Salida-based artist Susan Spohn describes herself as a gardener, recreating in paint the magic she feels when in the presence of flowers, critters and nature. Painting memories, visions and whimsy, her favorite medium is oil paint. She paints on wood panels using bristle brushes, painting knives, turpentine and varnish. Her paintings of textural garden scenes often include animals. These animals are not obvious, but rather as in nature: in plain sight, but hidden. Spohn has a quaint, second-floor downtown studio on E Street. Her view includes telephone poles, alleys, backyards, trees, gardens and assorted wildlife. Later this year, Spohn will ...