Blog | Studio ArTour | Faribault, Farmington, Northfield

Sandy Moen, Studio #11

Posted on September 13, 2021

I love watercolor and it’s been my inspiration into art. I have an area in my home filled with my photos, reference material and lots of supplies! I take photos wherever I go. No pretty flower, rock or scene is safe from me.
I’m constantly learning new techniques and mediums. I enjoy taking classes and working with children to share my love of art.

Dianne Lockerby, Studio #10

Posted on September 8, 2021

Fall brings us cooler days, colorful(?) leaves and the ArTour! We are all learning to live cautiously with covid, but the desire to return to a ‘somewhat normal’ is growing. Those of us on the ArTour have been working to create items that will excite you, We hope Mother Nature will do her part and share a gorgeous Fall weekend for everyone to enjoy.

My clay creations are whimsical and/or functional. Lots of dishware and bowls for everyday use plus my pieces employing leaves in their design. I began my clay-time with a Faribault Art Center pottery class years ago and have stayed very connected to the Paradise Center for the Arts. I love to share my creativity and love of clay with others through my classes at the Paradise.

My hobby is still ‘out of whack’ and I have been working to present more new ideas. Last year I created some animal head birdhouses and this year I have a few more to show you. These are one-of-a kind individually handmade and glazed. This year I have added bunnies, fish and a pig! For the bird lover this is a truly unique gift. I’ll also have some new feeders available.

This year Julie Fakler and I will be joined in Studio 10 by Char Johnson presenting her needle-felting and pottery creations , and Ron Hammond presenting his nature paintings. The upper level of the Paradise Center will be full of art!!

We will be mindful of the covid regulations and look forward to sharing our art and conversation with you. Looking forward to seeing you October 8-10.

Annie Larson, Studio #1

Posted on September 7, 2021

This year I have continued to concentrate on perfecting my wood cutting skills and am making more Viking Shield earrings and necklaces. I have also started playing with transferring Norwegian knitting patterns into beaded earrings. And I have a new collection of simple earrings that I am calling “earrings for my mom”.

I will be a guest at Eureka Pots again this year. We are number one on the tour map.

Follow me at:

Facebook: Sleepy Bean Studio

Instagram: @sleepybeanstudio

Website: Sleepy-bean.square.site

Glynnis Lessing Studio #2

Posted on August 30, 2021

I love the outdoors and nature. I hope to call people’s attention to the environment and how beautiful it is. Emphasizing what pleasure we get from nature and the outdoors is my main focus.

When I was an artist in the city, I craved nature and took my inspiration from what little of the natural world I could find there. Now that I’m living out in the countryside I am surrounded and immersed, delighted to have widened my chance to see and find forms in nature.

Holmquist Pottery, Studio #17

Posted on August 29, 2021

Holmquist Pottery

Sue and Chris Holmquist are a husband & wife team who make their whimsical pottery at their home studio 3 ½ miles east of downtown Northfield. All of their pots have fun original imagery that is hand painted and is designed to make you smile. They will be sharing their showroom space with two other potters, Linda Day Diggins and Christie Clarke, and we all are looking forward to seeing you at the studio.

Ron Hammond, Studio #10

Posted on August 25, 2021

I am a self taught painter in acrylics and oil, often times drawing inspiration from nature, always striving to apply different techniques.

Char Johnson, Studio #10

Posted on August 22, 2021

Char Johnson, Studio #10

For as long as I can remember, nature has held a special place in my life. Whether it is animals, insects, reptiles or plant life, natures wonders have woven themselves into my spirit and are reflected in my art. My love of nature photography is the inspiration for many of my pieces.

As a child, and into adulthood, small wonders have enthralled me. I can often be found examining various bushes, plants, water puddles and tree bark for natures most tiny, overlooked jewels, capturing them in macro. In turn, many of my creations, both pottery and needle felting sculptures, are in miniature.

The feel of various natural fibers, weaving together with each stab of a needle, takes me to a peaceful, serene place. Feeling and seeing a needle felted piece come to life is a most satisfying experience. Experimenting with different techniques provides challenges and feelings of accomplishment.

My introduction to clay occurred following my retirement, and the love affair, born at the Paradise Center for the Arts, is a treasured one. At times, clay has been my therapist and cheerleader to attempt new challenges. Hand-building with clay, mostly carved tiles, small sculpture and dishes, is a process that provides a relaxing release. The raku firing process, with its unpredictability, is something I especially enjoy.

Sue Hammes Knopf, Studio #5

Posted on August 20, 2021

I make jewelry on the Top Floor of the McClaughry Building, also known as the old opera house in Northfield. For over 25 years I have worked in the same spacious studio, #305. The studio space overlooks Division Street and the Cannon River and has great natural light. In the earlier years my studio was a shared space, a group of women Artists collaborated and formed, Artshare Studio. We gathered and made art. Over the years lives changed and Artists moved on until it was just me creating art work in #305.

I make original, contemporary hand-woven jewelry. After practicing for years, the bead-weaving techniques are perfected. I use colorful, glass, tiny beads for bead-weaving. The tool I use most for weaving beads is a long, very thin needle threaded with a fine filament line. I weave the tiny beads together, one bead at a time. The process of bead-weaving is meditative and as I practice, one idea easily flows to another. The woven elements I make are featured in the earrings, bracelets and necklaces that I create. I also may use a mix of materials in my pieces, including bits of fiber, metal, glass and stone.

I have created a small brand of art jewelry known as Full Bloom Beadwork. I make all my jewelry, infusing, “maker Magic”, into each piece. I travel regionally and nationally to show and sell my work at visual art events. I also show my work at a few select art galleries.

I have met and connected with thousands of visual art Enthusiasts when showing my jewelry. I’m inspired by this artistic-inclined audience and the choices they make about the jewelry they wear

Reid Hendershot, Studio #6

Posted on August 16, 2021

I have been surprised by what beauty I can find in a piece of wood that has been found in the yard of a neighbor, found at the yard waste site, or donated to me…much wood from storms (plentiful in recent years) has hidden cracks from twisting or bending, but helping neighbors take down trees yields some treasures…

Two doors down, Donna had a standing dead ironwood tree she wanted removed…having used dead standing ironwood in the past I was aware of its high density and long-burning quality, but paid little attention to it otherwise. After sawing it into lengths I could lift I noticed waviness in the bark…

I slid a log section onto my bandsaw and discovered this wavy bark was an indicator of the wood within…I made a few butter knives from it that people seemed to like and found the wood finished well, with the wavy grain seeming to glow…

While much of the wood is straight-grained, areas around each knot yielded more and varied figure. These spatulas are all from the same trunk segment.

I made a little stand for one of these as an entry into the Northfield Arts Guild Member’s Exhibition for September.

I chose “Firewood’s Dream” as the title.

While using “found wood” doesn’t give me premium wood like I could purchase, it does challenge me to not overlook anything…now…if my neighbor’s ash tree dies I have a hunch where to look for interesting grain…

Meanwhile, this critter likes hanging out at the workshop…

Gail Gates, Studio #1

Posted on August 8, 2021

Gail Gates, Photographer

Website: AgingSchmaging.com

Photos can be viewed at (online): https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/gail-gates

(In person at) Gustaf’s Up North Gallery https://www.gustafsupnorthgallery.com

Despite what her brothers may say, Gail Gates was NOT dropped on her head as an infant. She simply sees life as stories and possibilities. Thus, her photography style, playfully called “app dancing,” reaches for something juuust a notch off of the familiar.

The most common question she gets is, “This is photography? What? Wow!” Followed by, “How did you DO that?”

Well, in a nutshell…

Her process starts by taking traditional photographs with her Nikon or iPhone. She then layers those images within iPhone apps and other computer-assisted programs to create something painterly or textured, or impressionistic.

“Over the past six years, I have taken classes in this type of artistic expression from excellent teachers…Lynette Sheppard, Dewitt Jones, Jack Davis, Teri Lou Dantzler, and Dee Kotaska. As technology evolves, so does my work/play. I absolutely love it.”

During the Studio ArTour, you will find Gail and her art at Eureka Pots in Farmington, MN.