Artists turn their homes into galleries

Artists welcomed the public into a few Spokane Valley homes Saturday to show what they can create with imagination and inspiration.

Valley residents Dennis and Shelley Runolfson planned to visit all four homes, showcasing 15 artists, on the first Spokane Valley Artist Studio Tour.

Before heading out on the tour, the couple agreed on an art spending budget of $500 to $600. The Runolfsons said they have a lot of African-influenced art in their home, so they were looking for pieces that wouldn’t clash.

Liz Bishop’s “The Lost Earring” was one of them. “All women have stories about their lost earrings,” Bishop said. “Some have stories of ones they found.”

The large, teardrop-shaped, dangly earring was fashioned out of raku-glazed clay and copper. The price: about $125. The Runolfsons’ minds were made up. The piece was right for them. A purchase made it final.

Bishop’s mixed media work was displayed at Sami Perry’s home on East View Ridge Lane.

Perry’s 8-foot-tall weatherproof sculptures stood four abreast in the driveway.

Nan Drye’s fiber art, which includes use of found objects and fabrics, was displayed in a tent. Across from Bishop’s display were raku-glazed birds, beads, bud vases and pottery by Lezlie Finet.

Perry’s outdoor sculptures are constructed with a wood core, high-density foam and a black concrete-type exterior. Each was accented differently. “Not Polite to Point” had 13 ceramic fingers jetting out from the thin, vertical sculpture.

Other displays included pottery, oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, fine papier-mache sculptures, stained glass, beaded jewelry and clothing.

Award-winning artist Susie Middaugh displayed her stained glass works in Sandy Haupt’s picture window. “My goal is to reach people in their homes and businesses,” she said. She works with customers to design a piece that fits their surroundings.

Amid rich-colored oil paintings was a 9-year-old’s beaded key chains. Hannah Wilson started beading at 7. For the tour, she strung together geckos, snakes, diamond shapes and a Christmas tree. She was flexible with price but definite in where the proceeds were going: the American Red Cross.

Not all artists on the studio tour’s path were officially part of the event. Hank Halseth, a retired auto mechanic, was hosting an art show and sale at his home on East Loretta Drive off Pines Road.

The 75-year-old sketch artist and watercolorist was surprised to hear from spillover customers that there was an art tour going on. He thought maybe his paid advertisement had really worked.

Halseth displayed sketches and watercolors around his studio, also known as the garage. With the viewing of each image came a story of inspiration. Many paintings had an ocean-oriented theme. He said four years in the Navy influenced his desire to paint sea vessels and water is the most challenging image to capture in watercolors. Halseth also had paintings of orchids, farmhouses, a stack of wood with work gloves resting on top and one of his 3-year-old grandson deep in thought.

Halseth started sketching in 1990. He picked up watercolors in 1994.

“I didn’t even know I could draw until my wife was lying on the couch one day,” Halseth said.

“I sketched her. Then I looked at it and thought, ‘That looks like my wife.’ “