Haley Jones, mandala artist: “I’m influenced by 4100, a Canadian mandala artist. I have to admit I’m super inspired by Silverton’s local artists.”
Ken Webb, metal artist, blacksmith: “Blacksmith Michael Budd. California blacksmith Mark Aspery. Bev Doolittle.”
Karla Pendleton, porcelain artist: “One of my very favorites is Degas because he started out as a china artist. I like the way he uses light and dark, and I like ballet.”
Wesley Berg, photographer: “I’m inspired by wildlife photographers Thomas Mangelsen and Moose Peterson.”
Kyle Roberts, craftsman, potter: “I love Norman Rockwell. I have three Picasso lithographs, so I’d have to say him. I love Monet, too, because he’s inexact. I like the looseness of the lines.”
Eileen Fjerstad, fine artist: “Probably any of the Impressionists. Also, local Durango artist Paul Folwell, who has been my mentor for years. I also like many of the Western artists. Kevin Macpherson is a western contemporary artist I like.”
Yahzi, pictured here, is not an artist but has a favorite--Silverton potter Audrey Clark. He is happy to let everyone know that Audrey will soon be making dog bowls. Audrey says, “My favorite artist is Audrey Kawasaki. She paints beautiful Japanese oil paintings on wood panels. My favorite potter is Florian Gatsby.”
John Richardson, potter, fine artist: “Rembrandt. Rothko. Van Gogh.”
Beth Anderson, mixed media artist: “I would say Georgia O’Keefe is up there.”
Amy Grogan, painter and printmaker: “Bernini and Vermeer.”
Scottie Peterman, soapmaker, candlemaker: “Locally, I think Kathy Laskey’s work is amazing. She’s always changing up what she does, coming up with something new.” Olivia Peterman, age 10, who paints and draws and has a thing for fashion, admires the work of local artist Marya Lehman.
Gina Rosato, graphic artist: “My favorite artist of all time is Georgia O’Keefe, who I fell in love with when I lived in New Jersey. She attracted me to the Southwest, and I’d have to say I live here now in part because of her.”
Carol Wilkins, metalsmith: “I really kind of like the grassroots artists. They inspire me because they’re more organic. I like the thought processes. I like music, because it’s flowing and it feeds my creativity.”
This week, Margot Early asked some of Silverton’s artists and craftsmen/ women: “Who are your favorite artists?” Besides enjoying some Silverton art (especially Eileen Fjerstad’s breathtaking landscapes in her studio), Margot had fun discovering the work of contemporary artists mentioned here.
