Inside the Studio: Sierra Lonepine Briano.

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. 

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

Sierra, can you describe your studio for us?

“The inspiration for my studio came when a friend was getting new windows in her house and she had a bunch of beautiful 1930's windows to get rid of. I took them and stored them for about 2 years before work began on my studio. The process has been going on for about 5 years now!

I love the space. It has great light and contains a "cob" earthen wall that I built myself with the help of friends. Since my workers were a variety of folks, some who knew what they were doing and some who didn't, my studio is "eclectic". It has great light and a large working area, but I'm still working on getting some of the problems with it solved. That will probably only take about 10 more years!!!”

When you begin your work, Sierra, what inspires you?

“I am inspired by all kinds of things. Nature, dreams, visual images, weird things that I see or experience, sarcasm, humor, politics, color, design. I never know when I'm going to get an idea about art. Often times the final piece is a process that comes out as I am working.”

Sierra, how did you find your way to art?

“Graduating from Art school at age 39, I was a late bloomer. I was interested in art as a younger person and even began painting, but I was not encouraged to be creative when I was growing up. As a result I did the traditional things, got married, and had a child. After "tuning in, turning on, and dropping out" in the sixties, I began to access more of my creativity. Finally, Art school became a reality. It's hard to believe that was 26 years ago.” 

What weird, different material or technique do you use, Sierra, and does that inspires you?

“Using a variety of materials is what I love. Constant discovery of "stuff" is my passion. Found objects, yard debris, decorated papers, things found in hardware stores, old things, dirt, rocks, rusty stuff, recycled things, photos, old paper, just to name a few. A recent find was the paint chippings off a fishing boat that was being repainted! Yum!!!”

Sierra, when people come to your studio, what will they see you doing?

“When visitors come to my studio I may be painting, embossing tin, working with found objects, painting fabric or smearing mud on my earthen wall!! My studio is another world for me, a haven, a place where I enter another dimension.”

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

Where Do Artists Make Art?

The artists on this year's Washington County Open Studios Tour create in many different media and many different kinds of studios.

Some artists have studios in their kitchens.  Patti Issacs works in her upstairs room studio with acrylics and handmade papers but uses her kitchen to create with silk paints.

Some have a separate studio structure on their property.  Jewel Starz has a newly built studio on her farm surrounded by dogs, llamas and chickens. 

Some create art in their dens. Evelyn Fritz has two areas to work in her home.   She works in her encaustic corner and a space that overlooks her patio.

Some make their work in their basements. Linda Gerrard creates her fused glass pieces in her daylight basement.

Other artists create in the garage.  Susan Gallacher-Turner throws porcelain on a wheel in garage, right next to the car.

Some artists have the world as their studios.  Chris Goldthrope takes his photography outdoors and his favorite place is the ocean.  But during the Washington County Open Studios tour, he’ll be showing how he edits his work in his in-home studio.

Inside or outside, artists find many creative ways to create.  And they’ll show how they do it and where October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm.  You can learn more about the artists and their art on the Washington County Open Studios Tour website www.washcoart.org

New Artists. New Art Work. New Places to Tour.

Denise McDonald

This year, 42 new artists are opening their studios October 17^th and 18^th giving art lovers young and old a chance to make art connections all across Washington County, Oregon.  

You’ll see demonstrations in a wonderful and eclectic range of art media.  Whether you’re interested in 3 D or 2 D art, there’s something for you.  See steel forging, glass fusing, weaving, wood working as well as throwing clay, mask making and copper repousse.   Watch an artist work with encaustics, watercolors, acrylic or oil on canvas, pastels, silk painting and more.

There might just be an artist right in your own Washington County neighborhood.  Whether you live in the city, suburbs or out in the country, we have artists on the tour from Aloha, Beaverton, Sherwood, Tigard and Portland to Banks, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Gaston, North Plains and Hillsboro.

Here are a few inspirations shared by some of our artists. 

Lorraine Pascuzzi says, “Seeing something beautiful in nature and letting the imagination take hold.”

 

Lorraine Pascuzzi

“I am inspired by all kinds of things. Nature, dreams, visual images, weird things that I see or experience,” says Sierra Lonepine Briano.

 

 

Sierra Lonepine Briano

Her inspiration, Darla Boljat says, “The challenge to recreate the beauty that I see.”

Darla Boljat

For artist, Ana Quinn, “My cats, ancient art forms, and the life cycle of the salmon.”

 

Ana Quinn

 Stay tuned here to read more blogs featuring individual artists as they talk about their inspirations, studios and work process.

To see some of the art before the tour, check out our new Pinterest page https://www.pinterest.com/WashCoArts

Find weekly and soon, daily updates on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-County-Art-Alliance

Figure out which artists are in your neighborhood on our website at  www.washcoart.org

Ask an Artist: Sierra Lonepine Briano, Mixed Media Painter.

Ever wonder how an artist becomes an artist?  Why they make art? Where they get their inspiration and what you’ll see when you visit their studio? 

Here’s your chance to get find out.

Why do you love what you do?

“I love what I do because when I'm in my studio I don't have to think about anything else. It's an escape into another world that is only inhabited by me!

What weird and different material or technique do you use?” 

“Most recently I have begun making handmade paper from mushrooms. The kind that grow on dead wood. I have also used plant skeletons in some of my collage work. Oh yes and "Road Kill", don't forget "Road Kill" a line of jewelry I made from things I found on the ground. Once I passed up the banded leg of a dead pigeon--it was just too over the top! But if I saw it now, I would probably pick it up!”

What’s your favorite part of your process?

  

“My favorite part of making art is getting new ideas. Sometimes they come in dreams, sometimes from something I see in my wanderings or something I am inspired by in the art work of some else.”

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

“No telling what they might find me doing. I could be painting on an old board, on canvas or reverse painting on glass. I could even paint them if they stand still! Or I might be tooling tin or making handmade paper or fabricating a piece from natural materials I have found.”

You can see more of Sierra’s work and visit her studio during Washington County Open Studios tour October 18-19^th from 11am to 5pm.  And on her website at sierrabriano.com