Announcing the 2015 Sneak Preview Exhibit and Sale.

Artwork by Barbara Martin

This year, you can see the art from our Washington County Open Studio tour artists at a special gallery event from September 2-October 2 at Art on Broadway Gallery in historic downtown Beaverton.

Artwork by Sharon Orella

During the gallery show, you'll see a sample of artists and art from this year's tour from painting, mixed media and encaustics to ceramics, fiber and copper.

Stop by during downtown Beaverton’s First Friday, September 4 from 11 am to 9 pm.  Or join us for the opening reception, Saturday, September 12 from 6 to 9 pm.

Artwork by Susan Gallacher-Turner

Explore historic downtown Beaverton and get a sneak peek of the wide variety of artwork from some of our 2015 artists.   Then get ready to take the Washington County Open Studios tour October 17 and 18 from 11 am to 5 pm.  Remember, it’s FREE!  Tour maps and artist information is online at www.washcoart.org

This wonderful show sponsored by Art on Broadway and the Beaverton Arts Commission. 

SNEAK PREVIEW SHOW

ART ON BROADWAY GALLERY   artonbroadway.net

HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday 11 am to 6pm

12570 SW Broadway, Beaverton, Oregon 97005

503-601-3300

artonbroadway.net

Weird and Wonderful Makes Great Art.

Annie Salness at work

Our 2015 Washington County Open Studios Tour artists are a diverse group of creative minds.  So, it’s not surprising that some of our artists create with some very weird materials. 

Here’s a little peek into some of the weird and wonderful materials our artists use in their art.

Both Amanda Houston, pastel artist and Susan Gallacher-Turner, ceramic artist are using copper in creative ways in their work.

 

Amanda Houston

Amanda explains how pastels and copper work together.  “With a love for copper and copper sculpture I tried using Copper as my surface ground to work on and spent about a year perfect 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.”

Susan Gallacher-Turner, porcelain mask

Susan weaves copper back into her work. “I love mixing media.  Over the years, I’ve worked in watercolor, acrylic, oils, pastel, copper sheeting, window screening, beads, fabric and now, porcelain.  I always think I’m done with a media and have moved only to have it creep back into my work.  Right now, I use leaves in my clay and add copper wire and window screening to my masks.”

Jo Reimer and Annie Salness creatively mix in vintage and salvaged pieces into their mixed media work and paintings.

 

Jo Reimer's studio

 Jo explains, ”I also use vintage office paper, old letter, notes and lists, my uncle’s old sheet music and 1918 collage yearbook as well as a few bits of commercial paper from the art store.”

“I like the roughness and unpredictability of salvaged wood,” says Annie Salness.  “ It’s a catalyst giving me variety in my mixed media work.”

These are just a few of the weird and wonderful ways to create that you’ll get to see on this year’s tour.  It’s October 17 and 18^th from 11 am to 5 pm and it’s FREE.  You can find a tour map and information on all of our 41 artists online at www.washcoart.org

What Inspires the Art in our Artists?

Creating art is a mysterious process even to artists.  No matter whether it’s clay, painting, mosaics or drawing, how artists find their way to making art is a unique and individual path.

Here, a few of our 2015 tour artists talk about what inspires their work.

For some artists, the materials they use spark their art.

Angel Neiwert

“I love the process of transforming the clay into hand-coiled and slab-built sculptures as well as throwing on the wheel,” says Angela Neiwert, clay artist.  “ I am always in awe regarding the versatility of clay and its endless possibilities continually excite me and challenge me as an artist.”

Helvi Smith

Painter, Helvi Smith says, “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.”  

For others, inspiration comes from natural life and, sometimes death.

 

Emma Weber

For Emma Weber, it’s where she lives, in Washington County.  “As a primarily nature-inspired artist, the ease of stepping out your door and finding farmlands, mountains, forests, beaches, and wildlife that one has living in Washington County is an important muse for my work.”

 

Lynn Adamo

Lynn Adamo, mosaic artist, 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 piece.”