Donner Summit, California

Art and Artists around Donner Summit

Mileages From Sacramento

  • Colfax - 50 miles
  • Yuba Gap - 74 miles
  • Soda Springs - 89 miles
  • Donner Summit - 91 miles
  • Donner Lake - 98 miles
  • Truckee - 101 miles




Donner Summit Fine Arts

The beauty of Donner Summit and its surrounding landscapes have long attracted artists like Albert Bierstadt whose views of Donner Lake were painted in 1871 and 1872. Landmarks such as the Rainbow Bridge high on Donner Pass and the Transcontinental Railroad tunnels have been popular subjects for photographers. Railroad buffs enjoy capturing images of the trains as they chug up the steep grades, while others seek out subjects like Castle Peak and Middle Loch Leven.

Watercolor painting of an old-fashion train, CA

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Art Supplies


Annual Art Shows and Tours

Art Hikes on Donner Summit

TBA, 2024
Trails & Vistas will be holding Art Hikes on Donner Summit which will feature music, dance, poetry, and art along 3 or 1-mile hikes. Guided groups specially designed for families, mindfulness hikers, and leisure hikers. Hikes last about 2½ hours, with many stops along the way. Adults only $45
Locations: TBA
Trails & Vistas

Pioneer Arts' Spring Membership Show

TBA, 2024

Pioneer Arts of Nevada County will be holding its Annual Spring Membership Show in April. The exhibit includes a wide variety of categories, including acrylic, oil, watercolor, photography, mixed media, pastel, and digital art. Entrants must be members of Pioneer Arts in order to display their work.

North Tahoe Arts' Events

North Tahoe Arts offers a variety of art classes and campa around North Lake Tahoe. Kids Art Camp is offered during the summer. Visit their new King's Beach Art Center opne Thursday - Monday, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. North Tahoe Arts

Truckee Thursdays

summer
For 11 Thusdays in summer the Truckee Historic District is transformed into a vibrant street fair with local and resgional artisans along with food and music.
Sponsored by the Truckee Downtown Merchants Association.

Art Galleries and Displays

Colfax

Lighthouse Art Gallery

7 N. Main Street, Suite #1, Colfax, CA
(530) 368-1883  

Secret City Art Gallery

9 S. Main Street, Colfax, CA
(530) 346-7888  

Athena Art Gallery

30 N. Main Street, Colfax, CA
(530) 305-4050  

Truckee

Carmel Gallery

9940 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA
(888) 482-4632   Carmel Gallery
Gallery displays photographs by Elizabeth and Olof Carmel, Sierra landscape photographers. Also in the gallery are sculptures, woodwork, jewelry, and glasswork. Open daily from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Art Obsessions Gallery

10052 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA
(530) 550-9688   Art Obsessions Gallery
A Fine art gallery displaying work of internationally known artists along with rising talents. Open daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Riverside Studios

10076 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA
(530) 587-3789   Riverside Studios
Riverside Studios is an inspiring art gallery owned and operated by five local artists, with a focus on the handmade. from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

La Galleria

10112 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA
(530) 587-5444   La Galleria
Distinctive art pieces from around the world

Vrooman Wood Carvings

15171 Berkshire Circle, Truckee, CA
(530) 587-8104   Vrooman Wood Carvings
Fine art and wildlife gallery featuring the work of over 30 artists. William F. Vrooman specializes in hand carved fish and birds.

North Lake Tahoe

North Tahoe Arts Center

380 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA
North Tahoe Arts Center
North Tahoe Arts is a non-profit organization that supports the arts in the Truckee-Tahoe area, offering classes and hosting exhibits to showcase local talent.
King's Beach Art Center opens June 17, 2022

Photography and Art Workshops, Art Hikes


Learning the Art of Pastels with Linda Roemisch

TBA 2022
Learn a variety of techniques, how to use hard and soft pastels, and how to organize your palette. Linda will work with you on your design and composition, color harmony, aerial perspective, edges, and more. Class is held at the Newtown Art Barn at 10024 Newtown Road, Nevada City. $65 for 3-hour class. Limited to 8 participants.
Linda Roemisch Art Workshops

Atelier Truckee Art Workshops

Atelier Truckee is a place for tactile living that connects artists, collectors and community through workshops, yarn, artist supplies and limited edition art pieces. Atelier strives to be the creative hub of the local art community by hosting workshops taught by the areas most sought after artists, illustrators, designers, weavers, knitters, painters and more who share the vision to create always and inspire all.
Atelier Reno Art Workshops

Art Workshops with Susan Barry

Various Dates, 2022
Introduction to Watercolor Basics, Brown Bag Paper Mache Sculpture, Beginning Field Journaling, and Introductions to Wet-into-Wet Painting. Classes held at Susan's Snow Goose Studio, 15561 Wet Hill Road, Nevada City, CA
Susan Barry Productions and Snow Goose Studio

New Art Classes at Art Truckee

Artist Veronica Lichter will be teaching the "Introduction to Media & Visual Thinking" classes. Other sessions include line drawing and sketching, color study with pastel, and painting techniques for watercolor, acrylic, and oil. More classes offered in March.
New Art Classes at Art Truckee

Donner Summit Artists and Photographers

Elizabeth and Olof Carmel

Award winning artist Elizabeth Carmel is the author of the best selling photography book Brilliant Waters, Portraits of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra and her 2010 publication The Changing Range of Light, Portraits of the High Sierra. Elizabeth and her husband Olof own the Carmel Gallery in Truckee (see above). Elizabeth's photographs have been shown in Outdoor Photographer, Sierra Magazine, People, and Sunset. Her images include April Sunset, Donner Lake; Fresh Snow, Donner Summit; and Yuba River in Winter.

Olof Carmel's photographs are shown in the Ahwanhnee Hotel in Yosemite and about the West. Among Olof's prints are Castle Peak Summer, Autumn Dawn Castle Peak, Afterglow Donner Lake, and Yuba River Donner Summit.
Carmel Gallery

Anne Chadwick

Photographer Anne Chadwick has traveled around the world, taking photographs from Norway to the Arctic, from the Galapagos Islands to Ecuadorian rainforests. Near her home close to Donner Summit, she has taken fabulous photographs of birds, flowers, and landscapes.
Anne Chadwick

Joan Chlarson

Watercolor artist and teacher Joan Chlarson has been painting scenes around Placer County for 20 years. she is particularly drawn to the Gold Rush era and places such as Dutch Flat, Alta, Gold Run, and Colfax. Her work can be see at The Chocolate Shoppe Art Gallery in Auburn and Calico Palace in the Fruit Exchange near the Depot in Colfax. Among her works are Tevis Crossing, 3 AM Tevis Crossing No Hands Bridge, Dutch Flat Rainy Day, Cougar Rock, and Pacific Crest Trail.
Joan Chlarson Watercolors

Donna Covey

Watercolor and acrylic artist Donna Covey enjoys spending time in Truckee where her colorful Truckee Tahoe Series of the town can be viewed at Art Obsessions Gallery (see above). Among her works are Truckee Ambiance, Spirit of Truckee, Truckee Old Jail, and JAX at the Tracks.
Donna Covey Paintings

Marie Gonzales

Marie Gonzales began painting in pastels in Hawaii before moving to Folsom. There she is a member of the El Dorado Hills Art Association. Among her pastels are Yuba River, Colfax, and Over Donner Summit.
Marie Gonzales

Linda Roemisch

Plein air artist Linda Roemisch works in both oils and pastels. Among her favorite subjects are the dazzling fall colors of the Sierra. She has served on Board of Directors of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and as program director for Pioneer Arts in Nevada County. Among her paintings are scenes of Hampshire Rocks Yuba River, Looney Meadows, Visual Music - Yuba River, and Truckee River Outlet.
Linda Roemisch - Fine Art

Donner Summit Area Art Clubs and Associations


Sierra Vista Art Center

Newly organized Sierra Vista Art Center in Colfax welcomes new members in the Colfax area from Chicago Park, Alta and Meadow Vista. Membership yearly fee $30. Critiques, art shows, guest artists, demonstrations are topics for their monthly meetings.
55 School Street, Colfax, CA.

Pioneer Arts

Pioneer Arts is a nonprofit association that works to promote the visual arts and artists of Western Nevada County. The organization was founded in 1965 by a group of dedicated artists who met regularly to paint together. Today, Pioneer Arts provides a friendly and supportive meeting place for artists of all skill levels and for others who are interested in visual arts. Activities are designed to inspire and encourage members and guests in their artistic pursuits as well as to encourage community service in the arts.
Pioneer Arts

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