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!)

First Friday Art Walk June 1st!

Don't look now, but June is sneaking up on us...in fact it will be here by Friday!  And that means that the gallery will be open late AND be serving goodies!  How can you go wrong?

Stop by and see the new window display and check out our featured artist for the month of June: John Ashley  (Photography) "His images remind you of the natural beauty and humor that is inherent in wild places and wild critters."   John's ability to capture the stunning scenes of our area is matched only by his ability to show  his fun sense of humor in many of his animal portraits.

And don't forget that many of our artists also offer greeting cards and other fun smaller momentos of the Flathead Valley.  What better way to remember your visit, to entice your friends to come with you next time, or to send someone you care about a little treasure to let them know you're thinking of them.

As always, Thanks for supporting Local Artists!

Featured Artist for May: Lois Sturgis

LOIS STURGIS, Watercolors

Lois Sturgis

Creative Endeavors

1221 5th Ave. West

Kalispell, MT 59901

I began drawing as a child, but many years ago Vern Wyman introduced me to watercolor. I fell in love with watercolor and consequently have never really wanted to paint in any other medium.

"Whitetail Fawn" by Lois Sturgis

Though never having received a formal art education, I have attended many varied workshops and classes, and have spent many years painting. Some of the classes and workshops I have attended are: Classes at the Flathead Community College with Karen Leigh; workshops at Big Timber with Nita Engles, Jack Hines, Jessica Zemsky and Bob Kuhn. Other notable workshops were with Jeanie Dobie and Frank Webb, Mark Ogle, Bob Cavanaugh and Barb Mellblom. These wonderful painters and many others not mentioned have inspired and guided me along the way.

"Phoebe and Iris" by Lois Sturgis

Books, videos, and art classes through the Northlight Book Club were a few other sources of growth, education and inspiration. Other artist friends give support and good advice.

Interested people ask why artists paint. I believe they paint because, once begun, it becomes a way of life, a need to be creative. It becomes an obsession in a way, something you need and don't want to give up. So be careful, if you decide you want to paint, you may not be able to quit.

It has taken a lot of paintings to develop a style of my own. Essentially, I want to paint an image that draws you in with light and dark, bright colors and little detail. I want you to know that you are looking at a real, natural scene or object, but generally I'm not concerned with a lot of detail. Occasionally though, if I decide to paint children or animals, I may become more detailed in my pictures.

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy painting for you, and I will continue to strive for the image I have in my mind.

Featured Artist for April: Linda Sole

Spring is in the air, and Linda's work is blooming in the windows at Paint Metal and Mud! 

Stop in to see lots of new hand crafted metal necklaces, earrings and bracelets in spring hues.  And don't forget to wander to our 2nd room where you'll find Linda's beautiful photography and pastels!



For those of you familiar with Trippons.com you'll also want to make sure you bring your smart phone, or print out the coupon waiting for you there!