Whidbey Open Studio Tour Great Success

Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's Whidbey Open Studio Tour such a great success. We sold a record number of tickets! Please mark your calendars for next year's tour...September 25+26, 2010. We have a few extra calendars available for purchase at Open Door Gallery + Coffee, 2nd Street Wine Shop and 1504 Coffee. Photos and story by Sherrye Wyatt.

STUDIO TOUR OFFERS FRESH DESIGN IDEAS

Story by Sherrye Wyatt

Do-it-yourself decorators who’ve struggled with paint colors or pondered over skylights understand why people hire designers to pull rooms together. But that can be expensive. How about spending $10 for one of the most unique home tours in the Pacific Northwest? Not just anywhere, but on Whidbey Island. And not just any homes, but professional artists’ homes, the quintessential dream team of designers.
Ninety-two artists open their studio doors for the 13th Annual Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour, September 26-27, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The self-guided event allows guests an opportunity to peek into an artist’s personal space. In many cases the studios are in the artists’ homes.
Guests may meet woodworking artist Gary Leake, whose techniques and tools were employed during the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, many patiently passed down to him by his master cabinetmaker grandfather. Or fabric artist Mary Burks, who creatively stretches the typical use of fibers as she experiments with new textiles and yarns, creating unique cloth with texture.
Whidbey Island’s arts community is vibrant and growing. Each year, its natural splendor and supportive environment continue to attract talented professionals from all over the world. Sheltered from the chaos of society and immersed in the beauty and quiet rhythm of island life, many admit they are now creating the best work of their entire artistic careers.
Private by nature, this two-day tour provides the rare chance to meet these artists while experiencing the actual settings in which they work. Guests may also purchase art, as they hear the intimate story of its inspiration at the point of its creation. The $10 ticket includes a map of studio locations and a four-color 2010 wall calendar featuring the participating artists’ work. Heading up the list of sponsors this year is Whidbey Telecom. Proceeds from the event help to provide scholarships and grants for local students and aspiring artists. To purchase tickets online go to http://www.whidbeyopenstudiotour.org/, call (360) 221-4121 or contact the Pacific Northwest Art School at (360) 678-3396.

Meet the Artists on the Tour #76 Maryon Attwood

by Sherrye Wyatt

Maryon Attwood
http://www.maryonattwoodstudios.com/
640 Patmore Road Coupeville, 98239

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Pottery—functional flatware, elegant & sculptural cookware for the oven and grill
Ceramic spirit houses, glazed
Ceramic beads
Ceramic tiles

How long have you been an artist? I have been an artist for most of my life, working in a variety of media over the years. I was trained as a painter and illustrator and in the past ten years have moved into three-dimential work in clay – making functional clay platters, hand-made tiles, and sculptural spirit houses.

Artist’s Statement: My interest in producing oven-to-table platters comes from my concern for healthy foods prepared safely without the use of Teflon, aluminum pans, or aluminum foil. As an artist, a former director of a craft center, and an environmental activist, I have been influenced by many traditions of the past. Mary Caroline Richards and Meinrad Craigshead continue to be strong influences on my creative path.

My interest in building and creating the spirit houses brings my love of gardens and the out-of-doors into the hand-made slab spirit houses, a unique part of Tai and Cambodian cultures. I also am a great believer in the spirits of place. Each house is unique, built with openings to invite the spirits to reside and bring good luck to the garden or to the home. I write words on some of these houses, both inside and out, to bring intention to the spirits who may choose to reside inside once the spirit houses leave my studio. I take pleasure in doing the research on the Eastern architectural elements of the houses and know that my father, who was an architect and engineer, is an influence on this work. I like the idea of bringing the seen and unseen worlds together in the serenity and beauty of the garden.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?
The flameware clay that I use for my functional work is not available in any retail settings and was handed down to me by Karen Karns and Ann Stannard, who developed the formula for the clay that can be used from the oven to the table.

The spirit houses are a unique inspiration developed out of my sense of place –inspired by Whidbey Island. It feels to me like Whidbey Island and the people who live here will understand and appreciate thesse house for the spirits of the Pacific Northwest.

Meet the Artists on the Tour #82 Patty Pico

by Sherrye Wyatt

Patty Picco
pattypicco@yahoo.com
60 N. Willard Way, Coupeville, Wa. 98238

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Encaustic Mixed Media and Monotypes

How long have you been an artist? 26 years

Artist’s Statement: In my work, I enjoy the process of trying to infuse a sense of energy into the ordinary. When I experience nature, I gain a deep appreciation for the spiritual energy that we share with creation. This appreciation leads me to an investigation of the image. I use different mediums to convey my feelings. They range from printmaking, to collage to encaustic wax. There are times when I combine all three into one richly layered piece.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? My work conveys a sense of serenity and mystery, I use meditation and dream work in my process. Texture is important to me as evidenced in much of my work.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I create art because it is the voice of my soul.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? I just won the cover contest for the Whidbey Telecom phonebook. I teach classes at the Pacific Northwest School of Art.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? I will be demonstrating the use of encaustic wax, which is the fusing of melted beeswax and raw pigment.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through. “Tulum” I took a photo of an opening in the ruins of Tulum, Mexico. I liked the arch shape of the window. I placed this image on a wood block, and attached to a 24x24” wood panel. From there I layered encaustic wax and raw pigment, fusing after each layer. As the layers were being built up, gouged out a circle around the image. Some of the raw pigment was metallic and particles floated on the previous layer of wax. I especially enjoy the push and the pull of layering with encaustics.

Meet the Artists on the Tour #27 Joan Govedare

by Sherrye Wyatt

Joan Govedare

mailto:Govedareinfo@nightskystudio.net

http://www.nightskystudio.net/

2160 E. Woodbine Road, Langley, WA 98260

Type of artwork - what medium, how is it classified?

Pottery, raku fired and glazed, two entirely different linesEach feature accurate constellations of the night skyHow long have you been an artist?Thirty eight years.

Artist's Statement:
"I specialize in raku fired, intricately carved ceramics which feature an accurate depiction of the constellations of the night sky. Recently I've added a new line of colorfully glazed functional pieces which still often feature the stars. My designs and wheel thrown forms reflect more than thirty eight years of development as a potter."

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?My father was an astronomer and he taught me to identify and love the constellations of the night sky. I've been featuring stars on my pots for over 20 years, and I don't think anybody else takes the time to make them accurate. Both the raku fired hand painted pieces and the glazed pieces require longhours of detail work.
Why do you create? What are you passionate about?I guess you could say I was born to work with clay; I love what I do. Most of all I love the colors and textures. I am passionate about art that has a message. For decades I have made a point of incorporating meaning into
my work. The act of throwing clay up on the wheel never ceases to thrill me.
What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows?I'm shifting over to glazed functional pieces for the first time in thirty years. I am enjoying learning which colors work best with which clay body. I've begun eating out of my own dishes, and this is very enjoyable.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? Various stages of the process of making both the raku fired and glazed pieces. I usually try to do some raku firings, some throwing and trimming.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through. My lidded raku fired pieces are personal favorites. I love the idea of being able to keep sacred objects in a ceramic vessel. There will be a selection of these in the studio, and each has a very personal story. I am currently working on a series of bowls . These are sturdy, colorful and enjoyable to use. Each one has at least five layers of glaze on it, hand painted. Many of the designs will feature the night sky, with the North Star in the center of the bowl.

Meet the Artists on the Tour #77 - Gary Leake

by Sherrye Wyatt

Gary A. Leake
gary.leake@att.net
http://home.att.net/~gary.leake
13 W. Morris Road, Coupeville, WA 98239

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Functional woodart pieces – aka woodart furniture

How long have you been an artist? Gary has been a woodworker for over 30 years and began to show his woodart approximately 10 years ago.

Artist’s statement: One-of-a-kind "Shaker-style and contemporary furniture pieces so unique that they are considered works of art.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? Gary credits his Grandfather for nurturing what has become a keen appreciation for all things wooden. Many of Gary’s antique woodworking tools and skills were inherited from this wonderfully patient master cabinet-maker. Gary’s creative process can best be described as follows: Conceptual ideas float around in his head (sometimes for a day but often for years) until the magic moment when he finds that particular piece of timber that triggers the project. The wood’s natural character, which acts as a catalyst for moving the abstract idea to reality, truly drives the final design. Thus each artistic creation is truly unique. Each piece is carefully crafted by hand using many of the woodworking techniques and tools employed during the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. The resultant ‘feel’ and warmth of the wood can only be experienced by touching and caressing it. Touching of Gary’s art is indeed mandatory. Gary’s labors of love demonstrate his creativity as a contemporary artist and his woodworking skills. Each piece is given a unique name with the title of the piece, creation date and artist information permanently stamped on the underside of the piece. In addition, each piece includes a complete description similar to that attached for “Maple Mystique” that documents the particulars of creative process and construction related to that piece of woodart.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? Gary is a woodworking artist whose passion is to search the countryside for a special one-of-a-kind, piece of timber, be it cherry (a favorite), maple, walnut or cocobolo, that has character (meaning highly figured, tigered, spalted, etc) and turn it into a finely engineered and ultimately beautiful piece of furniture, so unique it is considered a work of art. Gary's technique tends to be influenced by methods and styles of earlier times, using antique woodworking tools and skills (although he does use a bandsaw from time to time). Other influences: ancient Japanese joinery, "Shaker-style furniture, Colonial-style furniture, Early American hand tool techniques and a natural finish look. Moving to Whidbey Island in 2000 proved to be even more tempting for Gary to expand his horizons and express his artistic talent. In pursuit of his passion, he spends hours (and hours and hours - just ask Sandy) dreaming up ideas, finding that perfect piece of timber and finally creating a true work of art.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? Current projects include entries for the upcoming 6th Annual Whidbey Island Woodworkers Giuld ‘Woodpalooza’ Show (Sept 5 – 13), and numerous pieces to support the five art galleries that show and sell Gary’s woodart pieces. See website for more information.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? The Tour will focus on the Artist’s woodworking shop with all of the requisite old tools, rough slabs of timber waiting their turn and eclectic clutter (some sawdust too). During the Tour, design and balance are discussed; and hand-cut joinery techniques are demonstrated – typically as an art piece is being build. A number of finished pieces will be on display.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through.

"MAPLE MYSTIQUE"



American Bigleaf Maple
with
American Black Walnut



The absolutely stunning top plank of this very unique piece of art exhibits a wide variety of figured grain patterns and complexity that attest to the of magical charisma of nature…

The basis for this piece of wood art began with the discovery of the magnificent natural-edged hunk of highly figured burled American bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) that was utilized to create the tabletop. Though warped and twisted the timber showed just a teasing hint of the special character that lay underneath the ragged exterior - a marvelous combination of numerous burls, wavy vertical grain, randomly spaced cross-grain tigering, dark-streaked spalting and evidence of long-dead borers.

The book-matched table legs have been fabricated from a single plank of American black walnut (Juglans nigra) selected to contrast with and complement the intense color/grain of the upper and lower longitudinal surfaces. The success of the design depends upon precise hand-chiseled blind double-wedged (two hidden wedges per leg) mortise-and-tenon joints (Japanese jigoku-kusabi joinery technique) for permanent attachment of the legs to the upper slab. Blind mortise-and-tenon joints have also been utilized to permanently attach the short and long spreaders to the legs.

A smaller and more subdued piece of American bigleaf maple was selected for the lower-long spreader to add a bit of flash below the waistline without distracting from the overall design.

The table has been hand finished with a durable oil-varnish to highlight the natural color and protect the beautiful character of the maple and black walnut timbers while giving the table a warm feeling to the touch. As with all of his wood art pieces the title of the piece, creation date and artist information has been permanently stamped on the underside of the piece.


Dimensions: 46-3/4 inches in width
4-5/8 – 11-1/8 inches in depth (top)
11-3/8 inches in depth (overall)
30 inches in height

Artist: Gary A. Leake, Coupeville, Washington

Price: $2000

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #44 Natalie Olsen

by Sherrye Wyatt

Natalie Olsen
thegnat@whidbey.com

http://www.natalieolsen.com/
5505 Shore Meadow Road, Freeland

Type of artwork – what medium: Fiber art (weaving), mixed media

How long have you been an artist? During my college years (1957–’61) I made money by drawing cartoons and selling custom cartoon greeting cards. I guess that counts. I took my first weaving class in 1972, and started exhibiting and selling my work the same year. I’ve been weaving ever since – 37 years!

Artist statement: I like to break the rules of traditional tapestry, weaving curves instead of straight lines, odd-shaped pieces rather than rectangular ones. As weaving trends today move toward finer threads and computer-generated designs, I find myself going back to my organic 3-D weaving, picking up themes from nature as I did when I began to weave more than 35 years ago.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? My tapestry pieces are shaped, manipulated both on the loom and after I take them off. I work with yarn, metal, plastic, glass, paper, silk fusion and hand-dyed and hand-felted materials.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? Why? Certainly not for the money or the fame! I guess I just can’t help it. I love to work with textures and colors. I also love working with my husband Earl, a photographer (we’ve been married more than 46 years). Last year we both had to drop out of the studio tour at the last minute because of his backpacking accident, rescue and airlift to Harborview. Now, after nine months, he’s nearly back to normal.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? For the past year I’ve been weaving shaped tapestry fish from natural & synthetic yarns, metalics, acrylics and recycled materials. Two of my fish are in a juried exhibit, “Fish Follies 2009” at the Cordova Museum in Cordova, Alaska (June through beginning of September). My husband got a kick out of my mailing fish to Alaska. This fall I’ll be part of a show in Edison-Bow and one at the Penn Cove Pottery Gallery in Coupeville. Another one coming up in January is at the Quilt & Textile Museum in La Conner.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour? I hope they WON’T see me still doing my once-a-year cleaning before the studio tour! They’ll see works in progress on looms, on tables and walls, and I’ll describe the processes I go through to complete a piece.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through. “Salmon Ella,” my latest fish. I love picking out the colors, trying for iridescence, weaving so the colors blend, then shaping it over wire mesh (Gutter Guard). I need to buy her false eyelashes this week…

Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour Artist Wins Competition

Winner of the Whidbey Telecom 2009-2010 Directory Cover Art Competition is one of the artists on this year's Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. The new directory cover (due to be published in November) will feature ‘My Path’, an original monoprint by Patty Picco of Freeland.

By Sherrye Wyatt

Meet the Artists on the Tour - # 25 Gary Schallock

by Sherrye Wyatt

Gary Schallock
idoart@ymail.com

http://www.garyschallock.com/

2589 Traverse Road, Langley, WA

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Paintings in watercolor, variety of subject matter.

How long have you been an artist? I declared art as my major in college in the 60’s. I have worked in a wide variety of mediums over the years, but have been primarily working in watercolors since 2001.

Artist’s Statement: I am dedicated to growing as an artist. I believe an artist must be proactive, and continue to grow and mature. Artists should routinely step out of their comfort zone and experiment with new subject matter, methods, and materials. An ongoing pursuit of art education is essential to personal growth. The proactive artist will continually take classes and workshops, and look for professional growth opportunities.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? I paint in an expressive style taking a lot of liberty with my subject. I use bright “arbitrary” color, interesting textures and most of all, expressive calligraphic brush work.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? Because I can! It’s a huge part of who I am. While being very average in most things, I excel at art and it gives me a lot of pleasure to share my art ability with others.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? Working on paintings. Will have shows in the spring. I will be offering workshops.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? Demonstrations upon request.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through.
“Sundance on Puget Sound” is a ship in a boatyard and is a favorite subject. My plan was to create a painting with bright, patchy colors with a simplified image and expressive brushwork (calligraphic strokes). I think that cheery and well-crafted paintings are uplifting. I feel like I achieved what I aimed for, so was pleased with the outcome.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #74 Jan Hoy

by Sherrye Wyatt

Jan Hoy
http://www.sculpture.jhoydesign.com/
jan@jhoydesign.com
631 Olympic View Drive
Coupeville, WA 98239

What type of art? What medium? How is it classified? Abstract sculpture – the medium is bronze or fired clay.

How long have you been an artist? 40 years

Artist’s Statement: My artistic intent is to create imagery that draws on the best I have to offer. I work to make art that the eye and hand can linger on and draws the viewer to take it in in a sumptuous and inclusive manner. My work plays with organic forms that come together - and in the space where they meet they create a hard-edged linear element. I feel that something interesting occurs where the organic and the hard-edged areas meet.

I try to create works that are a complete statement unto themselves - the shape feels whole and tells its own story independent of its environment. It is the simplicity of these forms that appeals to me. Many times they begin as more complex statements and I have to “take away” until there is an essence left that is actually stronger than its more complicated beginnings.

I originally create the pieces in water-based clay which gives me the ease of working in a malleable substance. I enjoy that once it is cast in bronze it still has the original sense of malleability, but as though it has been captured in time.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? I think the simplicity of the form and the surface treatment, both with the bronze and with the fired clay. The bronze was originally created in water-based clay giving it a textured surface and is finished with a traditional patina. The fired clay is treated with a patina – either blue or green to give it a bronze-like finish.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I create to express and bring into existence something that I can not find otherwise. I find the process fascinating and the end result rewarding to my senses.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? I’m currently working on a series of fired clay pieces and two new bronze sculptures. I have been offered two shows in the next calendar year, one at the Fetherston Gallery in Seattle, and the other at the Lucia Douglas Gallery in Bellingham.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? I will be working in clay to create several new works. They are built by the slab process and other techniques.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through. I will have a piece called “Duplicity” for sale at the OST. It is an abstract bronze sculpture that gave me more headaches trying to decide on a finish than any other piece. It is a very organic sculpture that doesn’t call for a shiny patina- as most bronze patinas have a sheen. So, rather than finish it in a traditional patina, I used a more mottled, stone-like patina with a matt coating to keep the effect dull.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #38 Lloyd Whannell

Lloyd Whannell
lwhannell@yahoo.com

1660 Roberta Ave. Freeland Wa.
Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Mostly stone sculpture and some bronze sculpture, mostly figurative and some functional, ie.sinks, tables, water basins
How long have you been an artist? Stone sculpting for 16 years, ceramics for 3 years before that.
Artist’s Statement: I have been working in stone for about 16 years. My functional stone work includes sinks, tables, countertops, water basins, and fountains. My current figurative work is a tall figure series called “Silent Watchers,” which draws it’s inspiration from a 3rd century B.C. Etruscan bronze figurine called “Ombra della Sera” or Shadow of the Evening. This tall, thin figure series expresses the feelings of serenity and peacefulness, using a variety of different stones. A further evolution of the “Silent Watcher” series uses cast bronze coupled with stone. This combination of bronze and stone is also used in my newest series called “Silent Words…” This piece continues the expression of serenity and peacefulness coupled with the beauty, strength, and self assurance of the bare human head. This piece is the portrayal of the poem I wrote which inspired it:
Silent words
spoken to the night sky
reflected by the stars
and heard in the hearts
of those with silent minds
"Silent Words 3" has been purchased by the town of LaConner, and the local merchants have taken to dressing her in various flowing headscarves.
What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? I am constantly trying new approaches with my sculpture, and combining limited edition bronze heads with my one of a kind stone bodies is my most recent endevor.
Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I enjoy the process of trying to create beautiful things, an elegance to a functional sink, or a feeling of silence in a figure. To constantly push my boundaries is my passion.
What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? I am currently working on several projects. A 9 foot tall figure as the next in my Silent Words series, a memorial monument, and ongoing granite countertop work.
What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? I will probably still be sculpting on my new figure, doing the final assembly on the memorial, and show some of the larger tools in action.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #80 Shirley Ashenbrenner

Shirley J Ashenbrenner
ashenbrenner5@aol.com

Ashenbrennerart.com
614 Indian Hill Road, Coupeville, WA 98239.

Type of artwork: I am a painter and mixed media artist. Most of my work is abstract/non-objective.

How long have you been an artist? Off and on since childhood. A long time-out occurred while raising a family and operating my own public relations business. I started moving back into art in the early 1990s and don’t plan to ever stop.

Artist’s statement: Following a meandering line, finding shapes where others see none, and bringing forth images from my mind’s eye have fascinated me since childhood. The child who still resides inside me cannot resist the color, smell, and feel of paint. For many years, the sensual richness of oils captivated me. Later, the fluidity and brilliance of acrylics lured me with its freedom. Then, I began painting with oils and acrylics, and incorporating collage, textures and found objects in my work. Today, my work is predominately mixed media. For several years, I explored a process combining collage with layer-upon-layer of poured acrylic washes to build color areas. This exploration led to my series of large paintings built around the theme of relationships and an ongoing series of smaller works. More recently my work includes a series of acrylic paintings based on the theme of “Collective Ancestry” and an environmental series called “Save Puget Sound.” The pieces in the Puget Sound series comprise beach trash--discarded manmade objects found during beach walks near my home. The series focuses on the individual’s personal responsibility to keep our beaches and waterways clean and our sea creatures safe.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? Much of my work springs from an emotional base and is fairly large with vivid bold colors. I aim for a sense of energy and freedom in my artwork. The Save Puget Sound series is distinctive by its very content and intent---to get individuals to take responsibility for keeping the Sound and our beaches clean and safe.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I create because it’s a part of me. It makes me happy. I’m passionate about making art. I like to try new things, experiment with new processes and media--and push the limits of the materials. I think I threw out all the “rules” long ago. The process of painting or making other types of art puts me in touch with my real self. I am most my true self when working in the studio.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? The Save Puget Sound series is still in process. There currently are 10 pieces. Two more supports are ready in the studio, so there will at least 12 and likely more. One of my priorities now is to get the first 12 onto my website. I also have begun to work with encaustics and assemblage, which means my studio is piled high not only with trash from the beach, but lots of found objects and 3-D objects, boxes etc. I currently have an exhibit of mixed media work at Skagit Valley Medical Center. Three pieces from the Save Puget Sound series are in La Conner Seaside Gallery for the Puget Sound—I Love You exhibit. During the exhibit’s opening June 6 I received an award for Exceptional Creativity in Depicting the Mission of People for Puget Sound.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? I’ll likely have canvases and materials out for the process of mixed media with paint. I’m not sure if I’ll demonstrate a trash piece. I might if I can think of a way to do it without all the mess it entails.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through. “B3” from the Save Puget Sound Series. The series represents a serious cause. But emotionally, putting the pieces together is just plain fun and more fun. Each one is like working a puzzle. Which piece works with which? Which create a theme within the piece? What should go where? In B3 I wanted simplicity and striking contrast to bring the message to the viewers. The large horse feed sack in its entirety topped by roofing shakes and offset by the caution tape offer a warning of the havoc and destruction ordinary things can create in and along our waterways.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #1 Beth Wyatt

Beth Wyatt
http://www.bethwyatt.com/
bjwyatt@whidbey.com
8186 Mossy Rock Road Clinton, Wa 98236
Richard Engstrom (husband) and I share a 2 story studio building on our property, which contains separate ceramics, metalsmithing, painting and photography studios.

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? I work in metals and vitreous enameling, as well as ceramics and digital print & painted collage on paper. I will be featuring Art Jewelry in mixed metals and enameling for the tour, and my demonstration this year will include Collage work from digital print photos of the jewelry.

How long have you been an artist? I began as an art student at San Diego State University, in 1974. I set up my first studio, on Whidbey Island, in 1980. I feel my quality of mind has always defined to what extent I am an “artist”.

Artist’s Statement: I approach my jewelry as wearable art--intimate sculpture achieved primarily through fabrication, and celebrating the visual impact of organic form, structure and texture. Starting with raw materials in the form of sterling silver or gold sheet, wire and tubing, I dap, saw, bend and solder into being a unique population of metal components which lay ready in my studio, like old friends and potent actors, waiting to acquire their role in the play of design. I find this process delightfully addicting. With vitreous enameling, I play with incredible color, and encounter the element of surprise and the drama of unpredictability, as glass fuses to metal, in a glowing kiln, in under 4 minutes. It is a perfect balance to the sense of control these materials give to a designer.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? I think my careful use of dynamic organic forms and complex textures adds interest and distinctiveness to my art jewelry. The over-firing techniques I employ with layered enameling which lead to agate-like patterns seem to have great appeal.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I love the design process and am addicted to losing myself within the intense dialogue between materials and experimental technique. Organic forms and textures continually entice me into new design directions.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? I have recently juried into "Metal-URGE", Tacoma, as the featured enamel jewelry artist in the Museum of Glass store, from July 13th to August 19th 2009. I was on hand for “Meet the Artist” day, on July 18th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City of Tacoma is presenting Metal-URGE from June 2- September 19, 2009. The event will bring dozens of artists and more than twenty venues ogether to showcase some of the Northwest's incredible metal art. This will coincide with two Tacoma Art Museum exhibitions, "Ornament as Art" and "Loud Bones". I’ve also received a repeat invitation to contribute art jewelry to the 8th annual "PONCHO Invitational Fine Art Auction", to be held at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, October 3rd 2009.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? I will have for viewing photo documentation of the design process of a piece of art jewelry, probably a complex, mixed metal necklace, which then becomes the digital design element of a mixed media collage. I will be using Photoshop to transform digital photos of the necklace into beginning design elements, to be used for a collage which will incorporate ink jet prints, acrylic painting, and a wide variety of other 2 dimensional materials applied to paper or board.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #86 Bev McQuary

Bev McQuary
bevmcq@gmail.com
http://bevmcquary.coupdart.com/
Ann’s Coup d’Art, 902 Center, Coupeville

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? I make lampworked glass beads and wire worked jewelry.

How long have you been an artist? 20 years. From 1988 to 1998 I was the Registrar at Pratt Fine Art Center in Seattle, surrounded by creative juices. Lampworking was a new medium to Pratt and when equipment was acquired, I had the opportunity to learn the process with some wonderful artists. I got my own torch and equipment and played at a hobby level until I retired and could focus full time on this fascinating discipline.

Artist’s Statement: In arts administration I was able to observe how the creative process affected artists. In creating glass beads, I experience the “left brain/right brain” transition in the creative process first-hand. Glass beadmaking involves melting colorful soda-lime glass rods around a mandrel with a propane/oxygen torch and then embellishing them. The combination of color and techniques, while maintaining control of hot glass, is an exciting dance on an incredibly small palette that takes me out of myself and into the moment.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? I am a 68 year old artist. I get to play with fire, and it keeps me off the streets…

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I love learning and keeping my head in the game of life. The scale of my work is so small, yet the possibilities of color combinations and embellishments are infinite. When I open the kiln after annealing the beads, it’s like Christmas morning, getting to see the actuality of my focus of attention. The process is a true meditation. Then the next step is to envision showcasing a stunning bead in a wire-worked design and making it so.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? Showing work at the Lavender & Wind Festival, August 8 & 9, 2009,
http://www.lavenderwind.com/events/LWartshow.html.
I also show my work at the Garry Oak Gallery, the artist co-operative in Oak Harbor, WA,
http://www.garryoakgallery.com/

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? I will demonstrate the glass beadmaking process on the torch, including forming, shaping, and embellishing beads with the use of stringers, silver leaf, and various tools. I can also show some wire-working techniques.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through.
My piece, “Hangin’ ‘Round”, evolved from a bead made with dark ivory glass, lentil-shaped, and decorated with white, black and amber dots. I loved the result so I created a necklace made with fused fine silver circles and Byzantine weave chain. The bead hangs at the throat and I am thrilled with the totality of the creation.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #70 James Moore

James Moore
james@jamesmooreartist.com

1088 Crockett Farm Road, Coupeville, WA

http://www.jamesmooreartist.com/

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Oil
How long have you been an artist? 10 years
Artist’s Statement: I paint because I like discovering something’s unique beauty, as I see it, and then capturing my feelings about it in paint.
What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? I paint whatever strikes me as beauty, rather than being typecast as only painting one subject. If I am struck by the beauty in a carton of eggs, a picnic table, or a rock, then I will paint it. And what makes it unique, say my collectors, is that they can recognize from across the room, that James Moore painted it. The emotion is there and the brushwork is distinctive and varied.
Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I paint because I see a lot of beauty around me and I have something to say about it with paint. It is more about the process, the actual pushing paint around that is so enjoyable. I really am having fun in the act of picking up the paint, mixing it as little as possible, and then making the stroke. It is work, in the sense that you have to concentrate, and plan, but it is also fun.
What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? I just finished a series of ballerinas for the Pacific Northwest Ballet show. Then I did a series on “rhythm” for Gallery San Juan. Next I am painting a wine related series…I like wine, and my first wine painting in the series was a demonstration painting at Holmes Harbor Cellars which is now on display in their tasting room on Whidbey Island. September 8-12 I am competing in the 4th Annual Plein Air Painters' U.S. Open on Whidbey Island.
What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? There will be a painting in progress and I will demonstrate how I approach my subject. I will paint and discuss the brushwork. Finished paintings will be shown as well where I will discuss what attracted me to the scene, why I wanted to paint it, and what I felt during the process, and any problems that had to be resolved to make the painting a success in my eyes.
Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through.
I am a photographer for the Classic Car Club, and I really appreciate the beauty of some of these old cars. Recently, I was particularly struck by a yellow 1936 Packard. What first hit me was the yellow. Then I remembered that my wife has many times remarked about reading Nancy Drew books as a girl and hearing about Nancy Drew’s yellow Packard Roadster Convertible which she says was 1935-36.

Well, the car I saw was not a convertible, but it was gorgeous, and recently restored. It had a huge hood, massive round front fenders, exterior headlights, and side mounted spare tires. Swooping lines from the fenders down to the running board drew the eye from front to back. The car was so shiny, everything reflected in its paint. I painted it with great admiration for both the car and the owner who took such care in its restoration. The feeling I had was one of reverence and adoration for its classic beauty.

In terms of process, I had to make a change from my usual “jump right into the paint” style of painting. That is, I usually do NOT do a line drawing of the subject and then color it in with paint, the way a child would in a coloring book. But in this case, the drawing had to be precise, even though my brushwork is loose and soft edged. Without precise drawing, the proportions might not be just right and it would be obvious. Plus, once I got the drawing correct, then that was out of the way, and I could enjoy the act of painting, which is where the real fun is for me.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #16 Ivan Neaigus

Ivan Neaigus
artstdio@whidbey.com

http://www.art-in-transition.com/
3697 Rivendell Rd, Langley, WA

How long have you been an artist?
25 years

Artist’s Statement:
I work in wood and stone using mainly abstract imagery. Depending on the material, the work can either be indoors or outdoors. For the past two years I have been making trails on my property. This process has expanded my appreciation of the many forms, compositions, and sculpture imagery that nature provides. The trails will be included as part of the tour.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?
Line, composition, dimension, nature, and heart.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about?
It’s the process of being here. Life in general when I am feeling right.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows?
The trails, wood, stone pieces, and paintings. Some local shows.

What will your guest see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour?
I will show them tools, process, and the trails. The piece for sale is called “Almost There.” Using the direct carving process, you get to a place when the piece gives you the message. In this case it was the relationship between the finished carved surfaces and the surfaces revealed in their pure state after the bark was removed. In the image there are two points almost touching hence the title “Almost There.”

Whidbey Island Arts Council Scholarship Winners

Samantha O'Brachta

The 2009 winners from the Whidbey Island Arts Council scholarships are gearing up for college this month. Buying tickets to the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour is just one way to help raise funds for grants and scholarships for aspiring artists. This year's winners are:

Melissa Rice – Oak Harbor. She is this year’s visual arts winner, whose scholarship is direclty funded by the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. This fall, she will attend Western Washington University. There she plans to major in graphic design and illustration with a desire to continue her painting and to learn more about other art forms.

Gabe Harshman – Langley. He is a graduate of Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild. CA. He is a gifted actor and singer who is determined to continue pursuing his dreams.

Zora Lungren - Freeland. She is a graduate of South Whidbey High School. She will attend the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. A fine young actor, she is eager to enter the highly competitive field of stage acting.

Samantha O'Brachta – Freeland. She is a graduate of the Whidbey Island Academy. Her plans this fall are to attend Western Washington University. There she will major in musical theater. She also plans to serve in the Peace Corps.

Ticket Sales Begin August 15 for Annual Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour

Over 20 outlets will begin selling tickets on August 15 for the 13th Annual Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour. Tour dates are September 26-27. Ninety-three artists will open their doors for two days 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (tour goes to 6 p.m. on September 26).

The “Art Safari” allows guests to meet “dangerously creative” artists and purchase art directly from them in their “natural studio habitats.” Proceeds from the event provide scholarships and grants for local aspiring artists.

The $10 ticket includes a map of studio locations and a four-color 2010 wall calendar featuring the participating artists’ work. Organizers recommend purchasing tickets early in order to preplan self-guided routes. Free preview exhibits showcasing artists’ work are 10-5 at the Crockett Barn, Coupeville September 19,20,26,27 and Open Door Gallery + Coffee, Bayview September 19-27.

Tickets may also be purchased online at: http://www.whidbeyopenstudiotour.org/ or by calling the Pacific Northwest Art School at (360) 678-3396 or the tour office at (360) 221-4121. The event is presented by the Whidbey Islands Arts Council. To read profiles of the artists visit the blog at whidbeyislandopenstudiotour.blogspot.com.

Ticket outlets are in Oak Harbor: bayleaf, Deception Pass Visitor Center, Garry Oak Gallery and Whidbey Vision Care; Coupeville: Hunter Art Studio, Miriam’s Espresso, Pacific Northwest Art School, Penn Cove Pottery and Windjammer Gallery; Greenbank: Rob Schouten Gallery and Holmes Harbor Cellars; Freeland: 1504 Coffee Bar, Catherine DeWitt Framing and Whidbey Vision Care; Bayview: Open Door Gallery + Coffee; Ken’s Corner: Pickle’s Deli; Langley: 2nd St. Wine Shop and Tasting Room. Eddy’s, Island Angel Chocolates, Karlson/Gray Gallery, Mukilteo Coffee Company and Whidbey Island Vineyard and Winery; and Clinton: Lynae’s Island Framery.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #81 Mary Burks

Mary Burks
Email: maryburks@verizon.net
http://www.blogger.com/www.maryburks.com
60 N. Willard Way, Coupeville WA 98239

Type of artwork: Textiles

Length of time: 12 years

Artist statement: Fiber is a very accessible medium. It is all around us. Fiber especially engulfs women. We wash it. We sweep it. We wear it. We look through it. We iron it. We sit on it. As a woman, it is natural to be interested in using fibers creatively - stretching the normal use of fiber, by using its physical properties aesthetically. Thematically I am exploring micro and macro landscapes, both physical and mental, and the natural world. Textiles and I continue to have a daily dialog about these themes.

What is distinctive about my artwork? My use of color and texture in the creation of beautiful cloth.

Why do I create? I create because I can't help it--whether it is in the studio, the garden, or in planning an event. Bringing harmony out of chaos fills me with joy and makes me feel alive.

Current projects: I am experimenting with new textiles and yarns, creating cloth that has texture using "new millenium" fibers.

What will guests see during the tour? They will find me at the loom weaving or making felt (artists need some leeway) and there will be samples of new yarns and felted, woven and dyed textiles to play with.

One particular piece for sale on OST: The work in the photograph online is fleted--wool laminated to nylon, and is entitled "Crossing Over." It is part of a series "I Felt Like It." I wanted to play with light-weight felt as an art form. The series took a year to produce--there are 15 pieces. I will also have light-weight felted scarves--very thin layers of luxurious merino wool laminated to silk--available for purchase--Perfect for the Pacific Northwest climate.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #31 Island Art Glass

Island Art Glass
islglass@whidbey.com
2062 Newman Road, Langley WA, 98260

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Handblown and cast glass, functional and sculptural. New: Garden Art

How long have you been an artist?

It’s a team: Robert Adamson, working in glass for 39+ years, (wife) Janis Swalwell, working in the business of glass design for 20+ years.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? We make affordable, quality handblown giftware in a rainbow of colors – vases, bowls, paperweights, ornaments, and more. We also make custom lampshades for home and office in a wide range of shapes and designs. You can find handblown sinks at Island Art Glass. And new this year, art for the garden in glass.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? Glass is a lifelong learning process – if you like working with a molten medium and lots of color, always refining your skills and experimenting with design, it’s a most rewarding medium.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? We have finished a productive first half of the year filling orders for lighting – now we are working on experimental casting and engraving projects. We are open every weekend throughout the year, folks can call or email ahead and we’ll let them know if we’re blowing glass so they can watch.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? We will be making handblown glass objects in the studio.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #89 John Olsen

John Olsen
jno337@cablespeed.com

http://www.johnolsenphoto.com/

729 La Cana St., Coupeville, WA 98239

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified?

Photography, film based, B&W

How long have you been an artist? I’ve been serious about my photography for 25 years, including six years as a commercial photographer.

Artist’s Statement:
I have photographed widely in Asia, Europe and Mexico, as well as in my long-term home state of New Mexico. Since relocating to the Northwest I have explored this new environment and radically adapted my camera techniques for the softer light and deeper foliage of the Puget Sound area. My work often has social or historical interests as a primary motivation, but I also find a rich vein of local scenery to explore here on Whidbey Island. I work in all camera formats, but favor infrared and very high-speed films for interpretive images.

My current photographic work is all black and white, printed in my own darkroom and sometimes hand-colored with oil paints. Featured work on the Tour will include mystic places in Japan, China, Mexico, and England. New work since arriving on Whidbey Island focuses on Fort Ebey, Fort Casey and Deception Pass, in both scenic and political interpretations. My web site at www.johnolsenphoto.com gives a broad sampling of interests, part of which is on display at Artworks Gallery on Greenbank Farm.

I have six years of experience as a commercial photographer in New Mexico and Colorado, doing mostly architectural and product work. Over the last 25 years I have installed 10 darkrooms for myself, resisting the lure of digital systems for a more hands-on relation with my work.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?
I prefer to work in strong contrasts and graphic forms, often with an underlying message. To this I bring image-making skills and equipment from commercial photography.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about?
Sometimes I want to convey my feelings about historical or political problems that mean a lot to my personal worldview. This is the background on my projects in Mexico, China and local gun batteries. At other times I want to condense touristic clichés to classic compositions that just express my own wonder.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows?
I have two new projects: (1) strong-feature B&W portraits and (2) documentation techniques for 3D artists, which will become a workshop soon. In addition, I continue to expand most of the topic areas that I feature in my web site, which I update pretty frequently. For instance, I just scouted an abandoned Cold War site in Eastern Washington that just begs for exploitation. I think that I need a generator and an accomplice – any takers?

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)?
Visitors may experience use of large format cameras and studio lighting equipment in a portrait experiment. I will explain film-based darkroom techniques, as well. The use of hand-tinted photos in shrines may also inspire others in their work.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through.
“Coupeville Fronts” is a B&W portrayal of the Coupeville waterfront shot from beach level at high tide. I worked on this same setting in 35mm, medium format, and large format cameras and with normal B&W film and infrared film in varying weather until I could print an image that conveyed the historic strength that should be captured. It is less than pretty, but very honest, reflecting more of the hard-scrabble, old times than the current touristy scene. This, I think, does the scene historic justice.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #9 Zia Gipson

Zia Gipson
http://www.ziagipson.com/

zia@whidbey.net
3465 E. French, Clinton, WA

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified?
Mixed Media

How long have you been an artist?
Since the 1970s

Artist’s statement:
Fiber art and mixed media
Much of my work during 2008 has been an exploration of gicleé printing (pigment ink prints from a digital source) of my altered photographs onto hand marbled watercolor paper . These prints are finished with collage and surface pigments. In addition I make work using surface design techniques on fabric of all kinds including handmade felt. A love of color is a unifying element in my work. Nature is a consistent inspiration.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?
It combines the a very old craft tradition (marbling on paper and cloth) with a very new one (digital manipulations and printing).

Why do you create? What are you passionate about?
Art has always been the organizing principle around which I live my life. The creative process, whether experienced solo or in a group, is something I crave. I believe that real magic happens in the creative moment. My art subjects come from nature and the world around me, the process comes from the spirit.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows?
Four shows coming up....Penn Cove in late Fall 2009, Museum of Quilt and Textile Art Spring 2010, Show and Sale at Bayview's Open Door Gallery + Coffee July 2010, and more!

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)?
Talking about feltmaking and demonstrating the process.

Describe the process you go through to create your artwork:

I take a picture of something, alter it using Photoshop and save it. I will print it out later.
I then treat paper I plan to marble and later print on with alum, let it dry, put it in the heat press. Then I prepare a marbling bath of methylcellulose, marble the paper, let it dry, put it in the heat press again. I then print the image created originally onto the hand marbled paper.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #17 Sarah Wallace

Sarah Wallace
E-mail: artstdio@whidbey.com

http://www.art-in-transition.com/
3697 Rivendell Rd, Langley, WA 98260

How long have you been an artist?
40years

Artist’s Statement:
Although dealing with Alzheimer’s I was able to complete with the help of my partner Ivan Neaigus 32 works of abstract colored pencil drawings. My previous work was done in colored pencil and watercolor illustrating floral arrangements, various still lives, and beach compositions. I have also worked in photography, and mosaic framed designs. I continue to work with colored pencil.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?
See http://www.art-in-transition.com/

Why do you create? What are you passionate about?
It’s the process of being in the moment.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows?
I continue to work with colored pencil. Yes, some local ones.

What will your guest see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour?
My studio and process.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #88 Karen Schroeder

Karen Schroeder
karenschroeder@coupeville.net
654 La Fiest, Coupeville, Wa 98239

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified? Soft pastels, oil bars and mixed media

How long have you been an artist? 15 years

Artist’s Statement: 15 years ago I started painting landscapes and seascapes full time with soft pastels on Wallis sanded pastel paper Painting nearly every day, visiting galleries, reading art books and taking workshops is my art training. In addition to pastels I am using oil bars and mixed media in a more abstract way, and maintain a landscape quality in the finished work.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork? I am considered an intuitive painter which allows me to paint loose and without a lot of detail.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about? I have always loved nature and paint how I feel about nature and try to show the beauty in the everyday texture and shapes displayed.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows? Currently painting for the Karlson Grey Gallery in Langley and the Serendipity Gallery in La Conner.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)? They will find over 100 landscape and abstract paintings. Most will be on sale 25% to 50% off in order to lower my inventory. My studio will be set up to give them an idea how pastel paintings are created.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through. I really do not think about how I feel when I paint. It is just a response to what I see.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #15 Andrea Comsky

Andrea Comsky #15 on the Tour
http://www.comskyphotography.com/
info@comskyphotography.com
2785 Nightfall Lane
Clinton, WA 98236












"Deer Lagoon"

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified?
Fine art photography. Colour landscape with no digital manipulation. Artist only works with film.

How long have you been an artist?
I began as a professional musician as a young child. I have been involved in the professional arts for over 50 years. I have been a professional photographer for 11 years.

Artist’s Statement:
As both musician and photographer, I find that composing a photograph materializes when a moment converges visually, musically, and emotionally. The arts are intertwined both in my life and in my creative work, and it is this intersection of medium- visual, musical, and literary, that is woven into the images.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?
I only work with film and do not digitally manipulate the photographs. Music and literature serve as inspirations and fuels the intention behind each image. I specialize in colour photography of remote locations with an emphasis on distant, isolated landscapes and surreal seascapes, from the haunting moors and island of Great Britain, to the outposts of Antarctica. I particularly capturing winter light conditions.

Why do you create? What are you passionate about?
As music can evoke an emotional response, so too can images resonate feelings. When performing a concert, I want to move the listener and to convey the composer’s feelings through my interpretation. Similarly, I hope to portray my feeling of a landscape through my photographic compositions, which are illuminated not only by the landscape itself, but also by the music that inspires me. I am passionate about life. I feel that it is the ultimate gift to be accorded a human life with all of the senses to perceive it. I am grateful for the opportunity to discover, to inhale, and to capture this most beautiful Earth in images and to share , through the many textures of sight and sound, my view of our magnificent planet.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)?
Discussing the influence of music in my work as a visual artist.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through.
“Deer Lagoon” was created when I was commissioned to do a series on Whidbey Island and I was first discovering the island. This image was taken during unusual weather and light conditions and I was quite moved by the area and the perspective. I was quite alone in that place and felt that I had discovered a beautiful gift.

Meet the Artists on the Tour - #75 Robbie Lobell

Robbie Lobell #75 on Your Map
robbie@robbielobell.com
www.robbielobell.com
640 Patmore Road
Coupeville, WA 98239

Type of artwork – what medium, how is it classified?
Pottery—functional, elegant & sculptural cookware & tableware
Fired in my 70 cubic foot propane-fueled soda/wood atmospheric kiln.

How long have you been an artist?
I have been working with clay for over 40 years. Clay has wended its way in & out of my life since high school, taking a front seat in 1990 through studio assistantships & residencies, becoming my primary passion, life focus, & partial livelihood in 1993, and then my sole livelihood in 2004 (along with teaching weekly classes & week-long workshops)

Artist’s Statement:
I love to make utilitarian pots --- pots for lovers of fine food, slow food aficionados, appreciators of quality kitchen tools, cooks, chefs, and all of us concerned with the industrialization of our food systems. I make pots to encourage the ideas of using handmade objects to prepare and present locally grown foods from our gardens, barnyards, and nearby farms. I make pots because I am convinced cooking and serving in handmade pottery brings connection and beauty to the simple act of sitting down to a meal with family, friends, and neighbors. And so, in a sense my commitment to making cooking, serving, & table pots is a dedication to a way of life that goes hand-in-hand with working in clay.

What is interesting and distinctive about you and your artwork?
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of my career in clay is the fact that I do not have a formal education & yet have found, as a mid-career artist, my work sought after by collectors & sophisticated foodies as well as a teacher/instructor speaking, lecturing, & demonstrating.

I learned technique & skill early on, but it was when I found my teacher (in the classic, traditional sense of the word), Mikhail Zakin, now 89 years old, that I began the real journey as an “artist.” I developed a visual language & began to understand my personal aesthetic. This education took place not just in the studio, but on weekly trips into New York City to museums & galleries. But perhaps most importantly was the visual information & feel of that grand city.

My work has a strong sense of design. It is sculptural as well as utilitarian. My teacher’s voice whispers in my ear; “distill to what is absolutely essential & add back what is important.” This has been the core of how I think about & make what I do.

My flameware cooking pots have become my signature work. This “flameware” was passed down to me in a traditionally classic master/student, elder/younger (though I was in my 40’s!) form (this is another, perhaps interesting story. This was my second mentor, Karen Karnes, the grandmother of contemporary American studio pottery--- there is a beautiful film of her life & work . . .).

Why do you create? What are you passionate about?
As a ceramic artist, designer, and maker of utilitarian pots for use by chefs & cooks of all stripes, I am convinced that cooking and serving in handmade pottery brings connection and beauty to the simple act of sitting down to a delicious & lovingly prepared meal with family & friends.

What projects are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows?
I am in the process of taking a huge step in my work. I have a problem—a good problem, but a problem in keeping up with the demand for my handmade cookware. I have decided to “ram press” one of my forms in three sizes. Pressing the work will allow me to make more, faster. It is a manufacturing process that still allows the hand of the artist- my hand- to work on each piece as I finish, glaze & fire the pots. I will not only be able to make more, but offer them at a lower price. I am almost finished with the “models”. I expect to begin my first run of the nesting square bakers in July at a pottery in Snohomish.

I have a variety of shows & exhibits during the year throughout the country. Most of these shows are invitationals. The most recent one was the Dallas Pottery Invitational in April. I am currently working on orders for both my cooking pots & tableware as well as creating stock for the studio tour & a few other shows.

What will guests see you doing at your studio during the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour (OST)?
We are going to demonstrate a few ways of cooking with the flameware pots. I sometimes find people are aghast to use “such a beautiful pot” to cook in or are afraid it can’t possibly work. I want to educate my public about cooking in clay – to both the beauty & health of it.

Choose a piece that you will have for sale on the OST and describe why you created it, your feelings when you created it, and the process you went through.
My nesting square bakers are immensely fun & complicated to make. Each piece has four parts that need to be assembled & sculpted, and then each completed piece in three sizes need to nest & become a whole-designed piece. --- kind of like the nesting Russian dolls. I have found these to be challenging, fun, & developmental.