End-of-the-Year Sparkle at The Studio Door

By Patric Stillman

As the festive season approaches, Hillcrest’s vibrant arts hub, The Studio Door on 4th Avenue, is rolling out a three-fold celebration of creativity: a seasonal collectors’ marketplace, a high-profile solo exhibition and book launch, and the unveiling of collectible works by two award-winning local artists. Together, the November–December programming promises to blend community and culture in a way that brings a much-needed dose of merry holiday spirit to the neighborhood.

The Season of Art: Holiday Art Market

Running from November 6 through December 23, The Studio Door’s Holiday Art Market invites local artists and makers to present small, affordable artworks in various mediums like painting, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics and more for the holiday-shopping crowd. Accessible art for the giving season, made by and for the community. The marketplace will be open Tuesday – Saturday from 11 AM – 6 PM with special events like Shop Small Saturday and extended gallery hours in December.

“It’s really a beautiful thank-you to the creative community,” says fused glass artist Crisinda Lyons, who has been with the gallery for eleven years. “The Holiday Art Market gives artists and neighbors a chance to reconnect. I’m so happy to see it return. It’s always been one of those moments that fills the gallery with genuine warmth and brings the community closer. Isn’t that what we all hope the holidays will do for us?”

The Art of Knights of The Vermillion Rose: RD Riccoboni

For the month of November, The Studio Door invites visitors to get a first look at Knights of the Vermillion Rose, RD Riccoboni’s bold new art series presented in its entirety for the first time. While glimpses of the work have appeared as they have been developed, this exhibition brings the full story together debuting alongside the launch of the graphic novel. A reception and book-signing on November 8 from 6 – 9 PM will coincide with our monthly gallery reception, making it one of the season’s most anticipated nights at The Studio Door.

A longtime Studio Artist at The Studio Door and a familiar face at Village Art Center, RD Riccoboni continues to expand his creative universe. “I wanted to build a world where love and identity are front and center, and the heroic quest is for self-acceptance as much as for adventure,” says Riccoboni, whose new series and companion graphic novel, Knights of the Vermillion Rose, bring that vision vividly to life.

Award-Winning Voices: Roberta Dyer & Michele Joyce

Throughout November, the spotlight turns towards two of San Diego’s most accomplished artists, Roberta Dyer and Michele Joyce, each bringing a distinct, powerful voice to the gallery’s fall lineup.

Dyer, fresh off winning the top prize at the San Diego Watercolor Society’s 45th Annual International Exhibition, returns with a collection that explores the strength and vulnerability of the animal world. Her distinctive artistic hand is instantly recognizable through compositions that balance emotional depth with a fearless sense of motion and mystery. “I am constantly pulled by two loves of painting figures and painting abstracts,” Dyer has said. “I use figures and animals as shapes in a painting, and my intent is to portray animals and humans as survivors. Vulnerable but strong.”

Michele Joyce offers a striking counterpoint with a series of pure abstracts, a fresh evolution of her exuberant, color-driven approach. One of San Diego’s favorite artists, Joyce finds joy in spontaneity. “I like to find the funky side of any ordinary image. My art isn’t about making a social statement, but about finding a different way of looking at things that elevates your emotional state. I simply want the images I create to make people smile a little to be playful, rebellious and slightly irreverent.” This is particularly true with several small works that Michele has included in the Holiday Art Market.

Together, Dyer and Joyce reflect how artists can lift each other up in the pursuit of excellence. Their paths may differ stylistically but both reveal what happens when talent and mutual respect push creative boundaries higher.

* * * * 

As I wrote in last month’s editorial, “Time’s Running Out,” our city’s artists don’t just need applause, they need us to show up. The beauty of this season is that it gives us the chance to do exactly that.

In a season built on generosity, there’s something deeply personal about surrounding yourself with art or sharing it with someone you love. A painting on the wall, a sculpture by the window, a small handmade piece on the table. These are the things that make a home feel alive. They remind us of the people who dream, create and keep beauty in the world when we need it most. In a time when everything feels a little uncertain, artists are the ones who keep bringing light, quietly, consistently, into our lives. Share that feeling through art with your loved ones.

Key Gallery Dates (November & December)

• Nov 6: Exhibits open to the public | 11 AM–6 PM
• Nov 8: Opening reception & Knights of The Vermillion Rose book launch | 6–9 PM
• Nov 15: Postcards from the Left Coast — Free workshop preparing for January’s HIV/AIDS charity art sale with artist Patrick N. Brown, in collaboration with FOG (Fellowship of Older Gays)
• Nov 18: Pride Point Network Mixer (formerly Out Professionals) | 6–9 PM
• Nov 29: Shop Small Saturday with Sidewalk Sale & Sexy Santa Meet & Greet | 1–4 PM
• Dec 13: Last-Minute Shoppers Event with Santa’s Workshop Art Play & Demos | 1–4 PM

Knights of The Vermillion Rose Graphic Novel

When Gerry and his devoted dog, Prosecco, wander into a summer night glowing with mystery, they stumble upon a secret written in the stars for over 129,000 years.

The Intergalactic Knights of the Vermillion Rose, legendary same-sex warrior couples from the Lemirian galaxy, have arrived on Earth in human form. Their mission: rescue the Lost Knight, reclaim the fabled Stone Tablet of Finality and stop the shadowy Contrastadors before the world falls into darkness.

But saving a planet isn’t as simple as wielding a sword. Disguised as ordinary men, the Knights must navigate San Diego’s art scene, eccentric neighbors, late-night drag shows, and the complexities of romance both human and cosmic. Along the way, Gerry is drawn into a love story that transcends time, distance and even death itself.

Blending science fiction, romantic comedy, and space-fantasy adventure, Knights of the Vermillion Rose offers dazzling world-building, heartfelt humor, and an unapologetic celebration of queer love. Written and illustrated by internationally collected artist and storyteller RD Riccoboni, the book presents a comedic universe brought to life through over 60 pages of vivid, hope-filled artwork.