From her home overlooking Willapa Bay, this artist draws inspiration from nature when casting decorative wildlife tile. Her personal touch is evident in every piece of custom tile, perfectly suited for home or business. Call (360) 665-4763 for an appointment or e-mail (renee@willapabaytile.com) or visit her Web site at (www.willapabaytile.com)

Tell us about Willapa Bay Tile and Design.

“I create hand-made art tiles and do a lot of custom installations for kitchens, bathrooms, floors, fireplaces and anywhere you would use tiles. Some are suitable for outdoors. I have done quite a few public art pieces. I have some work at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco (Wash.) and a six foot diameter Mandala tile at Rainier View Park in Sumner, Wash. Eight years ago I created the 10 foot tall obelisks in front of Marsh’s Free Museum in Long Beach (Wash.) and 25 sidewalk mosaics depicting the natural history of Long Beach. My work has been featured in Sunset Magazine Coastal Living and Coast Style magazines, as well as Ceramics Monthly.”

How did you get into this business?

“I have been doing this since 1976. I did a lot of ceramics in high school. I was always doing art as a kid. I graduated from the San Francisco State University with a degree in art. I had a tile business when we lived in Cambria, Calif. During that time, I visited Hearst Castle in San Simeon many times. I worked with the master tile restoration specialist there who taught me many of the mold making techniques that I use today. One of my first tile commissions was William Randolph Hearst Jr.’s guest house in the hills above the castle. In 1988 we moved up here and took over my husband’s parents’ motel in Long Beach and went crazy for five years. I have had my studio here by the bay for 20 years now.”

What can you tell us about your style?

“I do a lot of sea life and Pacific Northwest related tiles and mosaics. Each tile is pounded by hand or made from an original mold. The look I try to have is one of consistency, but not machine-made. The beauty is that you can see the hand of the artist. Also, I have spent years researching and perfecting the use of materials such as vitreous clay, durable glazes, concrete and steel that are appropriate to the environment where they are being used. My installations hold up very well.”

What is your volume of business like?

“My volume ranges from not being very busy at times to being swamped.”

Tell us something about your fees?

“I am more expensive than some and there are tiles more expensive than mine. My work is very reasonable for art. You don’t have to spend a lot on tile. A four-inch relief, multicolor tile, something that can be added to department store tile for example, would cost from $22 to $30. I create a lot of gift items like sushi plates that can be hung from the wall. They cost from $24 to $30.”

What was your biggest project?

“I would say that the biggest is the obelisks, and the mosaics on the sidewalk in Long Beach. I also did a large residential that included four bathrooms, the entry way and a custom mural in the kitchen. I also do lots of tiny jobs, like the decorative add-on tiles.”

Do you give classes?

“Not right now. I have done a lot of workshops for kids. People should see the big, 30-foot mural at Ilwaco High School. I was lead artist but the high school kids did the whole thing. It was part of the Confluence Projects in the schools.”