Release your inner artist

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Creating art tends to be a solitary pursuit; artist and canvas, alone in a studio. But occasionally, even artists need the company of others.

A group of artists in central Kitsap County found they enjoyed the camaraderie at art classes and workshops held at Daniel Smith art supply store in Silverdale, and when it closed they felt cast adrift.

It wasn’t long before they reformed into a non-profit group and began holding their own meetings and workshops.

That was two years ago, and the Kitsap Artists Association is going strong.

But it hasn’t always been easy.

“I think most of us went into it not knowing what was involved,” Davina Parypa, web master and media coordinator, said. “There have been a lot of growing pains and a lot of growth.”

The core group which developed the association were artists Parypa, Susan Cavanaugh (the group’s president), Joyce Jordan, George Hineman, Sandy Ramsey and Janice Gruber.

Between two and three dozen artists belong to the group, which charges $24 a year for dues.

The association meets on the second Saturday of every month at the Clear Creek Community Club in Silverdale, and the meetings feature an artist demonstration. The artist can be either a KAA member or a guest.

There are also figure drawing sessions with live models the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

Parypa stressed that the meetings and drawing sessions are open to anyone in the community.

“The best part about this is being able to collaborate with other artists. Being in a group helps you to look at things differently,” she said. “As a group we feed off each other creatively.”

The group also gives artists a chance to show their work in regular venues. It holds revolving monthly exhibits at Café Rivista, in Silverdale and at the Silverdale Library.

The cafe site also enables the artists to sell greeting card-sized miniatures of their work.

The group is open to all types of artists, which Parypa, a watercolorist, said is another advantage.

“This is an opportunity to learn from talented artists. The nice thing about a setting with different types of artists is that you’re not afraid to try new and different things,” she said. “When you’re an artist you’re always learning new things.”

Past demonstrators have worked in oil and acrylic, watercolors, encaustics and sculpture. Artists of all types are invited to join. Members include painters, potters, sculptors and fiber artists. Many come from the central Kitsap area, but some come from as far away as Port Ludlow.

With two years under their belts the artists are on solid footing and getting ready to extend their reach.

“We are a small group with big goals,” Parypa said.

Those goals include establishing an arts scholarship for local high school students, hosting more workshops and classes at a reasonable cost and encouraging young people to come and check them out.

“Just come and have fun,” is Parypa’s advice for teens and anyone else who has been contemplating getting back into art or picking up the brush for the first time.

Kitsap Artists Association’s next meeting is 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 13 at the Clear Creek Community Club, 12461 Clear Creek Rd. NW, Silverdale. The meeting will feature a “Paint Inn,” in which artists are invited to bring something for a still life painting exercise.

Their work can be seen at Café Rivista, 2966 NW Bucklin Hill Rd., Silverdale and at the Silverdale Library, 3450 NW Carlton St., Silverdale.

To contact the Kitsap Artists Association visit www.kitsapartists.com or email kitsapartists @kitsapartists.com.