Spotlight show features the creative mosaic art of Bea Sands, April 8th-21st
The current Spotlight Show at the Yaquina Art Association features the creative mosaic art of Bea Sands April 8th-21st. The local artist is inspired by colors and shapes and likes to work with recycled and natural materials, using stained glass, shells, fossils, rocks, clay, and glass beads. She said, “Every piece has its basic form in the beginning, be it wood, ceramic, metal, canvas, rock, glass or even a bowling ball. I just get a feeling when I see something that is perfect for me too mosaic. After I complete my design I spend time using beeswax and then bead on the final piece.”
Sands fell in love with art on a European trip where she toured museums and visited many historical places. She also traveled to Alaska a couple of times and saw a different kind of art: lots of animal drawings and paintings, which inspired her to paint a tufted puffin—her first artistic endeavor. The last several years she has been painting with melted crayons and beeswax and also enjoys beading.
Sands said, “In many ways I’m self-taught, however, I’m fortunate to live in Lincoln County, where there are many artists who willingly share their expertise. My first oil painting class was with Linda Luckini in the 90’s as well as guest instructors Buck Paulson and Robert Warren. It was such fun going to a class in the morning and coming home in the evening with a finished painting.” She also took a class making stained glass lamps taught by Howard Rubin as well as a beeswax/glass beading class from Jan MacKay.
A native Oregonian, Sands was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up working on a farm near Estacada until her father became a tugboat captain on the Columbia River. Later he bought a charter boat and fished out of Depoe Bay, which brought her to Lincoln County.
The historic, oceanfront gallery is located at the end of the Nye Beach Turnaround at 789 Beach Drive in Newport. Gallery hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“Enchanted Blooms” by Bea Sands
“Sea Star Delight” by Bea Sands
