Gallery 'N' Gifts May guest artist

Lori Antoinette, artist statement:

"A graduate of Fine Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park, I started out as an oil painter predominantly, later switching to acrylics. When I discovered chalk on the ground at the first Pasadena Chalk Festival in 1993, it was love at first chalk.

"With a Bachelors of Art in abstract art, but having a heart for portraiture, I have developed a sort of fusion of these styles. As a lover of the impressionist and pop movements, I like to blend various styles without thinking about blending the styles. Being a street chalk artist has definitely expanded my horizons and helped my development as well.

"Now, with almost 30 years of street-painting experience, I travel quite a bit to other states as well as within California. I've sold commission work across the U.S., and I'm currently working on getting wall mural commissions outside of California."

Gallery 'N' Gifts is located at 100 W. Tehachapi Blvd. and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Stop by to see the May featured artist Lori Antoinette's work.