Thursday Trivia Time!

Ok...here is another chance to get to know one of our artists better.  
Read through the list and see if you can guess who this might be! 
(hint...it's one of the artists listed along the right hand side of this blog!)


Has performed in theatrical productions across the United States, Canada, Australia and even in Singapore!

 



Once improvised a last minute Halloween costume by pinning socks and a dyer sheet to herself and going as "static cling".

Taught ballet and social dancing






 Cannot stop working on a puzzle until it is finished.












Was found to be the sole reason why there was never a ripe strawberry in the family's garden.

And the answer...

...to our first 'trivia' artist is none other than 

Michaela Eaves!

Photo by Alex Gauthier at alexgauther.com

Michaela is not only the artist of the great pieces you've seen at our gallery, she is also a busy graphic designer/illustrator.  She works in a wide variety of mediums, including gouache, acrylic, tile paints, glass paints, and collage materials.



Much of her freelance work has been for fantasy, childrens' illustration, horror, or just some crazy mix in between.  


She is well known not only for her art, but both her love and care of animals and her wonder/crazy sense of humor.

She also likes gingersnap cookies.

You can see more of her work at michaelaeaves.com.

Welcoming the New Year!

We've opened a new calendar and thought it might be fun for you to learn a little more about those of us who make up our wonderful collective.  Sure, you know and love the artwork we create...but what about learning a little more about the other things in our lives that give us joy?  (and who knows...maybe there will be a quiz later!)



So first up....can you guess which of our artists the following bits of trivia belong to?





 "I love looking at cake recipes"

"I volunteer for a non-profit that is essentially an 

animal search and rescue"

"I love moutain biking" 

and 

"I have two rescue rottweilers"

Happy Guessing!

Season's Greetings!

Just a reminder that not only does our gallery have one of kind, locally made art and gifts
for those on your 'nice' list, we also have some wonderful Christmas cards made from
photos, watercolors, and even quilted fabric!  

And if you  haven't taken a look at our 'member pages' links (down along the right side
bar of this page), give yourself a treat and see all the fun art that our members have been
creating this past year!

Also, if you're looking for something specific or perhaps for a some ideas,
feel free to call us as well!  You can reach us during normal business hours
at 406-755-8886.

John Ashley "Peace"

by Linda Sole

Quilted Poinsettia by Monique Kleinhans

Quilted Vintage Cards

"Whitetail Fawn" by Lois Sturgis

We have many reasons to be thankful...

...the beautiful area where we live.
...the strong and supportive community.
...our lovely gallery where we get to share our art.
...the wonderful collection of artists that make up our co-op.
...getting to meet and talk with those traveling through our valley.
...every day offers up another reason to be thankful for.

We off our thanks to you, 

and hope that your own list 

of things to be thankful for 

is long and plentiful. 

Featured Artists of the Month: Montana Rock Creations

Montana Rock Creations

Artists:  Josh and Mary Inabnit

           

Montana Rock Creations originated as a vision by Josh’s father, Steve Inabnit.  In the late 1990’s Josh, his brother Jeremy, and Steve set out to develop their first candle holder.  "After several broken rocks and other challenges, a simple rock was transformed into a beautiful candle holder that remains a center piece display in our home today."

Steve turned his hobby into a business in 2001,  and expanded it to include a variety of functional art for the home: lamps, candle holders, salt and pepper holders among many other items.  Over the next several years numerous products were developed and occasionally shown at various art shows and farmers markets around the region.

               

In 2009, Steve passed away unexpectedly and a year later Josh and his wife Mary moved to the Flathead Valley from Missoula.  With much encouragement from friends and family, they decided to start designing and continue the work in Steve’s honor.  

"We've created our own style and flavor to these functional rock art pieces while developing new ideas along the way.  We’ve enjoyed sharing our work at the Whitefish Farmers Market and at several art shows throughout the past summer and are now thrilled to be showing our work at Paint, Metal, & Mud!"

Featured Artist for September: Meghan Merkey

We sat down with Meghan to ask her about how she got started and what inspires her work.  

Here is what we learned!

"I started working with clay when I was an early teenager and loved the freedom it allowed, and the therapeutic response I got from being completely focused on what I was creating. I decided to further my education in ceramics and received my bachelors of fine arts from Northern Michigan University. Since then I have stayed active in the ceramics community doing an artist in residence at Watershed Center for Ceramic arts in Maine and entering shows, now having moved to Montana I am creating work to share with the people who come through Paint, Metal and Mud. 

People often ask me what exactly they are looking at and I tell them that they are creations inspired by the natural world. They aren't any specific plant species nor is it my intention to try to replicate nature, I simply bring an abstract vision to life. 

The journals that are being featured this month started from making a book for myself. I chose a children's book and made it my journal. A good friend of mine saw if and requested one for herself and one for a gift, from there it has grown into something that I love to make and introduce to peoples lives. Journaling has always been a big part of my life and I get excited when people want to write their thoughts or feelings in one of my books."

Stop by the gallery to see Meghan's unique ceramics as well as her fun secret journals!

http://gleanandwinnow.wordpress.com/

Last Art Walk of the Season This Friday!

Summer may be ending, but there is still time to come out and enjoy the warm autumn air and of course some great art (and some tasty nibbles!)

Join our featured artist Meghan Merkey on Friday Sept 7th  (from 5-8) and be sure to check out her 'hidden journals'--unique handmade journals hidden within covers of old books!  And while you're at it, give youself the perfect vessel to hold some dried flowers from your garden, Meghan's ceramic pods are a beautiful way to hold on to summer, while transitioning into fall.

Some of Meghan's dried flower holders

Mug Mania at the Gallery!

Paint Metal and Mud presents "Mug Mania" by featured ceramic artist, Cheryl Ross Ellingson, during the month of August.

Cheryl's work features high-fired stoneware with a wide variety of glazes. One-of-a-kind mugs are on display as well as an assortment of coffee and beer mug sets.

Don't forget to stop by the gallery Friday Night!

Not only will you get to enjoy beautiful artwork made by local artists, you'll be treated to a rootbeer float! 

Cheryl is our artist of the month.  (and her mugs would be an excellent vessel for more rootbeer!)