Many of Susan Dunklau’s watercolors are inspired by the natural world. Photos submitted

Feb. 6, 2013 — February’s monthly art opening at Artisan Coffee for February will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15; it features three local painters who each bring their own interpretation of their world to the canvas.

Susan Dunklau, Randy Panfilio and Phil Good are this month’s featured artists.

Susan Dunklau, a resident of northern California, finds inspiration for her paintings from the mountains, lakes and trails. She often takes her camera with her on walks.

Dunklau graduated from California State University Long Beach with an art degree. Early in her career she had the opportunity, for several years, to teach art to junior high school students.

During the past 20 years, she has primarily used watercolor as her medium of expression. She said she prefers this medium because of the challenges it presents to the artist.

Her special love is to sketch and paint fresh flowers. She was once told a bee tried to pollinate a painting of a sunflower she painted.

Randy Panfilio’s early years along the Pacific coast form the basis for many of his paintings. Photos submitted

Randy Panfilio was raised in a small artist’s community on California’s Pacific coast and grew up mingling with artists, so it was a natural draw to become a painter.

Panfilio has a bachelor’s degree in studio art from California State University, Chico and a master’s of fine arts degree in figurative painting from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. As well as paint, he teaches a variety of classes at Lassen Community College.

When he’s not teaching, Panfilio said he fills his days painting, often all day and into the night. His studio is a private refuge where he works and reads, usually art history and books about his favorite painters such as Milton Avery, Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud.

Phil Good, the third featured artist, lives in Janesville. His vibrant use of colors adds a slightly surreal touch to some of his acrylic landscapes.

For more information, call Artisan Coffee at 253-3000.