Carol Barnett
My work is best described as abstract landscape. I paint in mixed media using watercolors and acrylics sometimes adding collage on fine art paper canvas and board. I apply the paint and collage in layers using a variety of texturing techniques to create the vision I have the of power and beauty of natural landscapes. Although I enjoy the surprise and excitement of mixed media I ground my paintings with solid concepts of composition and design. I hope you enjoy my work and can visit my home studio to see it in person.
Roxanne Blackwood
I am a Mexican-American artist currently based in the Sherwood area. Recently I have rediscovered my love of oil painting and I love to paint people portraits, animals and flowers using a direct painting style that is multilayered and impressionistic. My art is influenced by the Mexican American experience, the West Coast lifestyle vibrant colors and bits of fantasy. If I could paint soulful portraits and narrative paintings with kids chickens flowers and insects for the rest of my life I would be a happy camper.
Darla Boljat
I am a Professional Artist and a native Oregonian. I paint daily in my home studio and began teaching others techniques I have learned in 2006. Now I teach acrylic painting classes for students ages 6-90 and summer camps for ages 8 and up at the Sherwood Center for the Arts. I also teach painting at five assisted living centers monthly. Besides painting last year I became an inventor! I needed a brush holder that would keep my brushes safe organized and easy to find while I traveled and taught painting. Each brush holder which I designed with visual artists and art teachers in mind is hand-manufactured at a local small business in Sherwood. I like creating commissions so if you have an image you own that you would like me to paint just ask! This painting Multnomah Falls II is from my collection The Seven Wonders of Oregon.
Leo Brew
I enjoy capturing the grandeur of wildlife through my paintings while communicating the similarities I have observed between humans and animals.Having a great respect for all life I have long felt that animals share many equalities with humans. I believe animals experience many emotions as we do such as; pleasure and pain, joy and hardship, parenting, family bonds, stress and repose.In my frequent visits to public Zoos I attempt to capture the personality and dignity of these magnificent creatures through direct observation and studies. I look to create not just a likeness but that distinctive gleam in their eyes of the story within.Mainly painting in oils I also enjoy painting human portraits as well. As always I am focused on the preservation and conservation of wildlife in their natural habitats through the support of my art.
Michele Bufton
With 25 years experience I have tried many media but now I work mainly with acrylic, oil, and watercolor. I tend to work on one painting at a time, varying the work between the media depending on the subject matter. Figures take a contemporary look in acrylics, and I prefer oils while working from life with a model. Landscapes I like to complete in plein air on location, and then I work from those paintings in my studio for larger paintings. I enjoy working with water colors on florals and still life paintings. Sometimes I like to push the boundaries with acrylics mixed media and oils to create vibrant abstracts with reresentational forms. I just love to paint! Moving from one medium to the next keeps my paintings fresh and exciting as I work with varying subject matter. Please stop in and see what I’ve been working on.
Susan Curington
I am in love and in fact completely smitten by Nature. I find it thrilling when the light dances through a backlit leaf or flower petal or by the radiance of a butterfly wing. Color in a hundred hues vivid or subtle and luminosity move me in the same way some people are moved by a special piece of music. Beyond words and straight to the heart. I love the surprises inherent in creating art ~ both in seeing closely and carefully and in the unexpected while applying paint to canvas. I am third generation on my land and have known some particular trees since childhood. Being in the thick of nature daily and being able to see the stars at night I wouldn’t trade for anything. Through my paintings I hope to express the gratitude that I feel for the profound power and beauty of Nature.
Anya Doll
I hold space for everybody to be okay in the chaos. My art reveals the best glows from beneath the surface. Through painting with acrylics using the glazing technique that allows me to draw forth deep light through layers of paint I found my way to my main body of work which creates similar effects in fabric and fibers. I make fiber collage prayer flags as meditations. My layering technique creates glowing and enriched colors. Then using freestyle machine stitching I “paint” details with thread. Every flag whether commissioned (which includes fabrics from patron’s lives) or spontaneous teaches me to listen and to love better. Recently I have begun to explore my passion and purpose three-dimensionally through life-casting further exploring how everything on its surface carries a hint of what is deep inside, especially things from nature and especially human faces which are the distillation of our lives.
Les Dougherty
My current adventure is working with “cast” pieces, a fusion of innovative technology and the timeless beauty of wood. The translucence and textures are fascinating! My workshop rests snug among the rolling foothills of the Tillamook forest. As my medium of choice is just out my front door the process of working and shaping wood runs full circle at North Woods Figured Woods and VIVID. I enjoy making hollow-forms bowls end grain cutting boards and flatware. I like to work with each piece on an individual basis letting the wood decide what to become. Paying attention to the fine grain figure and spalt the pieces that I work with bring me joy especially in the act of revealing their form on the lathe.
Karen Doyle
I am an Impressionist oil painter in the beautiful Willamette Valley in Beaverton Oregon. As a colorist I am inspired by the amazing beauty of light and color in the landscape. I capture the sense of place in Oregon’s valleys mountains and coastal towns. When I look at my Plein Air paintings I immediately recall the weather, time of day and my surroundings. An artist since childhood I now nurture two careers: I’m an award-winning Professional Artist and a Software Quality Engineering Manager at Nike. I find immense joy in painting en Plein Air whenever I can and also painting large abstract landscapes and small still lifes in my home studio. Sharing my paintings with the local community is very important to me. I participate in Art Walks and Paint Outs in our community and also travel to paint in California, Hawaii, Arizona and New Mexico.
Kathie Ellis
I work in watercolor for its beautiful transparent colors. For the flow of these colors over beautiful white cotton paper. For the unexpected “happy accidents” that could never be achieved with a brush. To me watercolor is magic.What inspires me is not so much the subject but the play of color values and infusing light and feeling into the painting.This is my second year participating in this tour. I had so much fun last year meeting new people doing demos and just sharing my studio. Hope to see you this year at the “Mad Moisan Watercolor Studio”
Penny Forrest
There is a very important word in Danish hygge (hoogah) that does not translate directly into English. The closest we can come is “cozy”. Hygge is an important concept in Denmark where the winters are long and dark. Hygge is about creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for friends and family. I try to capture this in my work by creating cozy and inviting spaces for viewers to dive into.I find I am increasingly inspired by the everyday and ordinary. I seek beauty in the mundane tasks and clutter of daily life-the little things we take for granted can mean the most and I try to share that vision with other like minded souls.
Joyce Gabriel
Keen on art making since childhood I’m rarely without a pen and paper. I’ll take a note, draw, doodle and make little art cards to give away or to use as studies for future work. Opening my studio doors during the yearly tour is just the nudge I need to make more art. I gravitate to small whimsical works in watercolor, pen & ink and letterpress printing. I prioritize my time beginning with my day job at Pacific University and strive to spend time each week art-making in the back room studio and letterpress printing in the basement – Studio 57. Arriving at our house, walk through the backyard garden, up the deck stairs and you’ll find me inside ready to show you how I do my work and to pass along some inspiration. Come take a glimpse. #gabrielglimpse.
Linda Gerrard
As a fused glass artist I enjoy designing and creating landscapes that typically include an animal or bird.I design and create pieces from my home studio using large sheets of glass that I hand cut and crushed glass frit. Depending on the desired effect I arrange layers of glass and fire multiple times to create visual depth. By controlling temperature and time in the kiln the pieces can be completely smooth textured. Depending on complexity and desired design pieces can take anywhere from 3 days to several weeks to make. I’ve made and sold hundreds of pieces at several juried shows and open studio tours and have made over 70 commissioned pieces .It brings me great joy to see someone’s face light up when seeing one of my pieces for the first time and to have them purchase and bring that piece home is a true delight.
Kimberly Ghaemmaghami
I have worked as an artist for more than 35 years in many different mediums but favor sculpture and three dimensional work. I currently work in sculpture, mosaic and three dimensional collage. My concern for the environment and obsession with recycling led me to the medium I currently work in. The majority of the materials I use are repurposed. From the paint, wood metal and glass to the furniture and trays I apply mosaic to; almost all have had a previous life. I enjoy the freedom of expression this medium allows and the many different techniques used in each unique piece. Defining what I do is a challenge. As a younger artist I attempted to constrain my work to fit in a category but have learned to allow the ambiguity in order to free my artistic expression.
Patricia Gifford
Creating visual art has always brought me solace.Troubled times–drawing was there.Lonely–it’s easy to find paint and become totally immersed in painting.Bored–try the juxtaposes and execution of a complicated mixed media collage.Faith–trust in your intentions and they do come to fruition.As a child during recess I drew on the blackboards while other children played outside.At home we were poor I played with rags of fabric and dolls. I made shoe boxes full of tiny two inch tall paper dolls.As a teenager painting came easy in art class. Tie dye….no problem to mix the more unusual colors with just primary colors.Now as an adult I work mostly in two mediums. Oil or acrylic paint for what I see before me.Acrylic based mixed media collages from physical things and mental stimuli in my environment.It’s a bit surprising how what I did and loved as a child is very much like the artist I have become today.
Chris Goldthorpe
I like to take the road less traveled when it comes to photography. I’m always looking for new ways to create images that are meaningful and different. My work includes familiar objects shown in an unfamiliar light such as liquids in motion or repeated images of a single flower. It also includes people nature and landscapes. Post processing is an important part of my workflow and I have written several filters for Filter Forge that allow me to sculpt the final appearance of my images. I will be demonstrating some of my techniques during the Open Studios Tour. I am always interested in talking about my work and hope that you will find time to visit my studio.
Merry Goldthorpe
Please join us as we visit our little Bees in the Land of Flowers. They were last seen helping discover ” The Secret of Oak Island.” You can read this story on www.extremefelting.com. Our Bees have a new story of their own to tell–the crowning of their new Queen! Her name is Queen Anne who is famous across the land in flower-filled meadows everywhere. Faeries have embroidered delicate lace in her honor since Time began. Her Royal Court will be in attendance serving only the finest Royal Jellies and confections. So do stop by for some enchantment. I’ll have new watercolors felted pieces and surprises.
Randy Goossen
All my life I never wanted just one path when taking multiple paths and moving between them could show me so much more. For example in addition to being a ceramic artist I am a geologist. I enjoy trying to combine these elements. I find testing and experimenting in my studio almost as satisfying as making a finished piece. Stylistically I don’t see why functional items cannot also be art or why art can’t be functional. Trying to capture the transient beauty of a leaf against the sky in a medium that can last millennia and still be functional in day to day life is an exciting challenge. I also try to let my geekiness come out in my art. I am currently making and selling ceramic pendants decorative tiles/coasters/trivets and platters. I am excited to share my finished work and the experiments with folks as they tour my studio.
Angela Grainger
I am an award winning watercolorist and instructor and my paintings have been awarded numerous honors. My work derives its inspiration from the magic and wonders of nature. I am drawn to see and focus on what might not be seen or noticed so I paint with the movement of nature and visualize the growing twists and turns of a twig or a leaf. I also focus on detail whether it’s simply the blending of two colors like one would see on a ripening peach or the finite edges of a raindrop and at the same time juxtapose realism over abstract to create a unique effect. My hope is that the viewer will walk away from seeing my work with a new vision and perhaps wonder how does she do that?
Marie Hatton
My jewelry is designed using the beauty of natural stones and crystals imbued with Healing energy known as Reiki which only adds to their natural properties. Each piece is unique and made with love and respect for these amazing gifts of nature. Happy to design Custom pieces. Let me design your perfect Talisman.
Bob Heath
Thirty-five years working as an engineer has given me an appreciation for detail and design that I now express in the form of glass. My work often features geometric patterns with strong lines and sharp contrasts often incorporating abstract elements. Most of my work is carefully planned starting out as a detailed drawing. I use this stage to try out multiple variations on each idea and to think through the process that I will use to implement the design in glass. Once I am happy with the design I often create multiple components that are fused separately and then cut, shaped and fused together to create the whole.
Sam Hingston
My sculptures are created with mixed media but consist primarily of wood. In addition to a variety of wood types some pieces also contain glass resin or metal. My designs are inspired by nature and biology and focus on form and structure. Included in my body of work are ocean-inspired pieces like shells, sea stars and jellyfish; a number of abstract pieces and most recently my series “Bloom” which consists of imagined flowers made of wood. I want people to see my artwork as unique and I want it to surprise them. I hope that my pieces will remind viewers of the complexity in nature that has given me the inspiration to challenge my abilities and my imagination.
Theresa Hirschmann
Synergy is the inspiration that motivates all of my work. It is so rewarding to take raw materials that alone have no real interest or function and combining those materials in such a way as to make captivating art. This has been true whether I am working with clay, tile jewelry or wax. The whole is greater than the sum of its’ parts and the infinite possibilities of how those parts can be combined is something that I will continue to explore and be intrigued by for the rest of my life.I began my work in 1997 working with tile and creating mosaics. In more recent years I have turned my attention to encaustics. Fascinated by the movement of the molten wax I am able to create and improvise both abstract and realistic imagery. As a third generation Oregonian nature has always been a force in my work and I prize this strong influence that is always at the heart of my efforts.
Linda Holland
In my artistic life I’ve painted to please others, I’ve painted to please teachers, I’ve painted what I knew would sell; or I’ve painted what people ask for. Finally I am at the point where I am painting to please myself and my universe. An art teacher said he could teach all about drawing painting color composition but nobody can teach imagination. Well that is what I’m painting – my imagination.I had an epiphany recently. I’ve owned a dulcimer for several years but never felt comfortable playing it around people. I was visiting a musician friend who plays them and told him I think my problem was I have no rhythm. He immediately said “Then give it up.” I whined but my father played music at country dances he could play any instrument so could my sister. “But you can’t you paint.” So ask me what I do – I paint.
Amanda Houston
Growing up on three continents, I have been inspired by much of the world. I now live on 30 breath-taking acres in an old historic hunting lodge, capturing the beauty that surround me. My home studio is a destination in itself amidst the wine country of Oregon, with 360 degree views of rolling farm land, Mt Hood and surrounding vineyards.Educated in Apparel & Textile Design, I was L.L. Bean’s first apparel designer in the 80’s, Nike’s first Apparel Innovation Director in the 90’s, and launched Niketown.com during the dot-com boom. I now teach pastel workshops, amd I am represented by 6 galleries along the west coast. I am a board member and an award winner of the NW Pastel Society and am published nationally.
Peter Irving
I began working in ceramics in 1967 while living in Los Angeles California. My instructor at the time had studied in Japan with a Japanese National Treasure and his teachings led me to an appreciation of Asian ceramic traditions that are still reflected in my work today. From glazes to surface design to form all aspects of my work have Asian influences. I work exclusively in high fire stoneware. Most of my work is utilitarian in nature. The function they serve is always on my mind as I create. Because I have always led a simple life I have had ample opportunity to spend time studying different techniques in both surface design and form. I have practiced ceramics for more than fifty years now and continue to explore different techniques. The opportunity to learn more is without end.
Patti Isaacs
Silk painting has allowed me to combine two of my favorite things; fabric and painting. I love watching with excitement as the dye careens across the silk and fills in each specific area of my design. I use the French Serti technique which literally means fences or boarders. The rich colors of the dyes and the sheen of the silk are the perfect medium for my paintings. Another passion I have is working with paper. In my travels to Japan I have brought back many beautiful washi papers that I incorporate into my pieces.
Jeff Jurrens
Visual art, especially 20th century painting (most particularly the American abstract expressionists) has been an important influence on me all my adult life. I vividly remember as a college student walking into the university gallery and seeing paintings by Franz Kline and Willem deKooning in person for the first time. Thirty years later I stood transfixed for 30 minutes in New York’s Museum of Modern Art in front of my first Rothko. But in all that time it never occurred to me to make paintings of my own. I’d grown up as a musician and that was my talent, not painting. Then my best friend (now my wife) said, “If you love it so much why don’t you do it?” So I did, and for more than 10 years now it’s just about all I’ve done. The thrill of moving paint around, making objects of color, creating a “thing” that is uniquely “mine” has not diminished. Being untrained it took (and is still taking!) a long time to develop a vocabulary, establish control over what I’m doing, and create paintings that are whole, complete, and reflect what I really want them to look like. I like physical action in the process and am not afraid of chance but in the end the painting has to appear as if it was the only possible outcome. If it’s not then I have to keep going…
Phil Juttelstad
My work has been influenced by prior training in architecture and related disciplines. My design aesthetic is also inspired by the environment of the Pacific Northwest- the skies; the land and the water. I have enjoyed the study of the regional artists of the Pacific Northwest that have contributed to this style of work; Carl Hall Carl Morris and C.C. McKim among others. In my work that depicts the built environment I look for the hand of man on the face of nature and try and depict the shapes, planes and spatial relations of structure and the interesting interdependencies that buildings can create within the landscape. Tonality within the landscape is also a favorite subject of mine and I enjoy the exploration of the effects of atmosphere light and shadow. My work is primarily executed in the studio from reference photographs and on-site sketches. I prepare preliminary color studies to establish volume and value relations and then work directly on canvas or gessoed panels.
Gretha Lindwood
When using soft pastel sticks, powdered pigments from the earth recompressed to fit my hand, I make my marks on the dry surface of sandpaper to record impressions of our natural world. If oil paints are my choice, I apply color on canvas to describe the landscapes that are the subject of my work. By painting en plein air in the outdoors and using an impressionistic touch, my landscapes invite the viewer into the scene. Crisp, refreshing and vivid are words that have been used to describe my paintings. The use of vibrant color and strong design are hallmarks of my work which I developed during my career as an illustrator and graphic designer. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest. I cherish our unique landscapes honed by water and time, and delight in capturing their beauty in the lush colors of pastels or oils to share with the viewer.
Cindy Marsh
I believe life is art – the details impressions, moods, colors, shadows and light are there around us all the time but it’s the awareness that makes the magic happen. That’s why art is so subjective and universal at the same time. As an artist I just try to express and interpret those things. That interaction between mind heart and reality is compelling and personal to me as it is to every person but truly wonderful if we can share it.
Michael Mason
Carefully dried pressed and placed botanicals. Floral Impressionism is created with natures color and form as brushstrokes. Prize winning Portland Oregon native artist Mike Mason is a print making graduate of SFAI. He has been using the flora and fauna organic palette for over 10 years. His body of work which contains over 150 pieces consist of: landscape studies animal images and abstracts. Art is created using all botanical material. Art is then photographed and mad into various fine art collectables. Mike is currently using his art to support natural wildlife habitat conservation.
Emily Miller
I have spent my life on the coast, and all my artwork has its roots in my love of the sea. I am enchanted by the mystery of the deep ocean, the colorful details of the coastlines, and the connections between vast geologic cycles and the natural rhythms of life. I am a lifelong artist with a passion for materials. I fell in love with watercolor over 20 years ago, and I now specialize in painting the beauty of our local landscapes, throughout the changing seasons. I also create colorful abstract landscapes in encaustic wax, as well as tactile, functional ocean-inspired pottery, glass and metal sculpture, fiber arts, and more!
Dee Montague
Hogwash Pottery is a collaborative effort by Erik Horn and Dee Montague. Erik throws forms on the potters wheel while Dee uses hand building techniques to alter each vessel adding creatures and creativity. Our art is centered around the garden theme, garden rocks, bird feeders, lily pads, frogs and many other little whimsical creatures to bring a smile.
Anna Nelson
Anna will be attending Liberty High School in 2018. “Art is my therapy,” she says, and painting with watercolor and ink give her a sense of peace. “Making art gives me a way to show the world what is swirling around in my head, my art ranging from dark and violent pieces to bright and joyful ones.” Anna wants to inspire others through her art as well. “As an artist, I want to educate children and young adults to express themselves fully, presenting their outlook to the people around them, essentially teaching them how to do art in their own way. Encouraging others to learn and know the importance of art is what I strive to do when I create. Art helps me be a better me and it helps others see who I am more clearly.”
JoAnn Pari-Mueller
I have always lived in the countryside and always been a collector. I was raised in farmland Wisconsin and moved to farmland Oregon at age 25 continuously amassing interesting objects of nature and hand-made textiles and crafts from around the world. Using watercolors, pastels, marbling collage and/or calligraphy it is my goal to have others take away some of the awe I feel when studying these objects. Often fine details catch my eye other times I’m interested in the relationship between objects. I like the starkness of a subject against a white background but also like richly colored settings or borders – influences of the many patterns and colors in my collections.
Virginia Parks
As an archaeologist by day I was first drawn to encaustic painting by its antiquity. I’ve been exploring how to use color, line and texture to build up the layers of my encaustic paintings. I love to paint everyday objects that often go overlooked, an empty bowl, a lone pear, a stack of books. The natural world is also a source of inspiration especially seed pods and the other phases of plant life that may not be perfect but are infinitely interesting.The fun and challenge of encaustic is its flexibility. Recently I’ve started incorporating other media like watercolor and paper collage. The sky’s the limit when it comes to the variety of techniques one can bring to encaustic painting and even though I’m still scratching the surface I’m having a blast as I explore!
Ana Quinn
I have always loved getting my hands into mud/clay. My work is functional and somewhat sculptural. Lobbed forms bowls and platters. I enjoy painting on my pieces usually with artwork from the ancient caves of France and icons from the Mimbres ancient Pueblo Indians. This ties in with my education in Anthropology.
Marie-Helene Rake
My creative instincts have been channeled by numerous travel experiences which have led me to explore the arts and crafts of cultures from around the world. Propelled by soul and passion I became fascinated with the creative transformation of raw metal into a unique wearable piece of art evocative of nature’s beauty and the elegance of a movement. Today I work primarily in silver using gold accents and precious or semi-precious stones. All my work is handcrafted in my studio in Forest Grove Oregon. I use traditional techniques of fabrication that include forging, fusing and texturing. This combination of materials and techniques in earth-inspired designs gives life to each piece and contributes to a variety of work and textures. My creations can be seen at the RiverSea Gallery in Astoria and will soon be available on Etsy.
Linda Dalal Sawaya
I am an illustrator, writer, teacher, cook, gardener and the fifth and youngest daughter of Lebanese immigrants. My art effuses color texture and pattern like the Persian rugs embellishing my childhood home in LA. My passions emanate from my ancestors: my faher a photographer, fig tree planter, yogurt-maker and teller of Joha stories; my mother and grandmother outstanding cooks and domestic artists; and my multi-lingual doctor grandfather lover of books art history, madonnas and preserved images in layered collaged journals. Following my grandfather I first made an illustrated autobiography in elementary school. A prelude to my well-loved memoir/cookbook Alice’s Kitchen: Traditional Lebanese Cooking.Three month “roots” journey to Lebanon transformed my life as much as growing up in a Lebanese-American household with Arabic food language music aromas and furnishings intermingled with English, Spanish and rock ‘n roll.
Carli Schultz
A piece begins with a selection of colors but eventually part of the control is given up to the medium itself. Glass behaves like water when molten and while you can shape the path of a river with stones and sticks the water eventually makes a decision on the direction of its journey. I feel that glass and my work are in symbiosis and communication with each other creating a final piece that is a melding of my own vision and the journey the molten glass chooses to follow.
Alise Sewell
Branch Collective has existed since the moment I was born into my crafty family. The collective talent of my grandparents parents and ever changing community has developed in me a love of art and craft and all things beautiful. I find inspiration from the nuances of nature and challenge myself with unfamiliar mediums. Though my heart for creating things has always been a part of who I am it finally got the name “Branch Collective” in October of 2016. Living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Hillsboro Oregon I get to be a part of a community that supports and appreciates art. My focus this year has been developing four new collections: Woodcraft, Leather Craft, Metal Craft and Concrete. A minimal aesthetic ties these collections together as one cohesive craft. I am thankful for the COLLECTIVE creativity that has been poured into me now I get to BRANCH out and inspire others with what I create!
Victoria Shaw
The first time I recall playing with art was as a young child drawing with my mother. A blue ceramic bird was perched on our kitchen table; that particular memory still fills me with warm reflection. It wasn’t until High School that I returned to art by making mosaics and later after graduating from College I found my true love in the art of ceramics. Today as a teacher I try to inspire that same love of creation in my students. My work consists of pieces for the home or garden. Often simple in form but always filled with content. I invite you to visit and enjoy my studio on this second year of the tour.
Valerie Sjodin
As an artist workshop facilitator and certified spiritual director I am passionate about art making inspiring people to believe in their creative ability and connecting with God through the creative process. Designing stencils spring from my many artistic adventures made for StencilGirl Products®. I love to connect with like-hearted people and the joy of sharing in the “aha” moments with others. Facilitating online e-courses studio art journaling and Bible journaling workshops is a way to do that. I am the author-illustrator of Prayerful Doodling and two coloring books Colorful Blessings and Colorful Blessings: Celebrating Everyday Wonders. In the book Paintings Prayers & Passages I share my faith journey through art. You may also find my work in the Complete Guide to Bible Journaling and the Holy Bible: Mosaic and Somerset Studio and Art Journaling magazines. See and find out more by visiting: https://valeriesjodin.com/
Helvi Smith
I grew up in a house where the art on the walls was earned with grocery store credits. Yes like Blue Boy and Pinky. I did not appreciate them at the time and still they are not my cup of tea. But at least there was art on the walls…The art I grew up with that has influenced me most is furniture. Mid century style furniture. The Eames lounge chair and the Saairinen white pedestal table.When I started painting I had no idea it would take over my life. I don’t judge my paintings. I create one and move on to the next. No going back!The comment I hear most often from those looking at my work is that the paintings seem so happy. Isn’t that grand?I am grateful to everyone who has purchased my art whether it is a greeting card or print or painting.
Marlys-Violet Spencer
I am most content when surrounded by fabric. Colors, textures, sumptuousness and imagination; attention to detail versus abandonment. It all figures in. I have more ideas than time to implement them. I prefer to see clothing as art more than utilitarian giving us an opportunity to share who we are or create our fantasies on the outside. Although I have been costuming theatrically since 1969 I also enjoy designing Bridal and Evening gowns. But “One-of-a-Kind” Wearable Art is my preferred market. I believe than within each of us is a unique individual with dreams and desires as well as the need for expression and acceptance. Clothing accentuates our innate uniqueness and brings us into our own light.
Amy Stoner
I make things with wood wax and paper. From carving a woodblock, pulling a print on the press to applying layers of molten beeswax I find joy in bringing disparate elements together to create unique colorful compositions.I relish the control needed in carving wood then the freedom of piecing together my woodblock prints and ephemera together. Finally I complete my work adding textured layers of encaustic beeswax paint. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from the University of Oregon (1998). I have been a professional working artist since 2000 and have exhibited and sold my work nationally. I have had my work professionally published in both books and magazines as well as instructional videos on dvd and cable television.
Nanette Tsatsaronis
Art has indeed become one of my saving graces. When I am creating art it becomes about just me and the art….all else fades away. I believe that is part of the power of original art as we leave an essence of ourselves on canvas at that precise moment in time. The beauty of the ever-changing sky and landscape will always be my greatest inspiration. I love that just as nature changes and evolves so do I. I have come to love creating abstract oil paintings in my studio as they elicit so much emotion from me and my hope is they will from the viewers as well. Completely different but equally compelling is painting en plein air. The majority of my impressionistic landscapes are painted in pastel surrounded by the magnificent sights and sounds of nature.
Bruce Ulrich
All art is an abstraction and painting is colored marks on a flat surface that may or may not reflect our external world . Painting is my way of my of investigating different styles and uses of abstraction to explore landscape objects or color and textures. Some of my paintings are more about various materials used to create texture and build up surface variety. The items include joint compound, dirt, perlite and texture modeling compounds. Each creates different surfaces and takes paint differently. The question “what happens if?” is a process I use to begin a painting about a concept or idea or it may be be a color combination or shape that sparks the start.
James Zaleski
I work in pen and ink, watercolor, oil and other mixed media. I often scan (or digitize) my work in order to rework the images in an image editing software like Photoshop (this is an emerging art-form). That said the end result is a fusion of traditional art media with high tech image enhancement. The final products are richly colorful and visually enticing limited-edition fine art prints. Each piece is signed and numbered and output using an in-studio wide-format inkjet printer. Generally I prefer the minimalist approach to my art and my subject matter is both broad and eclectic (with figurative and abstract pieces dominating my work). I favor abstraction over realism gesture over detail and spontaneity over planning. As is my nature my work contains both serious and whimsical content. In sum I consider my art (in its entirety) to be a serious ongoing study of the ever-changing always-challenging human condition.
Florence Street Studio and Gallery
Featuring: Laurene Coleman Jan Hardenburger Pink Widdows and Jan Youngman This beautiful upstairs Gallery with individual working cubicles is in Laurene’s home. This dedicated space has hosted workshops critiques social events and is a gathering place for the prestigious Painter’s Showcase of Portland. Open to visitors and friends on Tuesday art is created here almost daily. All are award winning artists working in oils pastels and water-media creating landscapes florals portraits and abstracts. The gallery space is covered with wonderful art and these gals are always ready to share their art journey demo and discuss their process or talk about everyday life.
Sequoia Gallery and Studios
Sequoia Gallery + Studios is a nonprofit art association dedicated to promoting the arts and arts education in Hillsboro and the surrounding area. The art gallery showcases the original work of 33 juried members. Sequoia Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm. During the Open Studio Tours, in addition to the Gallery, 13 professional artists’ studios may be visited during gallery hours. During the First Tuesday of every month, the studios and gallery are open from 5 pm – 8 pm for a featured artist’s reception.
The Village Gallery of Arts
The Village Gallery of Arts promotes professional and emerging artists by offering high quality affordable art instruction for children and adults and provides a gallery for our members to display and sell their work. The Village Gallery of Arts was founded in 1963 by a group of 10 artists who shared the idea of having a working teaching gallery a place for exhibition and instruction. Today we are home to more than 100 Oregon artists. We enjoy a diverse group of artist and artisans who create fine works of art in virtually every medium. During Open Studios visit VGA to meet some of our artists who will demonstrate how they create a wide variety of fine arts and crafts.
Valley Art
Valley Art has been a nonprofit all-volunteer art gallery in Forest Grove since 1966. Its mission is to support local artists and encourage the community’s knowledge of art and art media. The gallery sells artists’ work and schedules knowledgeable art instructors to teach a variety of classes.