An Interview with Barbara Wyatt

Barbara Wyatt is a ceramicist/sculptor with a palpable verve for her work. In fact, just conversing about art made her restless to get back to the studio to create! 

Scott: What are the most important materials for you in your art-making?

Barbara:    Clay and glaze, of course, but also items I find "in the wild". It's natural for me forage for interesting bits and pieces as I walk the beach, for example, or when I travel. Something beautiful catches my eye and stirs my creative spirit. 

Scott: How do you use the things you collect?

Barbara:    I keep these found objects in storage containers in the desk area of my studio; when my clay pieces have been fired and glazed, I often find adding a feather, stone or shell gives me the feeling of having completed the piece of art.

Scott: I've seen that in your work, and you're right -- it does add a real sense of completion.  

Barbara:    One of the things that drives my aesthetic is the desire to create bridges between Nature and Art. Because for me they are not really separate at all!

Scott: That's excellent, and it makes perfect sense. Where else are you finding inspiration?

Barbara:    Inspiration comes from multiple sources. I love to look through house design books and fabric/wallpaper designs. I have Art Deco books with fantastic designs that can be carved into the clay. Sometimes I use slip to create a raised design. Snorkeling on a recent trip to Hawaii gave me some ideas on using colored slips and carving.

Scott: What are you looking for in a slip? Do you make your own?

Barbara:    Slip is made of liquid clay with additives that keep it in suspension for a consistency of buttermilk. Yes, I do make my own. Colorants can be added to it.  Most functional ceramics have a coat of glaze over the slip to seal the work. If making something non-functional, you can choose to skip the clear sealing glaze and leave the slip bare, for a matt look. 

Scott: What tools are you using to carve and texturize your work?

Barbara:    Sometimes I use handmade tools because there's something specific I want to achieve. But I use kitchen tools, cardboard, car floor mats, just about anything you can impress into the clay! The interplay of these textures with particular glazes is what I am trying to work with to accentuate this shallow and raised surface design.

Scott: Are you experimenting with any new techniques right now?

Barbara:    Most recently I have been drawn to using a torch to dry the surface of the clay. When stretched, this produces a serendipity texturing of clay strips that can be molded into space -- in recent pieces, specifically the form of the female torso.

Scott: Wow, I had no idea you were using a torch to coax such delicate contours from the clay! What are your big influences right now?

Barbara:   I love to see how other ceramic artists are using this very malleable substance to create.  My students influence me too. When they ask, "Can I do this?" -- whatever this might be -- it's such a valuable question! Can I do this? is a question that stirs my soul. Speaking of which, it's time for me to get in the studio and get busy!

An Interview With Darlene Gentry Lucas

Darlene Gentry Lucas is a watercolorist and art instructor; her joie de vivre is readily evident in both pursuits! It was a treat to have the chance to hear her responses to a few of my questions.   ~Scott Burnett

Scott:   What is the most important material you use to make your art?

Darlene:   Daniel Smith Granulating Watercolors.

Scott:   What are your preferred painting surfaces?

Darlene:   I love both hot and cold press paper. Cold press is more forgiving. But, when I’m painting and emphasizing my “marks”, then I like hot press because it is so immediate. But always, I love Arches paper. It takes a lot of abuse.

Scott:   What techniques have you developed that have proven to be essential to your art-making process?

Darlene:   Since graduate school I have used sketchbooks to record ideas and make sketches. I usually have one 8x10 sketchbook full for each year.

Scott:   What keeps you so dedicated to your sketchbook practice?

Darlene:   Sketchbooks have been part of my life since my undergraduate days. In graduate school, my professors continued to encourage me to use them. They are the repository for sketches, watercolor formulas, notes from workshops, photographs from the Hubbell or Kepler Observatories-anything that interests me. I carry a sketchbook everywhere. I’m never bored. There’s always something to read or sketch. Later, when I want to think about an idea for a painting, my sketchbook is a very personal resource.

Scott:   Are you currently adding any new techniques to your repertoire?

Darlene:   I am always experimenting with sand, salts and granulating watercolors.

Scott:   What is your favorite art-tool at this time?

Darlene:   A bridge. I have a genetic tremor called Essential Tremor and the bridge helps steady my hand.

My other favorite “tool” is my travel kit. It includes a small paint set, zipit bag, travel brush, small watercolor block, sketchbook and Faber-Castell triangular pencils.

Scott:   Is there a particular reason you use triangular pencils?

Darlene: I could tell you it’s because they don’t roll off the table, which is true. But, I think the real reason is the grip is more stable.

Scott:   Where do you look for inspiration?

Darlene:   Everywhere! But most specifically, I find inspiration in past and present-day theories of Physics and Astronomy. I’m not a scientist, but science is my stimulus.

Scott:   Fascinating! Do you have any favorite tutors or “tour guides” in those disciplines?

Darlene:   Brian Greene and Lisa Randall; I love the clarity they bring to physics.

Scott:   Which artists are influencing you right now?

Darlene:   Joseph Raffael for the liquid beauty of his watercolors.  Mark Mehaffey for his strong composition, especially in his abstractions.  Katherine Chang Liu for the timeless quality of her paintings. And for her enthusiasm and her support.

Scott:   How would you describe the art you’ve chosen to bring into your living space?

Darlene:   I like to collect local artists. Lynn Scott, Janis Graves, Barb Childs, Joyce Donaldson, Kathy Rinaldi, Mary Bess Johnson, Sue Robertson, Alice Owen, Tracy Fraker, Molly Winton… a wide variety!

Scott:   What would you love to add to your collection?

Darlene:   I would like to own work by Joan Archer and Nancy Thompson.

New Wave Palettes

We were contacted by Kyle O'Brien a while ago. He and his brother have a new company in Pennsylvania creating absolutely beautifully made white maple wood palettes. The design is by their father, who had been oil painting for over 40 years, was frustrated with the heavy or awkward to hold, causing pain in the hand, thumb, and wrist. Others lacked functionality or were not made well. The answer for him involved a trip to the lumber yard, a jig saw, sand paper, and many free afternoons. With that, the design for a new artist palette was created. The idea of New Wave grew for years as he invented new palette shapes around his three point design, for his own use. With our combined efforts a simple idea became reality as new shapes were created and old shapes were refined around his original three point design, with emphasis on comfort, quality and functionality. New Wave's origins are the same as so many time honored artist supplies: designed by artists filling a personal need for their artistic process. New Wave designed Artist Palettes, handcrafted with hard white maple by the Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Come in and see, as ARTspot was chosen by the O'Brien family to carry these lovely palettes in Washington state.

Testimonial of the New Wave Palette

We make gifting easy!

At ARTspot we know art supplies, and we're passionate about putting together gift packages that'll make your holiday shopping easier this year!

So... come check out some of the combos you can pick up for VERY reasonable prices chock full of fun for the art lover in your life.

Photos: Angela Bandurka
You can blame the irreverent text on Angela as well!

Pure Joy of ART

Every day I meet a new customer with a wonderful story of their art journey. People who wander into ARTspot are a self selected group of people with an eye for beautiful color, design.... aesthetics. Some have not done art for many years, and some are practicing professional artists. But what we all have in common is the desire for that awesome feeling of the creative moment. It can be part frustration, leading to ambivilance, confusion, focused problem solving to the moment of pure joy. Something is triggered that makes you a uniquely creative soul at the moment of inspiration. Art happens.

-tracy

Photo: Scott Burnett
Glass sculpture: Tyler Kimball
Ceramic sculpture: Mike O'Day

Featured Artists, Mona and Alyssa Fairbanks

Third Thursday November 15th ART WALK & First Dibbs!

Downtown Edmonds 5-8 pm

Join a mother daughter art duo for their attempt to create an artistic menagerie. From cards to scarves to jewelry—there is always something delightfully new.  Slip your feet into hand-crafted altered Shakespearean shoes and browse through delightful art and holiday gifts.

As mother and daughter, Mona and Alyssa Fairbanks love many of the same things: history, reading, cooking and ART. Although they create different kinds of art, each looks to the other for inspiration. 

     A recent graduate in History from Whitman College, Alyssa brings a fresh perspective to her art while still being grounded in her mom's dedication to craft and technique. She is currently interning with King County Bar Association with hope of one day becoming a lawyer helping out her community. Alyssa likes to print, make cards and is currently into repurposing high heels by covering them with tinted works from Shakespeare. Mona is a printmaker and art teacher who enjoys a good art challenge whether it is cutting steel into large flower shapes [watch for these in the ARTspot window displays!] or embedding sewn prints in resin. 

     Both Mona and Alyssa love to share their art with the community by working at ARTspot at the front counter, and in the studio coordinating classes and teaching kids art.

An ARTspot kind of holiday!

This year, Edmonds is going to experience an ARTspot kind of holiday season! We've got some fun, crafty aprons created just for you! The idea is that we'll be able to use them to wrap up some holiday gift packages, ready to give to the artiste in your life. (Note: we used a ZipIt bag for the ribbon and wrapped a gift set of drawing pencils, leather sketch pad, eraser, and pencil sharpener with a little mannekin keychain as the icing on the cake.)

But just how did we create them - and can you do one, too? Follow these simple steps, below, and you can create one, too!

FUN, EASY, MAKE-IT-YOURSELF APRONS (or tote bags, tees...)

Supply List:
*Denotes items you can buy at ARTspot! And if you sign up for a class you'll get 10% off all your supplies!
- Apron
- *Speedball Speedy-cut Carving Block
- *Speedball Printing Ink
- *Speedball Lino Cutter
- *Speedball Acrylic Roller
- *Speedball Brayer (or you can use the back of a wooden spoon)
- *Palette Pad
- *Sketch Pad (or any piece of paper will do)
- *Tracing Paper
- *Pencil (I recommend one HB for your initial sketch, and a 2B or softer for the transfer)
- *Duct Tape
- *Sharpie Marker (or other permanent marker)
Optional: -- *PITT artist pens, - *Fabric Glue and sequins or other embellishments

Instructions:
1) Grab some paper and an HB pencil. Start sketching out some ideas of what your image will be. Keep it simple to start - avoid tiny little areas that you'll have to cut around.

2) Once you'd figured out a design you like, put a piece of tracing paper over your design and trace it using the softer pencil.

3) Turn your tracing paper over and position it on top of your carving block. Your drawing should be upside down and laying on top of the block. Using your HB pencil, retrace your drawing, pushing down firmly. This will transfer your drawing to the block. When you are done and lift the tracing paper up, you'll see it is reversed and transferred!

4) Trace over your transferred drawing on the block with your Sharpie, so that it doesn't smudge off. Color in all of the areas that you want to keep.

5) Using your Lino Cutters, begin gently carving out the areas around your drawing. Leave all the dark areas. Go slow, and always cut away from your body. Be careful not to hold the block so that your hand can be cut if you lose control of your cutter. Hold it by the edges or prop it up against a wooden block or something so that you do not hurt yourself.

6) Use the duct tape to fashion a handle on the back of your block. I take a 5-inch piece, tape 1-inch to the back, fold the tape back on itself a little bit, then let the rest fall back onto the block. Makes a "T" shape against the block.

7) To print your piece, squeeze out some of the ink onto a piece of the palette paper - about a quarter size dollop should do it to start! Use the acrylic roller to roll up and down, side to side until you've spread out the paint evenly. If you've used too much ink and the roller is goopy (that's a technical term, just kidding), just take another sheet of palette paper and roll it out again.

8) Roll the paint onto your block, getting all the areas that need to print.

9) Turn your block over and position it above your apron. (Testing your design on paper first is always a good idea!) Make sure you have newspaper or something under it to protect your work space. Press down onto your apron, then use the brayer to apply even pressure over the entire block. Use the duct tape handle to lift the block off, and voila! Instant impressiveness!

10) Let the print dry for a few hours or overnight, then you can use markers and fabric glue to embellish if desired!

-Angela
ARTspot Edmonds

At ARTspot our artistic glee is contagious!

Angela Bandurka, who works at ARTspot on Mondays and Fridays, is a painter who used acrylic paints to create impressionistic pieces on canvas. Last week she got the amazing news that her piece, "Insomniac", won BEST OF SHOW in this year's ISAP* Signature Member's Show.

"Insomniac" is 24x24-inches and can be purchased from Angela through her website at http://angelahoskins.foliosnap.com/#other/11, or you can contact Cole Gallery in Edmonds and ask Denise for more information!

*ISAP is the International Association of Acrylic Painters.

Fall windows to debut this week

For years, our location at 408 Main Street was Ann Turner's jewelry store. Her husband built the beautiful cabinetry along our interior wall and the window displays. The windows are a pleasure to keep filled with tempting artist accoutrements and art, and we get lots of comments from people who enjoy what we are doing with our displays. Tomorrow all the Halloween orange and black will be cleared out and a fall window display will be done featuring Barbara Wyatt's earthy ceramics work, and Mona Fairbanks monoprints. Ann comes by periodically and is pleased to see her space well taken care of. Her grandson, by the way, has now opened Alan turner Jewelers across the street.

ARTspot at Artists Connect

Today Mona, Scott, Angela and I presented an ARTspot overview to the networking group here in Edmonds called Artist Connect. Here is Angela demonstrating the new Dan Smith water-soluble oil paints. My rep from Jack Richeson brought goodie bags for everyone attending, and I gave away some fun stuff too. If you ever have a need to meet counterparts in the community, this networking group extends an open invitation. Check out the link, but mark your calendar for every 4th Saturday at the ArtWorks Building at 2nd & Dayton 10 am to Noon. 

www.artists-connect.com 

Halloween in Edmonds

This is what 5,000 pieces of bubble gum looks like.... ARTspot is ready for our first Halloween in Edmonds!  I brought my kids down for the annual Edmonds Trick or Treat night when they were little. It is a super fun activity for families. The streets are blocked off from traffic, and the kids get to go store to store collecting candy and treats. Come down and see us 5-8pm - we are the go-to place for Dubble Bubble on Main Street!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Fun

Here we are being welcomed into the business community by the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce yesterday. That giant pair of scissors actually works! [wonder if I can get some of those for the store?]. Thank you to all the Chamber members that turned out, and to my fabulous business partner, Denise Cole, for making this all possible. We all enjoyed pink punch and cookies afterwards. Small town charming!

-tracy

Edmonds Chamber of Commerce website

Upcoming Hidden Hazards in the Arts Workshops

From Dave Waddell:

Just a heads up to you and any of your artist friends that there will be a free workshop this coming Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in Fremont on chemical hazards in the arts (see enclosed flyer).  Artists can easily sign up for it via Brown Paper Ticketshttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/284528   It would be helpful to have anyone who registers mention the type of art techniques and media they’re working with so I can do my best to customize the presentation to touch on them.

Hiawatha Lofts (843 Hiawatha Place S., Seattle) will be hosting the next Hidden Hazards in the Arts Workshop on Monday, November 5^th from 7 to 9 pm. Artists can register for this free event by sending an email to dave.waddell@kingcounty.gov

thanks Dave for these terrific presentations!

tracy

Ribbon Cutting & ART Walk this week!

Kicking off ART WALK at ARTspot this Thursday, October 18th with our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 4:30!! From 5-8 we will be eaturing the earthy ceramic work of Barbara Wyatt. Join us for punch and cookies to celebrate!!

The Sky is the Limit

ARTspot is in the world. We are glad.

Sunday Afternoon at ARTspot

I really enjoyed the people coming in to the store today. Art supplies for someone making a gift, one man getting back into his art after many years, another wanting supplies for his wife, my son’s high school teacher coming in to sign up for a class. Everyone has a reason for what they do, and making art is always based on our ultimate human desire to express ourselves. I hope you have some art making in your near future.

tracy

The JR Project

Mona Fairbanks is one of the most socially conscientious people I know. Two years ago she emailed me a link [which I have included below] which features a French artist who goes by the name “JR.” 

His work has created a movement around the world, and the movement has touched down in Edmonds thanks to Mona. Here is her JR project image at the Edmonds downtown Kiosk. I know she would like to grow this project in the community. Contact us if you are interested! Check it out.

TED Awards : JR

tracy

We are OPEN

Don Robertson came in today to install our OPEN sign. We are a lot like the sign here at ARTspot: shiny and bright and open... to new ideas, new customers and new ways to make art. 

Thanks to all the artists and art lovers who have stopped by to welcome us to Main Street, and to friends who come by and help out. Thanks to Mom for giving me this pretty sign for my birthday this weekend too. As soon as Don put it in the window, we had some people coming right on in. Perfect.

tracy

Angela @ ARTspot

ARTspot welcomes Angela Bandurka. She is a talented and accomplished artist. Here she is with a drawing she created on our mid-tone Strathmore journal the other day. She will be here on Monday and Friday mornings 10-2 to help you with all your art supply dilemmas and/or inspirations. She will also be teaching Oil Painting techniques using water-soluble fume free paint in the new year. Yeah, we walk the talk here at ARTspot. We are glad to have you on-board Angela!

Click here for Angela’s Website. 
tracy

Family Connections

ARTspot is very much a family business, but not in the way you may expect. Here I am with my son, Mason, a few days before he goes off to college. He helped out at our new store all summer, along with my Mom, Melda. As my business partner Denise Cole coordinates with me in all aspects of ARTspot - her husband Rich is our handyman and sons Luke and Jimmy do whatever we need doing. Everyone else, from our floor managers, Scott and Angela, our class coordinator, Mona, to our instructors are all becoming part of our extended family also. Look for Animation Studio workshops for teens in December, taught by my daughter Bryn!

Tracy

Photo by Bob Sears

Meet Scott Burnett

Set aside this Thursday evening to meet Scott. He will be our featured artist for Edmonds Third Thursday Artwalk, 5-9 September 20th. Scott is an elequent artist and musician. He will be debuting new work and demonstrating his painting technique here at ARTspot. I hope you will take some time to hear his viewpoints and the story of his art path. 
Also check out his web page:

Life is on the Ground

photography by Bob Sears... more about Bob in the next blog!

Edmonds Art Studio Tour this Weekend!!

Can hardly wait three more days. ARTspot will be debuting on the 7th Annual Studio Tour this weekend! I helped start this event and am darn proud of it. The Tour brings together art lovers with the artists in their studios. Having access to 20 artists studios is a real treat. This is such a win-win for everyone. I hope we have a beautiful sunny day again but either way it will be reigning ART in Edmonds Sept 15-16 10am-5pm.

Join us at ARTspot to see my hot wax encaustics and Robin Westbrook’s full line of NOt jUne’s Jewelry! We will both be demo-ing for sure.

Link: Read article in the local paper about us.... Thanks Beacon!

Link: Edmonds Art Studio Tour website with map and info.

Tracy

Darlene Gentry Lucas

I know some amazing artists and Darlene is one of them. She is what I call a “cerebral artist.” She is very thoughtful about her process and subject matter. If you are very lucky you will get to see one of her sketchbooks. Color swatches, notations, thumbnail sketches and notes about paintings. I am proud to say she is one of ARTspot’s Teaching Team and is beginning her watercolor classes with us here next Tuesday morning 10am-1pm. Consider joining us - she has been teaching for 40 years! Experienced teacher alert!! 

Check it out at our website...

Good Old Fashioned Sidewalk Sale

Yep - a happy little town with a sidewalk sale for Labor Day weekend. I love it! After only two months in business, I can still come up with something for a store version of a garage sale. YEA! Hope you can come by for a bargain, and stop by the bakery, the diner or the barber shop while you are in town.... we have it all in Mayberry [aka: Edmonds!]

Tracy

photography by Scott Burnett

Be our Friend!

Ok - so here’s the deal... almost daily updates about cool art products [what’s NEW!] Scott Burnett’s amazing photographs, store specials, fun stuff about our classes, all on our totally happening FB page. AND here is where you come in.... what’s happening with the local art scene. Post [oooh and LINK!] with us on our ARTspot FB page. 

Be on the IN!

Happy Colors.

Having an art store is a great job for an artist. I get to see the newest products that break new ground for us to create with. I get to order, order, order and then wait expectantly for the boxes of goodies to come. Opening them up is like Christmas morning. Today we got a wonderful surprise from our friends at C2F: colorful bubbles that also happen to sharpen two sizes of pencils.... for way under $3 [actually $2.25 and they are German engineering!]. 
This is the kind of thing that appeals to artists.... put them out on orange squares paper, create a design, then photograph, crop and share with our friends. Go figure - pencil sharpeners!

Tracy

photography by Scott Burnett