Joint exhibit of paintings and woodworking on view at Portola Art Gallery in March

Folk Art Painting and Cutting Edge Creations is a joint exhibit by painter Terry McMahon and woodworker Chris Toulson currently on view at the Portola Art Gallery (75 Arbor Rd., Menlo Park). There will be a reception for the artists on Saturday, March 9, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

Terry McMahon is a retired art teacher from the Menlo Park school district. She has traveled and lived around the world, and her art work is influenced by her collection and love of folk art from the places she’s visited. She combines a strong sense of design with a bold use of color, and she gravitates toward sculptural shapes and forms. She enjoys rearranging or redefining forms, whether in architecture, plants, animals, or people. Most of her work is imaginative, while some is decorative and even fanciful. Her current exhibit features colorful folk-art-style paintings of women from around the world, along with bold abstract, still life, and landscape paintings inspired by her travels.

A retired Silicon Valley software engineer, Chris Toulson learned the basics of woodworking from his Dad while growing up near Montreal. Working out of his garage workshop in Palo Alto, he enjoys making intricate designs that also have a practical side. He specializes in using wood to create optical illusions in end-grain cutting boards and small boxes. His current exhibit features walnut, cherry, and maple creations.

Making Trees from Wood: Charcuterie board (various hardwoods, 11×14″) by Chris Toulson