Art studio Outback Downunder opens in Forest Grove
Outback Downunder, Forest Grove's newest art studio, featuring artists Jeffrey Hall and Shari Erickson, will hold its grand opening from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday during the Forest Grove Festival of the Arts.
Outback Downunder, Forest Grove's newest art studio, featuring artists Jeffrey Hall and Shari Erickson, will hold its grand opening from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday during the Forest Grove Festival of the Arts.
The studio will feature a water media demonstration during the event.
Housed in the basement of the historic Tip Top building (2032 Pacific Ave) that now holds Gann Bros. Printing and News in the Grove, Hall and Erickson, a couple who described themselves as significant others, have been renovating the space to open a studio since January.
Chas Hundley
Hall described his work as nature-based with an abstract bent. He works in multimedia, incorporating everything from his own original photography to drawings, paintings, and traditional printmaking techniques from his 27-year-career in commercial printing.
He calls his art "landescapes."
"Although my works may seem familiar, I call them “ Landescapes” because most of the time they are made up," Hall said in a bio on his website.
"I call my work naturescapes," Erickson said. "Specifically, Pacific Northwest, because I'm very inspired by this area and I'm just crazy about birds and moss."
Chas Hundley
Erickson uses acrylic and watercolor in her artwork, and has recently been exploring printmaking techniques as well. Erickson's work also incorporates natural materials like natural pigments, sand, and campfire charcoal.
Hall grew up in western Washington County in the Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Mountaindale areas. Erickson is originally from Portland and now lives in Beavercreek.
"I've always visited here though my whole life. It's a nice place," Erickson said.
"It's a nice town," Hall added.
The couple is still deciding on public hours for the studio and will offer classes in the future.
Since meeting online during the pandemic, Hall and Erickson have not only become a couple, but have begun to make art together as well.
"Our purpose in our art is not for us, it's for others," Erickson said.
This story has been updated with clarification regarding future classes.
