Meet the Artist: JoAnn Pari-Mueller.

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, JoAnn Pari-Mueller.

Describe your new studio. What is unique and inspiring about your studio set up? “My new studio, constructed this past year, has great light and views of our inspirational garden out each window. It’s filled with quirky art and unique and stimulating objects. My two Papillion’s, Daphne and Minerva (collectively known as the “goddesses”), like to hang out with me there.”

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

“I have a huge file of ideas (three blind mice wearing designer glasses?) and images so there’s never enough time to do all I want - I also am often inspired by the flower or bird or bug “du jour” in the garden. I always take a small journal and paints with me when I travel, too.”

How did you find your way to art?

“About 5 years ago, after early retirement from my nursing career, I decided that I wanted to learn to create something that I could leave behind for my family and friends.

I have many acquaintances that write stories, poetry, music, or create paintings, weavings, sewing, or knitting and realized that I lacked the ability to do any of those things.  I had always loved decorating and collecting art, but had never before felt the urge to create. I especially credit my mother and her best friend (both painter/printmakers) with inspiring me to start. I began with the basics and took many classes over the past 5 years and tried to work on my art almost daily. I literally started from ground zero, never having touched paper to pencil in an artistic way before.

Finding that hidden creative niche of the brain may take a while, but once you open that door – watch out!”

What odd, weird, different material or technique do you use?

“I often combine watercolors with calligraphy and like the looks of the colors and curves of nature juxtaposed with black and white and the straight lines of grids.”

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

“I will be working on a watercolor/calligraphy piece in the studio  - demonstrating different techniques and interesting tools used to apply paint and calligraphic ink.”

Meet JoAnn and all the other 40artists 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

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

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

A Chat With Catherine Bede, Watercolor Artist.

In this blog series of artist chats, I’m hoping to help our artists and visitors get to know each other better.  Catherine is new to Washington County Open Studio Tour this year.

So, let’s grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit down and find out more about watercolor painter, Catherine Bede’s art journey.

Catherine, what got you interested in art? 

“I just love to draw and paint the beauty I see in nature.  When I was very young my mom enrolled my sister (who is also an artist) and me in drawing lessons at Valley Art in Forest Grove.  That is my earliest memory of feeling like I could really draw and that I was really an artist.”

What’s your favorite part of your process?

“I love the whole process of creating a painting, from studying my subject matter to the beginning sketch to a complete drawing to the finished painting.  I enjoy the whole process.”

What inspires you and how does that come through your art?  

“What inspires me is that there really is beauty in any moment. Even in the smallest things. Even when you aren’t expecting it.  I love having the ability to capture that and express having that awareness. And to invite others to notice it too.”

What weird and different material or technique do you use?

“I use a lot of the wet-on-wet watercolor technique for very detailed flower paintings.  I also like to leave a bit of white space to separate shapes in my paintings.”

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

“Hopefully they will get to see a bit of the whole process, depending on when they are there.”

You can see more of Catherine’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 www.catherinebede.com and blog http://catherinebede.com/in-the-studio/