LONGINA SMOLINSKI

 "Painting in the abstract allows me to have spontaneous moments of escape to a place where there are seemingly no rules. I use bright colors. I experiment -- mixing paint until it is a thick paste, working with layers of color and paint, mixing it with wax, and then applying it to canvas, wood, or sculptures. When making paintings, I look for questions, I reflect upon my current emotion or I simply become lost in the comfort of the colors I am painting."

TINKA MARTEL

 "Everything I see in my world filters into my work as an artist: landscapes, clouds, the composition of my stone walls, arrangements of special items on a shelf. I work with several media--wood, paper, canvas. I also use many recycled and found objects. Mostly I enjoy working with the small scale collage, especially playing with copper leaf and ink. My large scale works are often three dimensional, and my medium varies. In the past, I have incorporated bold colors, using lots of black to define my shapes. Now I gravitate to layers of soft, muted colors blending painting until the right color arrives."

HARALD AKSDAL

 "In recent work, I have been continuing to develop my technique of super-saturating the paper and applying multiple washes of color (usually 15-20) to create depth of light and color in the background. I am also experimenting with different ways to apply and then remove watercolor to create the subject matter. The inkwork, too, is being developed-- I recently discovered 'Rotring,' a new pen system from Germany-- by far the best ink pen I have ever used. These techniques and improved tools really help to keep the artistry and excitement alive, and keep me motivated to continue exploring our landscape."

KITTEN ELLISON

 "My creative muse is in limbo, so I have been experimenting a little with jewelry. May work or not. Always a challenge when you have no fresh ideas, or have them and cannot work out the mechanics. I am sure all artists go through this at times when you want to fling everything across the studio, so I crave your indulgence when you view the new items. Roll on a new year."