What ceramic artist Claudia Hollister likes about working with porcelain clay is the uncertainty of the material. “It feels so nice, but it can also give you a lot of headaches creatively,” she says. “It’s one of those materials where the piece designs at least 20 percent of itself.”
For metal artist Jeff Whitaker, his profession is a perfect match for his personality. “I’m an adrenaline junkie, who thrives on intense experiences,” he says. “Metalworking fascinates me because I’m actually melting metal using extreme temperatures. I’m able to coax around a liquid using intense heat, and there’s a lot going on when that happens, so I never get bored. I love to weld.”
For metal artist Jeff Whitaker, his profession is a perfect match for his personality. “I’m an adrenaline junkie, who thrives on intense experiences,” he says. “Metalworking fascinates me because I’m actually melting metal using extreme temperatures. I’m able to coax around a liquid using intense heat, and there’s a lot going on when that happens, so I never get bored. I love to weld.”
Painter Kevin Noonan’s interest in art began in childhood. “My grandfather is a gifted folk-art painter, so I grew up around painting,” says the Connecticut native, who has a degree in Buddhist Studies from Antioch College in Ohio. “I got the chance to study in India and Burma, where I did meditation, but when I was there I also studied Buddhist iconography and modern Burmese painting. I even visited the state art school in Rangoon and talked to artists there.”
Painter Kevin Noonan’s interest in art began in childhood. “My grandfather is a gifted folk-art painter, so I grew up around painting,” says the Connecticut native, who has a degree in Buddhist Studies from Antioch College in Ohio. “I got the chance to study in India and Burma, where I did meditation, but when I was there I also studied Buddhist iconography and modern Burmese painting. I even visited the state art school in Rangoon and talked to artists there.”
Rawhide bones on the foyer floor. Underpants and jean piles in your boy’s room. Been thinking about getting better about living without so much clutter? You’re not the only one! Oregon Home asked professional clutter-busters and designers for easy-to-adopt strategies that can help you turn your Stuff Palace into a place of order that functions well for your family.
Whether you’re on the lookout for a unique wallet and handbag combo, an elegant claw-foot tub, or brand name sheets at non-designer prices, the Hollywood District is your new home away from home.
Stop and smell the roses in Northeast Portland’s Hollywood District, where there’s no end to the retro finds, oh-so-chic furniture, and quaint gifts for those who want to get away without leaving the city.
Driving down Sandy Blvd., you may get the feeling that this Northeast Portland neighborhood is one “hey” short of a heyday, but park and you’ll soon discover a quirky mix of shops worth exploring for a couple of hours. Shopowners who are small-town friendly and fun merchandise that often spans the globe make this “other” Hollywood a rising star on the shopping circuit.
To look at artist Heidi Marie Balmaceda’s paintings, you’d never guess she once avoided working with color. “I was actually terrified of working with color,” she says. “I thought it was scary and complicated. Then about a year and a half ago, I got a 4-foot by 4-foot canvas and painted it metallic gold. I went to a crafts store and found some gold leaf and began to play with it.”
