Update - Forest with Dragonfly Graphite on Dura-lar Matte WIP

Above is the progress I've made in the "forest with dragonfly", graphite work. As you can see it doesn't look like I've made MUCH progress. I'm actually getting frustrated since I should have been finished with this by now! However, I am happy with the way it is turning out. The dark area at the bottom is difficult to keep smooth when I rush though it so I'm having to slow down and be mindful of the strokes and not get too dark too soon. I certainly don't want to create problems at this stage of the work!! After I finish the dark shadow under the trees, I need to add more old leaves, stones and twigs and also complete the log on the right. Then I still need to clean up spots and smooth out areas, before moving on to the final fun part, adding some color! Almost there! In the meantime...

It's been quite a busy two weekends, with the Edmonds Arts Festival and LiveARTS Bothell, dropping off work, picking up work and then going to the receptions and meeting up with artist friends! Yesterday I dropped off another piece for the upcoming show, Art of the Garden, happening at the Arts Council of Snohomish County due to open July 8th. I'll have more information on that later. As I've stated before, I'm still working on my graphite on film work, "forest with dragonfly". It's difficult sometimes getting the flow going when you have so many interruptions, even the good kind! I have several deadlines fast approaching and little time to create the new work I'll need to send out to the two big miniature shows, MPSGS in DC and MASF in Fl. Also, I'll be at Studio 206 in the Mukilteo Art Building for Waterfront Wednesdays again this Wednesday where I am showing a selection of my works on canvas from the Italian Landscape Series. I think that the show will be changing to new artists for the month of July. If you are interested in seeing this work, stop by tomorrow, I'd love to see you! Thanks again for taking the time to read about my work.

Continued Dura-lar Matte WIP - Forest with Dragonfly

This is the continuation of my work in progress, (WIP) of the forest and dragonfly. I should have been a lot further along by now, but with shows, framing, delivering and picking up work, I'm a bit behind my deadline.

If it would make it easier to see all the pieces together without the other posts in between, go to the "labels for this post" section at the bottom of the post and click on the phrase, "forest with dragonfly wip,". That should bring all the posts of this work together. In case you weren't aware, you can do that with any key word. I'm trying to be consistent in my labels to make that possible.

From the last post of this work, I've done the front tree, center tree and the stump. Adding textures and forms.

In the above, I've done a lot of the forest in the background across the top of the image. Also, I started doing a bit more of the main tree on the right front bringing it down.

This is the same as the previous photo but showing the reference photo and the miniature drawing in graphite with an enlarged section for a guide. This one will be different from my miniature, A Flash of Blue, but using a similar light source and tree shapes.

Here I have brought the pathway down on the left and done further work on the tree on the right. You can see where I've darkened the center tree to make it contrast with the one on the left. You can see it better in the photo below.

This one is current from work I did just last night. I darkened the path on the right foreground where the trees would be creating a shadow. I also darkened the left tree to help define the stump. I still have a long way to go. Once I finish laying down all the graphite bits, I'll be darkening areas to create a good range of values, softening some areas to create mystery and sharpening some to make shapes stand out, to lead the eye and create rhythm. Then comes the fun part of adding touches of color. That will be in the final stages. As for now, it's time to get back to work.

Later today, I'll be heading over to Bothell to deliver my two work works for the Live ARTS Bothell Festival this weekend. Then tomorrow over to Studio 206 in the Mukilteo Art Building for Waterfront Wednesdays. I hope to see you at both these events! Thanks for taking the time to read this.

More on Dura-lar Matte WIP at STUDIO 206, Waterfront Wednesdays, Mukilteo

We all had a lot of fun last week, at Waterfront Wednesdays in Oldtown Mukilteo. Thanks to all of you who stopped in to say hello to us at Studio 206 in the Mukilteo Art Building. It was great meeting and talking with everyone. I especially enjoyed showing the children who were interested, how I worked.



Roxanne Jaross, owner of Studio 206, artist Janie Olsen, and I will once again be in Studio 206 this Wednesday in the Mukilteo Art Building, showing a selection of our work. My work seen above is from the Italian Hills Series. Janie has a selection of her beautiful and mysterious dog paintings, they always make me smile, Janie! Roxanne has her delicious chocolate paintings as well as her cat and crow work. Click on the artists' name for a link to their websites.


I'll once again be set up with a demo of my work in progress, done in graphite on Dura-lar Matte film. Unfortunately, the one I had been working on met with a bit of an accident this past weekend! I've had to start over, but I'm making a lot of progress. Above is what I have done so far and I hope to be even further along by Wednesday evening. I hope we have more folks this Wednesday as word gets out and the weather improves. I think there are glass blowing demos downstairs at 5, so come on upstairs afterwards and see our work. We'll all three be there, rain or shine so hope you can make it! Click on Waterfront Wednesdays for the link on times and events.

Dura-lar Matte WIP at STUDIO 206, Waterfront Wednesdays, Mukilteo

Today is Waterfront Wednesday in Oldtown Mukilteo! I'll be at Studio 206 in the Mukilteo Art Building working on a new, just started, graphite drawing on Dura-lar Matte film. If you've ever wondered about using Dura-lar for a surface or wanted to see what it was like, now's your chance! I hope to be there from 4 - 8pm tonight. Stop in and say hi!

Roxanne Jaross, the owner of Studio 206 is sharing the gallery space next to her studio with Janie Olsen and I. I have three landscapes on exhibit from my Italian Hills Series and Janie has a selection of her beautiful and mysterious dog paintings. In addition to the Art Building tour and glass blowing demo, there's also the Farmers' Market, Open Mic Night at the Red Cup Cafe, and a lot of other great happenings. Click on Waterfront Wednesdays for the link on times, events list, and directions. Don't miss out on the fun and don't let a little rain stop you, it's supposed to clear up just for us!!

Waterfront Wednesday, STUDIO 206, Mukilteo WA

A Good Year for Olives ©Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Canvas, 16" x 20"

Mark your calendars for Waterfront Wednesdays in Oldtown Mukilteo starting this Wednesday, June 2nd. Be sure to stop by Studio 206 in the Art Building. ... Artist Roxanne Jaross in Studio 206 will be sharing the gallery space next to her fabulous studio with artist friend, Janie Olsen and myself. We will be showing a selection of our work for the month of June. In addition to the Art Building tour and glass blowing demo, there's the Farmers' Market, Open Mic Night at the Red Cup Cafe, and a lot of other great happenings. Click on Waterfront Wednesdays for the link on times, events list, and directions.

Be sure to come by Studio 206 and say hello! We'll all be there and would love to see you too! A big thanks to Roxanne for putting the gallery space together so quickly and also to Lyussy Hyder for all her help and the moblile photos, even though I have my eyes closed!! I'll be having three canvas works there from my Italian Hills Series. One of all of us will be there from 4 - 8pm every Wed during the Waterfront Wednesdays. Come join the fun, rain or shine!!