Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/748197
C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 6 185 Erin Gafill A n award-winning writer, painter, and teacher, Erin Gafill's great-great grand- mother was painter Jane Gallatin Powers, who had the first art studio in Carmel in 1903. Gafill's grandparents Lolly and Bill Fassett built Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, a legendary watering hole for artist, poets, writers, and bohemians. Gafill's work is shown locally at the Carmel Art Association, and the Phoenix Shop at Nepenthe, Big Sur. For more information, go to www.eringafill.com. Simon Bull S imon Bull's vibrant paintings are infused with joy and humor. Cancer survivor Bull learned the hard way the importance of celebrating life's great little moments. His paintings have been featured on "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," and MTV "Cribs." Bull was the official artist for the Salt Lake Winter Olympics and for boxing legend Muhammad Ali, and is the recipient of multiple awards. He is represented locally at Masters of Light Gallery in Monterey. For more information, go to www.bullart.com. Bull donated portions of the proceeds from "Rocky Point Paradise" to Soberanes Fire victims. "Artists have painted here for years and the idea of it going up in smoke is terrible," he says. "It's wonderful to be connected to the past." Soon after Gafill began donating proceeds of her prints, another local artist, Simon Bull, did the same with giclees of his piece "Rocky Point Paradise." Both Gafill and Bull participated in a wet paint reception at Venture Gallery in Monterey, where many local artists created works of art to be sold with a percentage donated to fire victims. Bull, who is a transplant from England, has an international following for his paintings, and orig- inally discovered Carmel when visiting his friend, the late painter Thomas Kinkade. "Once you've lived in Carmel, it's hard to live anywhere else," Bull says. "We love the area and the people. If you have the opportunity of step- ping up a bit, you should. My wife and I used to live in Garrapata and a fire started in our back- yard. It's pretty intense." Bull donates his proceeds to the Spero Collaborative, on which he serves as a board member. "We can't meet all of people's needs, but maybe they just need $750 for a new some- thing or other. We can respond very quickly." Bull describes his vibrant, happy pieces as "caffeinated paintings." "What I aim to do is to create the experience that a hand comes out of my painting and slaps someone on the back and says, 'Have a great day!'" Gafill, who has lived through her share of Big Sur fires, challenges the community to not feel demoralized but to step up and take action. "There is a value in tragedy," Gafill muses. "We realize that everyone suffers at some time. When we suffer, we feel compassion for some- one else suffering. We can connect with some- one we may never know."