Duley-Jones Gallery celebrates its ninth anniversary with an exhibit of new work by gallery artists. A book signing by Sylvia Long introducing her new book “Thumbelina” will be held on Thursday, July 8th during the annual Summer Spectacular ArtWalk from 7 to 9 pm. Sylvia Long, a Scottsdale resident, is the award-winning illustrator of many best-selling books for children. Her exquisitely detailed illustrations are inspired by her love of animals and the outdoors. Original artwork from “Thumbelina” will be exhibited and offered for sale.

David Gordinier’s love of the desert permeates his work. Fascinated by the spectacular cloud formations and plant life unique to the Arizona desert, Gordinier renders the landscape in exacting detail. “At the end of the day I basically chase light” explains Gordinier. “The way the sun just lights everything up when it comes across the desert.”

Best known for his luminous paintings of the Grand Canyon, Merrill Mahaffey moved to Arizona in 1963 to earn his Masters of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University and study with artists John Waddell and Harry Wood. He went on to teach at Phoenix College for 14 years before he began painting full time. He was already smitten by the Grand Canyon, having first seen it in 1961. He has since rafted the Colorado River through the Canyon 30 times, capturing its sensuous beauty and magical light in his paintings. “Light is almost a poetic science to me”, Mahaffey says. “I’ve studied light my whole life. There isn’t a moment in the day that I’m not aware of where the sun is.”

During the month of January Duley-Jones Gallery will celebrate the art of watercolor with an exhibit of new work by gallery watercolor artists, including David Barba, Marie Brumund, Irene Klar, Merrill Mahaffey, and Dick Phillips. The most challenging of all media, these artists go above and beyond in their mastery demonstrating the versatility and scope that watercolor can encompass. “It is the artist’s triumph of expression over technique that makes a watercolor glow” explains Marie Brumund.