In July, VALISE Gallery will present “Three Artists, Three Visions,” an exhibit featuring the drawings and paintings of Vashon artists Pascale Judet, Dot Cherch and Sharon Shaver.

In their latest works, the three artists explore the life and joy that animals and the natural world bring to our shared experience.

Sharon Shaver’s work almost always includes appearances by animals, fish, mountains, humans, and trees, with the humans usually much smaller in relationship to everyone else. She explained that “years of living in Alaska where humans are few and salmon and bear, moose and old-growth forests are plentiful, taught me to see differently.”

Dot Cherch’s new collections of miniatures feature Vashon’s magnificent Blue Herons. Each of her paintings portrays the herons of the island in scenes set at the water’s edge, flying overhead, or perched in towering trees.

Pascale Judet’s work is based on ink drawings colored with pencil and augmented with cut-out images. According to Judet, the process of making the works was a slow and peaceful project that took place over the past two years.

“I felt that I was revisiting somewhat lonely moments from this period and adding life and joy with the images of birds, boats, and houses, all favorite themes of mine,” she said.

During July, VALISE Gallery will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. The opening reception will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 1, and the show can be previewed on Friday afternoon. The show runs through Saturday, July 30. VALISE Artist Collective and Gallery is located in downtown Vashon, at 17633 Vashon Highway SW.