Shows in September

It's going to be a busy September!  First off, I'm happy to say that my entry She Weeps was juried in to the 3rd Annual ICON show at Hanson Scott Gallery, 121 Prefontaine Pl S, in Seattle's Pioneer Square.  (map)  The First Thursday Artwalk is happening on September 5th, from 5 to 8 PM.  Also, on September 14th there will be an Awards Reception, from 5 to 7 PM.  The Hanson Scott Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 to 5.

I will be attending the show and Artwalk on September 5th.  I hope you'll stop by to say hello and check out this eclectic show with the many interpretations depicting the theme,  ICON.  It's sure to be fabulous and the Pioneer Square Artwalk is always a fun thing to do!

 

She Weeps  © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord  8" x 10"

She Weeps is a new work on claybord using graphite and carbon pencil with just a bit of added color using colored pencil and acrylic paint .  I have been wanting to explore drawing on different substrates.  It was different working on a surface this hard, especially after using the gliding buttery-ness of film.  This one almost ended up in the reject pile until my order for some carbon pencils arrived.  It was just what I needed in my drawing, some dramatic darks!  I was impressed with the amount of darkness I could add to the already saturated area of graphite.  I'm happy with it now and may even use the claybord again with graphite, only this time I'll use the carbon for my darkest places. I am even thinking I would like to go larger next time! As usual, the forest was inspired by one of our many great hikes here in the Pacific Northwest!

 

I'm so happy to announce that Janie Olsen and I are doing a show together titled, Charmed, at Wise Design in September!  I will be exhibiting my works of mermaid, fairies, wood nymphs and a few of my trees, many works from the series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities.  I know that Janie Olsen will have all of my favorites of her fabulous pieces in the show!  This is a great opportunity to see many of my works together side by side.  I usually only have a few at a time in any one show.  It will be exciting to be to be showing them all together as a group AND alongside Janie Olsen's imaginative work!!

Charmed Art Exhibit -  September 2013 at Wise Design 2908 Wetmore Ave Everett, WA Reception at the Everett Artwalk - Third Saturday, September 21st, 2013 from 4 to 7.  I'll be in attendance so come by and say hi.  Hope you will be "Charmed" by our work!

**Please note, I am having a lot of problems writing this because Blogger keeps adding code that messes up the format!  I have spent more time than it should have taken to write this and was very happy to share my news with you, only to have ended up becoming very frustrated!!   I do hope this turns out readable and I do thank you for taking the time to read about my work. 

"Lady and the Dragon" - Meyers Cafe

Lady and the Dragon  © Barbara A. Freeman

 Graphite and Mixed Media on Film  3 3/8" x 5 3/8"

 
Each summer for the month of August, local artist Shannon Leah Danks curates a show at Meyers Cafe at the Marina in Everett.  This year the theme, The Extraordinary Ordinary, is an eclectic mix featuring work inspired by the everyday, ordinary that becomes the extraordinary!  The show by local artists using a variety of styles and mediums, runs the entire month of August.  Meyers Cafe, a beautiful place to have lunch or brunch, is located at The Everett Marina, 1700 West Marine View Drive, Everett, WA. The Everett Marina is also the location of the Sunday Farmers' Market! Be sure to see the show during your visit! All work is for sale ... support your local artist!

My entry for the show, Lady and the Dragon, is a new graphite and mixed media drawing on film.  This work is not a fine art miniature because it is not to 1/6th scale. 

From the Association of Miniature Artists [AMA], "most contemporary societies have adopted a one-sixth scale guideline: Subjects should be rendered one-sixth their life-size or smaller with some leeway given to naturally small subjects (hummingbirds, butterflies and delicate flowers)."  

It would be difficult indeed to draw a tiny dragonfly to 1/6th scale, let alone a ladybug! However, this work was done in the "spirit of a miniature".  I consider it a "small work".   Work done on film does not always scan well and with this one, the color appears lighter than it does in person.  As I do with most of my drawings on film, the image is drawn on one side in graphite.  I then turn the work over and use colored pencil to add color to the work on the back side.  Then lastly, I return to the front side and add a bit of acrylic interference color to the wings of the dragonfly. They sparkle and glow as you view the work from different angles.  

I know I have not been as current in blogging as I would like.  I am still trying to catch up from all the time I had been away from home and studio.  New artwork has been slow in coming, trying to find time to be in my "creative head space"!  Life does have a way of taking you on detours.  I think the best way to cope is to look for new opportunities in the detours and keep an open mind.  I do hope to get back on track! 

Next month, I am so excited to be doing a show titled, "Charmed", with Janie Olsen at Wise Designz!  Details to follow in the next blog post.  Hope you will come back to read all about it.  Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope you get a chance to stop by Meyers Cafe and see The Extraordinary Ordinary!