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“Spring Promises”, colored pencil art by Ranjini Venkatachari, is among the artwork featured in the “Flora in Focus” exhibition in Pleasanton’s Harrington Gallery in winter 2026. 
“Orange African Daisy”, watercolor art by Helene Roylance. 
“Morning Glory”, artwork in acrylics by Tejal Shah. 
“Spring Garden”, watercolor art by Charlotte Severin. 
“Senescence”, artwork in gouache, by Jenna Hobbs. 
“Irises 2”, watercolor art by Meghana Mitragotri. 
“Hydrangea Symphony”, East Asian Brush painting by Wei-Ting Chuang. 
“Helianthus”, artwork in oils by Usha Shukla. 
“A Splash of Magenta”, artwork in acrylics by Lynda Briggs. 
“Pansies and Thoughts”, lampworked glass by Peggy Kervin. 
“Right By My Side”, artwork in oils by Tuan Karsevar.
The beauty and power of flower art have taken root once again in the Firehouse Arts Center, with the latest installment of the recurring “Flora in Focus” exhibition on display in the Harrington Gallery this winter.
The nearly 100 works by a group of Bay Area artists present a diverse bouquet of media for viewers, including watercolor, oil, glass, pen and ink, East Asian brush painting, colored pencil, acrylic and special ikebana installations – all centered on the flower as the subject or inspiration.
“‘Flora in Focus’ is a celebration of flowers, friendship and fellowship,” said Meghana Mitragotri, lead organizer and a featured artist in the exhibition, now in its third consecutive year.
“Together, we have created a show that honors both the beauty of nature and the connections that bloom between people as much as the flowers on the canvas,” Mitragotri added. “In a time when our communities and the world at large need compassion and love more than ever, this exhibition reminds us of the joy, hope, and connection that art can inspire.”
Painter Usha Shukla found inspiration in the movement of nature for her pieces in the exhibition.
“When outdoors, I am intrigued by how the breeze moves the light, shadows, hues, and textures,” Shukla said. “My floral abstract paintings portray this harmony of color and movement, which I recreate in the studio by moving diluted paint with air using blowers, including a leaf blower for larger works.”
Glass artist Peggy Kervin said she was able to explore the playful side of her medium to “display whimsy, gracefulness, as well as vitality in these lampworked glass figures. Adding a small image in the flowers for observers to find is another prize.”
“Each piece begins with direct observation from life, from studying flowers in a vase to plein air sketches and visual notes drawn from my own backyard ecology,” added Wei-Ting Chuang. “These observations are re-composed to express the spirit and vitality of the flowers rather than a literal depiction.”
Watercolorist Charlotte Severin said she hopes viewers experience the same “special joy” she feels when painting flowers.
And Ranjini Venkatachari was able to use “floral imagery as a narrative space shaped by dramatic light, layered hues, and meticulous detail”.
“Working in colored pencil and oil, the flowers move beyond botanical representation to convey mood and emotion. The works invite close looking, revealing stories embedded within beauty,” Venkatachari said.
The other artists in the static “Flora in Focus” display are Helene Roylance, Tuan Karsevar, Jenna Hobbs, Rekha Joshi, Lynda Briggs, Tejal Shah and Monique Makepeace. One of Karsevar’s works is a group portrait of all 13 participating artists.
Supplementing the exhibition are collaborative ikebana floral installations by Cindy Ting, a city library contracted instructor, and her students being shown during the next week to coincide with the artists’ reception.
“Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, emphasizes balance, space, and intention, transforming natural materials into expressions of harmony,” Ting said. “For this collaboration, my students and I will each create an ikebana arrangement inspired by a selected art piece from the exhibition. We are honored to collaborate with such talented artists and look forward to sharing our ikebana creations with you.”
“Flora in Focus” opened Jan. 10 in the Harrington Gallery and will remain on display until March 7.
The reception is set for next Saturday (Jan. 31) from 1-3 p.m. at Firehouse, 4444 Railroad Ave. in downtown Pleasanton. Attendees can meet and mingle with the artists, sample light refreshments and participate in raffles for exclusive prizes.
Beforehand on Jan. 31, Chuang will lead the first of eight live art demonstrations and talks as part of the “Flora in Focus” experience – hers is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on spring blossoms and the East Asian brush painting technique.
Other demos include Severin with “Flowers for Valentine’s Day” on Feb. 14, Makepeace with “Playing with Prisma Pencils” also on Feb. 14, Mitragotri with “Blushing Flowers in Watercolor” on Feb. 28 and the finale with Hobbs, “Dramatic Contrast for Floral Painting (Gouache)”, on March 7.
Two solo showings too
Artwork by Chuang is featured elsewhere in the Firehouse as well, with a solo exhibition on display in the first-floor foyer now through Feb. 28.
“Chuang’s exhibition features nearly 20 works utilizing traditional East Asian brushwork with ink and pigment on paper, reimagining contemporary Californian landscapes as expressive ink portraits inspired by Tang Dynasty aesthetics,” Firehouse officials said.
And in the second-floor exhibition area, the Nancy Thompson Memorial Wall, Jean Batchelder has a solo display through March 14 with 15 watercolor works, a mix of landscapes and still lifes. “Utilizing techniques of subtractive painting and watercolor on yupo paper, the presentation demonstrates the artist’s mastery of the water-based medium,” Firehouse reps added.
Like “Flora in Focus”, Batchelder’s gallery reception is also 1-3 p.m. next Saturday (Jan. 31). Chuang’s event follows two weeks later, 12-2 p.m. Feb. 14.
All exhibition spaces at the Firehouse are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and around scheduled performances and events at the theater. Admission is free. Learn more at firehousearts.org.
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