Coordinator

Instructor

Gigi’s painting journey began with a plein air class at a local art center in Minnesota with instructor Greg Lipelt. Being outdoors, observing nature and seeing true colors—she was hooked. While working as a cardiac nurse and raising her children in northern California, Gigi took art classes at the community college. Valuable insights were gained from painting the still life and live model. Ultimately, she joined a rigorous plein air course with instructors Brigitte Curt and Jim Smyth. Here she developed foundational habits and skills that she now teaches to her own students The class involved returning to specific locations along the bay throughout every season. Painting the same scene repeatedly intensified her skills in observing and mixing color. Eventually, her family moved to Bainbridge Island, where she retired from nursing and made painting a priority. She studied with Darrell Anderson at the Winslow Art Center for many years, forging new connections in the community, and began showing her work. A proud memory was winning the People’s Choice award at Winslow Art Center’s first paint-out, which brought in artists from around the state. Gigi now teaches at Bainbridge Parks and Recreation, encouraging each student to experiment with color, pattern, and light to find their own style. See her work at gigigodfrey.com.