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I am announcing my new ecommerce online store to sell my original  oil paintings that are instpired by a magical childhood growing up on Lummi Island, one of the many fabulously unique islands in the Pacific Northwest archipeligo of the San Juans. And NEW PASTEL PAINTINGS OF NORTHWEST WETLANDS!

It is incredibly easy to purchase by just a click. Check it out!

Lynnwood Convention Center Show

Northwest Water now showing

3711 196th St SW

Lynnwood, WA 98036

lynnwoodcc.com

Jansen Art Center Show

Wet Lands/Dry Lands

321 Front Street 

Lynden, WA 98264

Jansenartcenter.org

Gallery at Third & Main Show

Recent work inspired by Lummi Island

2046 Main St

Ferndale, WA 98248

gallery3rdmain.com

For the Seventh Generation One Mile Long Panomural of the West Coast

Lincoln City Cultural Center

540 ME Highway 101

Lincoln City, OR 97637

lincolncity-culturalcenter.org

I've been taking classes and attending open studio with Trish since 2006. Trish is an amazing teacher. Her approach is always to start with the positive and move towards what could work better. As we critique each other's work she encourages us to provide feedback to each other in a positive way. Through these critiques and from Trish's help as we paint we come to understand what works and what doesn't and our skills improve. I've loved watching the work of my friends in Trish's classes get better and better.

In open studio we arrive and Trish begins with announcements. Then we do a critique of the work we've brought with us. Then we paint. Trish goes around helping and making suggestions as we work. Her suggestions are based on principles that she frequently reiterates. So as we learn the tools to improve our paintings, we also learn the effect of our use of value (light to dark), temperature (warm to cool) and intensity (bright to dull). We study the color wheel and come to understand the relationship of colors. All of this happens as we paint and as we critique each other's work. It is an environment that fosters creativity and mastery.

Trish doesn't stop with teaching us the tools of creating art. She also teaches us about the business of selling art as well. And she has several venues where she presents our work in shows. Each of us can choose how active we want to be in this. I've had my work in many places thanks to this aspect of Trish's teaching. In fact I have a show up right now at the Fairhaven WECU thanks to her arranging shows there.

I should not forget to mention how much the relationships I've developed with my fellow artists mean to me. There is a closeness and camaraderie that we've developed over the years. I go to Trish's studio to paint for sure. I also go there to hang out with a great group of artists who are on the same wavelength as I am. It's a wonderful experience creating together. And I am so impressed with the amazing work the people in Trish's studio create.

Bellingham would be a much less art-filled place without Trish and Studio UFO. I sometimes think of artist groups like the Canadian Group of Seven when I think of those of us who paint with Trish. Maybe someday people will look back at the rich environment of art making in Bellingham in the early 21st century at Studio UFO and celebrate the art made there. Who knows?

Thanks for asking. Happy to wax poetic about this important part of my life.

:)

Ann Chaikin

“You’re expected here! Come, draw with me.”

Trish always greets us with these words. And she means it to her creator’s heart’s core. In every way. She knows we’re coming and welcomes us into the studio with expectancy in her voice. In her body language of let’s-get-going. She calls us by name and lets us know she can’t wait to be with us to create something original this new day. She expects good, hard work and participation from each of us. She wants us to be filled with expectation too...in her, and in ourselves.

Her work surrounds us, floor to ceiling. Amazing works...I love the charcoals best. Their rough-textured expressions of people from all walks of life. The energy. The stories they tell. She doesn’t lord her talents over us, she shares them so we’ll see her love in the doing of them, her love of her craft and to encourage us to love ours too. To let us know she knows how to infuse us with hope and skills and joy as we create. And she hangs our works right alongside hers. How satisfying is that?!

Even the studio carpet invites us to expectation as we walk in with pieces of clean white paper under our arms and supplies in tackle boxes. A work of art itself. A well-woven ongoing picture of souls gathering with chalks that break apart as they make their marks, some even crushed under foot. Paints escaping the brush before they reach the canvas.
Years of creativity under our feet. A marvelous mess that doesn’t expect perfection...but the freedom and wonder of the doing.

Trish sets up the model, gives us the challenge for the day, and we start making marks on the clean surface. She coaches and encourages the group with instruction and stories, with times of silence so we can think with our inks. She draws close to each one of us, helping us each develop our own artistic style and voice...totally our own, not to be compared to anyone else’s. She has faith in us and helps us develop more and more confidence. She uses all she is to help us become all she knows we can be. So we can encourage the souls next to us too.

Rosie Harris