On the corner of Prospect Street and Ivanhoe Avenue at the Monarch Gallery hang artworks of tranquility: “April in Paris,” “Old Country Mill,” “Winding Stream,” “Morning Mist” and “The Lion in Winter.” Russian-born artist Alexei Butirskiy will fly in from Paris for a special exhibition of his work, open to the public, on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Monarch Gallery, 1205 Prospect St. Butirskiy will sign and dedicate his work to buyers and perform a live painting demonstration. Attendees must RSVP by Aug. 21 to Leland@Mon archFineArt.com or call (858) 454-1231. The limited print edition of Butirksiy’s “A Room with a View” sold immediately at the Monarch Gallery. As well as words can portray, “A Room with a View” draws one immediately into the intimate winter scene, continents away from sunny San Diego. A windowsill is covered in fancy green and red velvet, upon which casually lean faded photos in black frames, a pile of inscribed parchment, a small clock, a single burning candle, a short stack of books held down with a marble sculpture of a person’s head — the top of the skull sliced away. The details are tantalizing but the contrast in light and color — the subtle gray hues of the winter world outside and the soft light upon the objects within — suck the viewer into this realm. “The power and intensity of the relationship between light and dark are the profound forces of his work,” states Butirskiy’s autobiography posted on gallery Websites throughout the world that carry his work. “The sophisticated application of light effects with color reinforces the majesty of his compositions.” Butirskiy, 35, was born in Moscow and completed studies at the Moscow Art College in 1996. Two years later, he finished courses at the Russian Academy of the Arts. He has exhibited his work in galleries and private collections through France, England, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Russia and has held more than 75 shows in the United States. Butirskiy is one of 50 artists that the family-owned Monarch Gallery is currently exhibiting since it expanded its space into the next-door area that Fingerhut Gallery had vacated last December. The owners now lease both properties from property owner Doug Manchester.   “It was an amazing opportunity that we were afforded with,” said Ashley Williams, the 27-year-old daughter of Leland and Diane Williams, who opened Monarch Gallery 33 years ago. “If you’re a good business with a solid, strong foundation like we’ve had, it’s one of those things you have to take advantage of.” Williams said Monarch Gallery has added only five more artists to its showroom since the expansion because the family wanted to give its artists more exhibit space. Monarch Gallery is not accepting new artists until spring of 2010. Williams joked that the gallery selects its artists based on whether or not the curators can live with the paintings. She said the art-obsessed staff must have passion for the work themselves in order to connect to the clientele. “When we’re meeting the artist, it’s really about the relationship,” Williams said. “It’s someone we will work with for a long time, so it’s a big investment on our side.” After 15 years in La Jolla, the Fingerhut Gallery left Prospect Street on Dec. 1, 2008. The Fingerhut family decided to represent its collection in Southern California through its Laguna Beach gallery, where the art scene is more vibrant, according to Fingerhut president Marie Covell. Fingerhut is also represented in Northern California at the historic Hotel Sausalito across from the Golden Gate Bridge. “It has proved to be a very good decision,” Covell said. “There has been a lot of gallery turnover since we left, and we still hear rumor of more turn over [in La Jolla].” Covell called Laguna Beach “a major art city,” pointing to the city’s Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters that draw people from across the country, as well as the Sawdust Art Festival. The Pageant of the Masters is a 90-minute theatrical production that aims to bring original art pieces alive through acting, an orchestra, original score, live narration and set design. The Fingerhut Gallery also took a piece of La Jolla with them: its Dr. Seuss collection. Covell said the Fingerhut Gallery was the only one in La Jolla to showcase the iconic artist, who moved into an old observation tower in La Jolla in 1948 and who died in 1991 at the age of 87, according to Dr. Seuss’ biography on the Fingerhut Gallery website.