Mary Pat Kanaley is a Spokane, Washington based artist. She works in varied mediums from chalk pastel to acrylics and watercolors, often combining all three together. Over the years, she has been a commissioned artist, freelance illustrator, art director and art teacher. She is never without a sketchbook or travel paint set and is always on the lookout for inspiration, especially when traveling and exploring new places and cultures.
Nov 2021 Spokane Jewelry Guild
December 2021 Guest Artists:
Spokane Jewelry Guild
1. Linda Malcom
2. Michele Bournonville
3. Bunny Webster
4. Sarah Peterson
5. Valerie Fawcett
6. Sandra Phoenix
7. Janet Brougher
8. Holly Swanson
9. Helga Hirsh
10. Kris Howell
11. Joan Ashworth
Oct 2021 Janie Edwards
October 2021 Guest Artist:
Janie Edwards
September 2021 Gloria Fox & Karen Robinette
Gloria B. Fox
Artist Biography
Born in Texas, I moved to Spokane at the end of first grade. Color and imagery have been life-long interests, which earned art awards and scholarships throughout my youth. As a young adult, I attended EWU for two years and graduated from UW with a BA in General Art, a BFA in Sculpture and a Secondary Teaching Certificate. Since that time, I have offered children’s summer art camps, continue my 30 year involvement providing programs and events for the Museum of Arts and Culture, and lend my efforts to many volunteer organizations. I am a member of River Ridge Association of Fine Arts, signature member of Spokane Watercolor Society and participate in several garden clubs, which keeps me connected and learning. I have exhibited in a number of shows and events in the Spokane area, winning numerous awards as a watercolorist. My goal is to keep growing as an artist and continue my watercolor career in a meaningful and engaged way.
Artist Statement
As an artist I am inspired by many things – patterns, light and shadow, color and the mood of a particular place or subject. I am often influenced by the drama of nature. Artistic expression is my means of responding to the world around me. It’s an attempt to capture the essence of what is attracting my attention and to communicate the emotional and visual aspects to others. Watercolor is a challenging and gratifying medium for this expression.
Contact information: gloriabfox@gmail.com, (509)499-1812, instagram at @gloriabfoxarts
Karen Robinette
ARTIST BIO
Karen is an award-winning graphic designer and watercolor artist. She applies her understanding of design concepts and color relationships, as used in advertising and publishing, to her watercolor paintings. Since 2016, after a long career as a graphic designer, Karen has taken watercolor classes and workshops, and has exhibited her work from Spokane and the surrounding area to the west side of Washington State. Mostly inspired by nature, Karen’s watercolor paintings reflect her interest in remote places in the outdoors, as experienced on hiking and bike trails, as well as national, state and city parks, and botanical gardens.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I spend many hours yearly on hiking and bike trails, photographing and doing studies on-site to later use in my watercolor compositions. As a watercolor artist, I combine color and design to create unique artistic expressions based on my experiences exploring nature.
August 2021 Randy Haa
My background in oil painting and working as a landscape designer was the artist part of me for 30 years. In about 1998 I took a fused glass class and made a cute bowl. It was not until 2005 that a friend asked me to go to a Portland art studio to make fused glass Christmas ornaments. This is when I fell in love with this medium.
I did my first year of experimentation at the Portland artist's studio and attended a basic fused glass class at Bullseye Glass located in Portlan, OR. In 2006 I moved to Newport, WA. It was at this time that I purchased a kiln for my studio.
Usable art is the most fun to create. It can be a colorful spoon rest, bowls or serving plates. Creating a glass object for someone's home or business is always very rewarding. Sometimes when I am experimenting with the glass, I receive the most wonderful surprises.
I take great pleasure in watching people run their fingers over my work as they respond to the energy and vibrant colors. When they smile I know they have made that wonderful connection with my craft
July 2021 Ruthie Franks & Nan Drye
Nan Drye
I work with plants and plant dyes on natural fibers to make beautiful, useful things. I am fascinated with the colors achieved from many humble weeds we overlook every day and the rather magical processes used to get them to give up their secrets. I have always been a bit obsessed with the passage of time, and this art form fits right in. The time of year and the stage of growth of a plant can affect what color it will give. The process itself can not be rushed-open the bundle too soon and it is ruined. This work teaches me mindfulness, presence and patience.
Ruthie Franks
I started growing gourds 20 years ago to provide a supply for various art projects. I find growing gourds is an art in itself; to create mature, strong, well-formed gourds that can be turned into colorful display pieces. The process includes a long grow season, plenty of hot weather and water.
The drying process takes six to eight months followed by thorough cleaning. Thick-skinned, smooth, unblemished gourds are the desired end product.
I carve designs on the gourd and use various dyes, stains and paint that will bring out the character each gourd reveals by it’s own unique size, shape and texture. Enjoy!
June 2021 Ruthie Franks & Lynne Jacobsen
Ruthie Franks
I started growing gourds 20 years ago to provide a supply for various art projects. I find growing gourds is an art in itself; to create mature, strong, well-formed gourds that can be turned into colorful display pieces. The process includes a long grow season, plenty of hot weather and water.
The drying process takes six to eight months followed by thorough cleaning. Thick-skinned, smooth, unblemished gourds are the desired end product.
I carve designs on the gourd and use various dyes, stains and paint that will bring out the character each gourd reveals by it’s own unique size, shape and texture. Enjoy!
Lynne Jacobsen
I am a native of the Pacific Northwest, my palette and choices of subjects generally reflect the sunny warm light of Spokane and the Palouse or the cooler light and softer shadows of Anderson Island in Puget sound where I have lived over the past 12 years. I have painted my entire life with the goal of capturing moments in time, tiny spots of beauty and focus that capture my heart.
I grew up as a child of the sixties, which means much of my early artistic development focused on the emotional impact of art. As I continued to grow as an artist, I realized I needed to get back to basics working on drawing and classical painting techniques to enable me to tell my story as a “woman of a certain age”.
My retirement from a long career in nursing gave me even more time to work on my art and allowed me to find and develop my own techniques and work on my story telling in painting even more. My art continues to be focused on using classical methods to bring in the serenity and calmness of beautiful everyday objects. My vision is to share the beauty and light you can find in the most mundane subjects. Light is a recurring theme in all my work.
2020 brought me back to Spokane. I am thrilled to be in a larger community and am looking forward to meeting other artists, hearing other stories and continuing to grow in my personal artistic journey.
My new home has a large studio with good light, and I continue to be blessed with my supportive husband Dave and entertained and inspired by our big goofy dog, Finley.
“I’m in fine fettle and fired with a desire to paint”
Claude Monet
May 2021 Yasuke Mayhew
Just before facing an empty nest, I started ceramics at Spokane Art School about 15 years
ago. I made an instant connection working with clay. Shortly after the Spokane Art
School closed its doors, I joined The Clay Connection and created a lot of art pieces with
passion for 4 years. As a child, I was totally fascinated with nature, so it came naturally
that I started expressing my love and admiration for any type of beautiful, little creatures
through ceramics. In order to portray animals, birds, and amphibians realistically, I first
researched all the images from different angles, thanks to the Internet. Then, I challenged
myself to transform hard and heavy clay to look light, warm, rough, smooth, or fragile.
During the coloring process, I always painted eyes first and painted layers of glazes with
my hope that each piece would come alive with a soul.
After spending countless weeknights and weekends at the kitchen table as an amateur
ceramic artist, I eventually became burnt out and stayed away from clay for a long time.
My production became limited to a single piece for Art on the Green every year, where I
was lucky to be awarded cash prizes 4 times at the Juried Show.
Five years ago, a strong urge to create returned to me. All of a sudden, the idea of
humanized animals popped into my mind. My dog started playing the violin, and a moose
started playing the guitar. Two years ago, which was the zodiac year of the wild boar, a
face-painted Kabuki boar started to dance.
I eventually attended a raku firing at The Clay Connection. I had previously avoided raku
because I wanted to have as much control as possible over my process. However, I have
since totally accepted and enjoyed the unpredictability of raku firing. On display, there
are several subjects finished in both regular firing and raku firing so that you can see the
differences in color effects. I also enjoyed making replicas of ancient Japanese Jomon
vases and artifacts in different colors and with some original concepts added on. I have
realized that there is no limit to ceramic creation. Whatever I want to create, there are a
hundred ways to express it. I wish to continue to expand my horizons in art.
My last ceramic exhibit was almost 9 years ago, and some pieces on display were created
during those early production years. Hopefully my assortment of old and recent pieces
will show you my artistic growth. I pray that my delicate creatures can make you smile,
gently speak to your soul, and bring back some warm, sentimental memories of your pets.
Please come and enjoy my enchanting ceramic world.
Yasuko Mayhew
April 2021 Sandy Aaronson
Have you ever been mesmerized by a great book or musical score? I get the same response when I see a ray of light transmitted through a flower petal in my garden or the way it plays along the back of an old cat sleeping in a sunny window. Color has intrigued me in many ways, since childhood, when I learned to embroider and knit. I soon moved on to pastels and paints. I used color collaborations in jewelry, utilizing gemstones and sometimes hand-blown glass. I observed the works of the great masters and became inspired by some wonderful instructors along the way.
Which brings me to the present I am still on my journey of the explorations of light and the interplay of delicious colors around us. I am inspired by the Hubble telescope pictures and the "what happens if I use this color" methodology. Sometimes I strive for a more subtle, reflective viewpoimnt of everyday places and things. Other times I go crazy trying to capture a brief interplay of shadows when the sun comes out after a rain. I am ever challenged to attempt to show you, the viewer, a small corner of that world on canvas or paper. So let us begin on our humble journey...........and may you find a small glimmer of the joy this searching brings to me.
PS I have been asked about my use of the name Upchurch. I use it to honor my maternal grandmother who was a homesteader near Orofino, ID. She survived some terrible times and kept a sense of humor. She was a source of inspiration in so many ways.
March 2021 LR Montgomery
WHO HE IS
LR Montgomery creates original oil, impressionistic landscape paintings of our beloved Northwest.
His paintings bring the ambiance and memories of our outdoor experiences into homes, work spaces, and recreational abodes.
As an artist with a heart for conservation and sustainability, he paints nature, exposing its intricacies and boldness, lights and shadows, wide-open spaces, and hidden secrets.
Montgomery’s images float through the boundaries of realism and impressionism, reflecting a sensitivity and close interaction with the environment and the Northwest outdoor life style. His recognizable, prolific outpouring of works show a respect for life, nature and the beauty of God's creation.
STATEMENT
I applaud those with the foresight and determination to conserve our natural areas for enjoyment, environmental stewardship, and education. Our rugged yet fragile natural areas, (like art) are a gift from the past, a gift for today, and a gift for the future. Through art, I strive to conserve and grow the great gift of our natural areas, and share it with others.”
COLLECTIONS ~ INFLUENCE ~ AWARDS
LR Montgomery’s work is found in the collections of corporations, private individuals, environmental groups, museums, and educational institutions throughout the USA, Europe, Russia, China, Mexico, Canada, Africa and Japan.
Collecting entities include Kaiser Permanente, Spokane Eye Clinic, Pacific Lutheran University, Washington State University, City of Spokane, Dishman Hills Conservancy, The NW Museum Of Arts & Culture (The MAC), Layola Marymount University, Shriners Children’s Hospital, and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Montgomery has produced signed limited edition etchings or print images for organizations such as The NW Museum of Arts & Culture (The MAC), St Georges School, The Friends of Manito, WSU Intercollegiate School of Nursing, and Dishman Hills Conservancy.
Awards include Los Angeles Printmaking Society National Exhibition Purchase, The Artist's Magazine National Art Competition Finalist, Artistry In Wood Featured Artist, and Valley Art Center First Place.
Montgomery has been featured in Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living Magazine, The Spokesman Review, Columbia Basin Herald, Silver Valley Voice, Signals, and on KSPS Public Television.
LR Montgomery is the Artist In Residence for Dishman Hills Conservancy. DishmanHills.org
His influences include Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Sorolla and Chevreul.
PERSONAL
LR Montgomery lives in Spokane WA with his wife Carole. His studio and gallery are located near Manito Park. He can be reached at LRMontgomery@LRMontgomery.com
PS
LR Montgomery is a bit of a rascal and a great story teller. Click here to receive his occasional e-newsletter where you can read his insights, learn about upcoming shows, and be among the first to see his new paintings.
Feburary 2021 Sally Lancaster & Genevieve
Sally Lancaster
Bio
Sally Lancaster was born in Spokane and attended Washington State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. She taught jewelry making and papermaking while living in California, displayed in galleries, and participated in group shows.
Sally’s work is focused on mixed media, a culmination of all of the types of materials she has worked with – acrylic painting, fabric, papermaking, printmaking, and jewelry making.
Artist Statement
The mixed media pieces I create focus on working with form, texture and space. By layering and using different materials, I strive to create that feeling of balance and harmony as in nature – the smooth and the textured, the bold and the soft working together.
I don’t always work from a preconceived notion. I let the ideas flow as I begin to work the materials I choose – experimenting with acrylics, colored pencils, papers, fabric and thread until a work emerges. My pieces are created out of the sheer joy of creation itself.
Genevieve Arnold
Genevieve studies nature and artists for her inspiration. Her work usually contains animal imagery. She lives with three beautiful dogs and two cats, an endless source of inspiration and humor. She often looks at the work of Eduardo Kac, Eva Hesse, Mark Dion, Cia Guo-Change, Faith Ringgold and Adrian Piper for inspiration.
She loves living in Spokane with its beautiful parks and close proximity to nature. Her favorite things, other than making art, are walking her dogs, chatting with neighbors and enjoying a cup of hot coffee with friends and family.
January 2021 Juaquetta Holcomb
Juaquetta Holcomb hand spins rustic art yarn from fleeces grown on sheep and alpaca, right here in this area. Each day finds her washing, dyeing and spinning fibers into yarn. She then knits, crochets and weaves hats and shawls with these yarns. Juaquetta lives east of Spokane and sells her work at the Kootenai County Farmers market and local art festivals. This is her 12th year as the January guest artist at Pottery Place Plus.
November 2019 Spokane Jewelry Guild
November Guest Artists:
The Spokane Jewelry Guild
This group is made up of Spokane's premier artisan jewelers working in a wide variety of materials, styles and techniques.
Joan Ashworth
My name is Joan Ashworth. I am a Spokane life time resident. I’ve always had a fascination for glass and the beauty of nature, so why not combine them in a one of a kind piece of wearable art. I never really know where the beads and stones will take me, but the end results always amaze me. And if someone likes my creation, that is the icing on the cake. Peace!
When I pick up a polished stone, I look for the beauty within the stone and add the beads that I believe bring out the hidden beauty. Some stones are believed to possess special properties and with that in mind, I like to convey that to the new owner by adding a note about the focal stone. Intrigue!
Each beaded creation is a one of a kind. My creations are stitched together using thread, foundation, a focal and beads of various sizes and shapes. The small beads are added one or two at a time to keep the creations neat and tight, then I finished off on the back as well. Each piece, when finish, is a complete surprise to me. Love!
I am a member of the Spokane Jeweler’s Guild, The Spokane Northwest Bead Society and the Spokane Rock Rollers.
I hope you like.
Janet Z Brougher
My current focus is on finding ways to combine semi-precious gem stones with copper and silver sheet and wire. My aesthetic is evolving as I become increasingly familiar with the working properties of the stone, metal, and my tools. My favorites are pieces that have classical shapes and allow the interplay of metal and stone to “star.”
Helga Hirsch
Helga Hirsch
Designing and fabricating jewelry has been my hobby for 36 years. I have participated in many workshops where I worked with national and international master artist. I regularly attend the Tuscan Gem for trends in design and techniques.
Kris Howell
Sarah Peterson
Metal smithing has become the next step in my creative process. My previous work with ceramics give me the love of fire, texture and creating art with my hands. As an interior designer I have always been inspired by nature’s color and design which has guided me in creating pleasing spaces. Now as I work in jewelry I enjoy contrasting different metals, putting movement into my pieces, embellishing them with natural stone and now adding color through the process of enameling.
I have shown my work at Pottery Place Plus, New Moon Art Gallery, Spokane Gallery and Framing and the Entree Gallery at Priest Lake
Sandra Phoenix
September 2019 - Lynn Gardner & Brenda Everett
September Guest Artists:
Lynn Gardner & Brenda Everett
LYNN GARDNER IDAHO GIRL ART
Bio:
Lynn Gardner is a self taught enamelist living the dream 40 miles south of the Canadian border. Lynn combined her love of painting, fused glass and silversmithing into creating whimsical organic torch fired enamel jewelry.
She lives with her artist husband, five horses, six chicken, an ornery barn cat and her faithful sidekick Daisy, an old black lab. Lynn puts on many workshops in her studio and garden in pottery, jewelry and mixed media painting
You can find her work at numerous galleries in Montana, Idaho and Washington. Magic, serious magic, happens every time I find my way to the studio. My never ending love affair is where color meets metal, where I create torch fired enamel jewelry for the eclectic soul. Add color and imagination along with a big dash of whimsy and you’ll describe my work in a nutshell.
Artists Statement:
My studio is nestled in the Idaho Panhandle, among three mountain ranges, meandering rivers and the beautiful Lake Pend O'Reille. Inspiration is everywhere…..in the trees on the trails I ride my horse on, in the water of the rivers I kayak on, in the songs of the birds I listen to in the early morning hours.
My work starts with that inspiration of form and color. Using sheet copper I cut out my shapes using either a metal shear, a hydraulic press, or a jeweler saw. The pieces are filed, shaped and then the magic starts with the enamel powder. Layers of color are fired on it’s put to the flame where the powder melts and fuses with the metal. My time in the studio is like going to a party and I almost always close the door at the end of the day with a happy heart and a smile on my face.
BRENDA EVERETT
Brenda Everett is a PNW native with an endless love of costal beaches, art, guitar playing, family and friends. Brenda lives in Spokane with her husband, two kids and two Welsh Corgis. She had a BA in drawing, painting, and printmaking from Portland State University, and a former life as a Social Worker.
“Carving into wood and linoleum is my passion. My work is inspired by the natural world, music and figures. Slowing the world down while gazing at a slice of everyday life is a key piece of my subject matter. Weaving narrative, and colors are important, though some prints are destined to be black and white.”
July 2019 - Liz Montgomery & Twyla-Lea Jensen
LIZ MONTGOMERY
I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spent most of my adult life in Barrington, IL and finally settled down in Southeast, Florida. I have been retired for many years now and live on a small island in the Florida Keys.
My work has been published in several newspapers. My photograph was on a book cover. I have had many solo exhibits at the Marathon, Fl Community Theater. An image of mine has been on the 2015 – 2016 brochure for the theater. The Shady Palm Art Gallery in Marathon, Fl is where I currently have my work.
My Mission: To reveal God’s beauty through my lens for all to enjoy.
I currently work in the photo canvas medium. Landscapes, flowers and landmarks dominate my canvases presently. I also have a sub-specialty in photo note cards.
Email – sealife3@bellsouth.net
Twyla-Lea Jensen
Twyla-Lea Jensen is an alcohol ink and resin artist. I have been working in these mediums for approximately 3 years and am continually expanding and branching out. Art has been a part of my life since the time I was a childa nd I have always created something and had some kind of project going on. I am also an avid cyclist and runner and occasionally compete in triathlons.
Recently I launched a new arm to my art called Spirit Soul Teasures. It will specialize in creating “Treasures” using cremains of loved ones in colorful and beautiful resin pieces.
I also love to teach and have held numerous classes teaching the basics of alcohol ink painting.
Feel free to reach out to me at tjstreasures4you@gmail.com.
June 2019 - Joe Simonsen
Joe Simonsen
I started woodworking as a young boy helping my father with some of the projects he was doing. I went on to working in a cabinet shop building cabinets and counter tops. Although I have worked in several different fields and held different positions throughout my work history, woodworking has always been my passion. Since my retirement over a year ago I started having a lot more fun doing what I love to do. Give me a block of wood and I’ll make something out of it.
March 2019 - Gayle Havercroft
Gayle Havercroft
I am a lifelong resident of Spokane. As I think back over my life, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in art. The first endeavor into art in my childhood memory is of doing a drawing of a stagecoach when I was probably around four years old. In my mind’s eye it was a masterpiece. Seeing it years later showed that it not very good.
As a child, I looked up to an uncle who was a good artist and oil painter, and I wanted to emulate him and be an artist. Art and music were always my favorite subjects in school. Going into high school I had to make the choice between the two and I chose to follow music (although I did take 2 years of architectural drafting to help fill my art fix).
I had the opportunity to go back into art in my early 30’s by going to SFCC in their fine arts program. Working, building a house, raising a growing family, raising livestock and just life in general, kept me from having time to get real serious with doing my art. So it has just been the last couple of years that I have chosen to be serious about it again.
Why I do realistic style of art:
The last name for my family is old English that means “small oat farm”. Though I’m the first generation not to truly grow up on the farm, there was enough of the rural roots left in my family that a rural lifestyle was something that I longed for. I’m not an overly sophisticated person, so I look at life through the eyes of what is solid, real and before me, so my art is a reflection of what I can see, touch and experience. Much of my art has rural, scenic and outdoor images. Weathered buildings particularly fascinate me with showing mankind’s struggles with time, the elements and age. The endless cycle of building up and falling down. Buildings also point back to my interest in architecture, and working in the facility maintenance field for the last 30 years.
February 2019 - Betsy Pozzanghera & Mike DeCesare
B. Pozzitive
My name is Betsy Pozzanghera, (and I am Pozzitive). I have been involved in creative endeavors such as ceramics, sewing, cooking, copper enameling, candle-making, since childhood.
Three (3) Christmases ago my mother-in-law gave me the gift of an online Craftsy.com course of my choice. I chose “Making Leather Bags” ---- the rest, as they say, is history.
After making my first leather bag I wondered if I could make a bag from my old pair of leather boots…yes. Then a jacket I bought at the thrift store, then … then … then…
My process involves the deconstruction of used leather jackets, skirts, boots, etc. Together with used leather belts, horse reins, gifted hair-on hide, and new leather I create one-of-a-kind bags and purses - giving them new and different useful lives.
Most of the leather pieces have natural wear, raw edges, holes, and markings. This contributes to their story.
Each piece I create is unique.
Custom orders from an idea, a beloved jacket, or “Dad’s old boots” are very welcomed.
My hope is that the bag you choose will lift your life.
Betsy
Mike DeCesare
Artist Statement
Photography is my first language, expressed in images that draw the viewer inside a scene to see, feel, interact with, and add their personal interpretation of a place or a time when light, color and form, combined to create a unique and memorable human experience.
Mike DeCesare Bio
Mike uses an academic foundation of technical expertise from his formal training at the New York Institute of Photography, along with a deep and abiding love and respect for the outdoors, to create images that interpret and respect, nature's grand and beautiful elegance, or serve as a time portal to a place where people once lived and loved, and left their mark behind.
Every image is photographed and then hand crafted solely by Mike DeCesare to render a final work that interprets the natural world and the bond between nature and people.
Mike has been invited to exhibit at prestigious art shows, including: Spokane's Artfest, Coeur 'd Alene's Art on the Green, Salt Lake City's Urban Arts Festival, and the Beverly Hills art show.
Mike's work has been featured in Hidden Treasure Art magazine - the editor called his work "Absolutely breathtaking." Mike has been a featured artist on the influential Artsy Shark website, included in Volume XII of International Contemporary Artists, and his portraits were featured internationally by Agefotostock, one of the top international photo agencies.
Photography by Mike DeCesare has received awards from the Las Vegas Red Room Art Gallery, Light, Space & Time Nature Art Competition and the international Centre of the Picture Industry.
Mike's images appear on handcrafted Maple bookmarks and other environmentally sourced wood products made by Mitercraft and his friends Julie and Ron Flint.
Mike lives in Spokane, Washington, but travels and photographs around the country and internationally.
October 2017 - Alice Nelson
Alice has been creating art from nature for as long as she can remember. Pine Needle Basketry became her main medium around 1980, but she also enjoys creating from wheat, gourds and corn husks. Alice was a member of Pottery Place Plus for many years and is excited to return as the guest artist.
Alice says she will spend some afternoons at the shop working on her baskets and is looking forward to seeing many old and new friends!
June 2017- Test Post
Here is a photo of the full moon
Photo above