Distinction Art

If you’ve ever wondered where your lost day-dreams go, Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios is a good place to start looking. Located at 317 East Grand Avenue in Escondido, Distinction is a 7,000 square-foot building that houses an enchanting and fascinating collection of figurative pop art and urban surrealism. Images that are at once familiar and startling line the walls and beckon to viewers to decipher the artist’s code.

Distinction Gallery on Grand Avenue in Escondido, CA. Photo courtesy of Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios.

Currently, the main gallery is holding a collection entitled “Sub 1K: California Style”. All the artwork is priced below $1000 and the artists are from California. A four piece set done with mixed media on wood (seen here) by Richard Salcido is especially haunting.

Richard Salcido, “Domestic”. Photo courtesy of Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios.

4 paintings by Richard Salcido at Distinction Gallery. Photo by Kurt Lightfoot.

One of my personal favorites at the show was a collection of Mike Maxwell’s works. One entitled “The Cove” can be seen here.

Mike Maxwell, “The Cove”. Photo courtesy of Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios.

Mike Maxwell’s paintings at Distinction Gallery. Photo by Kurt Lightfoot.

Viewers should be sure to check out David Russell Talbot’s thought-provoking images. The bright colors of the paint make the dark undertones of the subject matter even more ominous. One such painting, acrylic on canvas, entitled “Bitter Harvest: Trick or Treat” can be seen here.

David Russel Talbott “Bitter Harvest: Trick or Treat”. Photo courtesy of Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios.

There are more than 100 pieces of art in the “Sub 1K Lounge” including works by Elizabeth Caffey, Mary Syring, Paul Torres, Brett Hess, Jasmine Worth, Dark Vomit, Shay Davis, Shauna Peterson, Jennifer Springman, Walt Hall and Saratoga Sake.

Some of Dark Vomit’s paintings at Distinction Gallery. Photo by Kurt Lightfoot.

Paintings by Mary Syring at Distinction Gallery. Photo by Kurt Lightfoot.

Distinction also has 14 artist studios that include photographers, sculptors and painters. In addition, there are over 50 works in “The Alley”.

“Sub 1K: California Style” will be showing until February 6.