For the past two decades, Camas resident Michelle Wright has dedicated the majority of her free time to her artwork, creating functional pieces out of wood and resin and participating in art shows throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“I was working 50 hours per week at the city of Washougal, and I could only do art part-time,” Wright said. “It was kind of a whirlwind, to be honest, doing that many art shows and working as much as I did.”
When she retired from her position as the city of Washougal’s public works business administrator earlier this year, Wright said she finally found time to fully focus on her creative pursuits and her Camas-Washougal community.
“I’ve been retired since January, so now I feel organized,” Wright said. “I love Washougal, and I just want to be part of my community. I think Washougal is going to become quite an art area.”
If You Go
What: 2025 Washougal Studio Artists Spring Tour
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3-4
Where: 17 studios in and around Washougal; see website for map
Information:washougalstudioartists.org
The public can learn more about Wright and her artwork during the 2025 Washougal Studio Artists Spring Tour. Wright is one of six new artists included in this year’s tour, which will feature 32 artists at 17 art studios in Camas and Washougal from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3-4.
“This year’s tour is an exciting one and our largest in eight years,” event organizer Shirley Bishop said. “Every year, as the word spreads farther and farther from our little town of Washougal, we have artists from all over the area apply to be part of the tour.”
Wright’s home, 4918 N.E. 324th Ave., Camas, will host the tour’s No. 12 studio, which will feature Lorna Lambert (ceramics, home and garden art), Natasha Ramras (oil painting, linocut) and Marina Pearson (acrylic painting) as guest artists.
“(Wright’s) art is amazing and mesmerizing at the same time,” Bishop said. “It’s so fun to watch her make the resin flow into what looks like real ocean waves. Her studio may be out there a bit, but it’s well worth the trek.”
With assistance from her woodworking husband, Gary Wright, Michelle Wright creates a variety of wood and resin works, such as tables, serving trays, cheese boards, jewelry, coasters and wine glasses.
“They make an incredible team with his fine woodworking and her creative passion,” Bishop said of the Wrights.
Michelle Wright’s artwork often explores themes of transformation, balance and the connection between art and nature, with her Caribbean getaways serving as a major inspiration.
“Working as much as I did, when we went on vacation, it was like the first time I got to truly shut down and totally disconnect,” she said. “I think that’s why the beach is so meaningful to me. I just want to bring nature into your house. My art is beachy, but I want (to make) something functional, too.”
Michelle Wright, who launched her business, Rushing River Design, in the early 2000s, is a regular participant at art shows around the Pacific Northwest. Her work is on display at several Clark County businesses, including the Camas Cheese Co. in downtown Camas and Pop Local in Vancouver.
“To make a difference and be creative is so amazing,” Michelle Wright said. “I smile a lot more here when I’m doing my art, just because it makes me happy. It’s just so satisfying. I love talking to people about it. I love being a teacher and getting kids interested in or excited about art.”
This year’s studio art tour will feature a punch card, designed to help entice people to visit at least half of the art studios on the tour, which will allow them to enter a drawing to win a prize basket filled with artwork from participating artists. People who visit every studio on the tour will receive two entries, Bishop said, adding that the prize basket is worth more than $1,000.
