New work - "The Exchange" - Art of the Garden Show at the Schack Art Center

I'm hapy to announce that my new work, The Exchange,  has been accepted in the Art of the Garden show at the Schack Art Center in Everett!  This biannual juried exhibit will feature a prolific offering of art created to enhance the garden and bring the garden into the home.  The Exchange, an addition to my ongoing series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities, is an image of a Wood Sprite and Rufus Hummingbird encounter having an exchange of golden strands for whispers. 

Art of the Garden - Schack Art Center

June 15th - September 2nd

Exhibit opens with a Meet the Artist Reception 

June 15th  5 to 8PM

2921 Hoyt Ave.  Everett WA (map)

 It will be a great show, with lots of beautiful work to get your summer off to a great start, with both artwork for bringing the garden indoors, or taking the art outside to your garden!  Whichever you choose, it will make you happy to know, finally, summer is here!  Hope you get a chance to see the show!
 

The Exchange  ©Barbara A. Freeman

9" x 12"  Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord

The Exchange  ©Barbara A. Freeman

9" x 12"  Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord  Framed

If you are interested, I have photographed as I was working to show the progression of each step.

This is the beginning of the drawing, working out the composition and where I want to go with it.  I rarely have the work completed in my mind before I start.  It's more of an idea that I build on as I go.

This is where I make sure the composition and placement of foliage are working well together.  Also, I worked out the ideas for her face and for her ear.  I drew the hummingbird separately, then was able to position it  where I considered the best placement to complete the composition.  At this point I am ready to transfer the image to my substrate, a smooth white panel called Claybord made by Ampersand.

I make the transfer the usual way, trace the drawing on tracing paper, then flipping over to the back and redrawing the lines with a soft pencil, then place on my board and tape to hold it down, then lightly redraw.  After the transfer to the panel, the real drawing begins.  I started on the ear and earring. These were fun to do.

I continued with the face and went on to the hair and shoulder.

More work giving the hair some movement.

A lot more work happening on the hair.

More hair shading and defining on the next photos.

Worked on the hand, flowers and leaves.

Hummingbird work in the next several images as well as the hand.

It was time to make the flowers, her neck and hand stand out by darkening the area surrounding them.  This part really made a difference!

Darkening the background was very time consuming as I had to go slow to keep the shading even.  Hard to stay awake doing this!

 I got very bold with the dark on the lower left.  It made me nervous, but I wanted her to pop!  I gave the work the  appearance of a vignette. At this point, the graphite was finished, time to spay it with workable fixative.

The last bit was deciding which strands of hair I wanted to make gold.  I first used Derwent Inktense pencils in a Mid Vermilion and Sun Yellow on the chosen strands.  Once done, I painted Iridescent Gold (fine) over the ink.  Then I finished it with several sprays of satin varnish to seal and protect it, just like I would a painting.

So there you have it, my work as it progressed.  As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.  Enjoy your summer!  Remember, support your local artists!