Join an Art Group

There are many ways to belong to art communities.  Today's art prompt suggested I join an online art group.  I already belong to Ravelry, the best online knitting social network! Online groups can be great, but for me, there is no substitute for joining a local art group. I have belonged to the Stinking Fish Studio Tour for 12 years now. Recently, my mother (and fellow artist) came up with the great idea to hold a pre-Mother's Day sale in her home with me.  From there, the idea spread like wildfire, until we had a group of 12 talented artisans making up the "East Sooke Fine Art" group. The wonderful thing about this group is that we are all good friends; we are family.






Jaq, Ang and Trinita on the front porch gallery, backed by the art of Peg Heywood.

The Art of Angela Menzies

Checking out a painting by Peg Heywood.

Kathy Johannesson's kelp baskets are delightful!

Bonnie Coulter creates frescoes, canned salmon art and lately, abstracts.

One of the garden galleries featuring pottery by Alice McLean and sculpture by Trinta Waller.

Metal sculptures by Bev Petow.  These are just a few of her wonderful pieces. You have to come visit and wander the garden to see more of her outdoor garden sculptures.

 An art patron checks out art prints by Kay Lovett, alongside weaving by Jaquetta Nisbet and sculpture by Trinita Waller.

One of the musical paintings offered by Kay Lovett this weekend.

Beach crockery vessel by Noreen Schmuck, metal and driftwood mobile by Bev Petow.

Art by Angela Menzies, Peg Heywood and Noreen Schmuck hang in the porch gallery.

Val Speed and her daughter Leslie Speed offered up some treasures from their shop "The Wren House". The Wren House was the second location for this weekend's art sale, featuring lino prints and embroidered felt, as well as a sampling of all the other artists' work.

Inside the Wren House

And if all that shopping worked up an appetite, you could stop by the bake sale held by my sons, Matty and Mason.  If you were lucky, you got to hear a few guitar tunes by Mason.

Believe it or not, this was just a small sampling of the works available for sale this weekend. Five unique gallery spaces housed the art of Bonnie Coulter, Angela Menzies, Peg Heywood, Kay Lovett, Valerie Speed, Leslie Speed, Trinita Waller, Bev Petow, Jaquetta Nisbet, Noreen Schmuck, Alice McLean, and Kathy Johannesson.

And if you are reading this Sunday morning, there's still time to come on out.  Wander the seaside garden, enjoy a baked treat to the musical stylings of Mason, and of course, buy some fabulous art for your mom.  Mother's Day is just around the corner!