GAOS Artist Spotlight - Charlotte Van Zant-King

I'm a painter, print maker, and ceramic tile artist,and enjoy exploring a variety of media and approaches.  I sacrifice consistency for adventures making art.  I have a long history in creating large pieces for public places, mainly in Alaska and California.  Since moving to the Columbia Gorge area, I've gone much smaller, and find the landscapes and animals here give me more than enough inspiration to keep me busy.  My website, www.charlottevanzantking.com will give our audience a lot more information on my many directions.  I just wish I could be more than one person, so I could tackle a few more mediums.
Charlotte is #18 on the map in a studio in The Dalles, Oregon.

GAOS Artist Spotlight - Beth Poirer

The towels that Beth weaves are renowned for doing exactly what they're designed for - drying! And they're beautiful, durable and feel so good to touch. They're perfect for either kitchen or bath. They multitask, too: placemat, table runner, bread basket liner, hostess gift, gift wrap. Beth's table runners are her towel designs morphed into a sophisticated length of cloth for a table or other furniture with each piece being finished with a durable and elegant hand-twisted fringe.

Find Beth online at www.BethPoirier.com or www.facebook.com/BethPoirierHandwovens.

She is #17 on the map in a temporary studio in The Dalles Oregon, which she is sharing with another artist on the tour, Charlotte Van Zant-King, painter and printmaker.

GAOS Artist Spotlight - Christine Knowles

Cascade, Pastel

My passion is the the landscape. I am actively involved in Land Use protection and I find my inner peace just being out in the landscape, painting. I'm lucky to live in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and to spend part of my winters on the North Shore of Maui. I paint with watercolor and pastel and love to hang out with the plein air painters in both Maui and Hood River. Last year was my first with Gorge Artists Studio Tour, I had a wonderful time meeting new people and sharing my work in my studio. I look forward to another great GORGE Artists Open Studios Tour this April.

Christine Knowles works in both watercolor and pastel.
She is # 1 on the GAOS tour coming up next week, April 13 thru 15.

GAOS Artist Spotlight - James Diem

Jim creates elegant and functional porcelain pottery with an eye for clean lines and dynamic color.  He is inspired by the beauty of the Columbia Gorge and the wider natural world.

Some say that using his ceramic wears may improve the taste of food, give you a better nights sleep and slim your waistline!

Located at 4415 Hwy 35 in Hood River Jim's studio is number 13 on the tour.  For more about Jim's work log onto www.hawkeyedesign.com

GAOS Artist Spotlight - Lauri Balmuth

My paintings always begin as a drawing problem. I challenge myself with the personal directive to "make it new"  .  I have pursued drawing problems in Chinese ink media and various kinds of electronic drawing using scanned artwork and Photoshop.  This series of paintings are paintings of objects, landscapes and models made on site on the  I pad  touch screen. I later add other electronic media, oil paint, flocking, and methods of print media, art papers and canvas.  The subject matter is simple and consists of landscape, local Hood River models and scenes from my home, studio and back yard. We all experience the same sights and sounds uniquely. Welcome to my world.

Check out mixed media artist Lauri Balmuth, #2 on the GAOS tour.  To see more of Lauri's work go to http://www.lauriebalmuth.com/index.htm

GAOS Artist Spotlight - Kathryn Watne

Enamel Jewelry

Kathryn Watne is currently working in enamels, which are comprised of silica or glass and oxides of metal for color. She fires opaque and transparent enamels in a kiln at 1450 degrees on hand cut copper. She creates fun and whimsical earrings and bracelets as well as 2 dimensional wall hangings. Kathryn's artwork reflects her love for time spent tending her garden.
Her garden as well as her artwork celebrate nature and life!

http://kathywatne.wordpress.com/

Don't miss Kathy's work, studio #5 on the GAOS tour April 13 - 15

GAOS Artist Spotlight - Charlene Fort

Blown Glass Vessel

Charlene Fort says, "Why glass? Because it is magical."

What else is there to say when you can take a piece of something that is hard, break it, melt it, mold it, blow it and create something entirely new and different than it ever was? Then, what about the excitement you feel when you open the kiln in the morning? Did it work? Or...is it going to be something entirely different? There are colors that you see when blowing glass that you don't ever see again in that piece. The intense heat takes glass to a different color range but unfortunately that color does not remain but shifts back to its original. Every day is totally exciting as you stand in front of 2200 degrees of heat and sweat to the oldies. There is nothing else like it.

That is "Why Glass!"

Be sure and stop by Charlene's studio # 11 on the Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour Map, Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 13 - 15, 2012.