My Ozzie the Cat painting was juried into an art exhibit at the artEAST Art Center in Issaquah, WA called Creature Comforts featuring art of pets. She’s even represented on the announcement for the show linked HERE and shown below. I’ll be at the reception on Saturday May 26, 2012 in the 95 Front Street North gallery from 6pm -8pm. The show will continue until July 17 with several pet related activities. Cheers to pets of all kinds!
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I just added a new painting to my fine art site in the watercolor gallery. It’s a portrait of Ozzie, my cat for 15 years, whose grace and presence enhanced whatever space she chose to occupy. Ozzie The Cat is my first attempt at painting a furry creature in pure watercolor, and I found it extremely challenging to represent the texture yet softness of the fur and the complexity of the background patterns. With a subject for painting that is close to my heart the magic of bringing it to life in a new (and permanent) way is very gratifying. It goes beyond the representation of beauty in art to warming the spirit of love.
As a watercolor instructor at Bellevue College I get to start a new half sheet painting every quarter in order to explain the process of developing a painting from a drawing or photo. I need to pick compositions that require some masking and texture to demonstrate, then, after that, its up to me to finish my paintings as my class time and attention is focused on coaching each student’s process. Teaching has spurred me back into painting realistically from photo references, which I did early in my own training as a watercolor painter before stylizing my art for a career in the illustration market. I’m trying varied subject matter that will help me coach my students through working on their own chosen images, which have included beloved pets. I’m starting to discover what subjects I enjoy spending lots of time with through painting.
Some of my student’s work from recent classes is posted on this blog.
Once again the Watercolor for Illustration students in my class at Bellevue College came up with some very accomplished paintings, many for their first try at watercolor. They worked on half sheets of Arches 140# cold press paper (15″ x 22″) enlarging compositions from a photo or photo collage and practiced a variety of watercolor techniques to create finished paintings. Many were not quite finished by the end of the course. I’ll post those later if they are sent to me. Here are the paintings that were finished, or close enough, to see the skill and challenges they brought to their chosen image using this difficult medium. I’m so inspired by them!
Reflected Mountain watercolor by Antony Marquez
Fallen Leaf watercolor by Ashba Zulfiqar
Above the Methow watercolor by Melissa Firuz
Cottages watercolor by Chelsea Lasater-unfinished
South of the Border watercolor by Kalen Lily Wong-unfinished
Cross Knee Sumi - Brush & Ink on Rives BFK tan paper
This month I’ll have some unframed sumi paintings available at the Madison Art Collective including 4 half sheet figure paintings on Rives BFK tan paper. I’ll also have some animal sumi paintings including horses, birds, fish and a crab.
Running Horse - Sumi on rice paper
There’s a reception Saturday Feb 4 from 2-5:00 pm at 2703 E Madison Street in Seattle for the featured oil painter, Jeanne Edwards, and the jewelry designer, Heather Kraft. Come by if you can or anytime you are near the Madison Valley neighborhood. Two of my close artist friends also have stunning work on display…. Pat Clayton with her oil landscapes, and Ellen Rutledge with her unique etchings with chine colle & collage
It’s the day after a horrible accident where my son was hit by a car breaking his perfect front teeth. Following an evening in the ER and an afternoon at the dentist, I found myself showing this painting to my watercolor students. I’d brought it to discuss the usefulness of color comps to explore background color options before starting to paint, as I’d saved the studies. Then the tooth connection clicked! Remember when it was exciting to lose your teeth? It’s no fun when you are 27. May the tooth fairy bring you a generous treat, Adrien. That’s her in the window of the house across the street, witnessing the loss of your tooth. The painting was part of a proposal for a children’s book by Cooper Edens.
Dara McKinley describes our serendipitous collaboration on her web site. Dara always makes me feel like a goddess and is a joy to work with. We saw this image grow from a t-shirt idea, coming soon, to her realization that this image embodied her identity and now appears on her newly designed web site, VOLVER-Returning to Our Feminine Essense.
Sandy Haight is a fine artist who designed the sumi logo for this site. I first saw her art in a local gallery and immediately contacted her about creating a t-shirt. My logo above was the first image she sent me. I opened the file and to my pleasant surprise discovered that she drew my ass:) I had no need to look any further. “She” was the one. Sandy is a dream to work/create with and has a beautiful gift for the sensuality of nature and art.
This sumi-e figure was created for a show at ArtEast Gallery in Issaquah, WA where artists were invited to draw the figure on 1/2 sheets of tan Rives BFK paper to create a unified figure show titled Drawing on Observation. I went to a life drawing session with my biggest sumi brushes and a stack of the sturdy paper and had some fun results, seen here.
My painting titled “Dark Face” sold at the Unclad show in Stanwood! Here’s the piece.
Seattle Symphony
I’m pleased to be represented in 3 juried art exhibits opening this month. Maybe one will cross your path.
1. Parkland Art Gallery in Kirkland, WA. The show is Local Color featuring local artists depicting local scenes—opening tonight from 6-8 through April 3 at 130 Park Lane, Kirkland WA 98033. An illustration I did for the Seattle Symphony is included….very local. Its special to me that something I did as an illustration is suitable for a gallery. My friend, Pat Clayton, has 3 beautiful oil paintings in this show as well. I’m teaching tonight and won’t be at the reception.
2. Unclad-The Fine Art of the Figure in Stanwood, WA. Opening this Saturday March 12th for 2 weeks, this is the 10th anniversary of the show, and my 4th year participating with my figure work. I have a sumi figure painting juried into the show and many, unframed sumi and watercolor figure paintings and cards in the gift shop. See the show online at http://www.uncladart.com. Its at Gallery by the Bay 8700 271st NW, Stanwood, WA 98292 in the charming old part of Stanwood. This Saturday there will be live music from 2-5, so a fun time to visit the show.
3. The biggest honor is being juried into the NW Watercolor Society’s 2011 Annual Open Exhibition where only a quarter of the entries from around the country were accepted. It opens March 24 through May 13, reception at 6 -8pm on the 24th at the Mercer View Gallery, Mercer Community Center 8236 SE 24th St Mercer Island, WA 98040. Its an all watercolor show. My class will be ended by then and I’ll be at the crowded reception. My painting “Abandoned Red Shoes” will be displayed.
“Pup Walk”
