Serena Barton is a wonderful artist, and a wonderful creative enabler. Her work involves painting, collage, and assemblage - and also, helping people break out of creative ruts and find new inspiration. I met her years ago when I took her "Art of Life" series of classes, which helped launch me on a whole new path.

Check out more of Serena's art and teaching at her website and blog.

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What kinds of things inspire your work?
I’m inspired by color and light, history and mystery, layers of objects and people’s personalities, Renaissance and Impressionist painters, beauty, and humanity. I’m also inspired by the materials themselves—l love the feel and glow of oil paint on wood and canvas and love to use oil glazes as the finishing touch on paintings.  I'm now doing some painting with acrylic because it dries faster and is easier to use when I have limited time.  I love encaustic -- the smell, the translucence, the unexpected discoveries -- everything.  Finally, I love collage and mixed media for the excitement of layering and putting pieces together whatever way I want, and how the layering evokes the layering of history and the seasoning and burnishing of human beings as they grow and age.

What is your art about? What is your artistic philosophy?
My favorite art of any period incorporates a magic and often breathtaking quality that makes me glad I'm alive.  That doesn't mean art has to be happy, happy.  Just that there's something about it that makes me feel more alive and inspired. I strive to let these qualities surface in my own work, whether abstract or figurative, and to get out of my own way! I think my art is about sharing the richness and wonder of living. ?

Tell me a bit about your teaching work. What kinds of classes do you teach??
I specialize in teaching people who are new to creating or who are re-connecting with creating, or who want to practice a new medium in an informal way. I facilitate a weekly, ongoing women’s creativity group and workshops in: acrylic, collage, encaustic, assemblage, altered books, painting faces, and torn paper paintings. I’m also teaching weekend or full term classes at PSU in Women’s Studies. All these classes involve making creative projects.

My classes are supportive and designed to help people overcome fears and negative messages about creating. They’re meant to be informative and fun.

You also work in therapy - how is art therapeutic?
??Art is therapeutic for anyone in that it allows us creative expression, a “container” for emotions, helps us see what’s going on inside us, involves learning and experimenting, is a way to “make our mark”, involves challenging negative beliefs, creates more beauty and meaning in our world and the larger world, and offers us just plain fun! I use many modalities in therapy work—art and writing are included when appropriate. (Note: I am an artist and a therapist who sometimes uses art with clients—a Licensed Professional Counselor rather than a Registered Art Therapist. Both are good—I just want to respect the distinction.)

What is your take on the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"?
I wish I could duck this question, smile. I see it from so many perspectives. I consider “art” any work in any medium that shows individuality, passion, and inspires people. That, of course, sounds like a put-down to craft and I don’t mean that. Personally, I like to work in any medium that can be done over and doesn’t have to be exact. I am terrible at weaving, knitting, or hand-made furniture, because I thread heddles wrong, drop stitches, and can’t measure. I think these mediums are art when people can do these things correctly and also show inspiration and innovation. I think people should call their work whatever they find most fitting according to their own definitions. Both art and craft are great, however you define them—I am thrilled by the grass roots creating that’s going on these days!??

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
Linda Womack's Hive: Encaustic classes for all levels
collage and DIY Lounge: Supplies and classes
Muse Art and Design: New and old favorite products, demos and classes
SCRAP: Scrounging and inspiration galore
The 100th Monkey Studio: Classes, groups, shows, and more
Paperdoll: Supplies and inspiration
23 Sandy Gallery and ONDA Gallery for inspiration
Scarlet Star Studios: Classes and inspiraton