Guemes Island La Conner Langley Manzanita Pomeroy Union

Kate Larsson

I am a late “bloomer.” I took my first watercolor class in October 1996. In September of 1998, to celebrate turning fifty, I had my first solo show, and I was accepted into my first art gallery.  

My art process is simple. I take my own photos and use them to create a composition. I focus on color, pattern, and movement. I begin painting what appeals to me and then, if I am lucky, the vision takes over. I work over the entire piece, one section at a time. After the first application of watercolor has dried, I reapply another coat. I continue glazing until I have applied 5 to 8 applications of color. I use transparent paints to maintain the “white of the paper” resulting in vibrant and intense coloration.  My emphasis is always on color, pattern, and movement. 

I have built a wholesale business selling my original art reproduced as giclee prints, cards, tiles, coasters, mouse pads, and cutting boards to retail stores from New York to San Francisco. I produce everything in my studio in Gig Harbor. My art is always on display at Gallery Row in Gig Harbor, WA. Visit Kate’s website by clicking HERE

Carla O’Connor

“It has taken a lifetime to learn how to draw, paint and see. Years of education, experiences, practice, choices, failures and successes have all contributed to finding my creative self. I try to trust that it is stored in an intuitive vault allowing me to paint what I feel without conscious reasoning or a pre-conceived final result. I react to the painting process with excitement and anticipation of inevitable challenges and surprises that I could never have foreseen beforehand, and I am always a little saddened when the process of creation comes to an end.”

I have resided in Gig Harbor, Washington for 31 years and in 2017 relocated home and studio to nearby Olalla. I have taught water media art workshops across the U.S, Canada and Europe, exhibited internationally including the Najing Museum of Fine Art permanent collection and 2022 Bulgarian current exhibition. I am a signature member of the American Watercolor Society (Dolphin member), the National Watercolor Society, American Women Artists and the Northwest Watercolor Society (Gold Member). I am currently represented by the Brumfield Gallery in Astoria, Oregon. 

Please visit my website by clicking HERE for additional work images or to order a copy of my DVD which is essentially a workshop on a disc. My home studio is open by appointment for visits.  Please call ahead at 253-509-9148.” 

Mardie Rees

Mardie Rees is a fine artist and figurative sculptor who is native to the Pacific Northwest. Born into a creative household, her childhood was spent sewing garments and building homes, drawing pictures and visiting museums. In her adolescence, Rees’ family uprooted and moved to Ecuador to facilitate community development. The years spent in Latin American culture sparked her artistic expression and became a quest, a way for her to balance the familiar and the foreign. This broadened worldview set her on the path to be an artist for life.

Rees has won many accolades for her emotive sculpture including Soul of the Forward and Faithful, a WWII U.S. Marine Raider Memorial currently housed within the walls of the Pentagon (image on the right). An Elected Member of National Sculpture Society, she is a two-time recipient of the Beverly Hoyt Robertson Memorial Award and a multiple award winner in Portrait Society of America’s International Competition & Exhibition. Rees has also been recognized and awarded by Allied Artists of America, the Marine Heritage Foundation, and the prestigious Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition. Mardie lives in Gig Harbor, Washington with her husband, Jeremy, and their three children, Jasmine, Adam, and Desiree. Her delight in all people and their stories is the lens through which she captures relationships and the fundamental duality of human life: love and pain.

“Through sculpture I seek to explore one of the fundamental dualities of human life: agony and ecstasy. The human form is my muse; I study the physical exterior that reveals the sacred inner self. As I shape and cut into clay with handcrafted wooden tools, I compose dynamic gestures eager to explore the very breath of life, the persona in three-dimensional form. Like our true selves, my work has no pretense of perfection: tool marks and fingerprints characterize the gritty edges of our beautiful lives. Though I have ultimate control over the outcome, my pieces inevitably contain elements of mystery, shadows of the stories shared between model and sculptor. Our lives are defined by the highs and lows of relationship. Despite the struggles we face, my work evokes the wholeness and goodness of who we are.” Learn more about Mardie’s art HERE

Beth Owen

“I am an “emerging artist” from Gig Harbor, just starting my journey in the art world.  When sunlight catches an ordinary object just so, or when a special color resonates with my soul – that is what captivates and inspires me. Those unexpected moments that reach out and grab your attention and that demand to be painted! 

My paintings try to reflect what is special and wonderful about the everyday things that are around us.  Sometimes that means pointing out the beauty of a common object. Other times that means suggesting the story behind a normal occurrence. My materials include Arches 140 or 300 # Cold Press watercolor paper and I use a variety of professional grade transparent watercolors to achieve rich, vibrant colors that glow with light. I paint using the traditional watercolor techniques of carefully layering transparent watercolor until the desired richness is achieved and preserving the whites of the underlying paper where white is needed. 

You can find my art and more about me at HERE. You can also see my watercolors at Gallery Row art gallery in Gig Harbor or check out my booth at local art festivals.”

Patricia Meras

Born and raised in Montana, I always dreamed of becoming a painter but thought it an improbable journey. Fortunately, I was awarded a scholarship to Montana State University in Bozeman receiving my degree in Applied Art which included studies abroad in Italy and the Netherlands. I’ve continued to study on my own and with nationally known artists whose work I admire. For many years, my focus was on drawing from the live model in black and white. Colored pencil, oil pastel and watercolor followed.  Later I experimented with various hand pulled printmaking techniques: etching, embossing, relief roll, mono printing and collage. My approach evolved however, after moving to a lake in the Pacific Northwest with my family 30 years ago. The water, an ever-changing landscape with its dreamy nuances of light became a frequent subject, and an interest in the ethereal aspects of the landscape emerged. It was then that I returned to a more painterly approach and found pastel to be a wonderful link between drawing and painting. The pastel sticks enable a variety of thick and thin lines, deliberate studied strokes and bold gestural mark making. The ability to smoosh the pigment around, combined with the liveliness of its colors, foster a passionate, poetic language. My intent is simply to convey an emotional and intuitive response to the mystery and serenity of the landscape in light and shadow. 

Early travel experiences in Europe as a student sparked a desire to return as a real live painter many years later! I was slow to embrace the surprising joys of painting outdoors in natural light though. It’s challenging to chase that light and deal with the elements of nature. Fortunately, the thrill of observing the way light behaves in nature, lingers long after the disappointment of wind, mosquitos, dogs, cows, sunburn, well-meaning strolling critics, clouds and rain! Plein Air Painting has brought good fortune to me also in the wonderful painters I’ve met along the way, which has resulted in recent painting trips to Tuscany, Cornwall and Puerto Vallarta. Painting is a lifelong learning process for me which requires constant study, exploration and discovery. That not so improbable journey continues.

My professional experiences include work as an illustrator, curator and gallery chairwoman, art teacher, juror, guest artist, mural painting, volunteer with community arts programs and an art docent with the public school system. Fine Art Reproductions of my paintings have been produced and distributed worldwide by Winn Devon and Grand Image of Seattle. My work was chosen as one of Pastel Journal Magazine’s top 100 paintings of the year in 2014, 2015 & 2016. More of my paintings can be viewed at the American Art Company Gallery in Tacoma, WA. See more on my website, HERE 

Ann Stockdale

“Color and Rhythm are main components in creating my oil paintings and it is joyful, indeed, to have the frequency of my invisible friends along as collaborators. There is a certain flow which is only evident when one is open to the moment. That’s when power truly reveals itself. Feeling the Universal pulse requires a certain Zen-like faith which allows bypassing the brain in favor of the wider area of spirit, where the magic is (even when we don’t know where it will take us).  

In the past I have developed a Tropical Series including 4,000 prints which were sold on the Princess Cruise Line. My paintings have been the focus of a One Woman Show at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle and have been presented at the Corcoran Museum in Washington D.C. Currently, my work can also be seen at the Tacoma Art Museum and a solo show at the Gig Harbor History Museum until the end of July/22. 

I am happy to know that this zone of higher frequency can be accessed and applied to all the creative arts...and to life itself just by dropping negative baggage and narratives we allow to take up residence in our thought patterns. My prescription for balance is keeping one foot in the material world (containing our heartache and travails), and the other foot in the spirit world; that connection to the sacred spirit which allows us to create a world entirely of our own.”   

See more of Ann’s work HERE

Patsy Surh O’Connell

Patsy Surh O’Connell is recent recipient of South Korea President Moon’s 2019 Cultural Development Award, and Governor Inslee’s Arts and Cultural Award 2018, Patsy Surh O'Connell was born in Shanghai, China of Korean parents, and lived her early life in Korea before immigrating to America as a student in 1963.  She graduated as an Interior Designer in San Francisco, CA.   She has two sons, and a daughter, and lives with her husband of 56 years in Gig Harbor, Washington since 1985. She studied Chinese ink painting, Sumi-e, oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, lapidary, weaving, pottery, quilting, and batik in Korea, Japan, and China, and in the United States. 

Patsy was appointed to Board of Trustees of Western States Arts Federation representing 9 states, representing Washington State for two terms through 1997-2004. And was appointed by two Governors of WA for WA State Arts Commission as a Commissioner for 1996-2003. She was the founding President of the nonprofit Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma, Washington in 1996 where 47 countries and cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands are represented in our community.  The mission of the organization is bridging communities and generations through arts, culture, education, and business. See more about Asian Pacific Center HERE

Patsy has shown her works in many juried art shows and received numerous awards. Her works are in private collections in Korea, Japan, Sweden, and the United States. She has been a water media teacher at the local college, a juror, is serving President of the Korean American Artists of Washington and is member a member of many other clubs and societies. She believes learning is a life-long endeavor and keeping one’s cultural roots is an important factor in one’s life. Assimilating what is considered to be beneficial for all from our cultural roots into our American culture is an important role for each of us to practice. 

Her recent works are done on rice paper with water media. She like to juxtapose something American and something from her heritage that shows layers of colors in varying degrees of value, exploring the perception of life and the transitory nature of the human condition.  Cultural icons, patterns, metaphors, and symbolism serve as the framework for her painting’s visual language. You can contact Patsy via email by clicking HERE

Kathy North Thurston

Nature is all at once beautiful, exhilarating, and a window to my soul. It offers opportunities to pull away from a hum drum crazy life, explore and breathe. My muse is nature: I love to hike, kayak or walk in my garden.

During Covid, I was inspired to take a closer look at Gig Harbor. I would walk the waterfront harbor to find inspiration in the people and sights of the waterfront. I recently have painted landscapes, fishing boats and images of the Gig Harbor working waterfront. Sumi Ink and Korean or Chinese (water) Color are my favored medium. I paint in a Westernized interpretation of Chinese Gongbi painting. This method is contemplative, relaxing and welcomes the detail I love. Gongbi means “meticulous detail. I sketch, put the sketch under rice paper, then outline and add shading in sumi ink, lastly layering in the watercolor. In 2007 on return from a cultural exchange in China, Patsy Surh O’Connell, artist, and director of Asia Pacific Cultural Center invited me to take her Chinese Gongbi Painting class at Tacoma Community College in Gig Harbor for several years.

My work has been featured in several solo shows in Seattle as well as Asia Pacific cultural center. I have won some local awards and had a show featuring shore birds at Gig Harbor’s Harbor Wild Watch, a local Puget Sound nonprofit conservation and education group. Currently I am a member of Ebb Tide Gallery art co-op in Gig Harbor and display my work at Millstream BI (in Winslow,) on Bainbridge Island. In addition to original works, my art has been made into colorful greeting cards, tiles, cutting boards and prints. Local art organization I have supported are the Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour (past president and member,) as well as Peninsula Art League (past president and member.). See more HERE

Bella Kim

“Since I was a child, it has always been my joy and feeling of accomplishment to create something. I also realized that my creative activity was a way to strengthen my relationships with others by giving them my drawings, Christmas cards, and doll clothes. So, it was not surprising that I chose Design and Fabric Dyeing as my major when I entered college. After graduating from college, my art world extended to mixed media. I started experiments with the fabric by dyeing and giving it three dimensional structures and adding different skills. I discovered these allowed fiber’s natural softness to have unexpected shapes. By coming into the new country, I explored a new way of thinking about art. First, several years of immigration in the United States were a kind of silent period in my artist career. I had to get used to this new environment by learning the English language and culture. By working as a painter in an antique repair store, I didn’t lose the string of hope that I would continue to develop my own art. I started making wearable artworks such as ornaments, ties, brooches, scarves, and bags to display in some local craft stores. Although I did not make much money, I was encouraged when my art might have sparked people’s delight. I truly enjoyed more creating artworks than selling them.

As my family settled down in Gig Harbor, WA in 2008, and I joined KAAW (Korean American Artist Association of Washington), my art life entered a new phase. In the new phase, I wanted to discover a larger community and share my story through exhibition art. I have been accepted from juried shows at Kirkland Art Center, Schack Art Center, and Columbia City Gallery in 2021. In 2022, I joined NWDC (Northwest Designer Craftsmen) and BAC (Bainbridge Arts & Crafts). I like to focus on using recyclable materials to create my artwork. I want my art to inspire people to appreciate how ordinary materials can be used. I hope we people can be a part of earth’s health in everyday life. Transformation of useless materials for meaningful results gives me endless joy.”

Visit Bella’s website HERE

Lea Basile-Lazarus

“I make art out of the need to react, to express, and to reflect about the world around me, whether it be politics, social justice issues, community interactions, or the natural environment that surrounds me, the Pacific Northwest. Through the pandemic I repurposed artwork, weaving, printing, and painting on my images. I have explored the purity that embossments bring to a piece of art, but I have a need to embellish and create my personal story with obsessive mark making. I have been using contemporary printmaking and papermaking techniques to express these thoughts and ideas but have recently begun painting since my work has become more fluid and spontaneous. 

I work on more than one image at a time, moving from one to another, layering different stencils, shapes, and colors, while maintaining the same thought process. Paper pulp painting is spontaneous; I am actively engaged in the process. My entire body moves, from mixing pigments in paper pulp, to cutting stencils, to making marks or writing words with syringes and turkey basters with the gestural movement of my arm. The mental and physical energy it takes to think, move, and react to the images that are emerging is what makes this process so exciting and invigorating. I have brought this energy into my printmaking and painting. The mark making becomes the conversations, the emotions, and the words that are not meant to be heard. The colors can be conflicting and dramatic. They can also be peaceful in those moments when I forget and are able to breathe more freely. Exploration of these materials and contemporary techniques have provided me with the tools to create unique surfaces that express the thoughts and emotions that relate to my surroundings and the greater world. 

My husband and I have recently moved to Gig Harbor, from Evanston, Il, so that we would be closer to my son and his family. I am fortunate to have a home printmaking studio where I create artwork that has been influenced by my new surroundings.  I am active in the Gig Harbor art community. I have joined Gallery Row, a collaborative art gallery, located at 3102 Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor.  My home studio will be opened during the Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour, which is taking place September 16th through 18th. My paper pulp paintings are created at Hook Pottery Paper in La Porte, Indiana, where I visit annually.”

See more by clicking HERE

Anne Moore Knapp

Anne Moore Knapp has a double BA in Art and Art Education. She worked in the commercial art world for many years with The Bon Marche and Macys. She went back into the world of Fine Arts full time in 2009. Although chiefly known for her landscapes, she also does some garden studies (she is an avid gardener) and still life paintings and is an enthusiastic participant in life drawing sessions when her schedule allows. Her paintings try to capture the mood and color of the subject.  

She is very involved in the local arts community, and gives back by donating time to non-profit arts groups, leading the charge for a Visual and Performing Arts Center for Gig Harbor, and has completed many residencies that support her teaching art classes in schools in underserved locations. She occasionally will teach small classes & workshops in her studio in her home in the Finholm area. She is an exhibiting member of the Peninsula Art League (PAL) and a Signature member of Northwest Pastel Society (NWPS), and member of Plein Air Washington (PAWa). The artist may be contacted via email HERE or visit her website HERE

GIG HARBOR GALLERIES

EBB TIDE GALLERY

Established in 1984, the Ebb Tide Gallery is Gig Harbor’s oldest artist’s cooperative.  Ebb Tide Gallery is a bright, vibrant gallery with 12 artists in residence displaying a wide variety of art.  Photography, abstract acrylics, pen and ink, pastels, and watercolor originals can be found on our walls. Floor displays showcase the incredible talent of our woodworking team, glass artist, and potter.

Having occupied several locations since the mid 1980’s, we are currently located at 7809 Pioneer Way, near the heart of Gig Harbor’s waterfront. Venture in on any given day and you will find one of our talented artists working in the gallery. We’re open 7 days a week, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the summer and 11:00 to 5:00 the rest of the year.

You can find out more about our gallery, current artists, and displays by visiting our website HERE.  

Follow us on Facebook (The Ebb Tide Art Gallery) and Instagram: @ebbtidegallery

GALLERY ROW

Located in the picturesque old town of Gig Harbor along the harbor, you will find our Gallery representing the work of 16 local artists.  We pride ourselves on being a destination Gallery that our neighbors bring their visiting guests to visit.  We have rooms of treasures to investigate.  Since we are a co-operative Gallery, anytime you visit one of the artists will be here to welcome you. 

Our mediums include Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic, Stained Glass, Fused Glass, Wood Turning, Ceramics, Jewelry, Monotypes, and Collage.  We have original artwork available, and we have numerous small gift ideas such as art tiles and trivets, coasters, glass sushi sets, small originals, cards, earrings, and reproductions.   

Gallery Row has been in continuous operation since 1988.   Some of the initial artists are still creating and showing their art.  We change the Gallery every single month to keep it fresh and pique your interest.   After all, your support makes our art possible.  Please come visit one of the nicest Galleries in Gig Harbor.   We would love to meet you!  Learn more HERE

The Birdnest Gallery

We have been servicing the Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Tacoma, and Puget Sound area since 2002 under the same original ownership and location. The BIRDNEST is an independent art gallery and the most experienced custom framing shop in the Harbor. Our framing services specialize in the highest quality of innovative custom picture framing to fit anyone's needs or budget. We have over eighteen years of framing experience providing a wide array of in-house talent to take on any project. We provide the fastest project turn-around time if your project is time sensitive. We also stock numerous styles of custom, pre-made frames in many standard sizes to simply accommodate your framing needs. We also provide hanging services to install art and mirrors in homes and offices. 

Our gallery features a distinctive collection of Northwest art by over 60 regional and Pacific Northwest artists with the largest collection of nautical, maritime and wildlife artwork by some of the Northwest's finest artists. Renowned names such as Randy Van Beek, Dave Bartholet, James Williamson, Betty Vestuto, Sue Colemen, Lynn Bean, Tom Lynch and Alex Young. Our metal artists are Stuart Hurd, Bill Mader and Don Dye. 

Our gifts and home décor items include pottery, art glass, wood working, jewelry, art cards, windsocks, and Norwegian Rosemaling. Please visit our website HERE

Public Art