time to honor what the universe has blessed me with over the years, and ground myself within the ocean in order to cleanse and prepare for what’s to come. In this painting, you see my emergence from water—rising up to the surface, simultaneously in an alternate world of above and below. My soul is one with the light, the same light that reflects on water and the same light that twinkles in the stars.