Ventura, CA – Focus on the Masters (FOTM) is pleased to announce that ten artists have been selected for FOTM formal documentation by a distinguished jury for the 2018 season.  An artist will be featured monthly beginning with Carol Shaw-Sutton on Sunday, January 28 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. as part of FOTM’s popular Artist Spotlight interview series, now in its twenty-third year.  Each artist’s interview will be filmed before a studio audience at Levity Live, 591 Collection Blvd., located at the Collection in Oxnard.  Documentation derived from this interview, extensive in-depth oral interviews, digitized library of the artists’ work and the collection of printed materials, news articles, gallery announcements and other pertinent material, will be added to the prestigious FOTM archive.

Levity Live shares its location with Copper Blues, one of the hottest restaurants and live music venues in the Ventura County.  The Oxnard location is centrally located at the intersection of the 101 Freeway and Oxnard Blvd., making the Artist Spotlight more accessible to art lovers in the east county and beyond, greatly expanding the highly-regarded arts organization’s audience.

The Artist Spotlight is open to students and faculty attending as a class assignment free of charge. FOTM is happy to assist faculty members with tracking attendance and sign-in sheets. Faculty and students are requested to make a reservation at  www.FocusOnTheMasters.com  or call 805.653.2501.

FOTM Founder Donna Granata shares her thoughts on why the Artist Spotlight series continues to draw audiences near and far. “Our creative community is so inspiring. Hearing an individual’s extraordinary story teaches us to be open – to be able to understand our humanity and grow to be more accepting of one another. It nurtures the soul.”

Admission to the Artist Spotlight interviews is free for FOTM members; general admission is $15, seniors and students with valid ID $10. For membership information, visit www.FocusOnTheMasters.com.

AfterGLOW Fundraising Events will be planned after each interview. Members of the community are invited to host an AfterGLOW and help to raise much needed funds to maintain the FOTM Archive. These popular salon style gatherings offer art enthusiasts the opportunity to visit with the featured artist while enjoying a light supper in the company of dedicated arts supporters. If you would like to host an AfterGLOW in your home, call FOTM at 805.653.2501 or email   [email protected]. Please indicate your first and second choice.

The ten artists selected have been selected for formal documentation by a highly respected jury consisting of Karen KitchelMargaret Nielsen and Colin Fraser Gray. Each artist was selected based on the artists’ mastery of their craft and diversity of expression, the respect from their peers and their historic role in the life of our artistic heritage.