PORT LUDLOW — The Port Ludlow Art League is kicking off the year with a new take on the idea of artist of the month — an exhibit that shows off the creativity of many.
“Share & Explore” is the league’s artist of the month of January as members celebrate not just one artist, but many.
“Creativity is a like a muscle — it needs exercising,” organizers said.
That’s the point of Share & Explore, a demo and hands-on, two-hour session to spark creativity by encouraging members and guests to explore new art techniques or mediums.
Instruction and supplies are provided for a fee.
Some of the art techniques and mediums explored in the past two years include encaustic, watercolors, pastels, abstract art, alcohol inks, acrylics, needle felting, Gelli monoprinting, collage, making paper, marbling paper, paper mache bowls, jewelry, shadow box, Sumi-e, mandalas, jewelry, fabric dying, zen rocks and assemblage.
“Winter” by Gail Larson is among the artworks in the Port Ludlow Art League group show.
Share & Explore meets the first Friday of each month. Reservations are required by emailing info@portluldowart to receive monthly invitations.
The league’s jeweler of the month of January is Georganne Muse, who makes bracelets, necklaces and earrings. She works with both gold and silver and enhances her designs with semi-precious stones.
Her work can be seen at the Sound Community Bank, the Port Ludlow Art Gallery next door and online at www.portludlowart. The gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
Ann Breckon will present “The Magic of Watercolor, Ink & Gouache Resist,” during a virtual lecture on Zoom at 1 p.m. Jan. 19.
Breckon will demonstrate a technique called gouache resist in which gouache, an opaque water media, is used as a temporary resist over which a solid layer of black India ink is painted. The whole piece then goes into a water bath and the gouache is removed to reveal paper with a textured black pattern on which to paint.
Breckon began studying watercolor almost 40 years ago. Although she enjoys sketching in pencil and ink, watercolors give her the ability to add vibrant color to her artwork, she said.
“Watercolors move with a mind of their own sometimes, providing an endless set of surprises and challenges and a feeling of life as you work with them,” Breckon said.
She is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society of America and the Northwest Watercolor Society, and holds membership in the American Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the Eastside Association of Fine Arts and the Women Painters of Washington.
Those interested in the lecture are asked to email info@portludlowart.org for information before Jan. 18.
The Bay Club hosts a new group art exhibit sponsored by the Port Ludlow Art League every two months. The theme for the current art exhibit is Winter Wonderland.
With more than 25 works of art on display, participating artists include Alan Ahtow, Joan Astin, Benda Barcelo, Ann Bernard, Fran Bodman, Larry Davidson, Carol Durbin, Gary Griswold, Gail Larson, David Layton, Carol Nielsen, Pamela Raine, Donna Thompson and Diane Walker.
The Winter Wonderland art exhibit is available for viewing in person at the Bay Club at 120 Spinnaker Place during December and January.
For more information on art exhibits at the Bay Club, contact Ahtow at info@port ludlowart.org.
The work of five league members were accepted for the juried Northwind Art Small Expressions Exhibit in the Jeanette Best Gallery at 701 Water St. in Port Townsend.
Ann Bernard, Mary Lynn Laker, Carol Nielsen, Pamela Raine and Diane Walker were accepted for the juried exhibit.
The exhibit is open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday through Jan. 30.
