Nancy Zoller

Enjoy Nancy's Sneak Peek - beautiful pottery!!!

1) Who is your favorite Artist? "Unfair question: too many! - Billie Colson"

2) Two words to describe yourself "grounded/happy"

3) Two words to describe your studio "peaceful/ functional"

4) Favorite thing to do in Loveland "Yoga class"

5) Little known fact about you "I take piano lessons"

My website is www.nancyzollerpottery.com/ also have a wholesale site: www.wholesalecrafts.com. I have a Christmas Open House and studio sale every season for the last 25 years! This year's date is Dec. 10, 2011

Lyse Dzija

More of Lyse Dzija's work can be found at www.lysedzija.com 

"My favorite artists are, Rembrandt, the impressionists, Hopper, and so many more...

My 2 words to describe myself are "not mellow"
My studio is tranquil but stimulating.
I like getting tgether with friends, and walking nearly every day at boyd with Rich (husband) and dog (Happen) to check jout the daily seasonal change. That way the seasons don't go by with you wondering what happened to TIME, as one grows older. That's my latest formula to happiness.
My transformers are at 4th at the Depot Restaurant. A mythical peice called "Kalila and Dimna" from the second century, made up of fables. My second is at North Park, called "Conference of the Birds" which is about every day life memorialized around a transformer. My my most recent is on first and Boise, called "Trains at Monroe"."

Transformation Project or “What I want to do on my summer vacation”

That Loveland’s ferocious drive toward bringing art awareness in our community is speeding ahead gives me impetus to share new worlds and art that’s not usually seen out here…or maybe anywhere except in the musty halls of museums as tiny Persian miniatures. Bring them out! Last year’s image I did featured fable images from circa 200 AD. This one is more modern-it is 700 AD. It is a Persian miniature called “The Conference of the Birds”. The original is about 3” x11” and I want to blow it up to transformer size.  Why?  Because I want to immortalize our daily lives filled with miniature or gigantic moments, experiences of happiness, surprise, old friends, new friends, latest news, old news, birth, reunions, meeting in the grocery line, hurrying to get the kids ready for school, smoking a cigar and taking it easy, solving the world’s problems on a lazy weekend afternoon over ice tea.… The birds in my painting have spilled over from the original painting to a life of their own, inspired anywhere from the character “Smithers” on the Simpsons, or a delicate fawn on an old Disney cartoon, or a very weird bird from National Geographic. Maybe this tiny painting from the year 700 has managed to find its way and settle comfortably on a transformer in Loveland Colorado. Maybe it will make you rest for a moment, and nod and grin a little while waiting at a long red light  during Christmas rush or in 90 degree heat. 

I used to brisk walk by this mundane area on Madison, but when I looked around for something historical to submit for the transformer project, the trains and the depot became endearing to me. I noticed the dignity and grace of this historical Loveland train yard its tracks and ties, some abandoned, cushioned by calm snow and fanned by the gold hay of the West. I felt wonder at what this barren field must have felt like for the early settlers, who diligently built the beet factory and the feed and grain in an effort to survive.
This everyday scene of working trains on the track next to the abandoned but none the less regal depot station caused me to clearly feel a connection to the history of this town-that that I continued to feel even more so after the JC Penney’s and the Home Depot were built behind it. I wanted to convey this feeling, hence the purpose of art. And indeed it did. The older folks stopped by at a busy intersection to tell me that were it not for the Great Western, they would not have had jobs to feed their families. The kids on bikes said they did’t know ugly old trains could look this way. Sot the purpose of the transformer, art and history. Perfect combo.
There is inspiration in these old train yards. It is part of our short cultural legacy here in Loveland, and deserves attention and appreciation next to the older cultures of Mesa Verde.  The trains carried supplies to and from this town and through the labor of hard workers, the town became born and lives in full vitality. The trains work daily, and have  for the last hundred years.
 For me this was about transforming a barren lone landscape into a fertile vibrant one. I think this concept plays an important role in the community’s appeal. Aesthetics are extremely important. Humans crave physical beauty and  look for it in the things around us as we stop at 4 way traffic lights. In the increasing clone like buildings around us, painting this transformer project was a testament to some form of life nearby a neatly groomed lawn and the 4 way stoplights.So  I hope I can inspire a higher level of thought about this town’s soul, and for that matter, art in general. " Lyse Dzija

Dave Holman

Dave Holman has a great sense of humor and is a talented pastel artist and painter.  I was happily surprised to see him working with gold leaf in his studio - I can't wait to see what he does next! Get his Studio tour information at http://www.lovelandartstudiotour.com/daveholman.html

1) who is your favorite artist?  John Singer Sargent,  and pastel artists Daniel Greene and Albert Handell

2) describe yourself in two words. Cautiously reckless

3) describe your studio in two words..Creative clutter

4) what is your favorite thing to do in Loveland?  Lagoon dancing with or without a band.

Jade Windell - JADE ART

Visit Jade Windell's website at http://www.johnalexdeane.com/ Here are his sneak peek answers!

1) who is your favorite artist? ....Jackson Pollock
2) describe yourself in two words. ..... Zealous, Prolific

3) describe your studio in two words....Eclectic, Awesome
4) what is your favorite thing to do in Loveland?..... Have dinner and margaritas at Adelitas Mexican restaurant

5) little know fact about you?.... Brain Aneurysm survivor

Ferally Normal Clayworks

From Jan Igaki with Ferally Normal Clayworks - be sure to visit their website! http://igakipottery.com/

"Me in two words....  Happy.  (that's one)  And maybe Busy.  (and that makes me happy, I guess)

My studio in two words: sunny & small (and I love it!)

My favorite thing to do in Loveland: walk in the sculpture park near my home. 

Little known fact:  Up until 5 years ago, I was working in the biotech industry at Amgen.  I worked in cell biology & immunochemistry there for 16 years.  I am a Ph.D dropout (it was the right choice for me). 

My husband Hideharu was the Head Coach of the USA Karate Team (under the USOC) until he resigned about a year ago.  Now he heads up the Grass Roots Karate Program for younger athletes to get them ready for international competition.  He's been awarded Coach of the Year by the Olympic Committee - twice. 

We keep trying to get our website all made over & pretty, but our business keeps changing.  After several years of traveling the country (setting up our tent at art shows in rain, snow, wind, dust...you name it, and dodging tornadoes in the midwest, microbursts in the mountains, winos in Denver), we went in with a few friends & opened a permanent wholesale showroom at the Denver Merchandise Mart a year ago. 

What a difference!  No traveling, no lugging tubs full of pottery all over the place, plus I get to spend more time in my studio making things.  I do miss the contact with our customers, and with other artists, though.  We have a couple of local shows coming up this holiday season: 

• Osborn Pumpkin Farm, just south of downtown Loveland, Oct 1st & 2nd
• Christmas in Colorado, Nov 111-12, in Denver at the Grant Humphries Mansion in Denver
• Holiday Show &Sale (juried) at the Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO, Nov 18-Dec 22
• HART, the Holiday Art Market (juried) at the Foothills Art Center in Golden CO, Nov 19-Dec 30
• Arvada Center Holiday Art Market (juried), Arvada, CO, Dec 8-18

• You can always find our work in Trimble Court in Old Town Fort Collins. 

We mostly make functional serving pieces - plates, platters, bowls, etc.  All of our work is food-safe, as well as microwave & dishwasher safe.  I make it this way because I love to cook.  And I don't like fussing around with platters & bowls that have to be babied.  I figure that other cooks don't like to fuss either.  Have you ever walked into a kitchen store & seen a gorgeous platter with a tag that says, "Not for food use"?  That makes no sense to me.   

I hope you'll visit us in our studio. "

Carol Sarchet

Carol Sarchet is one of our only fiber Artists on the tour! She transforms chairs into works of art, hand weaves hangings and can spin and dye yarn. Here are her sneak peek answers and some great photos from her collection. Be sure to check her out at http://lovelandartstudiotour.com/carolsarchet.html

1) who is your favorite artist? "painter-Matisse, sculptor-Brancusi"

2) Describe yourself in two words. "curious and adventurous"

3) Describe your studio in two words. "favorite place"

4) what is your favorite thing to do in Loveland? "socialize with friends"

5) little know fact about you? "lived in 6 countries and loved it!"

Nataša Vretenar

"Nataša is a self-taught artist. She grew up in the former Yugoslavia and lived in Southwest USA for the past 20 years. She is inspired by the beauty of the Southwest where rough landscapes are lit with intense and unusual colors. She brings the inspiration into her paintings by texturing the canvas with many layers of paint, and using striking and bold color schemes. Her work is more abstract and conceptual, spanning many topics, such as animals, portraits, forests and others. Some of her paintings are also affected by the themes and proportions of folk and religious art." - from her website www.artbynv.com

Here are her sneak peek answers:

Who is your favorite artist "Several artists inspire me - Van Gogh for his unique technique and impasto paintings, Georgia O'Keefe, Ed Mell and more recently Steven Da Luz and Brad Kunkle for their usage of gold leaf in paintings"
Two words to describe yourself "Energetic optimist"
Two words to describe your studio "Peaceful oasis"
Favorite thing to do in Loveland "Biking on bike paths with my family and watching the sunset at local lakes"
Little known fact about you "I am a vegetarian" 

Nataša Vretenar: "This is a picture of my home in Old Town Loveland. For the studio tour we plan to direct people to the backyard on the right hand side of the house towards the studio in the back. I will also setup outdoors if the weather permits. We love living in old town and have had a great time (although sometimes challenging as well) renovating this old house" http://www.artbynv.com/

a willing apprentice to help with canvas preparation and clean up of the studio.

one of her favorite subjects to paint - horses!

another favorite subject - aspens and birch trees

palate knives

in her studio

plein air gear

Be sure to check out her website at http://www.artbynv.com/ and her blog at http://artbynv.blogspot.com/ for more!