Our featured artist this month is Lakeside portrait painter Sarah McConnell. A third-generation Montanan, Sarah has been an artist and teacher for over a decade. Her work is sold in many galleries throughout the United States. She is the author of One Big Beautiful Bead, which was published by Lark Books in 2007. She paints portraits and makes jewelry in Lakeside, Montana, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

Sarah talks about her work, "I paint children because they're beautiful - their eyes are bright, their skin is fresh - you can't really go wrong with such a great subject. There's infinite variety and I never get bored or run out of subject matter. I paint in mixed media - watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage - whatever seems to suit the subject best. By necessity (children are not famous for being able to sit still for a long time) I paint from photo references. I take lots of pictures, outside if possible. I'm striving to make my current work more painterly - my natural tendency is to be super-realistic and keep working until you can hardly tell the painting isn't a photo. My goal is to capture not just the likeness, but the moment in time. If you could put a summer afternoon in a bottle and take it out on a dull midwinter day - that is how I would like you to feel with one of my paintings."

Meet Sarah during Whitefish Gallery Night, Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 from 6-9 PM. Sarah's work will be displayed during the opening and throughout the month of June.

Summer in Montana is the season we all enjoy being outdoors. If you spend a lot of time outside it's probably worth investing in outdoor furniture. Wicker is a good choice for a traditional or old fashioned look if your outdoor space is on a porch or a protected patio or deck. You can find old wicker and spray paint it to coordinate with your colors. There is also weatherproof wicker that withstands rain showers and the summer sun. Hickory furniture or log furniture gives your porch a more rustic look. There are companies that specialize in this furniture as well as a number of very good local craftsmen in the Flathead Valley. Wrought iron and teak are 2 other good options. Teak weathers beautifully and is a good choice for a bench in the woods.

There are a number of fabrics that wash well, won't fade in the sun and are resistant to mold and mildew. Sunbrella is probably the most widely known company. Keep your eye out for these fabrics if you are recovering cushions for your furniture or want to add toss cushions. They come in all sorts of colors and patterns and it will be easy to find one that complements your style.

After a lengthy course on improving computer skills, a teacher finally seemed to get the hang of it. In fact, he admitted in his self-evaluation, "computers have simplified and shortened my life."