“Art is Life.”
Art is in every aspect of our lives, day and night, while awake or in dream. The artist recognizes the influences, inspirations, and interactions with the world around him/her and creates from it. Each creation holds the spirit of the artist. The mugs, cups and bowls I offer are not empty. They are full of inspiration, joy and dedication. I am not capable of making pots out of frustration or anger. Angry pots crack or reject glaze. A clear mind and thoughtful concentration make the best pots. I am very proud and honored to be living my life as one who takes in the world and creates from it. I invite anyone to interact with my work and enjoy its function, and I will continue creating.”
My work reflects the beauty and wonder that nature has to offer us through its’ dynamic forms and diverse color. Living in Montana, with wide-open spaces of land and sky, it is hard not to have it affect you in some way.
I find I cannot copy nature; instead I need to play with the natural forms and color to create my own landscape. By doing this I believe I can express my true feelings and compliment nature rather than merely reproducing it. Trying to capture the subtle and harmonious relationships between the natural forms of the earth has proven to be my biggest challenge.
I start by concentrating on the abstract beauty of the landscape, moving and playing with just the shapes of trees, clouds, mountains, until there is some harmony. Then begins the layering of color. As the drawing develops I make little attempt to control the textures. Part of the excitement of working with the pastel is allowing the textures of trees or fields to create themselves; this keeps the piece a mystery to me until completion.
The chalk pastel becomes more diverse the longer I explore with them. working with 20 to 45 layers of color almost any variation of hue can be created, achieving extremely subtle changes to bold contrasts, yet, maintaining an overall harmony. Unlike painting, a chalk drawing cannot be drastically changed once your halfway through without destroying the paper. Saturation of the paper with pigment is a limitation, but is also a challenge that drives me to continue to use the pastel.
Like pastel drawings, I use a similar approach in oil painting to capture the interplay between light and abstract form. Starting first by finding a natural harmony to the shapes present and proceeding to layer colors.
Over the years the techniques I have described have evolved enough to express my personal “vision” of the world. Even though my landscapes are more of the mind they are directly influenced from my continual treks through the wilderness. Even here in Montana, the adulteration of the environment is becoming more prevalent. I hope the creations I present to you can inspire a sense of preservation, if not just to provoke an awareness.
Spring Artwalk: April 30
John Turner’s passion for glass and ceramics drives him to create 3-D forms of exquisite beauty. Turner studied ceramics and glass blowing at San Jose State University, CA, receiving his degree in 1975. His artwork gestated while he pursued a career as a park ranger for the Boy Scouts of America. In 1997, Turner retired to the town of his roots, Lewistown, Montana to pursue his dream of building a glass hot shop.
Turner honed his glass blowing skills studying at Western Montana State University, Dillon, Fire House 12 in Vancouver, WA, and Pilchuck School in Stanwood, WA.
Turner has realized his dream and today produces off-hand blown glass, fused glass and ceramics in his state-of-the-art studio where he transforms the elements of earth and fire in works of art.
Spring Artwalk: April 30
Bonnie Lambert, who earned an MFA in photography from the University of Colorado, has made jewelry for eight years. She is facinated with color.
“I stepped into the ancient world of beads. I am absorbed with stringing together color, texture, shape, history, and then planning its life on the human figure. I’m challenged by how to combine African trade beads and plastic beads from the 1950s.”
When not making jewelry, Bonnie enjoys traveling, gardening, knitting, and exploring contemporary art and design.
