Second Place Miniatures! Mountlake Terrace Art Show

A Touch of Autumn, © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Polymin, 2 1/8" x 3 1/4"

We went to the 31st Annual Mountlake Terrace Juried Art Show, Reception and Awards Ceremony, on Friday evening. What a nice reception they put on! My Second Place in Miniature Award was for A Touch of Autumn, one of my new miniatures. I'm happy it was for this one, as I sure put a lot of work into it. Working on polymin for me is rather tricky. It's good to know that my frustrations of laying on many layers and building them up slowly, paid off! A nice sized crowd showed up spilling into the various rooms in the library's galleries. The awards ceremony was held in the library itself, while the art was on exhibit in two separate galleries off the library lobby. Paintings, drawings, 3D, etc., was set up in one room and photography in a smaller room. An additional room off the larger gallery was opened up to serve food and drink after the ceremony. There were a few tables and chairs set up for folks who wished to sit, and lovely chamber music supplied by students to further the enjoyment. I love the way all the small communities here have their art festivals. They all have a different personality with an enthusiastic group of community volunteers. A note of interest, my friend Janie Olsen won an Honorable Mention for her miniature, Baby Stripes. Congratulations Janie!

An Award at Mountlake Terrace 31st Annual Juried Art Show!

I just got an email reminder from the Chair of the Mountlake Terrace Arts Commission for the reception and awards ceremony tomorrow night, Friday, at 7 for the Mountlake Terrace 31st Annual Juried Art Show. It stated that I have won an award!! How Exciting! We are of course, planning on being there. This is my first year entering this show. I don't know which work nor which miniature art award, so I'll have to wait and see! I'll add it to my blog as soon as I know. Hope to see you there!

Painting, Deadlines, & Shows

I've been chained in my studio trying to get work done for the deadlines fast approaching! Right now I am working on a painting on polymin to submit to MASF. That deadline is on October 9th, so that means the work needs to be out the door by the 5th or 6th, which is really close! The new work is another from my miniature Italian landscape series. I also just finished one (also an Italian landscape) on gessobord that is ready for the isolation coat and varnish. Besides those two, I also have a graphite on film piece that is in the works, but not quite finished. So you see, not much time for blogging, unfortunately. I also miss reading and seeing all the new work my blogger friends are doing. I know you all are doing wonderful work and can't wait to see them!

A reminder, this Friday is the Artists and Patrons Preview from 7 to 9pm with an Awards Ceremony at 7:30 at the Mountlake Terrace Show. I'll be attending.

Also, I've been asked to participate in a show with small works and miniatures at a local community college. More details on that later, so stay tuned.

I also have a few photos for the Elder Street Gallery, It's a Small World Exhibit in Houston and what my daughter thought of the show! (She loved it!) She sent them in an email, so I'll be sorting them and posting real soon.

TWO Art Openings and Receptions Tonight!

If I could be in two places at once, now would be one of those times. Tonight is the opening reception for the exhibit "Alice in Wonder-Lowell", Fables, Fairy Tales and the Fallout, at the Lowell Art Works, 5205 S. 2nd Ave, in Everett. The opening party, from 4 - 9PM is part of the Everett Art Walk. My two pieces in this show are, Our Neck of the Woods , and The Dwelling Place, be sure to look for them. I'll be there and I'd love to meet you. Arr, and don't forget matey, it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Another art opening I'd love to go to is also tonight. It's at the Elder Street Gallery's First Annual International Miniature Art Show, It's a Small World, in Houston, TX. I won't be able to be there, however, my daughter, Gina will be going. She's so excited because this is the first miniature art show she's ever had the opportunity to see in person and she gets to see Mom's work, I have 5 in this show! She's seen some of my miniature work (owns a couple), and of course seen other shows online. But tonight she will get a close up view of some of the work of the top names in miniature art! I wish I could be there with her. She's also going to take some photos of the reception, so keep a look out as you may see them posted here! The show, It's a Small World, Elder Street Gallery, 1101 Elder Street, Houston is hosting the reception tonight, from 5 - 10 PM. Sounds like a great show, and I know Gina will have a great time!

"Alice in Wonder- Lowell" Local Art Opening

Janie Olsen and Eden Hopkins both told me they were going to submit work to this show, and Janie said she thought my work would fit as well. So I decided to check it out, and took my two pieces, Our Neck of the Woods , and The Dwelling Place , to Lowell Art Works for their show, "Alice in WonderLowell", Fables, Fairy Tales and the Fallout. It's in the SoLo District, south of Lowell Park in Everett's historic Lowell neighborhood, near the railroad tracks and overlooking the Snohomish River. This will be an interesting and very different kind of show for me. I'm not sure if my work will fit with the "fallout" part, but these two works do get one's imagination going. I'm looking forward to it, sounds like a fun time! Lowell Art Works, 5205 S. 2nd Ave., Everett, WA. September 19th through October 11th. Opening party and part of the Everett Art Walk, September 19th, 4 - 9 PM. Gallery hours for the show, Saturdays 1 - 5 PM, and Sundays, 1 - 4 PM. Hope to see you there!

Happy Anniversary!

Just a little personal note to wish my in-laws Herb and Mary Louise Freeman a Very Happy 69th Wedding Anniversary! They are such an inspiration!

First Place! and Local Shows

Last night was the Artists' Reception at the 6th Annual Arts of Snohomish Gallery Juried Art Show. I had three miniatures, Buddha in the Pacific Northwest, Joey, and The Old Barn in this show, (this was the first year they included a miniature art catagory). It was a small show of carefully chosen works by two jurors, Trish Harding and Ted Pankowski. Even though it had been a very warm and beautiful day, the early evening heat didn't keep folks away from the show. It was a nice gathering of artists and friends, as well as people just dropping in from outside the street to see what the fuss was all about. The show was very eclectic with styles ranging from anime, sharp hyper-realism, loose flowing watercolors, soft focus pastels and everything in between including throughout the exhibit, a few 3 dimensional pieces.

Now the best news for me was that my work, Buddha in the Pacific Northwest took First Place in Miniatures!!! Yay! That was exciting for me and I was glad that this particular piece was given First Place. I had felt it was a strong piece from the time I created it and hoped it would reach out to others. The juror, Trish Harding said some good things about the work, she used the word, "fullness" when describing it.

It was great seeing friends and all the work in the show. I always enjoy the music, and the mix of friendly folks of all ages. This is a jewel of a gallery with many hard working artists that keep it running smoothly. The show continues through September 27th. Check it out and don't forget to view the miniatures up close.

Arts of Snohomish Gallery, downtown Snohomish, WA, 105 Cedar Avenue. For more information please call 306.568.8648.

Another local show I've had my work accepted in is the 2009 Arts of the Terrace, in Mountlake Terrace. I'll have three miniature pieces in this show, a new show for me. One of my miniatures and two of my larger works were rejected, so I'll be interested to see the look of the exhibit. My three miniature works in this show are, Moss and Mushrooms, Sunday Afternoon, and the new piece, acrylic on polymin, A Touch of Autumn. I'll be delivering these on Friday and will have more information on this exhibit later.

The Gallery At Fells Point, MD, 26th Annual Miniature Art Show

This weekend I shipped my three submissions to The Art Gallery at Fells Point, in Maryland, for their 26th Annual North American Miniature Art Exhibit. Hopefully, they will arrive by the 9th, the deadline is the 10th. The gallery is an artists' cooperative, located in the heart of historic Baltimore. It looks like a beautiful location. Below are my three miniature submissions, Some Memories Never Fade, "Rhodie" With Bee, and a new painting, All Washed Up.

Some Memories Never Fade Colored Pencil on Film 2 5/8" x 1 1/2"

All Washed UP Acrylic on Multi-media Art Board 2 9/16" x 3 9/16"

"Rhodie" With Bee Colored Pencil and Iridescent Acrylics on Film
2 3/4" x 3 3/4"

My entry, "Rhodie" With Bee, could possibly be rejected because it does not fit the *1/6th scale rule of a miniature, (see AMA Guidelines below). It would be difficult to paint this image 1/6th of it's actual size and have the same impact that I was going for. I wanted to make it an intimate view of the bee with it's iridescent wings inside the flower. What attracted me in the first place was the way the light hit the flower and then the bee deciding at that moment to fly in, was a gifted moment. ** However, some miniature shows do allow the work in the show if it was painted "in the "spirit of miniature". This certainly was done in that spirit, meeting with all the other requirements. As a member of the Association of Miniature Artists, (AMA), I want to be sure that I am upholding their standards. I don't know if The Fells Point Gallery will notify the artist if their work has been juried in or not. I do hope this work will be accepted though.

The Art Gallery at Fells Point, 26th Annual North American Miniature Art Exhibition, 1716 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD. Show opens September 29th through October 31st. Phone: 410.327.1272. Judge for the show, Margaret Graham Kranking

**For example, the average size of the human head is 9 inches. At one sixth actual size, the head would be 9/6 inches = 1 ½ inches. Subjects too small to portray at one sixth scale may still meet the spirit of a miniature if the work meets the other criteria for a miniature.

AMA Guidelines: While the AMA recognizes and encourages individuality, experimentation and future changes in the miniature art movement the AMA exists to provide a common ground among members especially in the context of defining their work to the public. As a member of the AMA you choose to agree with the following statements:

1. Given the historical foundation of traditional miniature art, I will strive to understand it better for the promotion, preservation and advancement of the art form.

2. Given the perplex multiple definitions of the term Miniature today, I choose to adhere to the following tenets to describe and distinguish traditional miniature work and when possible, will adhere to them in creating, displaying, and marketing artwork as a ‘miniature’:

*•Minute in scale vs. life sized. For practicality following the general 1/6th scale for my work sent to formal miniature exhibitions and shows.

•Delicate and painstaking technique that withstands magnification.

•Small in format and size. 25 inches or less for surface area. Sculpture should fit inside an 8″x8″x8″ cube including the base.

•High in quality. The work should exemplify Fine Art ~ demonstrating a mastery of composition, color, values etc.

3. Given my concern for the future of the miniature art form I will do my best to educate artists and the public about the historical and current miniature art movement, contribute work to the exhibitions and volunteer when possible with the existing societies, shows and online forums as interaction with fellow artists is key to better understanding and continued advancement of the genre. My membership in the AMA will continue as long as I work in the miniature art genre and adhere with the statements and tenets.

Artists' Reception - Of Clocks and Crows - Last Night

Last night Wayne and I went to the artists' reception at the Arts Council of Snohomish County for the Of Clocks and Crows Exhibit in downtown Everett. What a fun and interesting show it was! Crows and clocks were the theme, of course, and as you can imagine, there were many wonderful interpretations. In addition to all the fine artwork, I saw stuffed crows on shoulders, crows as hand puppets, and even a crow perched on a dog wearing wings! There were several pieces I drooled over and if times were different and we had the means, they would be in our collection! Something that puzzles me though, is not having available a list of the participating artists along with the title of their work so that you can remember who did what later. Are shows no longer doing this? Seems the last few shows I've been to, didn't have a list. So, therefore, I don't always remember everyone I met, nor the work that they did.

I did see my friend Janie Olsen and her husband Bill. Janie had two of her magical crow and goat paintings in the show. She introduced me to another artist, Eden Hopkins, who it turned out is actually a follower of this blog! We had never met, so it was fun meeting. Hi Eden! Another coincedence was, like me, Eden used a crow and a sundial in her painting! Nice work too Eden! Eden and Janie will also be in the 6th Annual Arts of Snohomish Exhibit in Snohomish which opened September 1st. That reception will be on Saturday the 12th. So I'll see you two there.

Along with Janie and Eden, I met another artist, Chi Stewart, or Chi Chi as she is known. She did a lovely crow still life with rich dramatic colors and red drapery. She and her son Jason were asking about the surface for my piece, Finding Time. I was trying to explain about the Dura-lar Matte film, so if she gets to read this, she can follow the link. I hope someday to blog about Dura-lar Matte film and how I use it with colored pencil and/or graphite. It's on my to do list.

Another artist I met, Rebecca Roush, did wonderful mixed media beadwork. One of her works was a very large detailed piece, reminding me of a mosaic but with using beads and threads. She even had real crows feet attached to it. I love collecting such things and so I was fascinated as to how she finds them. I liked the way she said she treated the already dead crows and buried them with respect. One of Rebecca's statements on her website is exactly what I say when people tell me I must be a very patient person to do miniatures, or the detailed drawings I do. Rebecca says, " Patience is not a factor. For me, the experience is more like meditating." So true!

I wish I could have taken photos. It was a nice crowd, good food and great flute music. The show will be up from now until October 20th. If you get a chance, be sure to check it out before it flies out the door!