Father, Daughter Named Arts Council Artists of Month

Chuck Fisher and his daughter, Tiffany O'Malley, are the March Artists of the Month. Photos courtesy of Arts Council Menifee

By Arts Council Menifee Staff

Chuck Fisher and Tiffany O’Malley are award-winning artists in their chosen fields, are father and daughter, and are being recognized by Arts Council Menifee as March’s Artists of the Month.

Fisher is a painter who has focused on watercolors in recent years and O’Malley is a photographer with a great eye for architectural structure. Both currently have works on display at the art gallery at Menifee’s Kay Ceniceros Community Center.

Fisher is a self-taught painter who has been working at his craft for the past 20 years. He describes his art style as traditional with an emphasis on still life and nature themes. Animals are a preferred subject when Fisher is painting for himself. Last year he entered his paintings in the Southern California Fair in Perris and won numerous prizes, including a first-place ribbon.

"It’s great that some of Chuck’s artwork depicts equestrian scenes. The horse lovers in this area really appreciate his work," said Arts Council Menifee Past President Bill Zimmerman.

Fisher joined ACM about five years ago and likes the camaraderie of the visual arts group. At left is one of his paintings.

"I look forward to participating in the events and attending the monthly meetings," said Fisher, 80. “I am a full-time artist who also enjoys spending time with my family. I also enjoy watching football, going to the casino and traveling with my beautiful wife."

Chuck and Bobbi Fisher have been married 48 years and moved to Menifee about eight years ago. Bobbi, who has a strong aesthetic for interior designing, helps her husband with custom framing of his art pieces. Their daughter Tiffany O’Malley shares their passion for art.

O’Malley joined a team of artists from the Arts Council to participate in Mt. San Jacinto College’s Arts Festival in November and displayed her work a fine arts exhibit area under the courtyard trees.

"Guests seemed to migrate right toward Tiffany's display of photographic images she had placed on our grid wall," Zimmerman said. "The best photographers have an eye for artistic composition, and Tiffany’s work really showcases her innate talent."

O’Malley has had a passion for photography for as long as she can remember. She took her first photography class in high school and never stopped taking photos.

"I decided to turn my passion into a business and have not looked back since," said O’Malley, 45. "Becoming a professional photographer has been, and continues to be, a dream come true."

When taking photos for fun, her favorite subjects have always been her two children.

"I absolutely love being able to capture them at different stages of their lives and being able to look back on those special moments," she said.

O’Malley joined Arts Council Menifee after her parents told her about it and she enjoys being around so many other creative people.

Chuck Fisher was born in Hawaii and spent 35 years as a professional big-rig truck driver. Bobbi Fisher worked as administrative assistant for state senator Bill Craven for 22 years and still likes to brag about the fact that one of her husband’s paintings was chosen by Craven to hang in the state capital for one year.

"With so much in this world going downhill, art is something they can never take away from you. It’s inside of you and your hands make it come out in you," Chuck Fisher said. "I love teaching new artists and want to continue to paint for the rest of my life."

O’Malley made a similar life-changing decision, having studied business and finance in college, thinking that would be her career direction.

"After being married and raising my children, I found that my path had changed and photography was my future" she said. "I absolutely love what I do and am grateful every day for the wonderful opportunity I have been given. As they say: When you love what you do, you never have to work another day in your life."

O’Malley can be contacted at www.tiffanyomalleyphotography.com.

For more information on ACM, please visit www.artscouncilmenifee.org or call 951-290-2781.

One of Tiffany O'Malley's photos shows the French Quarter in New Orleans.