Drawing/Illustrator, Painter

I was born in Moldova, lived in Germany and moved to the United States in 2003. The multicultural background allowed me to gather a variety of artistic influences, which I hope to bring with me to ArtEast. Currently, I am a graduate student at the University of Washington – Painting and Drawing program. In 2010 I was fortunate to receive Jacob Lawrence Endowed Art Scholarship award for my work in figure and landscape painting.

Drawing is the foundation of many art disciplines and is the language of ideas. In the Beginning Drawing class you will have a chance to build basic drawing skills and be introduced to primary concepts like line, value, perspective, and look into art history for inspiration and motivation.

Ink and watercolor
Website
On display at UP Front Gallery

Anita West is an artist and art educator based in Seattle.  She travels extensively and much of her art comes from those journeys.  Ms. West’s paintings have been featured in solo and group exhibitions at galleries and cultural centers in the United States and abroad.  She has exhibited with the Auburn, Lynnwood, and Edmonds Arts Commissions here in Washington, at the Dar El Cid in Jabriya, Kuwait, and the Jakobstad Museum in Pietarsaari, Finland.  In addition, her work is in private and public collections, including those of the King County Arts Commission and the City of Sinait, The Philippines.

Anita West has taught art to students of all ages and skill levels from early childhood through adults.  She has worked as a visiting artist in the Everett school district and in after school programs at schools from Seattle to Mukilteo.  Ms. West spent the years from 2004 to 2011 teaching in art the Arabian Gulf; first in the United Arab Emirates and then in Kuwait.

Jewelry
On display at UP Front Gallery

Woodburning
On display at UP Front Gallery

Painter
Website

Jewelry
Website
On display at UP Front Gallery

Wire Artist
Website
On display at UP Front Gallery

Oil paintings
Website
On display at UP Front Gallery

Jewelry
Website
On display at UP Front Gallery

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oregon. I have created various lines of jewelry in both gold and silver and have sold nationwide. I am a member of The Seattle Metals Guild and The Society of North American Goldsmiths. My most recent venture in jewelry is my copper clay line with a coastal theme. It is inspired by many visits and time spent on the Oregon coast. I began exploring this media several years ago and fell in love with the technique.

Copper clay is a product that is 99.9% copper with a binder and water. It is easily sculpted, molded, carved, and formed and becomes a solid piece of metal when fired. As a solid piece of metal, I apply a variety of traditional jewelry techniques to the piece.

This particular line of jewelry called the “water series” reflects the bounty and beauty that water offers us in the North West in particular. My pieces are constructed with found objects, semi-precious materials, pearls and glass. They reflect a variety of sea creatures, shells, and flora from the sea and rivers.

Ceramics
Website
On display at UP Front Gallery