Whatcom Artist Studio Tour - Spring Show

When

May 16, 2026 - May 17, 2026   
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Instructor

Cost:

Where

Whatcom Art Center
1105 11St, Bellingham, Washington, 98225

Event Type

Eight amazing local female artists – Anita Merina, Ceci Lopez, Deborah Dole, Holly Zwolinski, Kathleen Ball, Kimberly Wiles, Roxanne Michael and Sierra James will be showing their art and demonstrating their process at the Whatcom Art Center this Spring on the 16th and 17th of May! This is part of the Whatcom County Studio Tour! This location is wheelchair accessible and free coffee will be on offer.

Whatcom Artist Studio Tour

 

Artist Bios

Ceci Lopez is an oil painter using mixed media layers and oils to convey the history of the creative process. Her choice of colors and textures merge expressions of her native Guatemala and her home in the Pacific Northwest. She is inspired by the synergies between the untamable and life sustaining forces of nature.

Her artistic process is a journey of the heart, transmuting the urgency of our time into visions of hope and beauty -a testament to the possibility of a better world.

Her work centers the beauty and resilience of all of creation threatened by modernity and unrestrained expansion. She seeks to engage the viewer with a message of oneness of all that is.

 

Kathleen Ball tries to include an animal in every painting. Local wildlife is her best subject, but any animal that will work once the subject matter is considered. Kathleen Ball really enjoys including animals that are not very popular, and she takes commissions for pet portraits.

Deborah Dole is a woman, mother, artist, life partner, gardener, writer, ecologist and musician. She is a unique one-of-a-kind creation. So are her pieces. She creates them to honor the uniqueness in each moment. She paints mostly with acrylics and ink. Her process is intuitive and felt. She starts with no image of the final painting. First, she lays down colors, patterns, textures, drips…whatever draws her at the moment. Then, she stops and looks, turning the canvas over and over….waiting, sometimes days, until something emerges. Something she likes, something that evokes an image in me, a sense of beginning, a shape… From there the painting continues, often changing dramatically as she work with what is calling her… She is drawn to glimpses of what previously existed, layers, colors and patterns.

 

Roxanne Mills Michael enjoys creating art inspired by the beauty of nature. Nature is soothing and exciting at the same time.

Rox’s parents met at the Art Institute of Chicago where they also worked. Tom Mills (Dad) later taught Industrial Design there. Art was a part of the family. Rox would take the siblings to the Arboretum to paint and draw. Attending an art show of Uncle Lowell Mills inspired Roxanne at a young age to maybe have one of her own in the future. In rough times, sketching brought her solace. When she was 20, she followed her love of nature to Washington state and has been there since, even more inspired! After a long career in public safety, she can now paint! And draw and create more! It really is fun. Try it! If you haven’t already!

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/roxanne-michael

RoxanneMichaelV@gmail.com

 

Holly Zwolinski first learned photography in the darkroom during high school in northeast Ohio, where she grew up. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2018, she became captivated by the mountains and began seeking unique viewpoints, often discovering obscure places where the peaks reveal themselves. Her current passions are Milky Way photography and split-level (half underwater) images. Capturing the Milky Way requires both art and science, careful timing, and experimentation. She has learned it’s even possible to reveal the night sky in areas with some light pollution through thoughtful editing. For my split-level images, she uses a waterproof housing that allows her camera to be partially submerged, creating perspectives both above and below the water. She aims to offer viewers a new way of seeing the landscape. She also teaches photography classes and hosts retreats in Whatcom County, Washington.

 

Sierra James is a mixed media artist and social entrepreneur whose work centers on color, movement, and creativity. Through vibrant, fluid compositions, she explores the balance between intention and spontaneity. Her practice embraces experimentation as both a visual language and a personal philosophy, celebrating the freedom that emerges when control is loosened and curiosity leads. Equally important to Sierra’s work is her dedication to teaching and creative empowerment. She specializes in fluid art techniques, breaking down complex processes into approachable, step by step experiences that invite participation rather than intimidation. By fostering an inclusive and encouraging environment, she helps individuals reconnect with their inner artist and discover the joy of creating. Sierra’s goal is for every person to feel inspired, capable, and proud of what they’ve created.

 

Anita Merina is an artist who works in the medium of glass. She joins the community of artists who dance between the elements of fire, air and water, coaxing, cajoling, challenging the initially hard then molten then hard again medium into sculpture, functional and wearable art. She is inspired by my natural surroundings, the stories and images of her Philippine heritage and the worlds and her journeys, both real and imagined.

 

Kimberly Wiles is the artist behind Bay Muse Studio, based in Bellingham, Washington. Working primarily with resin and mixed media on custom wood panels, her work explores movement, depth, and the quiet tension between structure and flow.
Originally from Florida, Wiles spent years as a school counselor and educator before transitioning fully into her art practice. That background continues to influence her work, bringing a sense of emotional awareness, stillness, and reflection into each piece. Delighted to relocate to the Pacific Northwest in 2024, she found renewed inspiration in the region’s shifting skies, coastal waters, and layered landscapes.
Wiles constructs each wood panel by hand, allowing her to control scale, proportion, and composition from the ground up. Her process combines acrylic underpainting with multiple layers of resin, along with natural elements such as glass, stone, and mineral textures. The resin itself plays a central role. It is treated as a living medium, highly responsive to timing, temperature, and movement. As light passes through the layers, each piece changes subtly depending on angle and environment.
Her work is influenced by the rhythms of the Salish Sea, the push and pull of tides, and the interplay of wind, water, and earth. The result is art that feels both grounded yet fluid.
Wiles’ pieces are held in private collections in Washington and Florida. Through Bay Muse Studio, she continues to create work that invites one to exhale, drawing viewers into a moment of depth, calm, and connection with the elements in nature.