Charlene Collins Freeman

I am a watercolorist, sketchbook addict, teacher and traveler. And I am the founder and owner of Cloud 9 Art School.

I have loved to create things with my hands as far back as I can remember. I have been a full time artist ever since I realized that I could actually create a life doing what I love. That took some time to learn.

I teach watercolor, drawing, and sketchbook classes for adults, children and teens. Best. Gig. Ever.

After years of teaching at various colleges and art schools, I began dreaming of opening my own art school, a place of inspiration and learning, where people would be encouraged to believe in their creative potential and where they could be transformed by their creativity. After a year of planning, Cloud 9 Art School opened its doors.  At Cloud 9 Art School, we encourage each others’ creative dreams and goals as well as nurture our own.

For more information on the courses I am teaching and to register please visit my website at www.charlenecollinsfreeman.com and click on the Workshops page. Click on the class you are interested in and you will see all the details and registration option. Follow me on Instagram.

Emily Brown

Greetings! I am Emily Brown, self proclaimed maker. I currently enjoy myself most when painting with watercolor or sketching with pen and ink. I am a lover of all things visual arts and crafts. I am a maker of anything I can get my hands on. When given two choices between easy and hard, I will always choose hard.

Drawing and painting is an escape from the chaos of life; it is an opportunity to slow down. The outcome of a painting is secondary to the process.

I paint to slow down. I paint to be present.

For more information about my art and my classes, please visit https://iamemilybrown.com. Follow me on Instagram.

Gabriel “Gabi” Campanario

Gabriel “Gabi” Campanario is an award winning illustrator, author and journalist best known for his storytelling work as the Seattle Sketcher at The Seattle Times, and as the founder of the global Urban Sketchers movement and nonprofit organization.

A native of Barcelona, Campanario has a journalism degree from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, and has resided in the United States since 1998. His career as a newspaper artist spans more than two decades working in newsrooms on both sides of the Atlantic, including La Vanguardia (Barcelona), The Reno-Gazette Journal (Nevada), Diario de Noticias (Lisbon), The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.), USA TODAY and The Seattle Times. Campanario’s work as a sketch journalist has been recognized by The Society of Professional Journalists and The Society for Features Journalism, and was the subject of a five-month solo exhibit at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry in 2014.

You can see more of Gabi’s work on his website, Seattle Times author page, Facebook and Instagram.

Bibliography: The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing on Location around the World (Quarry Books, 2012); The Urban Sketching Handbook: Architecture and Cityscapes (Quarry Books, 2014); and The Urban Sketching Handbook: People and Motion (Quarry Books, 2014); Seattle Sketcher, An Illustrated Journal (Pediment Books, 2014).

(Photo by Pasquale Raicaldo, La Repubblica)

To register for Gabi's workshops at Cloud 9 please click here. 

Laurie Kathleen Clark

I am a contemplative artist who has trouble accessing verbal skills. Finding the right words to talk about the amazing things I observe around me can be frustrating. It is much more natural for me to pick up a paintbrush, some embroidery floss or my camera when I wish to share some new discovery. The artwork I create is meant to be enjoyed on whatever level the viewer experiences it and not layered with complex meaning. I am influenced by my historical and religious interests and enjoy imagining and interpreting ancient works in new ways.

For more information and to register for my classes, please visit www.heartitudeartsoul.com. Follow me on Instagram.

Rhonda Gardner

After a fulfilling career in the field of education, my interest in drawing and painting reemerged.  I have always enjoyed viewing other people’s art and learning about it, but had not ventured into creating art myself until I became an ‘empty nester.’  I currently enjoy painting in watercolors and working with colored pencils.  I have taken several drawing and watercolor classes from Charlene Collins Freeman which has helped me hone my skills as an artist.  My interest in colored pencils began after taking a workshop from Eileen Sorg, then further developed after taking portrait classes from Ann Kullberg. 

Some of my most satisfying early art memories involve coloring with crayons.  I was a ‘stay in the lines’ girl but enjoyed experimenting with the use of different pressures and creating different values within a picture.  That same joy has returned as I have developed skills with colored pencils. 

For more information and to register for my workshops, please visit https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops/. Follow me on Instagram.

Tara Larsen Chang

I’m an artist and compulsive gardener living in the lushly temperate Pacific Northwest.  From my earliest memories, I’ve been captivated by the imagery in fairy tales and couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do when I grew up than create my own. When I’m not painting in the studio, I can probably be found working in my gardens to make sure there are plenty of havens for visiting fairies.

 Drawing inspiration from the mossy forests, my magical backyard gardens, my feisty menagerie of animals, childhood books, music and poetry, I love filling my sketchbooks and paintings with elements of nature and mystery. While I work primarily in watercolor, I also enjoy mixing in other mediums from colored pencil and pastel to pressed leaves and cut paper.

A professional illustrator with a BFA in Design and Illustration, I have illustrated more than 30 published books.  My work has been featured in magazines, specialty publications, packaging, educational software, zoos and galleries. I have over 25 years of teaching experience. My career has also included time spent as designer, art director, fine artist, instructor, curator, and workshop facilitator. 

You can see more of my work on my website (as well as view lists of clients I’ve worked for and exhibits I’ve participated in), Facebook, and Instagram. 

For more information and to register please visit my website at TaraLarsenChang.com or email me at tlchang@taralarsenchang.com.

Shannon L Gaub

I have always had a propensity for creative expression. I began drawing at a young age, and then by high school and college I added writing, acting, and the art of cut paper to the mix. Although my professional career took me down the path of computer programming and systems analysis, my love of art never wavered. So, when the opportunity to study art and different mediums presented itself, I jumped at the chance, and I haven’t looked back since.

Now, I am a teaching artist! My favorite mediums are graphite, cut paper, and mixed media of watercolor, ink, and colored pencils.

I am thrilled to be teaching at Cloud 9. My goal in my classes is to create a positive, engaging, and encouraging experience for each student. And to have fun!

I’m passionate about helping my students unlock their artistic potential, and I love to see their accomplishments and the joy that brings. I am a firm believer that creating art is a gift we give ourselves, a way to connect to our world and even to navigate stressful times because it slows us down and allows us to relax and simply be in the moment.

For more information about my classes and my art, please visit https://www.shannonlgaubart.com/. You can also follow me on Instagram.

Mary Dee Mateo

Ever since I was a kid, I had always been quite fond of capturing memories through my little point and shoot cameras and printing them out to create scrap book albums and posters to put on my wall. It never occurred to me that I could become a professional photographer until one day, when I met a very serious photographer, Mukul Soman, who I ended up marrying not too long after.

He gifted me my very first camera with manual controls and I eagerly learned how to use it, photographing almost everyday. I quickly learned that photography wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Learning the different manual controls was quite the task and I spent the next few years learning those basics.

After taking lighting and portraiture classes at the Seattle Central Creative Academy, I knew right then and there, that it was my calling. Ever since, I have been making portraits for commercial, editorial and personal projects. I can’t imagine doing anything else and consider myself so lucky to be able to follow my passion to earn a livelihood.

To see more of my work, please visit www.marydeemateo.com. To follow her on Instagram, click here.

Susan McManamen

I have a passion for the Northwest. I grew up here, graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelors of Arts in Illustration and Graphic Design and worked for GTE in Everett as an online artist for eight years.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed creating things. My mom was very encouraging even letting me use her acrylics at about the age of 8 to finish paper mache puppets for my refrigerator box theater. 

Ten years ago I decided, after many years of media experimentation, to focus on watercolor. While “focusing on watercolor” I discovered oils for painting outdoors. Since then I’ve been whole heartedly smitten with the media and plein air painting. It has become a particular obsession of mine. I’m currently secretary on the board of Plein Air Washington Artists and participating in a personal challenge to paint 365 plein air paintings in 365 days.

Contrary to popular opinion, oils are a very forgiving medium. It has been perfect for use in my daily painting practice. Much easier to learn than watercolor and even more forgiving than acrylic, nothing can beat the luscious texture and rich color of oil paint.

I love to see what people create in my classes! We are all snowflakes! I believe each person naturally creates art that is uniquely their own. I’m here to give them the skills and support to express their individual ideas.

For more information on the courses I am teaching and to register please visit my website at susanmcmanamen.com. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook.

Craig Orback

I am a freelance children’s book illustrator living near beautiful green Seattle. My early years were spent on the Central Coast of California in a little town called Los Osos. I did art for fun and enjoyed life in a coastal California paradise. 

In 1994 I made the big move to Seattle to attend Cornish College of the Arts. I graduated with a B.F.A. degree in illustration in 1998 and promptly began my carrer as an illustrator. I followed my childhood love of illustrated stories and history and in 2001 received my first children’s book job “Nathan Hale: Patriot Spy”. Since then I have illustrated well over 20 children’s books while also working on projects for children’s magazines, school text books, readers, a graphic novel and other avenues. 

I often work in oil on illustration board, but I also use acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel, pen and ink, and the computer, sometimes all for one book as I did for the picture book “Natures Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse”. In my freetime, I enjoy travel, hiking, movies, and sharing my books with children.

Please visit my website and blog at www.craigorback.com. Follow me on Instagram.

Maja Sereda

I am an artist and a published children's book illustrator. Inspired by my father's love of animals and my mother's creative talents, I LOVE art and all things nature. My fascination with details germinated in my childhood and continues to this day, which can be seen in most of my mixed media drawings and illustrations. I love sketchbooks, tiny details, mini worlds and visual storytelling. Outside of my art, I love to: travel, hike, take photographs, write poetry, dream, learn, make things with my hands and connect with people.

I love listening to people's stories, understanding and supporting others on their artistic journey. I teach students of all ages and across a wide range of abilities. I'm passionate about helping others dissolve their creative knots, find creative strengths and improve their skills. There is something magical about nurturing dreams and helping my students excel in their own art. I genuinely care and find much joy in seeing my students overcome creative hurdles, achieve something more than what they thought was initially possible. I believe that by showing up for our work and by being kind to ourselves during the process we can achieve amazing things.

In the past I have worn many hats: I have worked in advertising, as a fine art painter, illustrator, colorist for a cartoonist, as a volunteer at an animal shelter as well as a caregiver. My journey has been exciting, rewarding and interesting. I'm simply delighted to be a member of the Cloud 9 team!

For more information, please visit my website: www.majasereda.biz or email me at maja@majasereda.biz. Follow me on Instagram.

Mukul Soman

I am a Kirkland based Wildlife/Nature Photographer and CGI Lighting Artist.

I strive to blend together elements of documentary and fine art photography to bring compelling and evocative images to life. A delicate sensitivity towards the emotions of light and a great love for the wilderness and all creatures that inhabit those places are the foundations of my journey in photography. While not out in the wilderness, I venture into the virtual worlds to create and light epic vistas and landscapes in the video game industry. With whatever time I have left, I build awareness about conservation and give talks about my photography work at various events locally to inspire change and foster conservation of wildlife.

I am always willing to share the knowledge that I have gained over many years of diving into photography, lighting and post processing workflows to any one interested. I have taught workshops at the Kirkland Arts Center and have given lectures at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco and University of Washington, Seattle. I am also a member of the University of Washington Continuum College Advisory board for their photography program. I am available for personal one-on-one mentorships.

For more information about my work, please visit my website.

For more information about the classes I teach and to register, please email me at mail@mukulsoman.com. Follow me on Instagram.

Eileen Sorg

Born in Seattle, Washington, Eileen Sorg still lives and works overlooking the bountiful Hood Canal. As with most Northwesterners, Eileen has a keen interest and respect for the natural landscape and its wild inhabitants. With her degree in Wildlife Science from the University of Washington and subsequent time spent studying birds and mammals as a biologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, she has now returned to art with a bit of the scientist still in tow.

Eileen enjoys exploring her subjects and seeking out the minutest details to express in her work. Her drawings have been likened to “photographs” but she is quick to point out that her pieces are less about detail and more about the subject’s essence and vitality. “With my current work, I am seeking to capture the playful, sometimes mischievous side of my subjects, catching them in the act of behaving unexpectedly.”

Eileen’s primary medium is currently colored pencil, with ink, pastel, and watercolor applied for added depth. “Primarily, I am a draftsman rather than a painter. I am most comfortable with a pencil in my hand, languishing over all the tiny changes in tone and hue.” The pencil work is essential for breathing life into her subjects and creating softness.

Eileen is a Signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America. Her work has been featured in The Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, American Artists – Drawing Magazine, and she is the author of three books on colored pencil, published by Walter Foster, which are available at most booksellers.

Artist Statement
“I have chosen realism as the manner in which to express my interpretations of the world around me. Realism is not duplication; it is a process that involves intense study and understanding of a subject, a strong sense of value and color, and the mastery of a given medium. Within this realism, I enjoy creating a narrative by juxtaposing two or more completely divergent subjects together in one image and having them relate to one another in a surprising way. This visual storytelling engages the audience by allowing them to read my images and move through them like a good book.”

For more information about her work, please visit Eileen's website. To register for her workshops at Cloud 9, please click here. Follow Eileen on Instagram.

Colleen Stone

I'm a mixed media artist and native of our beautiful Pacific Northwest, surrounded by tall trees, birds, salt water, and the bluest sky you've ever seen!

I'm happiest with my feet on a trail through the forest or my hands in wet paint.

My work is nature inspired and never too serious. I enjoy playing with bright, cheerful acrylics, as well as soft, delicate watercolors. At home in my studio I'm surrounded by stacks of vintage books, jars of feathers, and piles of pretty paper. Mixed media art is the perfect outlet for someone who loves to do it all! 

In past lives I've been a hairstylist, floral designer, body builder, Cub Scout Leader and a ballet dancer. I've earned certifications as a personal fitness trainer and a life and wellness coach. All of those paths lead me back to making art. Curiosity can lead you into lots of mischief! 

These days I spend my time traveling with my husband, being mom to my two grown sons, and making as much art as I can squeeze in. 

As a life-long learner, I thrive on being a beginner! I believe every piece of art I make is practice. The process is more important than the outcome. Every piece has something to learn from and apply to the next. 

I hope you will join me in the classroom for a chance to play and explore. I'll share what I know with you, and we'll learn together! 

Being an artist is a wonderful adventure and I want to offer you lots of encouragement as you take those first steps on your own creative journey, no matter where it leads you. 

You can learn more about me and my artwork at 

https://www.viewfromtheheart.com/

https://www.instagram.com/viewfromtheheart/

https://www.facebook.com/ViewFromTheHeart/

Anya Toomre

I am an avid sketchbooker, note-taker, storyteller and traveler. My main love is documenting bits and pieces of life from the ordinary and mundane to the more exotic and grand. Whatever I come across is fair game to record. 

I grew up in the Boston area with an academic family and went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for both my BS and MS degrees. The latter was in the social history of textiles and I’ve spent over twenty years as a textile and fiber artist. 

I’ve been fortunate to live in and travel to many different places in the US and abroad. I’ve lived in Japan, North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco), the Netherlands and England. I have also spent significant time in Cuba. 

While living abroad I taught English. I home schooled my kids for eight years and ran a home school with three other families for a year. My biases were textiles, art and language. I was one of the art instructors for Silver Kite in 2017. 

In 2011, I took a watercolor class using a sketchbook and something clicked. It felt so very right for me. Since then I’ve taken classes with local artists Charlene Collins Freeman and Eileen Sorg, in Cuba with Laura Quincy Jones and online with Danny Gregory and Koesje Koene, Liz Steel, and Jan Blencowe. I am always looking to improve my skills, but consider ink and watercolor to be my mediums of choice. I can get the precision I like with a pen and the colors and brightness I love with watercolors.

My classroom approach is to be inclusive with a calm and encouraging attitude. I’m a recovering perfectionist (if that’s possible) and understand how it can be difficult to start new things. The process of sketching and documenting is very satisfying as is getting to a completed end of a project. Beginners to sketchbooking and travel journaling are welcome as are more seasoned sketchbookers.

For more information and to register for my workshops, please go to my website at www.anyatoomre.com. If you have any questions, contact me at anyatoomre@yahoo.com. Follow me on Instagram.

Leela Trumbo

I was born in San Luis Obispo, California and have lived all over the world including India, Italy, and Canada. I have been creating art since I was old enough to hold a crayon to draw on my parents' walls. I work mostly in watercolor, pencil and oil paint but I love exploring new mediums.

I graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Integrated Art and I like to stay in touch with the art scene on campus. I have been involved with creating graphics for on campus organizations and publishing my work in the school literary and visual arts magazine. My teaching experience includes working at a Montessori school, teaching art in public school classrooms, and leading workshops for all ages.

Equal to my passion for art is my interest in ecological conservation and raising awareness for environmental issues through art. I am also a die-hard animal lover who enjoys nothing more than to paint fascinating animals and beloved pets.

I love to teach art, foster a love of art in the younger generations, and expose students to new and inspiring artists. I believe in the healing power of art and nature to help manage stress in our hectic lives. Art builds up confidence in kids as well as helping them to focus on the positive and beautiful aspects of this world. In addition to art, I use meditation to find my inner peace and connect with the world around me. In the process of teaching art I hope to pass on the ability to find balance and serenity through art on to my students.

For more information about my art and my classes, please visit my website at www.leelatrumbo.com.

For more information about my art classes and to register, please visit my website or email me directly at trumboleela@gmail.com. Follow me on Instagram.