Inside the Studio: Amanda Houston.

Creating art takes more than talent and inspiration, it takes time and space.  Every artist’s space is as unique as the art they create.  And that’s what makes the FREE Washington County Open Studios tour unique, too.  You get to visit the artist and see them create in their studios across Washington County. 

Today, you can get a quick inside look into one of our 41 artists on this year’s tour.  As well as an insight into their art process and what you might see on our tour, October 17^th  and 18^th.

Tell us a little about  your studio,  Amanda.

“My studio is located in the country about 10 minutes south of downtown Hillsboro, in an historic hunting lodge that we live in and have been remodeling for the past ten years. It is perched on a 30 acre knoll with a 360 degree view overlooking the Willamette Valley,  rolling pastoral scenes of farmland and vineyards, Mt. Hood to the east and the coastal range to the west). Our private 30 acres is farmed yearly by local farmers and has over an acre of perennial gardens and a pool on the property on which to stroll and enjoy. It is a destination place and if the weather is nice, we have done wine tastings in the past.”

Amanda, when you begin your work, what inspires you and/or gets you going?

“The vistas around my house are very inspiring but I am drawn more how the light of a subject than to the subject itself.” 

How did you find your way to art in spite of any obstacles in your path, Amanda?

“My mother was an oil painter when I was young.  I went on to study apparel design and worked as a Product Designer and Merchandiser for almost 20 years before having kids and giving fine art a try. I took some local pastel classes for fun and was hooked. In the past 10 years, I have taken numerous workshops to perfect my craft and now teach classes and show at national shows.”

 

Amanda, do you work with any weird, different material or techniques and how does that inspires you?

“As the former Innovation Director at Nike, my mind constantly wants to try new things. With a love for copper and copper sculpture I tried using Copper as my surface ground to work on and spent about a year perfecting a technique to get the pastel to stick to the copper. Pastel on copper is unique to me and I now produce about 30% of all my work on copper.  I also work on a variety of pastel papers and paint in the traditional format of oil on canvas.”

When people come to your studio, what will you be doing, Amanda?

“Depending on the crowd, I may be showing my process on copper or finishing a larger work on paper on my easel or just answering questions and processing orders.”

See Amanda’s art and get inspired October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm during the Washington County Open Studios tour.  Get a FREE tour map and information online at www.washcoart.org

Helvi Smith: A Peek into Her Process.

How do artists make art?  The answer is as unique as the art and artist.  And on the Washington County Open Studios tour, you get a peek behind the scenes into the art making process.  Every artist is opening up their studio to you, showing you their materials, inspirations and demonstrating what they do and how they create art.

Helvi, when you begin your work, what inspires you or gets you going?  

“I LOVE a blank canvas.  I may or may not have an idea when I set a canvas on my work table - but it does not stay blank for long.   I use squeeze bottles filled with acrylic house paint to put paint on canvas.  Or brushes.  Or fingers.  Or spatulas.    I am fortunate that I never have "Painters Block."   I love to paint and ideas flow as easily as the paint for me.  

I am a fearless painter and often try new ideas that come to mind.   For example:   I wanted to paint some tall skinny paintings as they are a size that I imagined would fit in a lot of different kinds of venues.  So I tried it.   I call them Room Sticks because everyone has room for art that is 50" tall and 5" across.  I am very pleased with how they turned out.”   

How did you find your way to art, Helvi?

“I have always been creative.  Always.    I started painting when a friend of mine made her New Years Resolution to "Have more art in her life."   I asked if I could join her in the resolution.  So we made a pact that I would go to her house for 2 hours every Sunday and we would make "art."   I had no idea what I was going to do, just that it would be art.    I started painting because I had leftover house paint and some canvas that I found at Goodwill.    That was it.   I could not STOP painting.   Still cannot stop painting.   I paint every day.”

Helvi, do you use a weird, different material or technique and does that inspires you? 

“I use reclaimed and recycled acrylic house paint as my medium.   I get leftover paint from friends and oftentimes I frequent the ReStore looking for bright colors of paint there.   Color does not scare me.  Beige scares me.   I have done my research and have been told by experts that house paint will last as long as any other paint.  It is just a different viscosity from other paints and the pigments a little different.   I am just used to it, and love knowing that each painting is an act of recycling.”

When people come to your studio, Helvi, what will they see you doing? 

“When you come to my studio, you will have to go up the steps that I painted, as the Italianate design of my building has the basement at ground level and the rest of the house is upstairs.   You will walk into my gallery that has bright ORANGE walls.   Then you may see me in my paint apron flinging paint hither and thither on my paint table at the end of the gallery!”

Helvi, can you describe what is unique and inspiring about your studio?

“My studio (and Gallery) is in a house built in 1875.   I paint in what used to be the dining room.   The living area is now my gallery.   Each year I paint the front steps in a different way.   Last year I "tagged" my own steps with the word, "art" with spray paint.  All over!   Art Art Art.  Then someone else tagged my steps!  They added letters to the "art."   P-Art  W-Art   C-Art  - what a hoot!”

See Helvi making art and get inspired during the 2015 Washington County Open Studios tour October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm.  Get a FREE tour map and information online at www.washcoart.org

Meet the Artist: Michele Bufton.

How does an artist get started making art?  Where do they get their inspiration?  What kind of weird things do they use to make art?  And where do they create?

Get the answers and see inside all 41 artists’ studios during the 2015 Washington County Open Studios tour October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm.

Here’s a quick interview with one of this year’s new artists, Michele Bufton.

Can you describe your studio?

“My studio is a small room dedicated to all things Art.  It has a large window that beams with daylight.  My easel is set up beside the window, a small desk size table below the window to hold my palette and supplies.  A larger desk sits in the middle of the room, on which I lay out subject matter for studio paintings, gesso canvases and boards, and place recently completed paintings to dry.” 

When you begin your work, what inspires you and/or gets you going?

“I get inspired to paint by looking at paintings sitting on my easel.  Passages in the paintings draw my attention and lead me into painting.  Before long, the hours have passed.  I like to leave the painting up and reflect back on it after a day of painting.”

How did you find your way to art?

“I began painting in acrylics at the age of eleven and have always been fascinated with the intensity and subtleness of color.  I've always painted throughout my life, but my intense study of art began in 1994.  After raising three children and a career in the Hospitality Industry, my love of art led to exploration in a variety of mediums (Watercolor, Acrylic, oil).  I've studied with many artists over the years with each offering their expertise to culminate into the skills that I have today.  I enjoy studio painting where my surroundings and supplies are easily accessible.  I also enjoy venturing out to plein air painting.”

I will have a solo show in September at the Lake Oswego Review.  I currently am a member of the Westside Artists Guild, a group of plein air painters which travel to local areas and paint.  We also have a monthly critique group. I am a juried member of Lake Area Artists and show curator for 2014 and 2015, as well as Vice President.  I am President of Lake Area Artists for the upcoming year, starting in September. 

What different materials or techniques do you use and how does that inspire you?

“I've been known to use a variety of techniques in painting.  Thin glazes, thick impasto, gesso, papers, inks.  All have their place in the studio.  Each piece of art that I create is a moment, a feeling, an emotion, translated through my eyes to share with the viewer.”

When people come to your studio, what will they see you doing …what part of your process?

“During open studios, I will set up a still life to paint in my studio, or in the front yard.  And weather permitting, I will be painting. “

Meet Michele and all the other 40 artists October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm during the Washington County Open Studios tour.  Get a FREE tour map and information online at www.washcoart.org

What inspires artists in Hillsboro?

Denise McDonald

“I may see a shape or a color that I like to start out with and go from it leads me,” says pastel artist, Denise McDonald.

You’ll get to see the magic of creation and inspiration that turns ordinary materials into art for FREE.  During the Washington County Open Studios tour, 41 artists will be opening up their studios  October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5 pm right in your own neighborhood.

 

Lynn Adamo

Mosaic artist, Lynn Adamo says, “My initial inspiration comes from the natural world and decay of the man-made built world. I take photos of things that interest me wherever I go, and keep these ideas in mind when it comes to starting new pieces.”

There's so much to see!  And all for FREE!   So make your calendar for October 17 & 18^th from 11 am to 5 pm for the Washington County Open Studios tour.  For more info on artists and tour map go online at www.washcoart.org