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!
Showing posts with label Bev McQuary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bev McQuary. Show all posts
Monday, November 19, 2012
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
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.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Bev McQuary - Playing With Fire!
Bev's into lampwork glass beads & wirework jewelry. Easy to say--not so easy to do!
Glass bead-making involves melting colorful Italian soda-lime glass rods around a mandrel with a propane/oxygen torch & then embellishing them. The beads are kiln-annealed to remove stress in the glass.
"The combination of color & techniques--while maintaining control of hot glass--is an exciting dance on an incredibly small palette that takes me out of myself & ito the moment" says Bev. Making the beads into wearable art is a completely different but exciting discipline. "I use a variety of wireworking techniques to incorporate the glass beads into jewelry. I work mostly with silver & ear-wires are always sterling silver. I also use copper, brass, crystals, pearls, and found objects to create my 'baubles'."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
