Verano Fine Art Gallery, 22 Main St., Bisbee, is celebrating its first year anniversary as a fine art gallery and invites the public to join them for two days of art demonstrations with Joseph Yarnell.

Yarnell will demonstrate his unique style of acrylic painting Aug. 30 and 31 from 1-4 p.m. 

The completed painting will be available for silent auction bids and the winner will be announced during the artist’s reception  from 5-9 p.m. on Sept. 1.

Yarnell knew at an early age that he had a God-given talent and his sincerest wish was granted when he sold his first painting while still in high school.

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Yarnell saw that he not only had a creative talent in a seldom understood medium of acrylics, but also the desire to share with others his unique style. As Jerry Yarnell, he soon reigned supreme as instructor in acrylics with a syndicated PBS series as well as cities around the United States. When he is not on the teaching circuit he can be found at his studio and ranch in Skiatook, Okla., where he holds informal art workshops to students of all levels. He is a frequent keynote speaker for entertainment, civic and corporate groups.  

His work can be found in homes and business nationally as well as internationally and he is represented in the Southwest exclusively by Verano Fine Art Gallery.

Verano Fine Art Gallery opened their doors in August of 2006 to rave reviews. Displaying more than 40 artists, co-owners, Rebecca Dahlke and Rosario Willke saw a need in Bisbee for a gallery that emphasized representational art of the Southwest. Oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastels grace towers and walls tastefully painted in the southwest palette.

And, they are pleased when visitors comment on the variety of their big bay windows display of paintings, gourd art and sculpture.

Artists in their own right, Dahlke paints oil landscapes and wild birds of the southwest and Willke does custom tiles based on her own designs of animals in the southwest as well as working in decorative gourd art.

The gallery also does custom framing as well as carrying in-stock plein air frames for artists and collectors.

Willke, who has a background in interior design, says, “We saw that cherished art from another state didn’t have to be relegated to the closet just because one moved to Arizona. Sometimes all the art needs is a different frame to become integrated into the southwest décor. After all, the fun part about the southwest is that it’s eclectic.”

The owners like to say that they represent, “art of the southwest by artists of the Southwest” and it has become the motto they use in advertisements for national art magazines such as Southwest Art Magazine, Tucson Guide, and this September, Arizona Collectors Guide.

Willke and Dahlke are also president and vice president, respectively, of the Huachuca Art Association in Sierra Vista and proudly represent many of its artists.  

For information, and directions to the gallery, visit their Web site: www.veranofineartgallery.com.