A pair of artists for the month of April come to the art scene with notable medical backgrounds.

They are:

Gary Dyak

Gary Dyak was born in Johnstown, Pa. He joined the Army and was stationed in Sinop and Karamursel, Turkey for three years. Moving to San Diego in 1976, Dyak worked for General Atomic producing fuel for nuclear reactors. Dyak began his medical career in the Army Reserves. He received his nursing degree through Grossmont College and worked in the medical field for 30 years; primarily in virology research at UCSD.

At the age of 50, Dyak began taking evening classes at City College and earned an Associate degree in Fine Art. Dyak works in several mediums including, graphite, colored pencil, ballpoint pen, and acrylics. He has exhibited in several San Diego venues which include City and Mesa College, the Del Mar Fair and the William D. Cannon Art Gallery Biennial Exhibits. He has also exhibited in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Dyak is currently retired and spends his time continuing his interests in computers, art and travel.

He is a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, West Coast Drawing, San Diego Drawing Guild, and is a board member of the Foothills Artist Association.

Sharon Meng

Sharon Meng (top photo is her birds of prey) was born in New York and raised as an Army brat. She attended nursing school, worked in an IVF program as well as in labor and delivery and eventually went back to school to obtain a degree as a nurse midwife. While raising a family and pursuing a career in midwifery, she created small works in fiber and beads. Once she retired, she began to draw in colored pencil. Recently, she has been exploring watercolor.

Meng is primarily self-taught but has attended a number of workshops in colored pencil techniques. She is a member of the Foothills Art Association, which she serves as Membership Chair, and a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America. She has exhibited in a number of shows and has had her art recognized in the Doggone Dog Show as well as the Cypress Art Gallery. Meng has also had a piece published in “CP Treasures, Volume 8”.

– Bonnie Owen is editor of Footnotes, the monthly newsletter of the Foothills Art Association.