Meet the hands behind the artworks of the 30th annual Whatcom Artists Studio Tour.
The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour is back for its 30th showcase of local artists. Painters, sculptors, woodworkers, photographers, glass blowers, leather workers, jewelers and more will open their private studios across the county to the public for two weekends starting tomorrow, Oct. 4–5 and Oct. 11–12.
What unites these artists is place, the pursuit of creation and the hands that do the work. In stains, smudges and fingerprints, these hands leave traces on the work. In callouses, scars and strength the art leaves traces on the hands — a dialogue of muscle memory and creation between the art and the artist.
A sampling of artists’ descriptions of their work appears here alongside images from inside some of their studios — the creative spaces where the artists apply those hands to media to create their artworks.
Murals and more
Brian Major has created a large body of work including oil and acrylic paintings, murals, slate tile designs, chalk murals and three-dimensional wall sculptures.
For the past 10 years, Major has been the chalk muralist for the Bellevue Art Museum, for which he created large murals and entertained crowds during the Bellevue Arts Fair. Brian performed during the grand reopening of the Seattle Art Museum where he recreated a 9-foot version of a Takahashi Murakami Flower Ball.
He has also created chalk murals for the opening of the Seattle Public Library and the Tacoma Art Museum, as well as several other locations in and around the Northwest, including Whistler, British Columbia.
Inspired by water
Greg Klassen grew up on a peach farm, surrounded by trees that were celebrated for their fruit and discarded when their prime had passed.
Years later, after studying theology and discovering his calling as a maker, he came to see that he was always meant to work with trees — but not to consume them: to honor them.
Today, he salvages local hardwoods — often trees at the end of their natural lives — and gives them a second life through one-of-a-kind furniture and sculptural pieces. His work is inspired by water: winding rivers, tidal shorelines and the archipelago near his home in the Pacific Northwest. He retains the live edge of the wood whenever possible and incorporates hand-cut, inlaid glass to evoke the presence and movement of water.
Beautiful and functional
Vernon and Karen Leibrant hand-turn wooden bowls on the lathe in classic, reserved shapes to allow the natural beauty of the wood to be the major design element.
They use only rescued wood from trees taken down for other reasons, and they focus on making beautiful pieces that are functional enough for daily use.
Evoking emotions
As an East Coast raised, Left Coast transplant, Martini Metal Craft prides herself on being an independent, one-woman studio, hand-fabricating each piece of jewelry from raw materials.
She is passionate about designing and crafting jewelry for those hammering out their stories. With her art, she strives to capture the true essence of each piece and evoke emotions in those who wear them.
The energy within
Jayne Baron studied fine art at Calvin University in Michigan and began receiving awards for her artwork from an early age.
Recently she has been intrigued by the challenge of figuring out how to visualize the energy that everything is actually made of, beyond what the eyes can see. The intricate beauty of a landscape, the dance of light and dark, the magical nature of flowers, birds and insects; her paintings flow from a place of awe and gratitude for the beauty of this world.
Waiting for your words
Northshore Hand Bound Books leather blank journals are sewn through the spine, allowing books to lie flat, and have unique spine designs. Kasey Potzler uses Arches Textwove paper, decorative papers and silk thread for sewing and twining. Closures are made of found antler, wood or stone buttons or leather with copper rings.
Refillable book covers can be used over and over again with the addition of new refill inserts which are also available for sale.
Mixing the media
Sierra James was born near Bellingham and attended both the University of Washington and Columbia University. She has been painting for over 20 years. Her artistic work covers a variety of media including producing film, graphic design, resin, watercolor, oils, acrylics and mixed media.
For her visual art pieces, she uses techniques including collaging, acrylic pouring, string pulling, blowing, heat torching and painting.
Maps and other access details for each studio are on the tour’s website and in brochures available throughout the area.
— Compiled by Salish Current staff; photos courtesy of the artists