After a twenty-year hiatus, Joules has re-emerged into painting using hair picks, meat forks and chopsticks, impressing a sensory memory of natural landscapes. The natural effects of these tools are groupings of impasto strokes that resemble Pointillism and Impressionism. She paints the natural scenery of the Pacific Northwest. Many of her paintings are memories of time spent at her family's cabin on Mount St. Helens before the eruption in 1980 when the cabin was destroyed. A book encapsulating these memories as paintings and stories is in progress. Joules resides in Bellingham, WA Brian O'Neill presents bold and beautiful textures, laid upon unexpected ceramic form.
O'Neill finds great satisfaction working with basic raw materials that can be formed into objects that have shape and balance - a rhythm in their proportion, scale and surface texture. Some of these universal rhythms of nature are embodied in his pieces, evoking the simple strengths that reside in stone and the natural landscape. Most of his forms are vessels. While not always 'functional' in the traditional sense, each piece has an interior and an exterior. The visible form and the more hidden space inside is an anthropomorphic relationship O'Neill enjoys exploring. Each piece comes into existence and develops a personality as it evolves - much like all of us. "My inspirations for shapes are everywhere, the beautiful curve of an oar handle, aboriginal masks, product and architectural design, the world of fashion. Well-balanced form in any medium informs my work." O'Neill holds a BA in Fine Art from Western Washington University and carried a dual major in ceramics and visual communications. His work is represented nationally by galleries and museums, and is included in numerous permanent collections. He also exhibits his work at a handful of regional art shows. Most recently O'Neill had the privilege of participating in the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, D.C. O'Neill resides in rural Whatcom County.
