Marian McGlothlin got her hands dirty from time to time while growing up on a dairy farm. Later, those same hands helped home-school her daughter, earn a living as a massage therapist, and now as an artist.

Her “3-D altered digital photography” will be among the original art pieces that will be on display for three months beginning today in the Council Chambers at the Manteca Civic Center. McGlothlin will one of five Manteca Artist Guilt members whose unique creations will hang on the walls behind the City Council members’ chairs.

Artist Guild president Jean Ramey said the five artists featured include watercolorists George Simmons, Donna K. Quarry, Janet Powell McKee, and Margo Flanagan. All five are new members of the guild, Ramey said.

 Ramey, who is an award-winning artist, said she will have two of her own watercolors included in the exhibited collection.

The last time Artist Guild members’ art works were featured in the Council Chambers was about two years ago, Ramey said.

The exhibit at City Hall is part of the guild’s ongoing concern of finding avenues to display members’ art works.

“We’ve been trying to find places to show in town,” said Ramey whose original watercolors featuring scenes around Manteca has become popular among art collectors including the Manteca Vistors Center.

The opportunity to showcase the guild members’ original art creations at City Hall has been a tremendous help in achieving that goal, Ramey said.

“It’s really wonderful that they let us do that. I appreciate it,” said Ramey.

“People see the article (about the exhibit) usually in the (Bulletin) paper and that’s how they hear about it. I know several of the artists (who exhibited here) have sold things in the past,” added Ramey who started out as a trained commercial artist who worked in the Bay Area before moving to Manteca.

A few of the places in Manteca where Artist Guild members are displaying their works include The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley where Bass Pro Shops is located, and the Manteca Public Library. About 10 of the guild members have jumped at the opportunity to use some of the commercial units The Promenade Shops that are yet to be leased to display their paintings. The artists simply set up an easel inside the units by the glass windows for shoppers to look at while meandering around the shopping mall.

The artists’ paintings are displayed in the commercial units on Lifestyle Street across from the Vans Show Store and next door to the Red Robin restaurant, Ramey said.

The guild has also established affiliations with several highly visible non-profit groups whose events allow them to display the guild members’ talents. One of these recent groups is the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce whose annual Cinco de Mayo celebration at The Promenade Shops this year will include a booth for the Art Guild.

And, said Ramey, “We’re going to be at the Manteca Garden Club’s garden tour (Saturday, May 12). They have their house tour and we usually set up at the last house where they have their refreshments. We have that coming up. And then we have our show at Chez Shari (restaurant at the Manteca Golf Course) which will be on Nov. 4 this year.”

For more information about the Manteca Artist Guild, visit their new web site at www.mantecaartistguild.org or their facebook page at www.facebook/mantecaartistguild. You may also send an e-mail to mantecaartistguild@gmail.com.