Would you like a dash of vibrant, spring color while dashing through the blustery winter weather of January? Then be sure to take the right step into the new year and step right into Gallery 9 in Port Townsend this month. By doing so, you will encounter the brilliant and playful exhibit of floral paintings by Christine Wasankari.

Christine's fun and cheerful display of flowers is just what the doctor ordered as the perfect cure for January's dreary, cloud cover. The bright, almost whimsical figures in Christine's acrylic originals seem to burst to life. The viewer finds him/herself anticipating these floral wonders dancing off the canvas.

Christine Wasankari has an extensive art background and majored in both Illustration and Advertising Graphic Design at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver, Colorado. She has exhibited in Washington, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming and her original paintings and prints are in private and corporate collections in many parts of the US and Europe. She specializes in landscapes, still life, floral and abstract expressionism. She says, "While I have a formal art education, I find myself breaking rules more and more often and certainly trying to "un-teach" a lot of the formal part of the education. I just do what I love best, indeed, have to do...Create. I use a wide range of media including Pen and Ink, Acrylics, Watercolors, Colored Pencils, Pastels, Collage, Sand, Found Objects, Homemade Papers...almost anything I can get my hands on.”

In addition to her vibrant acrylic originals featured, Christine will have on hand “Dancing” series fine art prints and cards from the beginning of the series. These originals will not be on display, as the originals have already been sold. Also available will be prints and cards of the “Bistro” series florals, as well as her infamous landscapes of the west and southwest. These landscapes have a tendency to be extreme in color juxtapostion and fauve in style. Fauvism was a movement implemented by the French and which translates as "wild beast."

One of the most eclectic and talented modern Artists on the Olympic Peninsula, Christine is described in many circles as reminiscent of Salvidor Dali. She also enjoys painting abstracts representing the landscape of the pacific northwest. The beauty of Lavender strewn sunsets and soft blankets of cloud laying upon the mountain have a tendency to soften some of her fauvist nature.

Gallery 9 is at 1012 Water St. in Port Townsend, Washington and is open 10-6 daily. For more information about Christine's exhibit, or the gallery, phone (360) 379-8881 during the hours of operation, or contact the Artist, her at www.wasankari.com.