Waiting by Ann Chaikin, in the collection of Chris and Jyl Leininger, Seattle, WA
In 2000 Ann took her first painting class. She loved every minute of it. Though work and other activities kept her away from painting for five years, she finally returned. Since her retirement in 2005 Ann has been painting. She spends many hours at Studio UFO with Trish Harding, her teacher and mentor, and a group of like-minded artists. Ann sold her first painting in January 2007 and plans to show and sell more. She is developing a body of work with this in mind. You can see more of her work at www.annchaikin.com.
Ann has been studying with Trish Harding for close to a year. Trish offers a wide range of classes at the Trish Harding School of Art. She is also an excellent artist in oils, acrylics, pastels and ceramics. You can learn more at www.studioufo.net.
Ann and Arvin traveled with Wade and Tonie to the south of France in September 2006. The trip was wonderful and changed Ann's life. Before the trip she was a retired lady learning to paint. After the trip and putting together paintings for the show to follow, Ann felt herself gradually transform into a painter who also happened to be a retired lady - a subtle but significant change. The Blue Horse Gallery is located in the Bay Street Building on the corner of Bay and Holly Streets in Bellingham. They do not have a website.
Mary Moore Bailey was one of the travelers who shared our Blue Horse Gallery trip to the south of France. She paints large acrylic abstracts that are playful and human. You can find out more about Mary's work at www.marypaints.com.