I have recently had the great pleasure of meeting three very talented and unusual women. Although they work in very different mediums and styles, they share the traits of strength of purpose, determination and perseverance.

Using nature as their ultimate inspiration, Breta Matson, Michele Chapin and Michel Petersen go to unusual ends to create their visions of beauty.

Breta Matson utilizes a relatively new innovation which allows different colors of glass to "fuse" with each other in a kiln heated to 1500 degrees or higher. (Before l979, it was only possible to fuse glass to itself using the same color). Working with 80 plus colors, either opaque or translucent, Breta creates amazing luminous fine art pieces as well as architectural installations and custom glass basins.

Breta is behind the newly establish Studio 721 in Borrego Springs, CA. Studio 721 represents several local artists and is open by appointment only,

From drawer pulls, basins, tiles, countertops, window and door treatments, sculptures and jewelry, her love of light, reflection and nature are evident. Breta can be reached at PO Box 2719,Borrego Springs, CA 92004, 760-767-9946.

Using over fifty thousand pounds of raw stoneware clay, Michel Petersen--known as Michellino--has adorned the Ventura Harbor with 28 beautiful ceramic murals depicting local history and marine environment.

From dolphins to turtles and pelicans to "Reanimation", (photo above right), visitors can now stroll throughout the harbor and admire both the scenery and the art. The placement of each mural shows the artist must have studied the play of light on the structures and took this into consideration as she created her masterpieces. Love of the sea and it’s inhabitants, along with a true mastery of her medium, has allowed Michel to brighten an already beautiful harbor area. Her work is a definite highlight for visitors.

Michelle Chapin, also residing in Ventura, CA, is another example of a art Working in stone, she sculpts sensual shapes that seem to bind nature and humanity into one continuous being. Collecting the rocks herself, mostly from Southern California deserts, Michele as an eagle’s eye for finding unusual stones with exotic colors and textures.

One her greatest accomplishments is the ability to create free-floating stone spheres that rotate on a film of water using hydroplaning principles. Winning several awards for these creations, some weighing up to 4000 pounds, she was commissioned and installed a monumental granite sphere fountain at the U.S. Sales Corporation offices in Moorpark, CA.

Michele's studio/gallery/garden has become a regular stop for visitors on city-sponsored artwalks and it is indeed an experience to meet this vivacious, tenacious and humorous lady. Michele is teaches and is also very active in the Ventura Art Community. She can be reached at (805) 643-5431.