For more than half a century the Sedona area has been the source of inspiration and home to many renowned landscape, wildlife and cowboy artists. The Village Gallery of Local Artists is proud to host Gene Dieckhoner, one of these iconic masters, from December through January.

An admirer of the great illustrators and wildlife artists, Gene aspires to attain accuracy in design, composition, and color.  He achieves a wide range of emotions and moods by utilizing the subtle differences of oil, watercolor, and pencil.

Gene strives to inspire awareness and appreciation of the vastness and diversity of this great land, and of those creatures who share our planet. If you pause for a few seconds longer the next time you see a cardinal resting on a branch, a coyote crossing the road, or a hawk riding the air currents, his artwork has succeeded.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Gene studied art throughout his school years and graduated from Ohio University with a BFA degree. After spending three years as an officer in the Air Force and five years as a commercial artist in Los Angeles, he decided to focus his attention on fine art.

Gene’s success has been proven by numerous awards.  Noteworthy accomplishments and commissions include 60 drawings for the Joshua Tree Nat’l Monument; over 100 drawings for the Los Angeles Times and Carte Blanche Magazine; a series of collector plates on vanishing animals; two series of plates for the Bradford Exchange; series of puzzles for Bits and Pieces; greeting cards for Leanin Tree Publishing Co.; and “Dog And Pony Show” figurine for The Trail of Painted Ponies.

Gene worked for Fox Animation Studios on many projects including; Art Director on “Adventures from the Book of Virtues”, sculpted maquette for “Anastasia”, did conceptual design for “Titan AE” and “Ice Age”.  He recently did storyboards and background painting for “The Sedona Movie”.

The public is invited to meet Gene and see his display of wildlife and still life paintings on December 1st and January 5^th from 5-8pm. Refreshments will be served, and many gallery members will attend these festive evenings. The Village Gallery is located at 6512 Hwy 179 in the Village of Oak Creek at the roundabout on Hwy 179 and Cortez. For more information call 284-1416 or visit www.sedonalocalartists.com.