Who are you? What do you do? 

My lifestyle, career, and art practice are shaped by human interactions with the environment in my home state of Alaska. From the backyard to the backcountry, I use art as a tool for observation, recreation, and environmental + social advocacy. My practice is grounded in field sketching, where I use watercolor and pen to take note of my surroundings. 

Who/what inspires you? 

I’m inspired by the idea of art as a form of being in conversation with the environment. Some days my brushes study the physical characteristics of a landscape, while other times they allow me to explore curiosities beyond the aesthetics. Always, the resulting works are influenced by the environment in which they were created. Local water sources activate my palette, sun, wind and rain dictate drying times, a squished mosquito occasionally sneaks into the composition. 

What is your favorite moment in the process?

I love finding ways for my little paintings to have an impact on the bigger picture. While the purpose of many of my sketches are sentimental and experimental, they also have the power to be an act of reciprocity. Recently, my art has connected with social and environmental justice initiatives. It has raised funds to support local non profit organizations. It has coalesced into personal projects that strengthen my relationship to the land and individuals who inhabit it. I regularly consider how to deepen themes of education and advocacy in my work, and am all ears if you have ideas!  

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium(s)? 

Thinking of painting as a creative practice - as opposed to a professional pursuit, a business, or an obligation - has been a liberating mindset that allows me to sustain this work. If it’s a practice, it’s something I can improve at, experiment with, take breaks from, and truly enjoy without being fixated on the end result.

What’s next?

I’m looking forward to taking some time and space to adjust to our growing family - as my latest work in progress is due this summer.

Curiously, my roles as a parent and an artist developed in tandem back in 2019. With a body in recovery and a baby in tow, I had to find a new way to maintain outdoor pursuits and friendships. Hint: it involved lots of breaks. And during those breaks, while I nursed a newborn or caught my breath, I started plein air sketching. These sketches, pauses, and observations laid the foundation for a few new relationships - with art, my daughter, myself, and our surroundings. 

No pressure on the next kid, but I’ll be excited to see how art fits into this chapter of our lives. 

Is there anything you would like promoted in May specifically? 

I have a few exciting projects lined up for the summer. First up, this June I’ll be contributing paintings to the Mountain Arts Summit in Crested Butte, Colorado. This multi-day event features works and workshops by artists with a focus on environmental advocacy.

Then, August 19 - September 4, my dad and I will be hosting an art show in McCarthy, Alaska. We’ll be showcasing watercolors that celebrate our personal and shared connections to the Wrangells and we’d love to see you there!

Where can we find you? (Social pages, website, classes/workshops, clubs, etc.)

You can learn more about my work at jillrichieart.com  (sign up for my monthly newsletter while you’re there!), follow along on instagram: @jill.richie.art, or say hi if you see me out and about!

Who are you? What do you do?

As a professional watercolor artist from Kobe, Japan, I discovered my love for painting at a young age. I honed my skills at Musashino Art University, specializing in oil painting. With over 25 years of experience, my works have been juried into national and international exhibitions, receiving high acclaim. Residing in Juneau, Alaska, I find inspiration in the region's enchanting rainforests and mountains, capturing them in my art. As a Brand Ambassador for Daniel Smith, I use environmentally friendly paint, aiming to inspire peace, healing, and care for the environment through my watercolor paintings, connecting people to the beauty of the world around us.

Who/what inspires you? 

I often find inspiration in the fleeting moments of everyday life. For example, when I'm walking through the marshlands of Juneau and see the vibrant wildflowers blending into the landscape, or when the wind rustles through the trees and sparks an idea. Even observing the wildlife and the scenery they inhabit can be a picture-perfect moment that sparks my creativity. I always keep my senses open, ready to receive inspiration.

What is your favorite moment in the process?

The moment I start adding colors to the paper with watercolor paints, I feel a surge of excitement. Seeing the colors blend and spread on the paper as I layer them is pure joy. After letting the initial layer dry, applying a second glaze and watching the three-dimensional effect emerge is incredibly satisfying. And witnessing the final touches with a third glaze, as the painting comes to life with heightened perfection, is simply thrilling. All in all, the process of applying the paints is an enjoyable journey.

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium(s)? 

My advice is to maintain a consistent daily routine. Plan out your mornings and decide what you'll do when you wake up. Building healthy habits like exercise and a nutritious diet is crucial for both your mental and physical well-being. Incorporate time for your creative pursuits, like picking up a paintbrush, into your routine. Once these activities become habitual, the future you envision will be within your grasp.

What’s next?

I aspire to enhance my artistic skills in depicting flowers with greater beauty, so I am determined to revisit and research my color application techniques. I also aim to harness the power of composition and value to create even more alluring paintings.

Is there anything you would like promoted in May specifically? 

I am thrilled to announce that my artwork has been selected for the prestigious National Watercolor Society (NWS) Member Exhibition! The exhibition will be showcased at the NWS Online Sales Gallery from May 4th to June 30th, 2023. You can view my artwork at http://www.nwsexhibition.com/ and catch highlights on NWS's YouTube channel. 

For more information, please visit the website at https://nationalwatercolorsociety.org/.

-Where can we find you?

Facebook art page

https://www.facebook.com/chihiroartworks

Instagram page

https://www.instagram.com/chihiroart

Website

https://www.chihirostudio.com/

My original paintings and limited edition art prints are currently on display at Annie Kaill's gallery in Juneau, Alaska.

https://www.anniekaills.com/shop/art/chihiro-pierce

Who are you? What do you do? 

My name is Chloey Cavanaugh - I was born in Sitka, AK, and raised in Juneau, AK, and I am a child of the Was'ineidi Tax'Hit, Eagle Wolf clan in Kake, Alaska. I run an indigenous LGBTQ+ owned business based out of Juneau, AK, called Black and White Raven Company, named after my grandfather Archie Cavanaugh. 

What do you do? 

Shoot, okay. I am a graphic artist who sells apparel and does art stuff, but my business also works with community-minded individuals on logo design and website design. I have also been fortunate to work with The Tlingit Culture, Language, and Literacy (TCLL) Program, teaching graphic design. 

Who/what inspires you? 

I had this 9-year-old kid approach me and say, " Hi, Chloey! you taught my design class at Harborview." She then talked to me about her recent designs from my graphic design class. That inspires me. Our youth are the future - seeing them talk about what they are creating, finding, and building upon the pride they feel in themselves inspires me to do more, give back, and remember what it was like to be a child growing up in Southeast and what that means to me as an adult. 

What is your favorite moment in the process?

I love that moment at the start of the process when all these ideas feel like they will burst out of me. All these bundled-up emotions that are sometimes happy, sad, mad, or eager for change get to burst out, and I see them visually. I also enjoy the end of the process is also a favorite of mine - when I get to share them with the world and see who feels what I feel too - and it opens up these conversations or shared experiences. 

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium(s)? 

Ask questions, create with others, uplift one another, and trust in who you are. People will have perceptions of what your art means and ways it should change or grow - but at the end of the day, take it all with a grain of salt. Your art should be something YOU are happy with - the rest is just a perk. In a world full of preferences, Coffee drinkers, tea fanatics, and soda pop drinkers - you can't be everyone's favorite cup of coffee. 

What's coming up? 

I work as a Design & Marketing Manager for Áak’w Rock, a biennial three-day Indigenous music festival from September 21 - 23 in Juneau, AK. Tickets are for sale right now at: https://jahc.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/14435

Where can we find you?

https://www.blackandwhiteravencompany.com/s/shop

Who are you? What do you do?

Through her training as an architect, Harper Gunn developed her art style with attention to detail. She is inspired by tattoo art, tarot design, and the natural world - the bugs, birds, and plants - around her. In her time away from making art, Harper helps design rural hospitals and clinics across the country. 

Who/what inspires you? 

I take most of my inspiration for the subject of my work from the natural world and the landscapes that I love. I am especially inspired by time I have spent with family in the high deserts of northern New Mexico. In terms of style I have always loved tattoo art and the way that imagery can become a language.

What is your favorite moment in the process?

One of my favorite parts of my process is spending time sketching and working through a design or idea. I love being able to think visually and process through my thoughts. The other part of my process I love is when I am finally able to put down a finished piece and can really see it as a piece of art. That moment makes me realize that all the work I put in has been worth it. 

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium? 

The best advice I've received from other artists is to create all the time and without the pressure to share. I think having the freedom to explore completely without feeling critique from other people has been very freeing to me and helps me to not take anything for granted. 

What’s next?

I view making art as a practice and so I am excited to keep working and creating and seeing what comes to me to explore next. Right now I am working on a series of acrylic paintings and I am really enjoying how it feels to work on canvas as opposed to on a screen. 

Where can we find you? (Social pages, classes/workshops, clubs, etc.)

You can find me on instagram at @harperjoygunn!

Who are you? What do you do? (Artist Bio)

I am a native Siberian Yupik artist that uses any medium that will have me. My roots are in drawing, illustration, painting but have recently expanded to the fiber arts. Crochet has completely taken over my creative world – not to discount an awesome doodle here and there. I’ve always loved illustration, writing and the physical arts challenged with the creative task of creating something with a personality or reason.  

Who/what inspires you? 

My friends and family continue to amaze me every day. To watch people create and bloom with their own creative voice regardless of standardized rules of natural colors or framing. That is to say, everyone who has mixed media that had no right interacting, experimentation with what could or should be socially acceptable. There’s nothing more inspiring than witnessing the creative projects of those around you come to life.

What is your favorite moment in the process?

My absolute favorite moment is the sketching and refining process. When four or thirty lines finally meld into the shape that you and the page finally come to an agreement on. It may not be what you originally had in mind, if you had something in mind to begin with. Any seasoned artist knows the burn of the work in progress that looks like there’s no way it could turn around, but oh, the places that ugly duckling will go if you let it leave the nest. 

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium? 

Always be open to advice and techniques from other mediums. You never know how an odd hobby can come in handy in day to day use. Keep your eyes open, mind curious, and don’t be afraid to mess up more than a few times. It’s kind of the fun part. 

What’s next?

Shoot, that is the big question. I’ve been wanting to explore my physical art [charcoal and painting namely] and always ticking away with a hook somewhere with my crochet. I’ve been wanting to share my art, physical or fiber but have but pondering on the avenues. My instagram @Yarncryptid is where I plan on updating any fun new updates and where I’m more than open to talk about custom items, ideas or projects. It’s a little new right now, but lots of colorful things are to come!

Is there anything you would like promoted in February specifically? 

FIber Fridays by @headsinthecloudscollective that are currently set up for every second and fourth Friday. Very fun way for artists to get together and cheer each other on, which is crucial to the artistic process. 

Where can we find you? (Social pages, classes/workshops, clubs, etc.)

Right now I’m only on instagram, and it is mostly recreational, but feel free to follow my new account @yarncryptid for some creative chaos!