Artists of the Month – April

Featured Artist – Joanmarie Eggert

Joanmarie enjoys exploring the interplay between the physicality of materials and the serendipity of how they interact with each other. While Joanmarie works imaginatively, her work is inspired by her observations of the natural world. 

Joanmarie creates favorable conditions so that the magic of serendipity and the nature of physics do the rest. Joanmarie’s process involves creating the surface for each piece and then introducing paint so that it interacts with the surface, enabling the paint’s unique properties to shine through. Sometimes, Joanmarie applies paint very thinly, and other times she applies it thickly, often then scraping away the top layers to reveal the paint underneath. Further experimentation blends watercolor and inks that flow into one another, creating complex colors that pool and granulate. Another method involves applying transparent acrylics over gold leaf, creating a luminous effect.

Joanmarie also uses a camera-less printing process where exposure is determined by time in the sun, called Cyanotypes. This is a long-standing photographic process by painting light-sensitive solutions onto paper, placing objects on the paper, and then setting them in the sun to be exposed. As a group, these paintings run the spectrum from abstraction to nonrepresentational.

During April you can enjoy Joanmarie’s artwork at Sound Community Bank and online.

Featured Jeweler – Lora De La Portilla

Lora De La Portilla offers a line of expertly handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets in sterling silver and 14k gold fill. These timeless pieces are designed to highlight the inherent beauty of genuine gemstones, pearls, and fine crystals. She welcomes custom orders and with over 25 years of experience, quality workmanship is guaranteed. 

Lora’s inspiration is her belief that every woman deserves a piece of beautiful jewelry in her wardrobe. Her hope is that when someone puts on one of her pieces, they will be reminded that they are as unique and beautiful as the piece of jewelry they are wearing.

During April, Lora’s jewelry will be on display at the Port Ludlow Art League Gallery, Sound Community Bank, and online.

Meet the Artists

The public is invited to attend a reception for the artists on Wednesday, April 8, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the lobby of the bank and 5 to 6 p.m. at the adjacent Port Ludlow Art League Gallery. The bank and gallery are located at the corner of Oak Bay Road and Osprey Ridge Drive in Port Ludlow. The bank is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.