"As an artist living in a very small Oregon community, Scotts Mills, I have developed a passion for the beautiful variety of trees this region has to offer. And as a sculptor of wood, I need not go too far to find my sculpting medium. I can go to the coast to collect driftwood, the forest to collect wind downfalls, or Eastern Oregon to indulge in the beautiful juniper. All these areas offer abundant varieties of woods that allow me to indulge in my sculpting passion. The Pacific Northwest Native American forms as well as the fairies that may live in the Oregon's plush woodlands have influenced me."

Click here to learn more about Joe.

"The varied landscape is a continuing inspiration to me. I spend a great deal of time painting out in nature. It is there that I sense with all my being the primordial energy emerging from the landscape and begin my abstraction of what is before me."

Click here to learn more about Susan.

"Bend encourages and promotes the arts. I have had the opportunity to meet artists and share experiences. There are many opportunities to show my art. I sculpt anything that interests me, but dragons, dinosaurs and lizards are among my favorites. I have taken commissions, and had the privilege of making the DC Horse for the Deschutes County fair. I like making costumes and doing movie props. My two dogs were the models for a recent sculpture that I just finished. I have also had the opportunity to work with a couple of independent films. I am interested in everything and everything seems to be in Bend."

Click here to learn more about Vincent.

"I moved to Southern Oregon 16 years ago and began my journey into silk painting. My passion for the craft has grown a small business, a cottage industry, if you will. I am inspired by silk, an amazingly soft, sensuous and durable fabric. I started painting silk in 1989 and have developed several lines that take their inspiration from my love of life and passion for beauty. Nature is such a strong and inspiring element here in Southern Oregon, the dawn light tinged with rose, the glow of dusk on the hills surrounding our valley home inspire me daily. In winter the mountains are often snow covered or shrouded in misty clouds. Each collection is individually designed, hand-painted, signed and dated as an original work of art. Every design seeks to capture energy, enthusiasm and light! I pair inspired vibrant colors with the flowing texture of silk to create beautiful art for you to wear and display.”

Click here to learn more about Joy.

"The long gray winters in Oregon leave me hungry for color and light. Not surprisingly, much of my work addresses the "great indoors". I try to create a fantasy world of bright, saturated colors, sharp lines and strong contrasts. The kind of visual reality one might find on a hot July afternoon. It's always summer in my studio.

"Living in a smaller community like Eugene gives me a certain solitude. Without the stresses and distractions of a big city, I find myself in the right frame of mind to be creative and focus my energies on my art. At the same time, there's a strong presence in all the arts in my community. It's often vibrant and fairly accessible to a wide range of artists.

"I suppose I would be considered a "pop" artist, as my subject matter is gleaned from the popular culture rather than traditional, time honored themes. Being a self taught artists, it's never been exactly clear what I'm not supposed to do. I'm drawn to the power of simple icons generated by our society. Click here to learn more about Chris...

"When I first came back to Oregon, the beauty of the Oregon Coast was so overwhelming that I concentrated all of my art on landscapes. I couldn't get enough of the rivers, lakes, streams and trees, or the Rhododendrons that seem to take over the area in May. I prefer painting outdoors, on location, whenever the weather permits.
Seven years later, I still love to paint landscapes, but I've also returned to an earlier love~that of painting people.
I paint in both oils and pastels.
Whether painting landscapes or people, I'm sure I'll never run out of subjects to paint, here on the Oregon Coast."
Website: www.janwoodford.com

"Though I had not anticipated it, moving to the Pacific Northwest has been a refreshing artistic adventure," says Ann, a professional artist specializing in printmaking and book arts. "After working in New York for 20 years, my family relocated to Salem, I brought my presses with me and set up my studio next to our house on the Mill Creek. As my work, though abstract, always responds to places I have lived in and traveled to, Oregon found its way into my marks and materials."

Soon Ann found herself working on wood instead of paper. "I printed on it, burned and carved into it as well as painting and collaging on top of it. I found myself, influenced by Northwest Native American forms, lashing my work to structures so it hung as objects off the wall rather than framing it.

Her studio window view looking out on Salem's Mill Creek led to a series of cast metal pieces she appropriately calls "Mill Creek."

"The Oregon landscapes, colors and visual traditions led to an exploration of new media, taking me in new and exciting directions. Now having lived, taught and worked here for five years, the influences have become more internal. My latest series, "Oregon Dawn," responds to that translucent light of early Oregon mornings, visualizing subtle layers of landscape through morning mist."

Email Ann

"I would have to say that my photography started with nature, the weather and our beautiful bridges. I also am keen on doing art that revolves around city life. I found that since a good portion of the year is “gray” around here, I tend to use a lot of vivid colors in my paintings, possibly to overshadow those gray days. We make up for it though in the summer and fall when I am out with my camera and have been lucky to get Oregon’s “beautiful colors” in print. I am very aware of our seasons and look forward to the subtle changes that occur in nature and in the city. Capturing the essence of that change with my camera or my palette knife is what I enjoy."

Metal Sculptor - Portland, Oregon

"As an artist living and working in Portland, Oregon, I am privy to a multitude of inspiring elements. Oregon's unique mix of industry and culture create a vast array of textures and tones, which influence not only myself as an artist but also adds to the creation of a vibrant ethos. Portland's historic architecture and turn-of-the-century neighborhoods team with young entrepreneurial vitality creating an environment where art and creative thinking in general are encouraged and applied to many facets of everyday living."
"Portland, Oregon, is a melting pot for artists and craftspeople and is a very supportive and encouraging place to make work. I use these elements to create sculptures which embody the irony between the beautiful and destructive impact we have on our environment. My pieces are inspired by the cultural geography of Portland, they are meant as stills from the everyday cycles of the city. The elements in my work are there to remind us of things we see everyday but may not actually notice. They are assembled with the hope of creating a conscience appreciation for the physical and emotional landscapes that make up our city."
Website: www.SuriIron.com