The color theme for April’s First Friday Art Walk is pink.

Participants might spot some pink flamingos as they play the matching game “BirdFest-BirdQuest,” which supports the Olympic Bird Festival and encourages shopping locally.

First Friday Art Walk Sequim is a fun and free self-guided tour of local art venues in Sequim on the First Friday of every month from 5-8 p.m. Visit online at SequimArtWalk.com as your resource to download and print your own map, find out what special events are happening, links, and how you can be part of art.

Initiated in 2006, the First Friday Art Walk Sequim is an encouraging and educational arts event that is sponsored and produced by Renne Emiko Brock. The mission is to create approachable and accessible art and cultural venues that encourage the community to connect and celebrate expression and diversity.

BirdFest-BirdQuest runs through April and is sponsored by Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce Merchants’ Group. During the First Friday Art Walk, you can find these fine art feathered friends at several locations.

Find and match the ceramic bird sculptures created by Sequim High School ceramics students to the business where they are hidden. Game cards are available at all participating locations, including the Sequim Visitor Information Center. Match a minimum of 15 sculptures with their locations on the game card, then enter to win the Grand Prize Basket, which includes treats for bird watchers, Sequim swag, and a one-year membership to the Audubon Society.

You also get to vote on your favorite bird by circling the name of the sculpture. The top three vote-getters receive a cash prize. Game cards available at and can be returned to each of the participating merchants and the Sequim Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center at 1192 E Washington St. See https://olympicbirdfest.org/ for more information.

The game ends at noon on April 30.

BirdFest-BirdQuest locations include: Alderwood Bistro, 139 W. Alder St.,; Applebee’s Bar & Grill, 130 River Road; ACE Hardware, 232 Valley Center Place; Blue Whole Gallery, 128 W. Washington St.; Cedarbrook Lavender, 120 W. Washington St.; Dungeness River Nature Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Rd.; Donuts, Cakes & More Bakery, 171 W. Washington St.; Forage Gifts & NW Treasures, 121 W. Washington St.; Mountainside Mail, 1400 W. Washington St., Over the Fence at 118 E Washington St., Old Mill Cafe at 721 Carlsborg Rd., Pacific Mist Books at 122 W Washington St., Pacific Pantry, 229 S. Sequim Ave.; Sequim Spice & Tea, 139 W. Washington St; Sequim Habitat Boutique Store, 154 W. Washington St.; Sequim Chamber & Visitor Information Center, 1192 E. Washington St., Tedesco’s Italian Fresh, 210 W. Washington St.; Rainshadow Cafe, 157 W. Cedar St.; Wild Birds Unlimited, 275953 Hwy. 101 in Gardiner, and 7 Cedars Hotel, 270756 Hwy. 101 in Blyn.

Here are some other details about this month’s First Friday Art Walk:

Forage Gifts & Northwest Treasures at 121 W. Washington St. is showcasing artist Sarah Necco of Barnhouse Studio. She is an artist and photographer local to the Olympic Peninsula. She has been creating art her whole life and enjoys working in a variety of mediums, as well as photography and making jewelry. Most of her work is inspired by the love for flowers, nature, and landscapes.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County’s Sequim Habitat Boutique Store at 213 E. Washington St. will have live music with Black Diamond Junction.

Blue Whole Gallery at 129 W. Washington St. presents “Styles” with Jeannine Chappell and Jolene Sanborn. Jeannine likes experimenting with different styles of painting. Her April display will showcase abstract and semi-abstract pieces created using the gel plate, a flexible monoprinting device that she finds to be a valuable addition to her artmaking toolkit. “I especially like the gel plate because of the spontaneity it provides: the paint is rolled onto the plate with a brayer, a sheet of paper is placed on top, and as that is pulled off the result is always a surprise,” states Chappell. She may add more “pulls” from the plate or continue with collage, drawing, or more traditional painting to reach the final piece.

Jolene is a traditional watercolorist. Her paintings are done in a representational style, often depicting experiences from her life. “For me, watercolor is about lifetime learning,” states Sanborn. “I can have an idea and a direction for a painting ready to go, but then the weather changes, the humidity goes up or down and the paint and paper decide they are in control of the day, not me!” For Jolene, every painting is a challenge and a learning experience.

At Sequim Museum & Arts, 544 N. Sequim Ave., the featured artist in the Judith McInnes Tozzer Art Gallery is well-known wildlife photographer Dick Hancock. Since 1986, Dick has worked as a professional wildlife photographer. He is the only person in 20 years to photograph a wolf in the wild in Washington State, as documented by the Tacoma News Tribune. His photographs have been published by outdoor and travel magazines and featured in calendars, brochures, books and book covers. Some organizations featuring his works include the U.S. Forest Service; Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; U.S. Department of the Interior; Washington Department of Fish and Game; Colorado Department of Fish and Wildlife; Idaho Department of Wildlife; Boise Cascade; and Weyerhaeuser Corp.

The A. Milligan Art Studio & Gallery at 520 N. Sequim Ave. presents “The Pacific Northwest Impressions Exhibit” featuring a duet of artists, Michelle Lindblom and Linda Tilley, whose works showcase two distinct methods of artistic expression describing the poetic beauty of the pacific northwest. Michelle Lindblom’s acrylic paintings and monotypes take you on an abstract and ethereal journey through her mesmerizing interpretations of the world that surrounds us. She holds advanced degrees in the fine arts and taught visual arts at the college level for over twenty-four years. Now residing in Sequim from Bend, OR, she’s served on community arts committees, and as a gallery coordinator and exhibition juror. Her artwork has been exhibited across the United States and in Europe. Michelle says, “My approach to making marks is intuitive. Once the process begins, it becomes a visual playground of colors, textures, shapes and movement. As the work evolves, intuition and formal knowledge guide the exploration, experimentation and discovery. My imagery portrays the continuous dialogues with my psyche, along with my awareness of the nuances of everyday experiences.”

Linda Tilley’s representational works are an immersion into the serene beauty of the endless scenic landscapes around us. Painting primarily in oil, Linda says she is drawn to paint “en plein air”, inspired by the intensity of color, light, atmosphere and the energies of the world outside. She also uses the time she spends in nature to inform the works she creates when painting inside her studio. She’s traveled regionally and to Europe following her passion for plein air painting, continually learning and honing her skills to capture the experiences that she shares on her canvases. Over the years, this award-winning artist has had her work juried into multiple regional shows and exhibitions; and her paintings are hung in private collections across the United States.

As always, while you’re visiting the main gallery, take a peek around the corner into Anne Milligan’s pastel studio for any works that might be in progress; and see some of her finished pieces on display in the digital studio.

From 5-7 p.m., the City of Sequim and the City Arts Advisory Commission host in the Karen Kuznek-Reese Gallery the “High Schools of the Olympic Peninsula Arts Exhibition” and mini-exhibition of Trashion Fashions in the Sequim Civic Center at 152 W. Cedar Street.

Wind Rose Cellars at 143 W. Washington St. features live music with artworks by Peninsula Art Friends. While at Wind Rose, enjoy award winning artfully crafted wines and appetizing tidbits.

From 6-8 p.m., Rainshadow Café at 157 West Cedar Street has live music with Dawn & Steve. Dancing is encouraged.

The River House Bakery & Cafe at 120 W. Bell St. hosts a limited dinner menu from 5-8 p.m. and music with Sarah Shea. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Their featured artist is June Echternkamp of oil on framed canvas paintings and stained glass.

Pacific Mist Books, 122 W. Washington St. shares the love of reading and offers an eclectic mix of new and vintage books, cards, and gifts including local authors and artists.

La Petite Maison Blanche at 213 E. Washington St. features “By the Sea” created by Larry and Linda Gonzales of hand carved wood. When they moved to Washington, Larry took up relief carving, and Linda helped design the piece and color it. They create their carvings from nature found in the marine world of the Olympic Peninsula. Their pieces capture moments in time in a way that brings an infusion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca into the home. They share, “We work together to interpret the scenes wanting to embody the wood slabs. It’s an intuitive process with a scene often changing throughout the process. Each sculpture is designed out of one piece of wood and is one of a kind. We prefer local woods that grow here in the Pacific Northwest such as: red and yellow cedar, birch, maple, alder and madrone. Frequently found on a daily beach walk, we leave ourselves open for inspiration to strike from the natural world.” La Petite Maison Blanche has uniquely curated gifts and festive treats throughout the shop to keep you in the pink.

Sequim Spice and Tea at 139 W. Washington St. has unique art including glass, pottery, illustrations, and photography of local artists. You can also find artful, creative tea blends, colorful and fun teapots and cups, and cheerful culinary gifts.

Over the Fence, a destination home and garden store, at 118 E. Washington St., will host one of their local makers.

Locally created gifts can be found at Cedarbrook Lavender Gift Shop at 120 W. Washington St.

Soup in the Alley, 138 W. Washington St., features a rotation of local artists, live music, and treats.

A new venue on the Sequim Art Walk is Olympic Peninsula YMCA at 610 N. Fifth Ave. The Y is launching their new Art Gallery with artworks from paintings, photographs and 3-dimensional art-forms submitted by a variety of Y staff and members.

Please take the time to visit this new venue and support our community members. With several artists’ works on display, here are a few bios of these creative folks:

Luke Kisena shares, “I draw inspiration from so many separate places. First, all the hardships and joys I have experienced in life. Art is like therapy; I tend to be most creative when working through things or during hardships. It also works with happiness and joy, but I tend to really push myself when dealing with the hardships or unfair things we all must endure to achieve personal success. Growing up as a graffiti artist, I have always been inspired by graffiti, street art and street artists. I have an appreciation for all the arts, but graffiti in the 80s was so influential to me and molded me into the artist I am today. Hip Hop/Rap has a lot to do with my inspiration. On a different note, a lot of inspiration is drawn from my family, friends, and students.”

Rebecca Murphy is a largely self-taught painter with special interests in gouache and oil. She paints outdoors and in her studio from photos she takes throughout the Olympic Peninsula. Rebecca and her husband moved to Sequim in 2020 from Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2023 she won Best in Division/Amateur Watercolor at the Clallam County Fair for her gouache painting of Neah Bay. She has particularly enjoyed meeting and painting with fellow artists here in Sequim.

Mike McCollum taught Art at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for 25 years, ending his academic career as Dean at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He holds two masters degrees in Art from UC Berkeley. In 1980, he was awarded a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. He has participated in hundreds of exhibits, one-person, group and invitational, domestically and abroad. He currently works primarily in drawing wood and resin in both 2-d and 3-d.

Susan Drake states, “I love to be creative in my life and have been surrounded by people that are the same. My background in art would have started at Harbor High school in Santa Cruz, CA, where my art teachers believed in me and I had my first show in acrylic and ceramic sculpture. I was lucky enough to mentor under great teachers in Hawaii selling on the fence by the zoo in Waikiki, Oahu and several shops including the banyan tree market. I was accepted to the Reed College Art Museum school downtown Portland, OR. where I studied Art history. I would like to share my new movement created by the masters Maxfield Parrish, Bruce Cowden, Franswai Bochare, and my classes at The University of Hawaii at Manoa in oriental paint brushing technique with bamboo brush. My style movement is called Parallelism, a wonderful positive approach to our world currently.”

Roger Ulm retired from Boeing and moved to Sequim10 years ago. Love the outdoors, water features, bike riding, and building birch tree art combined with lights. Enjoy spending time with friends and family.

A Sequim Art Walk special event is a return to Pondicherri at 121 E. Washington St. with artist Kathy Nichols that includes greeting cards and prints among other things. She will be demonstrating how to do a small-scale water color — a tree branch with blossoms to encourage the arrival of spring. Guests are also invited to participate and create one of their own! Supplies will be provided. Please let them know by calling 360-681-0954 if you would like to participate, so they have enough supplies.

Pacific Pantry at 229 S. Sequim Ave. features the water medium based art group the Peninsula Art Friends.

Want to participate as a venue or artist on the Official First Friday Art Walk Sequim Map, Listing, and Website, please contact Renne Emiko Brock at 360-460-3023 or renneemiko@gmail.com If you are an artist of any media, please get your information to Renne for publicity and opportunities. Thank you for your support!

To create inclusion between venues, artists, and audience, everyone is encouraged to participate in the Art Walk’s monthly themes as a fun community activity in any creative form they wish to express it. January is silver, February is red, March is green, April is pink, May is aqua, June is white, July is purple, August is yellow, September is blue, October is orange, November is brown, and December is gold.

Please join our Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/sequimartwalk