Saturday, March 2, 2013

Real Artist Studios

It has been a while since I have been able to post on our blog! Busy Busy Busy!!

So I figured it would be a fun restart to feature a story of real artists, working in many different mediums, and their studio spaces, just for fun! 

The inspiration for this idea came from looking up studio ideas for my new in home studio space. It is just a 10x10 extra room in our house..not too interesting at this point, but I do have it filled with weird little interesting items. Artistic Mo-Jo type things....we all have them.( limited addition Warhol soup cans and vintage Rainbow Bright dolls for example). I wanted to see what other people have and do in their "REAL" studios. Not these glossy ,clean, staged studios I saw when searching the internet...

It has been great to see what these talented and many award winning artists have sent!
 We take what we have and make the best of it, loving every funky moment.

Enjoy this look into non commercialized or filtered REAL artists' working spaces:




Cassandra Reed





Cassie S. Reed
ARTIST’S STATEMENT


My artistic practice technically utilizes canvas, acrylic paint and tons of mixed media; feathers, fabric, pins, birds, fur, etc.

My inspiration used to be and continues to come from fashion photography; typically from W magazine. I see a shoot that somehow, in some way strikes me.

It looks nothing like the original spark upon completion. It ends up telling something about myself; something from my soul pertaining to my life at the time. It is strange to see the outcome become something far more meaningful; a message from myself to myself; intended to be shared with others. 






Duane Jensen
 






I have three main areas I work at. For small projects, I sometimes prefer to work at my computer desk. It is small and intimate.
For bigger flat works I will use my drafting table. This is also where I assemble my poetry chapbooks.
If I am going to paint a large canvas, I prefer to hang it right on my wall instead of using an easel. I have two roller carts full of supplies so I can move them with ease to wherever I might be working.

-Duane


Bio:
Duane Kirby Jensen is a painter and a poet. He was inspired to paint as a child while he watched his grandmother and grandaunt paint scenes of their Stanwood, WA community. He comes from a long line of painters, photographers, carvers, inventors and storytellers.
He has been called an ‘outsider artist.’ His work is part magical realism mixed with, what he refers to as emotional realism, preferring to stay away from stylistic labels. His work centers on the gravity of emotion and the fragility of identity and the ease in which it might be lost. His work evokes those emotions that linger beneath the surface that underscore the narrative line being explored within each painting. His artistic vision is not hemmed in by traditional northwest subject matter.
As a poet, he has read at numerous venues throughout the northwest since the early 1990’s. During that decade he published Everett’s Independent Voice (an arts and entertainment magazine) and The Drifter: A Poetry Journal. He also coordinated the Mill Town Poets Open-mic. His work travels along a narrative line that often explores the individual’s relationship with the modern world and the call of nature that tugs at instinct which lays - almost dormant - waiting to explore new territory.
Duane Kirby Jensen is an Everett, WA based poet and artist.











Lee Kessler
 






at a moment between between my conception and my abrupt ejection from the birth canal into the wide world of light and sound I knew I would develop into an artist during my life.
 about the time I turned 17 and I discovered I needed to actually make enough money to feed myself, I concluded that I would also be forced to 'get a job'
 currently, I fill the hours that remain after fulfilling my job requirements between studio art as a painter and performance art as a improvisational actor and fight choreographer for local theatre.my studio art reflects my fascination with people and faces, drawing from real people, real animals, and sculpture of real people - it is my hope to bring a little bit of what fascinates me to the viewer; something that can be read in the smile or the eyes or even the posture of the subject
 currently I have a studio in Everett and a second studio just outside of New Orleans and while I spend the great majority of my time in Puget Sound, I do try to travel and work in my studio in New Orleans each year as a change of scene.









Janie Olson


Janie Olsen - born and raised in Western Washington, currently has her home & studio in Monroe Washington. Her art is a result from her continual daydreaming, passionately attracted to fairy tales, nature, romance, the notion of opposites–good, evil, chaos, ugly, beautiful on and on. There is usually some sort of story behind each painting, but her hope is for the painting to speak for itself and have the viewer go away with his or her own thoughts about the piece.
 






 Sally Abbey





I reside in rural Snohomish County, in Washington state. The beauty and unique environment of the Northwest countryside is the inspiration for my landscapes. I am also an animal lover and have drawn or painted them my entire life. I am particularly interested in vibrant color, while maintaining  a mood of tranquility in my work.
I have created both large and small scale murals, illustrations, logos and architectural renderings. My work has been purchased for many private collections.
I’ve been an artist all my life, having always had a pencil, brush or pastel in hand. My favorite medium is pastels. I  have recently begun a new series of more contemporary landscapes and animal portraits.
Please visit my website for more information, images and pricing
 

 



Bill Westwood






 Painting, sculpting, and writing take up most of Bill Westwood's time in retirement.  He works out of his home in Snohomish, WA and these activities have helped in his recovery from a major stroke in Dec 2011.  He has converted an extra bedroom into a studio.  He says that if he buys a paint brush, he must remove one from the room as available space is non-existant...  
Website:  





Sarah Britton






My husband did the construction in our 1932 cottage bungalow's garage, to my specifications. I out grew my former studio in the house, now that I am doing art shows full time. We didn't have a lot of money so we had to think out of the box for ways to make use of what we had, reuse, re-purpose and reinvent. With a lot of elbow grease, the space turned out amazing. We called a local owner builder house company and they had some returned cabinets that they sold us cheap. With a little paint, and new handles that I made out of pipe fittings they are perfect. I painted an old wooden window that we had and installed it as my dry erase board. We used the lumber from an old tool chest that was in the garage previously to build storage shelves that utilize mason jars I had for my inventory storage. We bought the sink from Habitat Restore. The filing cabinet was from a friend, a little paint did wonders. Bartering is a great way to at least cut costs also.

A really important thought for anyone designing a space/studio, is to think of all the items/equipment you need/want even if you can't afford them now, and make room for them in your design. This allows you too grow over time and as money is available without another major overhaul down the road.

I am so happy in my studio, and the designs I'm producing are a direct result of it.







Shannon Danks



 I find myself in a constant re-definement and change.In a constant flow of experiences. Trying new things, but then  that becomes the norm. Slow and methodical, then crazed, excited  in a blaze in new found explorations.... as well I  cherish the recognizable, comfortable places.  That might explain my exploded sense of space. I find new and unexpected ideas, expand them, explode them, share them (sometimes) then need to rest them . In some ways I wish I could discard the experiments and explorations that did not quite make it out of the studio. But as I discover new ideas I find myself  rediscover  past discoveries that enrich my latest passion. Music, Art, Poetry all a part of me, all wanting a chance to speak, but respectful of each other and gives each other a chance to speak.








 Josey Wise

 



Josey Wise

Josey is a primarily self-taught artist and loves to incorporate the beauty and color of nature into her artwork. Joseys’ medium of choice is oil and she tends to use a bright palette as well as expressive strokes, sometimes on the edge of abstract.  Wises’ preferred subject is landscape but she also paints animals and still life with a contemporary approach.

Josey moved to the Pacific Northwest when she was 18 from Western Montana and has loved the area ever since! She and her husband Marc own and operate WiseDesignz Framing & Gallery in Historic Down Town Everett and participate strongly in the Everett Art Walk.  In 2011 Josey joined the City of Everett’s Cultural Arts Commission.In 2010 Wise was the first City of Everett’s Young Artists in the Community Award Recipient and in 2012 she was honored to receive the Art Advocate of the Year from the Schack Art Center. Josey has received other acknowledgments for her art and community involvement as well.
 Wise is proud to live, work and create in the Pacific North West with her Husband and two children, Sid and Saylor. (who share my studio space, so my floor is always covered in glitter)








Juliette Ricci




In my work I explore themes of self-image, work, and life.  These paintings are a reflection of things that happen in the everyday.  The bold colors and diaristic writing can sometimes be too revealing for the viewer, but are a true reflection of myself.  My art is used as a dual therapy, and expresses the positive and the negative in the hopes that the viewer may have had a similar experience or moment in their lives.  Like my favorite artists, I want to give permission to explore the everyday, to reflect on the music you are listening to, talk about your influences, reflect on the art book you are devouring, or film that changed your life.

Originally I began solely as a photographer, but found myself lured by the limitless possibilities of painting, along with the color and texture of the paint itself.  I love to write (letters, prose), and often explore themes on the loss of handwriting in today’s high tech world.  My canvases are often treated as the pages of a diary- but on a slightly larger scale.  

  -Juliette Ricci, Tacoma WA



Ursula Stocke





Ursula Stocke

Born and raised in Alaska. Ursula later pursued a degree in art at the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, MN earning a BFA in Fine Art and Illustration. In 1995 she moved to the Pacific Northwest. Dividing her time between Seattle and Portland, Ursula eventually settled in Everett, Washington where she now lives with her artist husband Ron.

Ursula paints primarily in oils and is influenced by the impressionist and fauvist movements and it shows in her paintings of, figures, floral and still-life.
Her philosophy believes in saying a lot with a little in her paintings. Letting a few strong brushstrokes tell the story. She is intrigued with beauty of form moving in and out of paint on canvas.
Ursula has been involved with many local galleries such as Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, Gallery 110 in Seattle and Kaewynn Gallery in Bothel, WA. She is the recipient of the 2012 Richard Wendt Artist in the community award. Showing at many regional outdoor arts festivals throughout the Puget Sound. Ursula teaches adult oil painting at the Shack Art Center in Everett, WA. She also mentors high school art students and is active in the Everett Art scene.




Ron Stocke


 
Picture
 
Ron Stocke is a Northwest Watercolorist who lives in Everett Washington with his artist wife Ursula.His award winning paintings have been featured in Watercolor Artist Magazine and in the Splash series and on products throughout the United States and Canada. A member of the National Watercolor Society the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters and a Signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society, Ron paints and teaches workshops in America, Canada and Italy throughout the year.
I have been painting in the watercolor medium for more than 25 years. Mentoring under such instructors as Chuck Nazz, Zoltan Szabo and Alvaro Castegnet. I divide my time between lecturing on painting, paint manufacturing and green studios as well as instructing several domestic and international workshops each year. My artwork has been collected by corporations and individuals throughout United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. My images have been featured in Watercolor Magazine and Northlight books Splash series #14. As well as a number of products ranging from wine labels, pad covers and art materials.
http://www.ronstocke.com/ 





Liz Geiger Lund





I majored in art in college with a focus on watercolor landscapes and figure studies.   Despite a degree in art, upon graduation I pursued a career with the federal government.  I felt, and still often feel, the call of service either to my community, to my country or just to doing good works around me.  In many ways, I find Matisse’s ability to simplify something down to its essence absolutely brilliant.

I generally paint in the puddling style because it allows for areas of wild color contrasted with crisp edges.  Puddling is a method of using the properties of water to stay in a puddle and dropping color into the “puddle” of water.  In many ways it’s like constructing a collage.   When painting in the puddling method I must wait for an area to completely dry before starting on an adjacent area.



 
Barbara Freeman





Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.
Artist Statement

My work evolves from a combination of photographs, the memory of a chosen setting, and elements from my imagination.  My goal is not to duplicate a scene, but to represent its essence.  It is the spirit of nature, the landscape, it's smells, sounds, and impressions that I want to bring forth in my work.  I strive to create a sense of mystery, magic and serenity.  The organic world gives me a sense of renewal and the ability to face the challenges of daily life, giving me hope.  It is this experience that I want to share with the viewer, that they too may feel the spirit of the natural world, and be renewed.

I'm an artist of Fine Art Miniatures (25 inches square or less), but also create larger artwork.  I work in acrylic, colored pencil, graphite and silverpoint.  Regardless of size, it is my love of detail that invites the viewer in for a closer look.  I am a member of the Miniature Art Society of Florida, the Miniature Painters, Sculptors, & Gravers Society, and a Signature Member of the Miniature Artists of America.







Roxy Gesler





 I was raised in Havre, Montana. I left Havre at a young age to look around at the world. For many years, I was a bartender to pay all of my main bills and to fund my art projects. Though I don't currently bar-tend, I have several fond memories from that portion of my life.
  Several year ago I moved to Everett, Washington and made my home here with my wonderful husband Illiad and two darling Basse
t Hounds, Darci and Drake. Everett has a rich and strong art community which I have enjoyed since the moment I arrived. It is a nice place to call home. My favorite days, are the ones that I get to wander into my studio and build something brand spankin' new. If you have chosen to like this page, I hope you enjoy following along this awesome journey of creation.







Mary Peterson





Mary Peterson is a fiber artist in Edmonds WA known for her quirky, whimsical fabric collages featuring women and birds. She has always been drawn to all things stitched. She credits her funky sense of expression to growing up in the artsy town of Laguna Beach, CA where she learned to appreciate art. She learned quilting basics and design work while working at a quilt shop in Mukilteo. After exploring creating with fabric, she branched out into the mixed media world. Mary sees beauty in the old, the used and the ragged, developing a style that incorporaties those elements.

Mary shows her work at several Puget Sound galleries and has contributed to multiple nonprofit organizations. Most recently her work was juried into the LaConner Quilt Museum International show. She is the leader of the Journaling Art Ministry for middle school girls at Alderwood Community Church and has taught fiber and mixed media arts for the past 5 years in local community centers, Denny Detention Center, after-school art programs, and privately.






Michael T. Gardner





 I balance my time between my family, my business, and my art. Having tattooed professionally since 1995 I finally opened my own studio, Tattoo Garden, in 2008 in Everett, Washington. The tattoos that I do are as varied and unique as my clientele. I try to avoid specialization in favor of originality and diversity. My personal work is generally focused more on design and craftsmanship. My two dimensional work has recently been focused on the idea of the "Mandala" and gives me the chance to explore my inner consciousness. I do as many sculptural pieces as time allows and am very interested in bringing my 2-D and 3-D work closer together.






Nikki Wheeler





Artist Bio / Nikki Wheeler

Nikki Wheeler has been painting in oils for twenty years, and finds beauty and richness in everything she sets her brush to.Having developed a love of art from an early age and encouraged by her family, she studied art at WWUand SUNY, Stony Brook. She acquired a BA from WWU in 1995, with an emphasis in painting.
Nikki seeks to capture the true beauty in her subjects, with favorites being the figure, still life, and landscape.
She continues to pursue her goals through teaching art, and painting. She resides in Snohomish, WA 
with her family, and entirely too many pets.