Artists Mary Jo Oxrieder and Windwalker Taibi liken the creative process to a turtle sticking out its neck: That’s how progress is achieved.

In their show of new art, “Weaving and Wonder: Imagination Without Limits,” these two artists show where their creative process has taken them by displaying bold new acrylic paintings, mixed-media tapestry wall hangings and table-runners, hand-carved medicine stick and pendants, gemstone necklaces, and “Faery” houses, including “Gate to the Enchanted Forest,” the latest of original paintings in Oxrieder’s Fantasy Homes series.

An opening reception is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Raven Rocks Studio, 220 First St., Langley.

The show is described as an exploration and discovery of the artists’ passion for life and unlimited possibility.

Also on view are the Northwest Native artworks “Raven Dance Mask” by Tony Hunt Jr. and “Two Finned Killer Whale” serigraph by Robert Davidson, a revivalist of traditional Haida design.

Gets no respect: This art show features more than 24 colored pencil works that might cause viewers to ask: “Is that really colored pencil?”

Artist Gary Greene, who calls the colored pencil the Rodney Dangerfield of art media and hopes to expand the limits of colored pencil as a medium, shows off his work in “That’s Colored Pencil?”

The show opens with a public reception from 5 to 8 tonight and the works will be on display until Sept. 11 at Kaewyn Gallery, 10101 Main St., Bothell.

Greene uses a luscious color palette and pioneering style in his work. He said he travels internationally to “spread the gospel of colored pencil,” giving workshops, teaching classes and promoting the colored pencil media. He is the author of nine books and has produced five instructional videos.

A natural talent: The paintings of mixed media artist Michelle Bear, compiled in a body of work called “Sense of Place,” are being shown through August by the Edmonds Arts Commission.

The exhibit may be viewed through Aug. 30 at the Edmonds Library, 650 Main St., Edmonds.

Bear uses acrylic paint, oil pastels and collage in bold, colorful application to depict, she says, a sense of place on which we ground ourselves. Bear has a way of capturing nature in her work that appeals to our notions of conservation and of boundaries.

Keeper of the art: The art show O.A.K.s (Our Artist Keeper) has just opened, the first of its kind for this group with future ones promised, artist and organizer Shannon Danks said.

The show will run through August at Meyers Cafe, 1700-C W. Marine View Drive, Everett.

The show includes 38 artists with some recognized names and some artists who are showing for the first time, Danks said.

Artists in action: About 40 artists will be participating and some will even demonstrate their techniques during Paint La Conner.

The art show and sale runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a silent auction and refreshments from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Maple Hall, 108 Commercial St., La Conner.

Creating an artistic dialogue: “A Common Language: Seattle/Shenzhen,” is an exhibition of work by artists from Guangdong Province, China and is an artist-initiated cultural exchange to bring together artists from China and the United States.

This exhibition and cultural exchange runs through Sept. 1 at Gallery 110, 110 S. Washington St., Seattle.

The exhibit features works by artists and academics from Shenzhen Art Institute and the College of Art and Design at Shenzhen University.

Here, there and everywhere: David Mayden has traveled a lot and has made capturing his travels in photos his passion.

A photography display of his work will be shown through September at Kaladis, 551 E. Pike St., Seattle.

Mayden, born in Chicago’s south side, has been to remote areas of the Earth and to the heart of cities. He said everywhere he goes, he tries to capture a human element and the poetry of the moment.

Scratching out a living: Seattle artist Michelle Salazar scratches text, symbols and lines into multimedia work, sometimes invoking the iconic and erotically charged image of a cowboy or a cowgirl to express feelings of courage, loneliness, rebellion and heartbreak.

Salazar will be showing her work through September at Uncle Elizabeth’s, 1123 Pike St., Seattle.

“Hidden Masters”: The third annual group show of Northwest African-American Fine Arts features 20 artists on the theme of “Hidden Masters: The Life and Times of Northwest African American Artists.”

A reception kicks off the show from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Art/Not Terminal Gallery, 2045 Westlake Ave., Seattle.

“Two Finned Killer Whale,” Robert Davidson