LORETTA ETCHISON
"I have been creating art work and selling it since I was 15. In 1972, when I was in high school, my best friend and I had a booth at the first “Art on the Green”. I have been creating in some form or another since then. I had a 35 year career as a florist, and also taught floral design at Spokane Community College. I have always considered myself an “Out of the Box” designer.
I started my little card company Retro Blooms about twenty years ago. I design the originals from flowers I press from my garden, the cards are made from prints.
I retired three years ago and started making wool felted purses and decorating them with needle felting. I find joy in creating and learning new avenues to grow in my art life."
MELISSA ISAACSON
"My best work starts outside the studio, when I take the time to slow down and really look around me. I start noticing themes in the space: patterns, lines, colors, light and shadow, textures, etc. I'll start sketching on site with whatever materials I have on hand. Sometimes it's a No. 2 pencil on the back of some old mail. If I planned ahead, I've got my sketch bag stocked with a few types of papers, drawing pencils, markers, colored pencils, and gouache. While I sketch, I'm focused more on what I see in front of me than on how the sketch turns out. It's a way to focus my mind and pay attention to the details rather than an attempt to complete a finished piece. I keep my phone handy, and capture images of things taking place within the space while I'm sketching. My goal in the studio is to tell the story of the place I was in, combining the technical visual details with the events taking place to capture the essence of the place. I attempt to tell the stories of places, and the people passing through them."
