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FEATUREDARTISTS
Artists capture essence of Salmon Days Thrill to your own unique, must-have discovery from our Salmon Days artists! Stop and chat with your favorite artist at Salmon Days — find out his or her story! Each year, Salmon Days has
The 2011 Festival Award for Best Fish Theme winner: Dean Crouser Fine Art Dean Crouser was born and raised in Oregon, and his love of fishing, camping and the outdoors can be found in the expressions of his art. His childhood summers were spent camping and fishing in the foothills of Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and Central Oregon High Lakes. When it comes to painting, he tries to keep his work loose and simple. “I am always striving to say the most with the least, and I like to keep my work fast and spontaneous. My goal is to capture the beauty and simplicity of a scene that anyone can relate to.” Visit Dean at booth 491 on Front Street North to enjoy his bright and vibrant work featuring fish, birds, wildlife and watercolor paintings. You will find trout, steelhead, salmon and more. If you are a bird lover check out his selection of hummingbirds, chickadees, owls and other feathered friends. For the fishing enthusiast or sporting art collector, don’t miss the beautiful watercolor paintings featuring fly-fishing scenes, wildlife and more.
hundreds of artists who exhibit and sell their handcrafted items. Some are new, while others have been participating in the festival for many years. All of them love to tell you about their inspiration
and creations. Here are just a few of the great local and Northwestern artists at Salmon Days this year. We think you will be as excited by their work as we are. Enjoy!
2012 Salmon Days Featured Artist — Sue Coccia, Earth Art “Animal Spirits” are inspired drawings in pen and ink. The drawings depict animal images, or totems, from around the world. Animal totems represent a deep spirituality, and by beginning to understand animals’ qualities and traits, we can learn from them. These intricate pen and ink drawings on watercolor paper are meticulously hand-painted with acrylic paints. Viewer tip: Look for the ladybug in every image; she represents good luck, happiness and prosperity! Sue’s grandmother’s grandmother was Native American, and that tiny bit of heritage has had a large influence on her art. Indigenous art and its relationship with the animal worlds have also influenced Sue’s unique style. A deep love of all animals was instilled at a very young age and Sue has dedicated her life’s work to them. She has a formal art training background; however, she was truly inspired by her high school art teacher, d’Elaine Johnson, an internationally recognized artist. She enjoys her family, meditation and the artistic process. She is also an avid gardener, has a black belt in TaekwonDo and is from Edmonds. Visit Sue at booth 441 on Front Street North.
The 2011 Festival Judge’s Choice Award winner: DeGraaf Fine Art Bart DeGraaf has been painting his whole life. Born in Chicago, he fell in love with art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He pursued his passion and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999 from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver. He currently lives in Sandy, Ore., with his wife Heidi and son Jon. He often dreams of new paintings and never seems to run out ideas. He loves to come up with original, creative images that tell a story, reflect a personal experience or just make you laugh. His goal is to bring a smile to the viewer and bring some happiness to the world. Be sure to visit Bart on Front Street North at booth 37.