It's all about visual stimulation and inspiration inside the Art Museum of Los Gatos at 4 Tait Ave. Looking for a quick escape to the beach without actually having to drive the distance? Take a look at Ewa Gavrielov's painting; stare at it for a while and imagine hearing the waves gently tapping the shore and feeling the cool breeze against the skin. And, talk about unusual sculptures? Check out Barbara Burge's, made entirely of velvet.

These pieces are among the 100 or so paintings, photographs and 3-D creations that got the seal of approval from Philip Linhares, curator for the Oakland Museum, to be part of the annual Open Juried Art Show, sponsored by the Los Gatos Art Association. Doors opened on March 25, but visitors have until May 1 to attend the show.

"There are fewer pieces on display than last year, but a wider pool of applicants," says Catherine Politopoulos, the museum's curator. "The pieces that were selected are fairly large. We don't have enough space to fit everything."

If space weren't an issue, visitors would have a lot more to observe. According to the association's first vice president, Tonya Carpenter, approximately 400 pieces were submitted, some from returning artists and others from new ones.

Although this particular show has a relatively smaller exhibit, Carpenter says it is not a good indicator of what to expect.

"People shouldn't measure a show by the number of pieces on the walls," she says. "Rather, they should look at the quality of the artwork itself."

Critiquing art is a job Linhares has grown quite accustomed to, given his 37 years of experience in the art field. For him, going through and judging each of the pieces was an intense three hours, but nonetheless an enjoyable experience.

Linhares says he saw a wide range of talent while selecting the pieces.

"I was impressed. Some of the pieces were very accomplished," he says. "But there were also those that didn't stand out as much."

So, how can one get on his list of favorites? Linhares says that the best way to grow as an artist is to study what others have done by visiting museums and galleries.

"It's a good way to get ideas," he says.

Also, one can get different perspectives on how to draw something as simple as a hand or a foot.

So, how does one go about determining which pieces to keep and which to return to the owner? According to Linhares, there are no specific criteria.

"You have to let the work speak to you," he says. "You have to rely on your instincts."