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!!

2010 Edmonds Arts Festival Work Juried In

I received my acceptance letter from the Edmonds Arts Festival yesterday. This year I will have three miniatures as well as a drawing in the juried show. Those miniatures are, (click on title to view on website), A Flash of Blue, Innocence, and Hay Bales.

A Flash of Blue © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"

Hay Bales (left) © Barbara A. Freeman, Acrylic on Polymin, 2 3/4" x 3 1/2" and

Innocence (right) © Barbara A. Freeman, Colored Pencil on Film, 2 5/8" x 3 1/2"

My other entry, Finding Time, (in the drawing category, was accepted as well. Unfortunately, there isn't an artists' reception this year. Instead, the Juried Gallery Awards will be presented to Artists on Friday, June 18th at 11:00 am on the Edmonds Arts Festival Main Stage. This must be the official opening of the festival. I would think that it would be rather difficult for many artists to be present at 11:am on a weekday. The Juried Art Show will be inside the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main Street, Edmonds,WA. In addition to the indoor juried show, there is also the outdoor Arts Festival with food, music and artists' booths on the lawn. This fun festival takes place on Fathers' Day weekend, June 19 through the 20th.

Finding Time © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite on Acid-free Film, 8 1/4" x 10 1/2"

For a first choice opportunity to purchase an original work of art and view the award winners there will be a Preview Party on Wednesday, June 16th. This event is the annual fundraiser for the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation and proceeds will go toward scholarship and grant projects. Bring Dad and the whole family for some fun, fine art, music and food! Be sure to look for my work in the Miniature Art Exhibit and also the Drawing Category inside the Juried Art Gallery. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'll be posting more about this show as news develops.

This Blog is One Year Old!

It's hard to believe that a year has passed already since I did my first post. That first post was just a "Coming Soon" announcement and the very next day I did my post on the 2009 Parklane Gallery Miniature Show, including photos of the reception. My prior post was on this year's 2010 Parklane Gallery Miniature Show. I have come full circle after 91posts. When I started I wasn't sure I would have enough to say or enough time to say it. However, I have actually enjoyed writing about my work and doing the works in progress. It does take a bit of time but I do think it's worth it. I have learned a lot along the way and I find it is a great way to document my own work as well as other things of interest about the shows I participate in. It's been very rewarding to have made friends through blogger connect and to read and comment on other artists' work. I do participate in other social networking, like Facebook but I much prefer blogger.

As to what I have planned for the near future? Right now I am working on a small acrylic painting, 6" x 6", for a show called, "Art of the Garden". "It's art work to enhance the garden or to bring the garden into the home." I don't know if it will get in the show, but it's a good opportunity to do something different than I would normally do, or haven't done in awhile. Also, I like to participate in local shows. I only wish I had more time to do two paintings. Isn't that always the problem, so many things to do, so little time to do them?

Next week I'll be hearing from two festivals I've entered. The acceptance letters go out for the Edmonds Art Festival starting on the 17th and LiveARTS Bothell on the 19th. I'll have much more to say about the two show when I find out and when the festivals get closer.

The next several projects I have in mind are... I want to do a Fathers' Day painting for my Dad and Dad-in-Law. I only need to come up with the design and do two in time for shipping!! After that there are two other shows that I want to do new work for, the Lynnwood Library Gallery Show and competition called, "Green" and the "Arts of the Terrace" Arts Festival in Mountlake Terrace. Both shows are in late September, however the Lynnwood show's deadline is July 31. For the Lynnwood show I want to do either a silverpoint landscape, or a graphite on film work. They will both be normal sized drawings. The Mountlake Terrace show has in addition to regular categories, also a miniature art category. I would like to submit work to both, drawing and miniature categories.

So as well as keeping up with this blog in documenting my work, I'll be creating the new works and attending the shows and receptions. I think I'll have enough to keep me busy! So, as always thanks for taking the time to read this.

More Photos of Parklane Gallery's Miniature Show

Above are the photos of Saturday's Artists Reception at Parklane Gallery's 18th Annual International Miniature Art Show. It was a beautiful evening, with open doors and lots of people milling about downtown. It's also Mothers' Day Weekend Open Studios in Kirkland, so I'm sure there were many more visitors the rest of the weekend. It was great seeing sales being made as the reception was going on. There was someone filming artists' interviews and as always live music. I heard a lot of folks exclaiming how much they were in awe of the tiny treasures and lots of people getting closer magnified looks to see all the details.

I enjoyed saying hello to my virtual friends and miniature artists Rachelle and Wes Siegrist via Skype. It was great hearing their voices. We could see them, but unfortunately, they couldn't see us. Isn't technology grand! Congratulations to all the award winners and thanks to the Siegrists for giving their reasons for choosing them. They said it was a very difficult job!

My friend Janie Olsen and her husband Bill were there in person. Janie was happy to have made some sales, and I was able to get another look at her imaginative, inspiring work. I think this year is also the first that I have seen any 3D work. My virtual friend, Mona Diane Conner had her beautiful work, Tulip Garden at Giverny, in the show. Unfortunately I didn't get a very good photo of her work. You can see it much better on her blog, The Ruby Slippers. I wish I could have picked it up for a closer look.

Parklane Gallery is located in beautiful downtown Kirkland,WA, 130 Park Lane. Free parking is located under the Kirkland Library. However, due to construction, that lot is currently closed! The show opened May 4th and will continue through June 8th. Magnifying glasses are provided and closer looks are encouraged!

The award winning husband and wife team, Rachelle and Wes Siegrist were the awards judges. The Siegrists appeared at the reception via Skype.

Be sure to check out Parklane Gallery's website at Parklanegallery.com to view the work online. My work can be seen starting on Panel # 49. My friend Janie Olsen is on Panel 42 and 43.

Mom Illuminated, Happy Mothers' Day!

In honor of Mothers' Day I thought I'd share the new miniature art piece I did for my Mom and Mom-in-law. I tried to figure out a way to do one and then transfer a copy for the second one. I tried several things, but for whatever reason, the ink from my copier didn't want to transfer to the gesso. After printing on several different surfaces, I printed my image on to a piece of Stonehenge paper which looked the best. I then painted over the top of the image, repainting the whole thing, but it was much easier because I had the basic colors already in place. The paper was very absorbent and created a soft almost pastel look. There are even some things I liked better about the second work as compared to the first. I was satisfied with the way they both worked out. The second one looks brighter, and it was a bit more than the first, but it was also a sunny day when I did the photo shoot. Anyway, I think both Mom's will be happy.

Mom Illuminated, © Barbara A. Freeman
3 5/8" x 3 5/8" Acrylic on Strathmore Illustration Board

Mom Illuminated, Framed © Barbara A. Freeman
3 5/8" x 3 5/8" Acrylic on Strathmore Illustration Board

Mom Illuminated II, © Barbara A. Freeman
3 5/8" x 3 5/8" Acrylic on Stonehenge Paper

Preview of Parklane Gallery's A Major Show of Miniature Proportions

Here are some preview photos of the Parklane Gallery's 18th Annual International Miniature Art Show, in Kirkland, WA. The show opened May 4th and it's great to see all the red dots already!

Parklane Gallery is located in beautiful downtown Kirkland,WA, 130 Park Lane. Free parking is located under the Kirkland Library. The show opens May 4th and will continue through June 8th. The Artists' Reception will be on Saturday, May 8th, 6 - 8 pm. Magnifying glass are provided and closer looks are encouraged!

The award winning husband and wife team, Rachelle and Wes Siegrist were the awards judges, which will be given at the Artists' Reception on Saturday evening. The Siegrists will be at the reception via Skype.

Be sure to check out Parklane Gallery's website at Parklanegallery.com to view the work online. My work can be seen starting on Panel # 49. My friend Janie Olsen is on Panel 42 and 43. I'll see you there Janie!

For more information on this show and my work in it, please see my last post below. More photos and news after the reception. Hope you too, can make it to the reception! I'd love to meet you!

Opening, Parklane Gallery Miniature Show

Parklane Gallery's 18th Annual International Juried Miniature Art Show will open at 9 am tomorrow, May 4th. I am happy to say all of my entries have been juried into the show. All five of them can be seen on the gallery's website at Parklanegallery.com. You can view my work starting on Panel # 49. The work in this show as viewed above, A Touch of Autumn, Wednesday, Late Afternoon, The Time Thief, The Sentinel, and The Way Home.

The award winning husband and wife team, Rachelle and Wes Siegrist were the awards judges, which will be given at the Artists' Reception on Saturday evening. The Siegrists will be at the reception via Skype. A selection of their work will be available for view and sale at the show along with copies of their new book, Exquisite Miniatures. You can find out more about their work on their website at artofwildlife.com. Parklane Gallery is located in beautiful downtown Kirkland,WA, 130 Park Lane. Free parking is located under the Kirkland Library. The show will continue through June 8th. This show is always well attended and by looking at all the great work and list of outstanding artists participating in this show, it will be even more so this year! I'll be going to the Artists' Reception on Saturday, May 8th, 6 - 8 pm. Let me know if you are going to be there, I'd love to meet you! I'll have more to say after the reception on Saturday, so be sure to check back.

Both of the two works below are new work and are having their debut in this show!

The Way Home © Barbara A. Freeman
Silverpoint on Prepared Art Board 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

The Time Thief © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Acid-free Film 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"

19th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC

I am once again participating in Seaside Art Gallery's 19th International Miniature Art Show in Nags Head, North Carolina. It's one of the top three miniature shows in the USA. This nationally acclaimed show usually exhibits around 600 works of art by artists from all over the world. Some of the most renown miniature artists participate each year. All accepted work, including my three pieces, is currently available for pre-show sales on their exhibit website. The show runs from May 1st through June 5th, 2010 at the Seaside Art Gallery, 2716 South Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head NC. There will be an open reception with many participating artists in attendance, on May 29, 2010 from 7PM to 9PM. The Pearl will be catering the event and there will be an awards presentation during the reception. Sure wish I could be there!

If you are visiting the area, add this great Miniature Art Exhibition to your must do list! While you're there, be sure to check out my three miniatures, The Key, "Rhodie" with Bee, and my new acrylic painting, "Peek a Boo" .

I am currently working on a gift for my Mom and Mom-in law for Mothers' Day. I hope they work out, there's not much time! Also, I'll have more to say later on other shows and festivals I'll be participating in this spring. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope all your days are filled with beauty!

Graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film WIP Completed!

As you will see, this has gone through some changes since my last post. I decided the inside of the tree wasn't happening for me. I didn't like the rocks, they were too distracting, taking away rather than adding interest.

You can see in the photo above, my solution was to darken the interior and rocks, to lessen their importance. Yet, I still didn't think this was how I wanted it to look. I stopped for the night to let it rest and see it with fresh eyes the next day.

Next day, I still didn't like it, so I took a chance and changed it. Getting rid of the rocks and opening up the passage allowed the light to come through. Now there was a place for the rabbits as well as the viewer to escape to.

I continued to clean up some areas and add more darks. The black rabbit needed to have the dark fur smoothed. I then flipped the page over and worked on the underside. Adding some graphite to the underside of the black rabbit made the blacks richer and the strokes more even.

This is when I also started to add a bit of color to the rabbits ears and the inside of the tree.
The above is a closer view of the two rabbits and the inside of the tree. In the finished work below, I lifted up some of the graphite on the inside of the tree and added a bit of warm sienna colored pencil to the light, extending it out to the rabbits fur. I did some further defining of the body of the two rabbits and added a touch of acrylic color for the two eyes. The tree seemed too bent, so I widened it with some more bark on the right side, and also darkened the left side. The finished work is below.

It's Not All Black and White, © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film, 7" x 7"

Below is the finished work in the frame I'll be using. I wasn't sure how this piece was going to turn out. I did not intend to have two rabbits, and didn't know what I was going to do with them. I knew I didn't want to put a door in the tree, but the tree was going to play a role in the scene. I knew that having rabbits as a subject could end up being too cute. Cute was not what I wanted either. I think the two rabbits mirroring each other has helped to make it more mysterious rather than cutesy. Or at least I hope so! However, how can rabbit NOT end up being cute! I'm happy with the results. Thank you for following along with me on this.

It's Not All Black and White, © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film, 7" x 7"

Graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film WIP Update # 2

Finally, I've gotten a batch of my work shipped and two batches delivered! One more delivery to go! I'll say more about that after I've completed this piece.

I decided not to enter this work into the show with the deadline of April 16th, and instead, I'll enter it into the one with the April 23rd deadline. It was almost finished enough, but enough wasn't where I wanted it to be. There was more that needed to be done to take it up a notch. Here is more of the progression.

Above, I've started bringing the drawing down into the grasses on the left side and adding the knot hole on the front tree.

I had gotten a lot of work done in the above photo, adding more to the front tree and drawing in one of my subjects.

I'm not sure why I decided to do what I did here, but after spending some time looking at it, I decided the piece needed something more. I love the spots on the rabbit and the way his eye is surrounded with the dark fur. It came to me that the reverse would be interesting, so I gave him a twin, or mirror image.

You can see a close up of the two above. Trying to reverse this rabbit was a challenge, especially doing the eye.

Above is a view under the magnifier to work on the rabbit's eye. I am using my 0.3 with a darker, softer, lead.

This photo is current with where I am now in real time. You can see why I wasn't satisfied with calling this finished, but it is so close. I'm going to add color on the reverse side in places and I'm not sure if I like the rocks inside the tree. I've added the grasses and leaves in the foreground. I still think the opening inside the tree needs work.

I hope the next time I post, this will be a completed work with a title, (the hardest part)! Thanks for taking the time to read this and see my work in process.