Parkhurst Paper Arts is home base for native Pacific Northwest artist, Randi Parkhurst. Randi is a full-time arts instructor and artist, specializing in book arts, paper arts, watercolor, acrylic and collage. Her work is featured at galleries and art shows throughout the Northwest. Randi lives in the Puget Sound area of Washington State with her husband and their trusty sidekick, Ruby the Chihuahua.

Randi's latest work includes books in boxes, made exclusively from her own handmade, marbled and/or embellished papers. You won't find the papers in her work in any store! These books challenge the perception of what a book is by stretching the limits of traditional book binding techniques and sculpture methods. The Evergreen State College Library has acquired two of Randi's books for their Rare Books Room collection.

Her unique and innovative collage technique utilizes illustrations from 1910s schoolbooks, postage stamps from the WWII era and her own handcrafted papers. There is a sense of fun and an appreciation for nature in her work.

“I am happy to say I do my creative work full-time. Texture, whimsy and something unexpected are what I use to keep the viewer (and myself!) interested in my work. I strive for fine craftsmanship in each piece. I pay close attention to detail,” says Randi.

Randi is a self-taught artist and continues to learn new techniques by attending art workshops and intensives around the country.

Randi also teaches art workshops in the fine arts and crafts fields. Students enjoy individual or group classes on watercolor painting, collage, paper embellishment and card-making. When asked about teaching, Randi says,  

Spring Evening - Acrylic and Collage

"I encourage would-be artists and those artists who have put aside their talent, for whatever reason, to find that creative person inside them. It is one of my greatest joys to see that 'ah-ha moment' on the face of one of my students. I learn so much from them, too."