For the Artist…

I was invited by my friend Judy Devine, a collage artist, to join her on a road trip to Astoria last week. She and I both agreed that it would be a great opportunity to introduce id Magazine to the town and its thriving LGBTIQ community. I had never been to Astoria, nor had I known that they had a bustling gay community (which I was really surprised to learn a few weeks earlier.) I’ve come to realize there are two camps, those who know about it and those who don’t. From what I gather, most of you fall into the latter, which I hope I convince you to go and discover it yourself.

Judy has a collage workshop she teaches and was put in contact with Dots and Doodles, to arrange a workshop in early Fall this year. Dots and Doodles is known as the largest art supply store on the Oregon Coast. This was our first stop in the town, and the owners Scott Leahing and Tim Masuell welcomed us warmly. Scott suggested we mull around the store to see what they offer, and what a selection they have.

As we browsed, Scott couldn’t contain himself to point out several things that we might find inspiring or useful. One of those products was Pearl X Pigments, a powder pigment that you can add to any paint for a pearl shine. The assortment of colors there were so numerous, it was hard to choose on or two, so of course the artist in me I had to get three.

Dots and Doodles is a great place to stop in, even you aren’t an artist…and if you are, you’ll be inspired by the many sample art pieces around the shop. If you go, be sure to swing by the Golden paints section for an array of different textures, paints and additions you can mix into your current paints or apply to paper before painting.

Scott was the perfect first person to meet there, he informed of all the LGTBIQ owned or friendly businesses to go to, like the amazing Lunar Boy Gallery, Old Town Framing Company and the Astoria CoffeeHouse. We’ll cover those in Part 2…coming soon!

Posted by admin on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at 11:06 am.