The San Dieguito Art Guild (SDAG) is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that operates a gallery.

SDAG is dedicated to furthering artistic understanding and fostering artistic growth of members and the community at large by promoting interest, education, knowledge and skills in the visual arts.

The San Dieguito Art Guild is made up of around 200 talented local artists who pay an annual membership fee.

The Guild is run by a Board of 15 elected Directors. The Board meets once a month to set policy and resolve any issues that may arise. The Guild exists whether or not there is a gallery.


  • Off Track Gallery

    The San Dieguito Art Guild provides a professional gallery for San Diego County artists to show and sell their artwork for a reasonable fee. Most of these artists would not be able to fund and run their own gallery. The Gallery provides a store front where both residents and especially tourists may purchase one-of-a-kind, hand-made art crafted by local artists. The Gallery serves as a hub where local artists gather and talk to each other about their chosen craft, exchange ideas and opinions, and learn about other artist opportunities.

  • Philanthropy

    2023 Philanthropic donation

    Proceeds from the 2023 SDAG Annual Mother’s Day Art, Garden, and Studio Tour were distributed as follows:
    Five San Dieguito Academy School Student Awards: $100 each ($500 total) and space for each one to show their artwork in the Off Track Gallery during the month of June, 2023
    Teachers Nicole Feltman from Aviara Oaks Middle School — $500, Bryan Snyder from Valley Middle School — $500, Angela Jackson from San Dieguito Academy School — $500
    Encinitas Boys and Girls Club, Encinitas — $500
    Community Resource Center, Encinitas — $250
    T.E.R.i  —  $500

    ***************************************************************

    A $250 cash scholarship award was given to Tracy Houser, photography graduating senior from the San Dieguito Academy, was presented in memory of Jeffrey R. Brosbe, an SDAG board member who passed away from cancer in April, 2021.

    2018-2019 SDAG Scholarship Recipients

    The initiative was suggested and organized by Jeffrey R. Brosbe, SDAG board member and retired drama teacher who taught in the San Dieguito School District.

    Jeff Brosge, Jobs Chair

    Jeff Brosbe

    The award to middle and high school students is in keeping with the guild’s mission statement:  SDAG is dedicated to furthering artistic understanding and fostering artistic growth of members and the community at large by promoting interest, education, knowledge and skills in the visual arts.

    1.    Diegueno Middle School                   Julie Riley Thorner         $100

    2.    Canyon Crest Academy                     Anushka Iyer               $200

    3.    Carmel Valley Middle School            Brenna Hall                   $100

    4.    San Dieguito Academy                     Dylin Dubose                 $200

    5.    Oak Crest Middle School                  Jaylee Doan                   $100

    6.    Torrey Pines High School        Kalli Evans/Kathryn Brown      $100/each

    7.    La Costa Canyon High School           Taylor Evans                 $200

    8.    Sunset High School                          Lucille Norden               $200

    9.    Earl Warren Middle School               Ainsley Attobell             $100

    Total awards =  $1400

    Riley Thorner, an art student Diegueno Middle School in Encinitas, was awarded a certificate and a check for $100 by Linda Melvin, president of the San Dieguito Art Guild, on December 12, 2018.

    “I will use this money to better improve my art skills and share them with my friends and all the people around me. I will use the money to buy new art supplies so that I can work on and create new art. It was very generous of the Guild to give me this opportunity, “ says Riley.


    Anushka Iyer, an art student Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego was awarded a certificate and a check for $100 by Judy Salinsky, Publicity Co-chair of the San Dieguito Art Guild, on March 2, 2019.

    “Any form of creative expression is undoubledly necessry in my life — as speaking in words never seems to capture the whole felling quite the same way a painting would. Every piece I make embodies some kind of emotion I feel at the time, whether it is towards an event, another person, or even myself. I’ve been sharing my stories and thoughts to the world for quite some time now and can say, without hesitation, that I wouldn’t be who I am today without art”, says Anushka.

    Lucille Norden, Sunset High was given award by SDAG member Laura Lowenstein

    Other recent philanthropic donations include:

    • Annual Donation of 10% of net proceeds from Mothers Day Weekend Art, Garden & Studio Tour fund raiser
      • 2013  Four students from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, each received $400 and were given a free space ($50 value) for a month in the Off Track Gallery
      • 2014  TERi Inc, received $1200
      • 2015  Four promising students from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, awarded $500 each and provided with free wall space for one month ($45 value) at the Off Track Gallery
      • 2016  Three promising students from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, awarded $500 each and provided with free wall space for one month ($45 value) at the Off Track Gallery.  In addition $500 was awarded to the Art Department at San Dieguito Academy High School for their “Frames Project”
      • 2017  Three promising students from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, awarded $500 each and provided with free wall space for one month ($45 value) at the Off Track Gallery. Plus $1000 given to Encinitas Friends of the Arts.
      • 2018 Three promising students from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, awarded $500 each and provided with free wall space for one month ($45 value) at the Off Track Gallery.
      • 2019  Three promising students from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, awarded $500 each and provided with free wall space for one month ($50 value) at the Off Track Gallery.
      • 2022:
        • Three promising students from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, were awarded $400 each and provided with free wall space for one month ($50 value) at the Off Track Gallery.
        • Three high schools in Encinitas each received $500 for their arts programs.
        • $300 was given in Monthly Show awards to veterans.
        • Community Resource Center received $250 in art supplies for children in their shelter.
        • Pacific View Art Center / Encinitas Friends of the Arts received $706.
    • Dia de los Muertos event held at the Encinitas Library:
      • $250 November 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017
    • Stardust Arts (Cheryl Ehlers): $500 December 2014
    • PhotoCharity (Jeffrey Sitcov): $500 February 2015
    • SDAG provides TERi Inc, free wall or floor space when available ($50 value each month), free space in SDAG’s Holiday Bazaar 2015 ($75 value), 2016 ($85 value), 2017  ($85 value), 2018 ($85 value), 2019 ($85 value) as well as free space in SDAG’s Mother’s Day Weekend Art, Garden and Studio Tour 2015 ($70 value), 2016 ($75 value), 2017 ($85 value), 2018 ($85 value), 2019 ($85 value) and 2020 ($95 value). Art supplies and items for their thrift store in Oceanside are also donated.
  • Community Events

    Holiday Bazaar held annually, gives each SDAG member who wishes to participate a chance to sell their original artworks


    Mother’s Day Weekend Art, Garden and Studio Tour. Guild volunteers put in thousands of hours in planning and making this a memorable and pleasurable event for the public.

  • Education Opportunities in the Recent Past

    • Each student in “Because We Like HUE” classes received $10 toward art supplies per person per class (in classes with materials fees). Five committee members donated their time for a total of 10 hours a month for classes. 
    • “Try It, You’ll Like It” workshops:  Four to six teachers donated their classroom and prep time (about 6 hours each) for the workshops.  Other members donated their time in planning and assisting at the workshop (approx. 12 hours total for all each time). Scholarships were awarded to students who profess a monetary need.
    • Demos, Dialogue & Art. These workshops were open to the public. They are funded jointly by SDAG with the City of Encinitas and sponsored by the Art Division and Encinitas Library. The Programs Chair and volunteers from the Guild donated over 10 hours a month for this event.