Digital, gourd art in spotlight at Blue Whole Gallery in October

Two award-winning veteran artists take spotlight in “Celebration of the Season of Arts” in October

Two award-winning veteran artists take the spotlight in “Celebration of the Season of Arts,” the new exhibit in the windows of the Blue Whole Gallery in October.

Gourd artist Debbie Cain, president of the Washington State Gourd Society, and digital artist Marilynn Evans, new president of the Blue Whole Gallery, are featured.

The exhibit opening is set for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at the Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St.

Evans said she enjoys creating multi-layered, imaginative and colorful digital art that “invites the viewer to step into a different reality for a brief moment.”

The layering of the images, whimsical or even surreal elements, rich in textures and other effects that allow her to design something new that captures the imagination as well, she said.

“But most of all, it makes you smile,” Evans said.

When she did her first gourd art about 16 years ago, Cain said she was “totally captivated and very excited to explore the possibilities on this new 3D canvas.”

“Geometric” by Debbie Cain, a featured artist at the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim this October. Submitted art

“Geometric” by Debbie Cain, a featured artist at the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim this October. Submitted art

“I began with wood-burning and then was introduced to carving. I use both techniques in most of my work today. To produce the overall effect, I embellish my work with natural pine needles, gemstones, glass and fiber coiling.”

Cain said she has also taken great inspiration from Southwest American Indian motifs. Her work has been published in the book “Antler Art for Baskets and Gourds,” and she’s received awards from various venues, including the Arizona Gourd Society in Casa Grande, Ariz.

The gallery is open 11 a.m.-

3 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; masks and social distancing are required in the gallery with a maximum of six visitors at a time.

For more information, see www.bluewholegallery.com.