Sakae Ouchi Painting E-mail: sakae_ouchi@hotmail.com		View all artists Arts of Snohomish main page
	When I first arrived in Everett, Washington, in 1974, I saw the snow-covered Cascade range in the East and was instantly reminded of the mountains surrounding my hometown of Fukushima, Japan. Wispy cloud-covered mountains were bathed in filtered rays of sunlight, on and off, and light shone down on the slopes of deep green. I knew then that this is a paradise, a land for hikers, campers, and especially painters. I started painting again in 1984 and attended art classes at Rose Hill in Mukilteo. I have learned from other people how to find both a motif and interesting focal spots in the Pacific Northwest. My family started hiking and camping in the Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula and, while enjoying this time with the family, I took many, many pictures for motif ideas and to help my visual memories. I have entered several juried art shows, such as the Edmond's Art Festival and various shows in Bellevue, where several of my paintings were accepted. And I have participated in art workshops and seminars for much of the past 35 years. I have been a member of Arts of Snohomish since July 2006. For the most part, my motifs are Pacific Northwest scenery: mountains such as Mt. Shuksan, Mt. Rainier, and Three Fingers Mountain; rivers such as the Snohomish and Skagit rivers; lakes such as Washington, Union, and Lake Stevens; and other nearby favorites such as old barns, tulip fields, and Puget Sound. Follow my blog at http://michiko636.vox.com/