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My 2025 Year in Art: A Look Back at a Beautifully Busy Year

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As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what a full and rewarding year it has been for my art. From gallery shows and sales to festivals and community events, this year gave me so many opportunities to share my work and connect with people who love art—and nature—as much as I do.


Thank you for supporting local art, for valuing handmade work, and for celebrating the beauty and awe of nature.


Here’s a look back at some of the highlights.


March: New Shows, Renewed Connections

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The year took off with a burst of energy in March, when five of my pieces were juried into the Small Works Show at Gallery North in Edmonds, WA. At the opening reception, I had a surprise reunion with an old friend I hadn’t seen in decades—who then purchased my colored pencil piece Ruby-Crowned Kinglet! I also sold the Green Heron, another favorite colored pencil work.


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Later in March, several of my works were accepted into Red Sky Gallery in Lake Forest Park, WA. I now have five original pieces on display there, along with die-cut stickers, mini bookmarks, a huge variety of blank note cards, holiday cards, calendars and a variety of matted giclée prints. Red Sky Gallery continues to be one of my favorite local galleries, known for showcasing talented artists and hosting one of the best Raven and Crow Shows in the region.


May: Rainy Skies, Warm Conversations

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In May, I set up a booth at the Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds. Despite the rainy spring weather, it turned out to be a lovely day filled with meaningful conversations—plus some sales! Bird enthusiasts braved the weather to browse art booths, and many stopped to admire my collection of bird note cards and prints.




Summer: Exhibitions and an Honorable Mention

Summer brought a flurry of activity, including:

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  • A large GNSINW (Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Northwest Chapter) show

    at Ida Culver House in Seattle in which I had over a dozen pieces of original art and sold 2 pieces - Small Pears and Ammonite!

  • Two shows at the Schack Art Center in Everett, WA, The Art of the Garden Show and Schacktoberfest.

  • Three pieces accepted into the 33rd Annual Miniature Show at Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, WA. This is a charming artist-run space that I’m grateful to have shown in twice this year. I received a First Honorable Mention for my colored pencil piece Swainson’s Hawk.

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September: Fascinating Forests


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Autumn opened with another GNSINW exhibition—Fascinating Forests—hosted at the Elisabeth C. Miller Library at the Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington. This show celebrated the flora and fauna of forest ecosystems, featuring work from over a dozen Guild members. I contributed my colored pencil illustration Pink Flowering Currant.



November & December: Winter Shows & Community Art

In November, two of my colored pencil pieces were accepted into the 2025 Winter Small Works Show at Parklane Gallery.


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I also had the wonderful opportunity to display fifteen of my original works at Salt & Iron, a beloved restaurant in the heart of Edmonds—Washington State’s designated Creative District.

To round out the year, I participated in the ShoreLake Arts 2025 Holiday Arts Market in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood in Shoreline, WA. The event was full of local charm: live music, families, kids, dogs, and a vibrant atmosphere of community support for local artists. It was the perfect way to close out the year.


New & Current Stockists

In 2025 I added 2 more stockists to my growing list:

  • I now have cards and stickers available for purchase at the Palm House Gift Shop located in the Conservatory at Volunteer Park in Seattle.

  • I have cards, stickers, bookmarks, holiday cards and calendars at Ridgecrest Books in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood in Shoreline.

  • Other places you can find my art items:

    • The Schack Art Center Gift Shop in Everett, WA

    • Red Sky Gallery in Lake Forest Park, WA

I will be scoping out more stockist possibilities in 2026!


Reflections and Gratitude

I’m deeply thankful for the time, space, and support that allow me to keep creating. My work is rooted in admiration for the natural world—its beauty, its fragility, and its endless inspiration. Every opportunity to share that love through art feels like a gift.

Thank you for supporting local art and artists, and for celebrating the awe of the natural world that surrounds us. May we continue to cherish and protect it in the years to come.



 
 
 

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© 2024 Janis Howes Illustration

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