One Month Away!

Made Right on Whidbey 2012 is just a month away!
Visit our gallery December 15th & 16th, 10 to 5, at the Coupeville Hall & meet this year's eleven artisans:

      *Linnane Armstrong       *Mary Ellen O'Connor
      *M. Denis Hill                *Kay Parsons
      *Katrina Hude               *Mariana Shawver
      *Dan Ishler                    *Jim Short
      *Bev McQuary              *Jandellyn Ward
      *Judy Moore
This year, artists are donating a portion of all proceeds to support the Coupeville arts center: the Pacific Northwest Art School. (Visit their website for more information.)
So take a break from the holiday frenzy, shop locally, & support the arts!

Save These Dates!

The season is shifting once again, and it's time for us to get ready!

Come back & visit our site in the days & weeks to come--we'll provide some artist updates.
Meanwhile, though, mark your calendar--we would love to see you again this year!

December 15th & 16th (Saturday & Sunday) 

10:00-5:00

 at the Coupeville Hall

More info soon...promise!

Thank You from All of Us!

Thank you! 

We really enjoyed the weekend & hope you did, too!

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season

from all of us to all of you!

Hope to see you on upcoming studio tours, in the galleries, and of course...

at Made Right on Whidbey in 2012!  

Stay tuned for more information 

in coming months months! 

Meanwhile, Happy, Healthy, Merry, Marvelous New Year!

Come See Us This Weekend!

Don't forget...

'Made Right on Whidbey' is this weekend!
Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm
at the Coupeville Hall (9th & Alexander). 

Stop in & share a little holiday cheer & chat with us--we'd love to see you!

Kay Parsons

 Kay now paints exclusively in watercolor, inspired by the immediacy of the process & the feel of a good brush on paper.

She describes her approach as more organized & planned, rather than intuitive, but also describes the point at which the painting "takes over & tells me where it needs to go".

"Painting for me is about love: love of the world I live in, of the process of painting, of the creative moment that transforms the observed & experienced world into art. It nourishes me--soul & intellect. It is the reason I open the studio door each day."

Judy Moore

Quilting is the 'sandwiching' of fabric layers and is often traditional & functional--besides being beautiful. The craft feels comfortable to Judy, but it is the art potential that excites her.
"Design & themes can vary--but color is the one constant for me--the richer & more intense, the better."
"I'm not a pre-planner--a few sketches get me started & then I let the design develop. It's usually better than what I envisioned originally--and I like the challenge of making it all come together."

"Using other media is engaging but I most like fabric & thread as the basic story teller. Ink, paint, metal, paper & found objects are more like jewelry rather than core elements. That may change, though."  

"After forty-plus years of a love affair with fabrics--I know that it's an ever-evolving process--that's one of the attractions." 

Jandellyn & Johnathan Ward

Jan & John have been participating in art & garden shows since 1997. As John's artistic adventures gained speed, Jan joined him full-time in 2004. Their functional art pieces are made mostly of mild steel, and and the back of the plasma cut pieces have a rough finish--the slag is not removed. 

If pieces are not coated with any lacquer or powder coating finish, they weather & rust nicely.
At the outset, pieces are either brushed, new steel--lending a grey color--or already have a rich, rust appearance. Regardless, all pieces will eventually turn a dark brown rust color.

 Besides the active show & festival circuit annually, Jan & John have works in seven Northwest galleries. In addition to the pieces available at any of those venues, custom work may also be commissioned--arbors, fences, railings, etc. To find out more, you can find them on their website, Winfield Designs.

Mariana Shawver

Mariana grew up in the New York City metro area, surrounded by visual artists, musicians & writers.

Her early educational & professional focus was journalism--with an emerging passion for poetry.

Visual arts were never far from her artistic exploration, though, and when she discovered the media that really resonated with her, that same creative passion took flight.

"My husband built my tiny studio--mostly from recycled materials.

I share it with a sweet & funny cat named Leroy.

I love our rural island home & draw inspiration from it's natural beauty & serenity.""I am a connoisseur of color. It sings to me, evokes emotion, influences mood. My intoxication with color is reflected in my work, always."

Two Weeks to Go!

Saturday, December 17th is just two weeks away--the first day of 'Made Right on Whidbey' 

at the Coupeville Hall. 

The 'Red Ticket' drawing is 1pm Sunday, December 18th right across the street
(have you been saving your tickets?!).
Come visit us during our two-day event!

The town is getting festooned today during the traditional Greening of Coupeville so it's a delightful time to stop by.
Enjoy a low-stress shopping event & support the 'buy local' philosophy--we'd love to see you!

Dave Breining

Dave's work embodies two words that come up in his conversation: inspiration & enjoyment.




After more than 30 years as a metal worker & welder, Dave spontaneously spent a year making birds--& things moved forward from there. Incorporating nature into mechanical objects is a challenge he loves to solve. He personally enjoys this form of metal work more than any he's tackled prior.

 Someone tagged it 'kinetic engineering'--& it fits. The construction & balance in some pieces allow them to be activated by the slightest breeze. No two pieces are the same. They are inspired. And they bring enjoyment to those who see them--& especially to Dave as he designs them.

Katrina Hude

Katrina began working with glass as an undergrad at California College of Arts & Crafts. Subsequently she received an MFA in sculpture from San Jose State University. 

Her journey in glass has seen her through a Fellowship at the Creative Glass Center of America, being an Emerging Artist in Residence at the Pilchuck Glass School, & teaching/demonstration engagements in Japan, Australia & around the US. 

Denis Hill

Although Denis has called Central Whidbey 'home' since the late '90's, he is a global citizen in many ways. Self-described as an 'army brat', Denis lived in a variety of international locations growing up. 

With decades of experience as a working photographer, Denis has provided a wide variety of magazine illustration & event coverage over the years--including coverage for NASCAR & drag racing magazines and various tourism campaigns.  He shares his wealth of experience when he teaches at professional conferences & workshops throughout Puget Sound & beyond.

Denis has an obvious love & fascination for the natural beauty he finds nearly anywhere he travels.

Besides many iconic locations around Central Whidbey, Denis is known to frequent many of the National Parks around the county. He takes annual photographic trips to locations such as Bulgaria, Jackson, Moab, & Moscow. He continues to 'push the envelope' of creativity in the variety of techniques & mediums he uses. We all get to share his adventures when he returns with his latest works!

Jim Short

Jim tells us "turning wood on a lathe features the combination of exacting precision and wildly random freedom. The form of each piece develops as the wood is exposed on the lathe."
 Most of Jim's pieces are turned from green wood, then allowed to dry, shrink & crack. The pieces are then turned again.
He has a particular liking for Monkey Puzzle & Yew but enjoys other 'Whidbey finds' such as various fruit woods, oak & maple.

 Finishes vary but most commonly are safe for food use; they may be a combination of shellac, pure tung oil & beeswax. Occasionally stains or dyes might be used, but the natural colors & contrasts of the wood normally provide remarkable color options on their own.




"I'm attracted to the endless variations of knots, stains, & bark inclusions."

The Countdown Begins...

30 days to go! One month away! 

Start making your shopping list!

(...and don't forget to treat yourself!)

Linnane Armstrong

Linnane graduated from Coupeville High School in 2000 & went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Reed College in Portland.  While at Reed, she majored in studio art with focuses in book-binding & printmaking.
She returned to the island, & for the last three years has been the manager of a local art store.

In early 2010, she immersed herself in the relief print medium & by the end of 2010 joined the Penn Cove Gallery in Coupeville. Linnane &  husband, Jeff live in Oak Harbor.

"In my more recent landscapes, my compositions are mostly based on the golden ratio--the mathematical formula found in many natural objects as well...as numerous artistic traditions.  

These include medieval illuminated manuscripts & Japanese woodblock prints--both of which have influenced my artistic direction."

Mary Ellen O'Connor

Mary Ellen earned her Bachelors in Fine Arts in Metalsmithing at the School for American Crafts in Rochester, New York. 

"I spent a few years as a metalsmith & jeweler. I worked as an Artist in Residence at Hartwick College for a few years, where I expanded my work into printmaking & hand made paper." 

Mary Ellen moved to Whidbey Island 25 years ago with her young daughter--now an artist in her own right--and has continued to work both as an artist & teacher. Her class topics include drawing, painting & crafts to both children & adults.

Bev McQuary

Originally a California girl, Bev can recount some amazing life-experiences taking her to a variety of homes across the county. Having her recount the journey is one of life's special treats!--but suffice it to say: art has been part of the journey many times.

She's been creating lampwork beads for over 20 years--beginning when she worked at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, learning from some amazing teachers. Realizing that she now had the "bucket o'beads" she focused on learning wire-working techniques--again from some of the best instructors.

She became intrigued with Precious Metal Clay, a by-product of Mitsubishi. Precious metals such as silver, gold or palladium are mixed with an organic binder--allowing the medium to be worked like a fine porcelain clay with many texture possibilities. When fired, the binder is removed, leaving a fine silver or gold that can be soldered & finished.
Bev's connection with Whidbey developed through her work with the (then) Coupeville Art Center & the Best of the Northwest shows. Nearly 10 years ago she finally settled full-time on the island & hopefully won't have to move her studio again! She's a member of the Penn Cove Gallery & participates in local studio tours & events like this one.