Happy New Year! and New Guest Artist!

We hope you are all staying warm and comfy in this chilly start to the New Year!  The gallery remains toasty and full of art that is sure to bring you comfort!  

Need a new calendar to keep track of the days to come? Grab one of John Ashley's Glacier Park After Dark calendars that are not only full of his beautiful (and award winning) night time photography but also includes interesting scientific facts, details on events through the year that you might want to take a peak at!  (Did you know there is going to be a solar eclipse in August this year?!)








If you're looking to keep yourself warm in style, pour some cocoa or your favorite hot drink into one of Cheryl's or Joanna's beautiful mugs!






Or if wrap yourself up in a beautiful hand made quilt from Monique.  Who says that art can't also be functional!

While you're visiting be sure to check out our newest Guest Artist: Ron Kelly

Ron developed this decorative and pictorial mosaic style by laying precious and exotic materials into or onto a ground-work of solid wood. the intarsia wood decoration method dates back to the fifteenth century Germany and Italy, where the ancient art of intarsia was first used to create beautiful works of art from wood, inspiring both marquetry and inlay. Ron combines these past methods of art design with wood color and grain to produce the desired effect, adding a three dimensional element to each of his wildlife creations. Each art piece is an original design using color, grain of wood and style to create a unique wood masterpiece. 

13 Artists of Christmas--John Ashley

Artist Specials: December 10th

Featured Artist: John Ashley and Guest Artist: Mimi Beadles from Mad Dog Art & Design

The hard cover version of John Ashley's "Glacier National Park After Dark" has arrived! Along with new 2017 "Montana After Dark" calendars. What a wonderful way to share the beauty of our beloved State with friends and relatives, or to enjoy a new piece of John's art with every turn of the Calendar page!  John's book has also been named as one of three finalists for a High Plains Book Award! 

John's work is featured in our window display during the entire month of June. Be sure to swing by and see some of his latest, as well as some of the valley's favorites! 

We also would like to welcome our newest guest artist: Mimi Beadles from Mad Dog Art & Design. We will be displaying her work in the gallery for the month of June and proceeds from her sales will benefit Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force! T-shirts for both adults and kids plus lots of fun greeting cards. Be sure to stop in and see them in person!

To keep up with the latest from Paint Metal and Mud be sure to like our facebook page!

The 12 Artists of Christmas! Saturday December 5th.

12 Artists of Christmas

Paint Metal & Mud Art Gallery and Gifts

December 5th - 18th  2015

Celebrate the Season With a Different Artist Each Day!

Enjoy Specials, Demonstrations and Surprises!

Today's Special:

25% Off all John Ashley in-stock canvas prints!

Be sure to check out his great new Christmas Ornaments 

of some of his most popular works!  

Wonderful for your tree, and easy to mail to those who are near to your heart, 

but far from your home.

Here is the full list of upcoming specials from our other artists.  Don't miss your chance to save on some on some wonderful local art, and meet the artist who made it!

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Dec 7th: Pia Eaves                            Buy One Piece Of Pia's Jewelry Get 2nd 1/2 Off.

Dec 8th: Ann Schmidt                     15 % off Fused Glass Art by Ann Schmidt.

Dec 9th: Monique Kleinhans         20% off Monique's Quilts, Table Runners, & Wall Art.

Dec 10th: Michaela Eaves              Free Greeting Card by Michaela. (If you tell us a joke!)

Dec 11th: Linda Sole                       Jewelry Demo.  10% off Linda's Jewelry & Cards.

Dec 12th: Raette Meredith             25% off Original Oil Paintings by Raette.

Dec 14th: Cheryl Ross                   25% off Cheryl's Floor Vases and Planters.

Dec 15th: Lois Sturgis                     20% off all Watercolor Prints by Lois.

Dec 16th: Pat Jones                          10% off All Pat Jones Jewelry.

Dec 17th: Francine Brown             Weaving Demo.  50% Off Francine's Woven Wall Art.

Dec 18th: Carri Sampson               20% off Mosaic Art by Carri. Raffle for Mosaic Ornament.

John Ashley Photography Workshop

Every weekend all summer long, people ask if I lead any photography workshops. Most years I have to sigh and say, sorry, my schedule won't allow it. But this fall I'm breaking free to offer a one-day workshop at the Dunrovin Ranch, along the beautiful Bitterroot River just south of Missoula.

We'll meet on Saturday, September 27th, from 11AM to 5PM. I'll be focusing on simplifying the foundation that you need to take your photography into the creative realm - how to take control and make better pictures, no matter your skill level.

You can sign up and get more information by calling or emailing the friendly folks at Dunrovin Ranch, at 406-273-7745 or email dunrovin@gmail.com. Their web announcement is here.

Featured Artist - John Ashley

Chief Mountain watches over a grazing horse in John Ashley's "Watchtower" 

It's that time already - "First Friday" is upon us once again. Photographer John Ashley is PM&M's featured artist for June. He has been working hard and sleeping little this spring to produce new images to amaze you. Comet Lovejoy over Glacier Park, Northern Lights over the Prince of Wales, the total lunar eclipse from March, Chief Mountain and much, much more.

An artist's reception will be held at the gallery, located at 16 First Street West, during Kalispell's "First Friday" event on June 6th, from 5pm to 8pm. Everyone is invited to meet and mingle with John at the reception, where wine and treats will be served.

Montana Moon

Lunar eclipse from April 15, 2014

Paint Metal & Mud photographer, John Ashley, pulled an all-nighter to capture the lunar eclipse that occurred earlier today. This composite photograph shows the eclipse progression from left to right. The series of light images are exposed for the moon in Earth's shadow, and the series of darker images are exposed for the sunny part of the moon. Where they meet in the middle, the totally eclipsed moon is a lovely shade of orange.

NEW WORK - John Ashley

Stop by the Paint Metal & Mud gallery to see John's newest photograph, "Dream Catcher." In this macro photograph, the early morning dew drops on a delicate spider web refract the image of a nearby sunflower. You can check this one out in person at the gallery, or come see John and Tracy's booth at the Hockaday Museum's "Arts in the Park" this weekend, at Depot Park in downtown Kalispell. Show hours are 9-6 Friday and Saturday, 10-5 on Sunday.

"Dream Catcher" macro photograph by John Ashley

We Have a Winner!

Stephany Westhusin of Louisville, Colorado, is the winner in our "name the photograph" contest. Her suggested title, "Heaven on Earth," was chosen from almost 200 entries originating from at least five different states. Stephany wins a 28" x 9" limited-edition canvas print of the image that finally has a permanent name.

Many thanks to everyone who entered title suggestions. Remember to visit the gallery from time to time, as you never know what entertaining and enlightening treasures you might find. Our next "First Friday" event will be on August 2nd. See you there!

July Artist of the Month

Let's see if you can guess who the Artist-of-the-Month is for July, based on just a few hints. There are 12 artist members so you only get 11 guesses.

This shy fellow's personality began showing up early, and he was reprimanded in kindergarten for mooning his friends on the playground. While in high school he wore a cheerleader outfit in a skit before the entire student body, but he refused to wear blue jeans until after graduation because jeans were just too popular (he always aligns himself with the underdogs). He's got college credit in sailing and bowling, and he once refused to take a mid-term exam as a protest to get a biology professor to teach less rote memorization and more hands-on. It worked, the teacher later thanked him, and he was chosen as "Student of the Year" by the college president.

 

Think you know him?

He has been arrested once, for spearfishing without a license, getting hauled into the judge's chambers at midnight where he pled ignorance (the truth). He escaped with only a small fine due to a lack of fishy evidence. He hit the bull's eye on his first parachute jump, but landed further and further away on each successive jump, soon quitting when it got to be too far to walk back to the airport. This mysterious fellow checked off one of his many bucket list items early on when he flew his hang glider in a thermal above two Turkey Vultures. Camera in hand, he has swum with dolphins and sharks but is still waiting and hoping to meet a cooperative humpback whale.

Any ideas?

He is the only red-headed photographer who has held in his hands a California Condor, Common Loon and Harlequin Duck. At least, the only one he knows of. As a newspaper photographer he has experienced an adult panther leaping into his arms, been chased by a hammer-wielding train worker who apparently didn't want his picture taken, and he has chased after a number of hurricanes and tornadoes. He's photographed governors and presidents, NFL and college football games, beauty queens and the homeless. He once got food poisoning from pork chops served to the press during a Gator Bowl game between Florida and Iowa. He also managed to upset a number of newspaper readers who cancelled their subscriptions after he ran a photo essay on male strippers in the Sunday edition - in the heart of Florida's bible belt.

Give up yet?

This quiet fellow has given presentations on photography and biology to high school and college classes, bird biology lessons to a "superfluity of nuns," and a dazzling Harlequin Duck program to most every Audubon group in western Montana. His work has been published in magazines like American Photographer, American Biology Teacher and National Wildlife but, sadly, he has never seen his face on the cover of the Rolling Stone. He is still waiting to buy five copies for his mother.

If you think you know who the strange boring July Artist-of-the-Month is, then write his name on the back of a $20 bill and deliver it to the Paint Metal & Mud gallery, care of John Ashley. And if you make it to the gallery on Friday July 5th, during the artist's reception from 5-8pm, you can watch this person disappoint literally hundreds of kind people when he picks one winner for his name-the-photograph contest, at 7pm (information in previous post, below).

Name That Photograph!

What name comes to mind when you look at this photograph? Send it to us and you could win a limited-edition print!

John Ashley has a new photograph that's in need of a elegant title. What comes to mind when you look at this breathtaking image? Send your ideas our way via Facebook (click on the logo at right) or email (Ashley@BigSky.net) and you could win a limited-edition 28"x9" canvas print (retail value $155) signed by John! The first person to suggest the winning title claims the canvas print. To keep this manageable, please limit your entries to five per person.

John made the image from a mountain top at dawn last Sunday, after climbing up the prior evening. This view shows the Livingston Mountain Range and North Fork Valley, on the west side of Glacier National Park. At 7pm, John will announce the winner during his Artist's Reception (between 5-8pm) on July 5, 2013, at the Paint Metal & Mud Art Gallery during the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Kalispell.

NEW WORK: John Ashley

John has added brand new moose and bear photographs to the display at PM&M.
Drop by the co-op to see all of John's new work!

"Bullwinkle" is a wild Montana moose browsing on the golden leaves of fall. (c) John Ashley.

Upcoming Member Shows

PM&M glass artist Susan Young will be showing her new work this weekend at the 33rd annual Bigfork Festival of the Arts, in downtown Bigfork, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm.

Also, PM&M photographer John Ashley will be showing his work at the 34th annual Sweet Pea Festival, at Lindley Park in Bozeman, Friday 4pm to 8pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm. John's partner, Tracy, will be showing John's work at the old Fort Sherman grounds during the 43rd annual Art on the Green festival in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Friday noon to 7:30pm, Saturday 10am to 7:30 pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm.

John is also the Artist of the Month at Stumptown Art Studio in downtown Whitefish. John's "Curious by Nature" exhibit opening reception is Thursday, August 4th, from 6-9pm. Yes, that is the night before Sweet Pea opens - it's a busy time of year for Montana artists!

JOHN ASHLEY: New work "Peekaboo Loon Chick"

A young Loon chick peeks out from under the protective comfort of his mother's wing. (c) John Ashley

JOHN ASHLEY: "Go Local" cover photo

John's "Huckleberry Heart" image graces the cover of the summer 2011 "Go Local" guide to small businesses in northwestern Montana. Prints and cards of this image are available at Paint, Metal & Mud.

JOHN ASHLEY: Talking to high school students.

John was recently invited to speak to four different groups of high school students in Billings, Montana. His topic? Combining biology with photography.