Harvest Season Close at Hand !

Evening View of the Blue Whole Gallery

Autumn Light  

Ushers in A Season of Color

    Harvest Season is fast approaching the Olympic Peninsula as the month of September begins bringing a burst of Autumn colors and textures. Celebrating this special time of the year the Blue Whole Gallery will showcase, in its spacious windows, the artwork of Ryoko Toyama and Debbie Cain.  
     A highly recognized local artist, Ryoko's paintings reflect her "active response to the world, past and present" and at the same time revealing her feelings and inner most thoughts.  While noted gourd artist Debbie explores art and its possibilities on a three dimensional level, by painting, carving and embellishing on natural gourds in place of paper or canvas.  Both artist's work will be featured at the Blue Whole Gallery starting on First Friday September 4th, from 5 to 8 pm. and throughout the month.

Ryoko Toyama

     

     Ryoko Toyama's creative inspirations come from the visible objects or concepts, animated or lifeless that make up this world.  From such a view point she develops paintings that often take on their own elements with unexpected changes and endings.  Those startling views can be seen in the following works whose vivid colors and movement reflect the unexpected and give a magical sense to their presence.

"Transparent Mother Earth"

"Moonlight Madness"

     Ryoko Toyama, being a multi-linguist and having a 40 year career in library science, she now focuses on making her artistic skills center stage in her life beside being a volunteer interpreter.  She has said that making art is "pure joy" where she has no inhibitions when she is painting. In her home studio she freely expresses her own feelings about the world and enjoys the precious time to think and feel about life itself.  These elements of freedom can be seen in the selections below.

"Cycled Cherished"

"Remember August"

"Reflection 1" - Acrylic (19x14)

     Working in watercolor, mixed media and acrylics, Ryoko delights in filling her paintings with brilliant colors, bold strokes of movement and fluidity in composition.  At the same time, she is not afraid to experiment with new surfaces such as hand-made paper, fabric, wood and metal to make the composition come alive.  Examples of that exploration are seen below.

"Freshwater Bay 3"

"Our Valley 1-2"  (diptych)

    

   Give yourself an artistic adventure and view the selections of paintings by Ryoko Toyama by visiting the Blue Whole Gallery.  Meet the artist who invites you to share her freedom of expression on First Friday September 4th from 5 to 8 pm.   Also, Ryoko's art work will be featured throughout the month.
 

Debbie Cain

 

     Debbie Cain uses her skills as sculptor and painter to portray images of nature on the simplest of natural forms, the gourd.  Turning her studio into a storage area for all the different shapes that gourds form and then preparing them like a canvas to be transformed into a medium of art.   
     One of mankind's earliest domesticated type of plant, the gourd can be archaeologically traced back as early as 13,000 BC.  Through the ages the simple gourd has served as tools, ornaments, musical instruments, containers and an object for creative expression.  
     Debbie begins by using the smooth, three-dimensional surfaces of gourds to sculpt images, cutting away portions of the gourd, and leaving outlines of shapes and designs.  The following are examples of those skills.

Gourd Sampler

 

Autumn Candle

    Besides carving Debbie also paints, and wood burns designs that are colored with stains or dyes giving her images depth and visual reality.    
    In her studio she considers each piece of work as a challenge to create what best suits the shape and form she is working on.   The results are a kaleidoscope of subjects from simple leaves to detailed images of wolves, birds and even sea animals.  This can be seen in the turtle jar and the "Thunder Drum" below which becomes a sounding board when its wire is pulled and let go.


  

Sea Turtle Jar

A Thunder Drum picturing an Owl

  
  To enhance the overall effect Debbie Cain embellishes them with natural pine needles, gemstones, glass and fiber coiling. She also takes great inspiration from southwest American Indian motifs and subjects as the following examples show. 

Gourd 1

Kochina Doll

Fancypants Doll

    To truly enjoy and admire the creative expressiveness in Debbie Cain's gourd artwork you must view them individually.  That opportunity is offered by visiting the Blue Whole Gallery to meet Debbie along with her creations on First Friday September 4th from 5 to 8 pm. Also, her gourd artwork will be showcased and featured throughout the month.

Both Artists welcome your contact.



Ryoko Toyama:  at 1-360-681-6033
                              Blue Whole Gallery


Debbie Cain: at dcain0516@gmail.com
or Phone: 1-360-801-6570

Artistic Expressions derived from Nature

Evening View of Blue Whole Gallery

Innovation & Imagination

     During the month of August the Blue Whole Gallery will introduce two versatile artists who are inspired by nature as a driving force behind their artistic work.  Pam Walker, an innovative artist in pastel, photography, & mixed media whose work evokes the variety and serenity found in nature; and Steve Wry an imaginative artist using clay to shape creatures inspired by the sea, mountains and woods or that spirit which maybe hidden in them.  The Gallery is proud to feature their work and to share their inspiration with others on First Friday August 7th, 2015 from 5 to 8 pm. and throughout the month.

Innovations by Pam Walker

     Pam's work is indicative of her love of nature.  Using pastels and photography or combining the two, she explores the sensitive elements of color or shape making up the natural world.  She feels that capturing the beauty of natural vistas or the delicate patterns of creation she can share her view with others.  Below are examples of her efforts.

"Sun Set Photo"

Landscape Painting

"Where Does Your Garden Grow"

     Also, Pam is known for her pigment transfer photography where the delicate surface of the photo pigments are transferred to various surfaces such as paper or copper.  She uses both film and digital formats; as well as medium formats in order to find a connection with each subject being created.  Her skills can be seen in the selection "Midnight Light" which shows a rocky seashore view outside a framed window broken due to a recent storm. The brightly colored sky are a startling backdrop to the rocky shoreline. 

"Midnight Light"

     Pam is not afraid of innovations. She makes a considerable effort to go outside the "Box" and examine the world of mixed media. This can be see in the following two examples.  

"Mixed media 1"

"Mixed media 2"

     An extraordinary and varied selection of artwork awaits the viewer to challenge and delight the senses.  Take advantage and explore these innovations and views that Pam Walker would like to share with you.  Visit the Blue Whole Gallery on First Friday August 7th from 5 to 8 pm. and meet the artist and her artwork.

The Imaginative World of Steve Wry

     Steve Wry is an artist known for an imaginative mind-set especially when it comes to creating clay creatures. Steve is stimulated by the natural world and the possibilities of what may be hidden within the woods, mountains and seas. Using his hands he forms and shapes each piece so that they take on their own personalities which often harbor elements of whimsy or a serious nature.  Below are examples of his creativity.

"Eathle"

"Feed Me, Please"

"Zooey & Ladybug"

"Old Sol"

   

   Working with low fire clay, glazes and acrylics and using various techniques which include throwing, hand building, and coiling helps Steve to create an imaginative array of characters.  To complete their creation Steve uses Raku, soda firings, pits firings as well as gas and electrical firings or a combination of all three.  Here are some of the results.

"Irving, the red headed stepchild"

"Guarding the Pot of Gold"

   

    Human imagination is rarely as varied and diverse as it is with the ceramic work by Steve Wry.  The array of creatures with their own personalities brings out laughter as well as seriousness as they exhibit the wit of the artist who created them.  Visit the Blue Whole Gallery and enjoy this artwork that will be featured and meet Steve on First Friday August 7th from 5 to 8 pm. Also, view his efforts throughout the month.  

I'm praying that the Force will be with you Steve & Pam !

"Meditating Gnome" by Steve Wry

     Both Artists, Pam Walker and Steve Wry will be present at the Blue Whole Gallery on First Friday August 7th from 5 to 8 pm. Come share and explore their innovative and imaginative efforts in making art approachable.   

Both Artists welcome your contact.

Pam Walker: at pammiedon@hotmail.com

Steve Wry: at sbwry@q.com