October 2024: San Francisco Open Studios with Julie Atkinson, Meli Patimasang, and Sarang Byrne

Julie Atkinson (oil painter): Julie Atkinson began painting after working as a lawyer for ten years.  What began with an impromptu purchase of a set of watercolor paint quickly grew into a passion for exploring the human figure and emotions through the colors and texture of oil paint.  Her art education comes from self-directed online courses as well as from local community centers.  Her work has been exhibited in galleries around the Bay Area, as well as in various exhibitions across the country, including the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. She is currently a member of the ACCI Gallery in Berkeley, California.

Julie’s work centers the emotional experience of Black women by creating images in oil paint that explore the nuances of finding self-esteem, healing and peace. Her paintings often feature textured hair, embracing it as a source of pride, and affirming the beauty in its volume and shape. She plays with levels of abstraction in both the body and the background to create a dream-like image. She is interested in how Black women can shut out the gaze of others and find a sense of peace and rest within themselves.

Meli Patimasang (figure painter): “As a community worker and artist, I perceive the vibrant mosaic of human experience, drawing those around me into a shared realm where intimacy elevates the collective over the individual. Through the lens of figurative painting, radical vulnerability can be vindicating, offering empowerment, while dignity is honored. I strive to create opportunities where audiences can reflect on the freedom of individuality within the humbling comfort of the vastness of collective humanity. My colorful canvases are invitations to witness and embrace the simplicity of complexity within our shared society.”

Sarang Byrne (watercolor painter): was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She had the opportunity to attend public schools that allowed her the resources and opportunities to focus on art. Encouraged by family and teachers from a young age, she went on to receive a Bachelors of Fine Art in Illustration Design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. She now resides in San Francisco, CA where she manages a photography studio and continues to paint. Her medium of choice is currently watercolor.