Artists show work in Paradise

The annual Artists in Paradise show saw four new participants this year with people from Plains, Thompson Falls and St. Regis.

Eleven people showed their artwork at the Paradise Center Thursday, Friday and Saturday. People from in and outside of Sanders County stopped in for the three-day showing, including several from out of state who were in the area for the Baroque Music Festival at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort. Many people stopped in all three days, said Ilene Paulsen, the show's primary coordinator for the last four years.

"It went really well. I'm so thankful for the variety of artists that we had," said Paulsen. "We had a nice flow of people, especially on Saturday," she said. Paulsen noted that the art vendors hope to make money with their products, but it's also a way for them to show their work and to get to know fellow artists. There was no admission fee and organizers didn't keep track of attendees, but Paulsen guessed around 300 people showed up over the three days.

Paulsen not only ran the event but showed her collection of acrylic and watercolor paintings with original and printed work, including her newest piece, a 36x36-inch acrylic portrait of a highland bull with a price tag of $3,900, along with an estimated 50 other pieces, some as small as a 6x6-inch acrylic kitten. The Plains woman has been an artist for over 40 years and does several shows a year, including the upcoming Wildlife Expo Show in September in Anaconda. In April, she was honored with the Most Distinguished Body of Work Award at an art show in Great Falls.

It was the first time for Adam Smith to show his "Wood Mountain" products at the Artists in Paradise event. The Thompson Falls man had an assortment of furniture pieces from a 27 1/2-inch tall umbrella or walking stick holder to a 6-foot tall wine rack. Many of his pieces were made from wood that he retrieved from the Chippy Creek and Deep Creek Fires and some still show burn spots, which he feels gives them more character. His products ranged in price from $25 to $650. Smith started his business 12 years ago when he became legally blind, the result of a hereditary ailment. "He has some beautiful things. They're amazing, especially since he has to do a lot of it by feel," said Paulsen.

Thompson Falls resident Karrie Baldwin has been a professional artist for 20 years with an art degree from the University of Utah, but this was her first time at the Artists in Paradise show. She had dozens of oil paintings, including a 12x24 oil painting on linen called "Evening Pink." She also had prints, cards and her book, "Prayers For the Earth" for sale.

First-time participant Julie Thomas of St. Regis had about 75 pieces of custom made jewelry - earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and "rainbow hangers." "If you put them in the sunlight, they'll make a rainbow and they'll light up the room," said Thomas, who's had her "Rock N Roll" wire wrapped jewelry business for some 20 years.

This was the first time that organizers had an in memoriam booth to honor a past artist. Andy Gonzalez of Plains had more than 50 pieces of art - all originals - of oil paintings by his mother, Raquel, who passed away in 2020 at age 94. "She was one of the sweetest people you'd ever meet and a talented artist," said Karen Thorson, who started the Artists in Paradise event eight years ago. Thorson had a booth with probably the widest variety of art mediums - oil and watercolor paintings of vastly different sizes, fused glass, ceramics, and sculptures, including 30X40-inch tall oil paintings.

A handful of members of the Plains Wood Carving Club were on hand to show their work, including several that took home awards at the recent Spokane wood carving competition in Spokane and the Montana State Wood Carvers Show in Missoula in May. Several of them worked on projects throughout the week. Trout Creek resident Liz Smith has participated in Artists in Paradise since it began with her "Rocks by Liz." Though she began with rock planters, her show this year featured a wide array of jewelry and wind chimes, her biggest seller. "Every one of my chimes are unique. They're all sawed by hand and patined, colored by torch or with chemicals." This year, she had a new one-of-a-kind product called "ear cuffs" for people who don't want piercings, but want to decorate an ear, said Smith.

Sue Hummel of Superior participated with her pencil drawings and egg tempera paintings, along with prints and cards. Hummel has been a professional artist for over 45 years and likes the results she gets from the mixture of egg yolk and water color, which takes several layers to get to the finished product.

Plains resident Ellen Childress and her "Whistle Creek Pottery" had a booth for the eighth time with her handmade ceramic products. Childress was once again one of the few with functioning art. Childress is once again planning to have her Antler Creek Artists show at the fairgrounds pavilion sometime in November.