Lima Charlie Studios

I guess we should explain ourselves....  

Joe was just finishing up his degree in Creative Writing at Marylhurst University.  He decided to take an online class on art basics.  Amanda was on maternity leave after having their second son and wanted to try out the techniques as well.  They made sure the kids were asleep and then poured some whisky and took the baby monitor out to the garage.  Rage Against the Machine was blasting, paint started flying, and they quickly realized this evening was going to be a sans-clothes operation.  

Joe began to develop his own technique of abstract painting using anything he could find other than a paintbrush.  Pallet knives, combs, squeegees, credit cards, nothing was safe.  He found a passion in mixing textures and colors in layers upon layers.  

Amanda, on the other hand, became obsessed with the science behind acrylic pouring and fluid art.  She would spend hours mixing different combinations of paint and chemicals to find just the right balance for the effect she desired.  Her tool of choice is a blowtorch.

Not to be outdone, their then 5 year old son, Noah, began using his allowance to buy packs of canvas and his own paints so that his weekends could be spent painting alongside his parents.  His guru of choice is the infamous Bob Ross and you can still often find him watching old episodes on Netflix and painting along. 

The couple has their art displayed in many locations around Oregon-- including coffee shops, salons, boutiques, and jewelry shops.  They enjoy taking their boys to local art festivals to sell paintings and discover other local art.  They believe there needs to be more art in this world -- if you ask a room full of kindergartners which of them is an "artist" almost every hand will go up -- why does that need to end?  Joe and Amanda teach pouring technique classes around the Portland area, join their mailing list for class announcements and schedules.