Influence July Gallery Opening

The featured artists for July 2008 opening at Inluence Gallery are Linda Holland and Michelle Bufton.

Linda Holland

Linda Holland was born and raised in Montana, then moved to Oregon to avoid the snow and to look for opportunities to grow a business. She achieved both those goals and never looked back.

After growing a graphic arts business from nothing to a flourishing publishing company that supports her family, she turned that part of her life over to her daughter and son to manage and went on to her first love: the love of creating art.

Holland always loved painting and drawing. Having a career in graphic art satisfied these early desires but when the question of “What do you really want to do with your life?” came up, the answer was always the creativity and artistic freedom of painting and watercolor was the medium that satisfied that urge.

Being involved in artist’s groups is part of Holland’s life, as well as entering art shows to give her the challenge to keep perfecting her work. Recently, Holland, a member of several watercolor associations, had a painting accepted into the 2008 National Watercolor Society Signature and Associate Members Juried Exhibition. The show was at the VIVA Gallery in Sherman Oaks, California in April/May of this year.

Her success was partly due to skills learned recently at workshops with artist Ted Nuttall at the Oregon Society of Artists and earlier training with artists like Arne Westerman and Carol Carter. She has been an associate member of the National Watercolor Society and the Watercolor Society of Oregon for several years.

Besides entering shows, Holland spends her time realizing her dream of managing a gallery with its doors wide open to others so they might realize their dreams. Tualatin Valley Artists is the name of the dream.

When the opportunity came to not only create art but also put the business experience to use in organizing a group of artists, Holland thought she realized her dream.

And that dream became Tualatin Valley Artists at Influence Gallery.

TV Artists are a group of local artists specializing in a variety of mediums. Individuals who would like to join, or want more information on the organization can contact Linda Holland at 503/956-5604 or artwork@lindaholland.net

Michelle Bufton

Michele Bufton is a versatile artist and shows her talent in painting watercolors, as well as acrylics and oils. Then she uses the same talent but different skills in stained glass.

Bufton, born in Morocco, Africa, lived her early childhood years in Madrid, Spain. She started painting when she was about 11 years old and assisted her mother painting ceramics for her business that gave her both artistic and business experience at an early age.

Currently she not only keeps up on her artwork but she also teaches art classes, does custom picture framing and paints commissions art.

Bufton is Education Director of TV Artists and an active volunteer. Her enthusiasm and energy is what the art group is all about. As Bufton explains, “My heart finds beauty in simple things which often gets overlooked in our daily lives. Interaction of people, the human form, our children, the world outside my window, all await my translation into a colorful view.” ~ Michele Bufton '07

Entertainment

Blackberry Jam will provide the entertainment at the opening. They play Jazzy Blues. The lead vocals of (Mick) Schafer are full of energy and the newness of unpretentious invention. He has soul.

The members of Blackberry Jam are Mick Schafer on Lead Vocals and rhythm guitar, Tom Esch on violin, banjo, mandolin and more, Garrett Pessin on harmonica, Aubrey Webber on cello and vocals, Diana Dokos on bass and Alex Yore on drums.

Tualatin Valley Artists

The remaining members of Tualatin Valley Artists will be changing the normal percentage (30%) of new works. So come on out and enjoy another First Tuesday Opening at Influence Gallery.