PORT TOWNSEND — Diane Holmes and Nancy Pascoe are this month’s featured artists at the Port Townsend Gallery.
The Port Townsend Gallery at 715 Water St., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day as well as by appointment.
Holmes is a self-taught watercolorist who moved to Port Townsend in 2005 and retired form radiology two years ago.
Most of her paintings come from either her old sketches or photos.
Her latest creations come from using Alcohol Ink, saying she enjoys the way watercolor and alcohol ink are so similar in that they flow as if she is painting underwater without the color going away.
The free-flowing motion can be seen in her paintings of koi, elephants, flowers and birds.
Pascoe draws inspiration for her hand-crafted purses and pouches from Japanese woodblock prints, the natural environment and the patterns of her fabric collection.
The exterior fabrics are mostly indigo, and the interior fabrics are either reflect the outside or are a whimsical surprise.
She often uses fabrics inherited from her mother for the linings to add a multi-generational layer.Each piece is meant to be handled and viewed from all angles.
The bags are meant to be used daily.
Many are hand-quilted using the Japanese style of embroidery called “sashiko.”
Nancy interprets traditional sashiko patterns to suit the fabric and design of each piece.
This month she is highlighting her sashiko stitching techniques on smaller bags and introducing some larger, cross-body purses.
For more information, phone 360-379-8110 or see www.porttownsendgallery.com.