Featured Artist for May: Josh and Mary Inabnit of Montana Rock Creations

Known for their unique and functional rock works, Mary and Josh (and daughters too!) enjoy finding the best pieces of our Montana landscape to create their artworks.
 

 

Stop in to see their candle holders, freestanding lamps, business cards holders, salt and pepper shaker stands, doorbells and even custom door knobs to name a few!

Featured Artist: Lana O'Myer

Featured this month at Paint Metal & Mud is Lana O'Myer.  Her beautiful oil paintings hang in the main room of the gallery, but she is also well loved for her unique Tree Spirit sculptures.  

"I’ve always loved to create things and my usual artistic outlet is oil painting and clay.  I received my first set of oil paints around the age of 12 and was instantly in love.    It was 5^th grade art class where I had my first experience with clay sculpture and the potter’s wheel.  Through the years I’ve gained much knowledge in each medium.  I’ve taken several workshops,  but most of my art education has been self taught through my own trial and error.

I find it incredibly exciting and fulfilling to make something out of nothing.  To have a vision in your head and make it a reality is a wonderful experience. 

I’ve learned through the years that life is what you make of it--your own  personal  artistic creation.  Make your life a great work of art."


We hope you will come visit us during the month of April, so you can see Lana's work (and the work of all our other local artists) first hand.

Lucky Tree Spirit

Legend of the Tree Spirit

15th Century Europeans believed trees maintained good and the most powerful of all spirits. Before entering the forest, they would knock on the trees to wake up the sleeping spirit to protect them. This is where the saying, "knock on wood," originated from. Tree spirits have a great sense of humor, gentle wisdom, and will bring good luck to your home.

Each "Lucky Tree Spirit" is individually sculpted using 100% Montana stoneware clay. Each piece is bisque-fired in a kiln for 16 hours and then a final firing in an outdoor pit with a variety of organic materials. This gives each Tree Spirit it's unique, earthy colors and markings. No two pieces will ever be alike.

Lois Sturgis - March Artist of the Month

Watercolor artist Lois Sturgis is PM&M's artist of the month. Don't miss her reception this evening at the co-op gallery. You can also read about Lois here, in today's local newspaper.

 

 

Did you guess?

The answer to last week's trivia post is none other than our lovely Mary Inabnit! 

Mary (and her husband Josh) have been a great addition to our gallery family, and we're thrilled that the public has enjoyed their rock creations as much as we do!

The designs for their custom door handles and even doorbells never cease to make people in the gallery reach out and place their hands on the beautiful rocks used.

It isn't surprising that the rocks they use are beautiful--they come from our beautiful Flathead Valley, and Josh and Mary have their strict quality control department in their two amazing daughters who love helping picking out just the 'right' ones.

New Trivia Time!

We hope you've been enjoying getting to know more about our artists....here is another round.

Happy guessing!

Is a Certified Massage Therapist

 

Currently owns 3 dogs, 2 bunnies, and a cat, but their favorite childhood pet was a hedgehog.

Favorite bands include Fleetwood Mac, the Dixie Chicks, and the Lumineers.

Loves skiing and ice skating, also biking, hiking, swimming, camping... Pretty much anything outdoors.

Has been known to throw 'dance parties'  (which translates to acting silly around family and friends!)

 

So who do you think it is?  (hint...we'll give you 12 guesses)

And the answer is....

Did you guess who the latest round of trivia was about?  It is our textile artist:  Monique Kleinhans

When she is not diving in her piles of fabric to create beautiful quilts, unique wall art or her quilted greeting cards, Monique can be found teaching and helping others create with fabric at Glacier Quilts, supporting her plant habit, at Swan River Gardens as well as leading theater workshops in the Valley and performing and directing with Seattle based touring company 'theater simple'.

(It's a good thing 'sleep' isn't on her top ten list!)

Much of Monique's work involves thread...and a lot of it.   She uses traditional quilting techniques along-side exploring different textures and dimensional elements, creating unique quilted art that has great depth and layers.

She works mainly off of photos that she takes while out enjoying the beautiful areas of Montana, although some of her pieces journey into a more whimsical world as well.

Check out her website to see more of what she is currently working on in her studio 

or to commission a unique creation tailor made for you.  

www.ladybugscabin.com