Neighbors and artists

Apr 18, 2023

Glass artist Susan Bloch and representational oil painter Yvonne Kern, both of Eureka, are opening their Myrtletown studios to the public Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for North Coast Open Studios.

Over the years, Bloch and Kern have enjoyed the camaraderie of being neighbors in this quiet neighborhood. Even during the pandemic, they were able to share their artistic visions with each other.

"I love the interest many neighbors have in our studio work," said Bloch. "I’m looking forward to sharing my art and process with the wider community during Open Studios."

Both artists have been actively working on projects and showing their work in different venues near and far.

"It will be wonderful to be available to show work and chat with visitors again," Kern said.

Bloch works predominantly in glass. She uses a large kiln to create swirls of color which become the backgrounds for expressive faces. Manipulation of glass powders creates the features. This is known as powder painting, or sgraffito.

Bloch attended Boston University of Fine Arts to study drawing, painting and anatomy. She also studied at Tanglewood and New York Studio School. She exhibited paintings for 10 years until she opened her glass studio. Her love for glass led to further study at Alfred University, where she received a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Bloch's work is exhibited internationally.

"In my work with glass, I highlight faces," said Bloch. "The head interests me because it is the seat of consciousness."

Her studio is located at 1081 Vernon St. in Eureka. For more information, visit www.susanbloch.com.

Kern is a representational landscape oil painter. Most of her paintings are of local scenes painted on canvas. Recently, she has been creating close-ups of flowers in their surreal environments.

"I was searching for brighter colors to help reduce the darkness I felt during the pandemic," said Kern. "Flowers, with their intense colors, became the perfect solution."

Kern began painting while pursuing a business degree, changed her major to art and moved to Eureka, where she received a bachelor's degree in art from Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt). She has expanded her education by attending workshops and studying works of past artists.

"My goal is to express the essence of whatever I paint, be it a body of water, mountain or flower," Kern said. "All of these things live in their own landscape."

Kern works primarily in her studio, located at 1094 Vernon St., Eureka. For more information, go to www.yvonnekern.com.

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