From the annual Art Walk in Olympia to Tacoma’s Studio Tours, we live in a community abundant with artists. You may have driven by the work of one of these three artists or encountered them at a recent festival. We take a moment to get to know Teresa Staal-Cowley, Curtis Ashby and Britton Sukys, three people who are bringing their talents to brighten our days.
Teresa Staal-Cowley
Mixed media calligraphy artist Teresa Staal-Cowley is a teaching artist, face painter and illustrator who calls Olympia her home. For Teresa, art has always been about serving others and helping solve problems. In addition to her own creative practice, she has been an active advocate for children as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate/ Dependency Guardian ad Litem helping children communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences through art. She has also worked with individuals with PTSD and dementia, unlocking parts of themselves through artistic expression. See Teresa’s work at teresamarieartanddesign.com.
Curtis Ashby
Tacoma-based Curtis Ashby is a muralist and graphic designer who specializes in hand-drawn illustration and features natural elements in his pieces. Getting his start on a mural for the Tahoma Bird Alliance (formerly Tahoma Audubon Society), Curtis has been a muralist for the past ten years. Curtis recently completed two murals at the new headquarters for the Emergency Food Network and a pizza-themed mural at Farelli’s Pizza at Point Ruston. Always dedicated to giving back and finding ways to elevate the work of other artists in the community, Curtis is an active member of MetroParks Tacoma’s arts and heritage advisory council. You can see Curtis’ murals all around the South Sound and learn more about him at curtisashbyart.com.
Britton Sukys
Britton Sukys is a sequential artist who creates graphic novels and comics in traditional pen and ink and watercolor. For Britton, the narrative is essential for a successful artwork. His most recent piece, Kontakt, is a self-published graphic novel which spans multiple time periods and required extensive historical research to develop an accurate look and feel for each section of the work. You can learn more about Britton at brittonsukys.com and see his collaborative community art work at the 4th Street Tacoma light rail station.
We are lucky to have such a wide range of artists in our community. Keep your eyes open for work by Teresa, Curtis and Britton.
BY HILLARY RYAN