Yuko Kimura’s “Boro No. 4,” soapground aquatint, solarplate etching, softground etching, collage and fabric (left) and Ellen Yamada Tzvetin’s “Emerging Light II, No. 15,” monotype on paper.

BODEGA BAY — The Ren Brown Collection is holding a new art exhibit titled “Visualizations” at its gallery, located at 1781 Coast Highway One, Bodega Bay, until Sept. 7.

The gallery, which traditionally focuses on contemporary Japanese prints, antique Japanese furnishings, and the works of California artists, is featuring the works of Ellen Yamada Tzvetin and Yuko Kimura.

The theme for this “East meets West” exhibit is “new work on fabric and paper.” Tzvetin is a Japanese American artist born in Seattle who is now living in the East Bay. Kimura is a Japanese woman who was born in Oakland and now resides in Cleveland. These artists primarily work in etching but also combine other techniques in creating their art.

At a special reception scheduled for Saturday, Aug, 2, from 2 to 4 p.m., gallery-goers can meet the artists and learn about their techniques.

Ellen Yamada Tzvetin

Tzvetin, who often creates monotypes on both paper and Japanese book-binding fabric, also works with solar-plate etching. This unique style of printmaking does not use harmful solvents and involves making reliefs on a plate using photosensitive polymers.

Her work is inspired by nature and she transforms her paper pieces into abstract interpretations, creating the appearance of “inner light” using lustrous brocade fabrics. Tzvetin also works with chine-collé, a printmaking method that allows the artist to work on delicate surfaces.

Tzvetin has a background working with architects and planners, where she was responsible for preparing visual materials and brochures for business development presentations. Much of this involved photography of architectural and interior projects. From this background, she has evolved her own unique expression in a series of monotypes that are not overtly representational. She has the eye of one trained in close observation from her previous work, and has expanded that approach in these unique monotypes.

With regard to her inspirations, Tzvetin said, “The visual outlook, whether looking at natural surroundings or man-made environments, has always interested me. Abstract interpretations are my passion and I try to create abstract or ‘beyond images’ in my printmaking.”

Yuko Kimura

Kimura is an artist who also works with etching, but she often incorporates collages, old papers, fabrics, and different printmaking techniques in a single piece. One common element in her work is layering to capture subtle changes in colors and texture. The themes in Kimura’s work often come from her personal history, including fabrics and drawings from her grandmother and old Japanese books and prints. She combines them in a way that celebrates the beauty found in imperfection, her interpretation of the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi.

Kimura, who was born in Oakland but raised in Tokyo, has lived in the U.S. since 1989. She received a B.F.A. degree in printmaking from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and a M.F.A., also in printmaking from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

With regard to themes and her artistic process, Kimura said, “For the last 15 years, ‘layering’ has been important in my art making.” She sometimes collages thin layers of moth-eaten paper, or does etchings on paper that seem to replicate the fiber textures of cloth. In each piece, Kimura captures a sense of mystery with intriguing textural elements and soft coloration, making her work both elegant and simple.

The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and is closed Monday and Tuesday. For more information, call (707) 875-2922 or visit www.renbrown.com.