Mask maker’s studio highlight of Camano tour

People travel to the Camano Island Studio Tour as much to explore the sweeping seascapes and laid-back lifestyle as for the fabulous art.

So as you make your way down the shoreline of this 15-mile island, be sure to stay committed, otherwise you’ll miss out on some amazing views along with one of the island’s character residents and his marvelous masks.

Mixed media and dream mask artist Jeffrey Zigulis is one of the 62 artists sharing their craft during the 14th annual Camano Island Studio Tour.

This self-guided event offers visitors a peek into 37 art studios and galleries to watch artists in action and to learn about how art, from ceramics to pastels, is created.

Zigulis has his studio way at the south end of Camano Island, where spotting the Saratoga Passage is a sure thing from his yard.

“After you get here you’ll either need a nap or a cocktail,” Zigulis said.

Zigulis will leave it up to the visitors whether or not they thought the trip was worth it.

“If it were me, I’d walk right in here and walk right out. Actually, I wouldn’t get out of the car,” Zigulis cracked.

Despite his wacky, oftentimes self-deprecating sense of humor, Zigulis is a master of the mask.

Zigulis began his art life as a potter, with functional pottery evolving more into sculpture.

“I have always made stuff, and for me it was figuring out the process not the product,” Zigulis said. “That’s what is so exciting for me … the problem solving.”

One problem that needed solving was how to stop Zigulis’ then young son, Matthew, and his classmates, from having nightmares.

From that problem sprouted the dream masks, which became presents for the kids to ward off the nighttime willies.

Fast forward to today when young Matthew Zigulis is now a teacher in Bellingham. His mom, Nancy, and dad have since moved to Camano from California, and Jeff Zigulis has expanded his mask-making beyond dream masks and into several mask series.

With each series he makes, Zigulis changes up the look. Some of the masks are powerful and kind of scary. Others are more playful and filled with whimsy.

“It’s the weird deal with masks. For so many mask collectors they resonate with people, whether it’s the ceremonial stuff or representational,” Zigulis said.

“There’s something primal about them. Or could be the color, or they remind you of relatives. Some people hate ‘em.”

That may be. But others definitely love them.

One fan in particular has 16 of Zigulis’ masks.

“That’s just sick, huh?” Zigulis asked.

The woman works for Morgan Stanley financial services and is now interested in Zigulis’ newest series of masks: the Money Series.

To create these, Zigulis “paints” the masks in foreign currency. He has to copy the real money to turn it into paper before it can be adhered to the mask’s clay surface.

“It was another adventure into color,” Zigulis said.

His other mask series include the abstract Painted Mask Series, the Japanese Paper Series made from sophisticated silk-screen washi paper and the Totem Series of graphic shapes.

The masks are similar in that they come with puckered lips and wiry hair. They are all also an outward expression of Zigulis’ finely tuned sense of color.

Zigulis, a surfer and fisherman, says visits to Maui and Molokai have helped him expand his color palette.

“I’ve evolved my own color sense, and I keep a color wheel nearby when I’m working to recheck and check to see how far off I am,” Zigulis said.

Though masks have become his signature artwork, Zigulis recently deviated from them to create what he is calling clay “sculptural pods” — elegant pea-pod shaped statues coated in cool, almost metallic-looking greens, silvers and blues.

“It’s a departure from the masks,” Zigulis said, “but it’s a vehicle for me. You know, I get to screwing around. I get bored pretty quick.”

Studio tour

To visit Jeff Zigulis and his studio during the tour go to 3943 Country Lane, Camano Island, or visit him on the web at www.jeffzigulismasks.com.

The 14th Annual Camano Island Studio Tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 19 and 20. Maps for the free, self-guided tour can be downloaded from www.camanoarts.org or obtained from local businesses. Call Gayle at 425-359-7974 for information.

Island time

While you’re there you can visit Camano Island State Park and Cama Beach State Park for hiking and walking trails or beach exploring. There’s also Freedom Park for the kids next to the Camano Gateway Tourist Information Center. Freedom Park has a playground, picnic areas and sculptures.

Historic Stanwood offers Heritage Park and Church Creek Park in town where two studio tour galleries are located. A third Stanwood studio is a short distance from town near Lake Ketchum.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Photo courtesy of Graphite Arts Center
Amelia DiGiano’s photography is part of the “Seeing Our Planet” exhibit, which opens Friday and runs through Aug. 9 at the Graphite Arts Center in Edmonds.
A&E Calendar for July 10

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members Doug Symonds and Alysia Obina on Monday, March 3, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How to grow for show: 10 tips for prize-winning dahlias

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members share how they tend to their gardens for the best blooms.

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

The 2025 Audi A3 premium compact sedan (Provided by Audi).
2025 Audi A3 upgradesdesign and performance

The premium compact sedan looks sportier, acts that way, too.

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

Kathy Johnson walks over a tree that has been unsuccessfully chainsawed along a CERCLA road n the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How Roadless Rule repeal could affect forests like Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie

The Trump administration plans to roll back a 2001 rule protecting over 58 million acres of national forest, including areas in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie area.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.