Pets on Parade - Schack Art Center

Two of my miniature paintings will be in the Pets on Parade show at the Schack Art Center in downtown Everett!  This is the first time I've participated in the Pets on Parade Show and from what I've heard it's always a fun time, with well behaved pets attending!  Also during the exhibit, food and pet accessories will be collected to benefit N.O.A.H and the Everett Animal Shelter.  How cool is that!

My two pet works are Afghan Kitty and Gaze into My Eyes, both Fine Art Miniatures.  I also have other animal work in the show, several more miniatures and a small work, so many other animals are represented that are not pets.  There are over forty artists included in this mixed media show! It will be a real treat!

Pets on Parade - Main Gallery

March 7th to April 13th

Opening reception: March 7, 5 - 8pm

The Schack Art Center

2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett, WA(map)

Afghan Kitty © Barbara A. Freeman M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2 "

Gaze Into My Eyes  © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2 "

These two brothers are my Mom's cats, Sid (top) and Sam (bottom).  My Mom and Dad lived in Florida and have had them since they were small kittens.  A year after my Dad passed, my Mom agreed to come out to Washington to live, but needed to bring her boys along.  Wayne and I discussed the hows and what it might mean to travel with two senior house cats and my Mom across country.  After discussing several ideas, we ended up buying a Ford Flex which seemed the roomiest to fit all five of us with all our stuff.  We only had time for a few practice runs with the boys to get them used to the idea of a car ride in a cage that didn't end up at the vet!  In the end, though, the trip turned out to be an adventure full of surprises for all of us.  From putting them in a large cage carrier that we had to carry into our hotel room every night, them wearing a harness for the first time and strange new rooms to explore, they actually were good traveling companions!  We were all surprised!  They are now living in their new home here in Everett and seem to enjoy watching the birds out the window and seeing snow for the first time!  Now that they are closer, perhaps I'll have to get them to pose for more paintings!

 Sid (right) first time with a harness and leash.  Stretch break in Richmond Hill, GA

 Sam thinking about a nap and Sid in back wondering if we are there yet!  The large sized cage had a second perch, blue pillow.  They sometimes went up to the second level, but mostly they stayed close to each other.  We carried this cage with the cats inside down hallways and even up a few stairs each morning and evening to and from our hotel rooms.  We had disposable litter boxes and water and food bowls handy and of course treats.  We were there to serve!

 Sam (left) first time in a harness and leash.  Boys are doing great!

I'm really looking forward to seeing the Pets on Parade show with all the wonderful work from over forty artists exhibiting photography, oils, acrylics, ceramics, prints, recycled sculpture, and much more in celebration of the pets they love!

In addition, upstairs in the Mezzanine Gallery will be the Celebration of my friend, Janie Olsen,  2019 Artists of the Year with her show, Animal Kingdom! It will be fantastic to see all of Janie's magical animals in their enchanting environments! If you love animals, this is a MUST SEE SHOW! Upstairs and down, don't miss it!

Thank you for taking the time to read about my work.  Remember to support your local artist!

MPSGS Show and Honorable Mention Award

I'm doing the happy dance that all three of my entries were accepted in the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society (MPSGS) of Washington D. C. for their upcoming show in November!  Doing the even happier dance that my entry, Capturing the Glow was awarded an Honorable Mention!

Capturing the Glow  © Barbara A. Freeman M.A.A.

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

 

Capturing the Glow  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"  Graphite on Claybord

Smooching  1 3/4" x 2 3/4"  Acrylic

Sure Signs of Autumn  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"  Acrylic

© Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

My three works, Capturing the Glow,  Sure Signs of Autumn and Smooching will be in the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society's 81st Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature.  The show is held in The Mansion at the Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD.  They are open, Weekdays 10-4 • Wed. 10-9 • Sat. 10-3 (closed Sun. and Holidays).  The Exhibition Opening is Sunday, November 23rd, 2014, 2 to 4.  The show runs November 23rd through January 5th 2015.  This years Judge is Linda Rossin, Professional Artist.  If you are in the area, this is a beautiful venue and a show not to miss.  These tiny treasures make great holiday gifts!

THE SPIRIT OF A MINIATURE (Taken from the prospectus)

This unique art form, based on a minute scale, traces its roots back to the book paintings and illuminated manuscripts set in the 7th century.  A work of fine art in miniature is a particularly personal object that draws the viewer into an intimate, concentrated little world that is breathtaking in its execution.  Every single detail is miniaturized – the scale of the subject matter, the brush or pencil strokes – so that only with high magnification can one behold the immaculate details of the artist's technique which may include stippling, hatching or pointillism.  These techniques are a specialized means of producing a perfect balance of color and detail in a series of thinly applied layers of exquisite color intended to reflect light. The miniatures show a high standard of design and the artist’s mastery of the chosen media and palette.

A quick note to say I was surprised to find I was awarded a Merit Award for my work, Afghan Kitty at the 36th Annual Arts of the Terrace, Mountlake Terrace. On another note, I'm sorry to say I will not be submitting work to the Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) show this year.  This is the first time since I've first enter the show that I've not been able to send work.  Alas, I knew this could happen last year when I was not able to be in my studio.  But family came first and that is the way it has to be.  I'm just glad that I'm back in my studio now!  Things work out and you move forward.  As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.

36th Annual Arts of the Terrace, Mountlake Terrace

Autumn is here officially, and it's time for the 36th Annual Arts of the Terrace Festival in Mountlake Terrace! I am so happy to say that all the works I submitted for the show were juried in! My four in the Miniature category are, Crow and Clover,  Afghan Kitty,  Patience and The Hunter. My new drawing, Outside In, was also selected in the Drawing, Painting and Prints category! I always look forward to this show and this year, they've added new hanging panels that accentuate the artwork and new lighting that really makes the colors pop! 

Crow and Clover , Graphite and Colored Pencil, 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"
 Afghan Kitty, Acrylic, 2" x 2"  (Merit Award)

Patience , Acrylic, 3 1/2" x 2 5/8"
 The Hunter , Acrylic, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

© Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Outside In  © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Metal Leaf on Claybord  10" x 8"

Detail of Outside In  © Barbara A. Freeman

Outside In  Framed © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Metal Leaf on Claybord  10" x 8"

The show runs from September 27th through October 5th, at the Mountlake Terrace Library Complex, 23300 58th Ave. W. in Mountlake Terrace. (map) There will be an Artists and Patrons Preview, on September 26, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, with an Awards Ceremony at 7:30pm. The show will be open to the public starting September 27th - October 5, 2014.  Hope you get a chance to see the show.

Library Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Friday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Saturday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Sunday, October 5, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Finally!  I'm so excited to be back making my art and participating in shows once again.  It's been a very busy year with a lot of family changes, a lot of physical and emotional work, as well as moving house!  During that time, it was very difficult to make art and stay focused.  Now that I am back in my studio working, I feel so much better.  My work is my meditation and focus, and I'm very happy to be back to creating!

 In addition to the Mountlake Terrace Show, I have submitted work to the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society show coming up in November and will be submitting work to the Miniature Art Society of Florida,  for their show in January 2015. I'll be back blogging and posting my new work and the shows I'm in as soon as they happen.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my work and the shows I'm participating in.  I apologize for the long absence, but sometimes life happens and you need to change direction.  I'm happy I have my art to come back to.

"Hideway" - Awarded Second Place Landscape, at 39th Annual International Miniature Art Society of Florida Show!

I am so excited to announce that my miniature, Hideaway has been awarded Second Place in Landscape at the 39th Annual International Miniature Art Society of Florida Show!  There will be over 900 Fine Art Miniatures from artists around the world!  What great news, I am so honored! 

Hideaway © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. 

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Hideaway is one of two works that were part of the Miniature Artists of America's (M.A.A.) submissions that traveled as part of the World Federation of Miniature Artists, for the 5th Worldwide Conference and Exhibition of Fine Arts in Miniature, held at the Russian Academy of Art in Moscow, Russia,  September, 2012!! Whew!  I remember at the time I didn't have much information on the show, however, when they were returned, I was glad to find out they were in the exhibit.  They were gone a long time, traveling from here in Washington to Florida to London to Moscow and who knows how many custom stops in-between!  Now it is once again on exhibit in the Miniature Art Society of Florida Show!

 

Top: Hideaway ©Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Keeping Watch ©Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. 

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Bottom: Catchin' Some Rays © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. 

Acrylic on Gessobord  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Patience © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 3 1/2" x 2 5/8"

Afghan Kitty © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

I am happy to say that all five of my works were juried in the show! This year the show will be at the Dunedin Fine Art Center in Dunedin, Florida, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, FL.  The show opens on January 18th and runs through February 9, 2014!  This is a wonderful show and not to be missed!  I was fortunate enough to have attended the show once and hope to be able to do it again, someday.  I'll be blogging again as a reminder of the show as it gets closer.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more information on the annual upcoming show, Miniature Masterpieces and More! at Tsuga Gallery, opening on December 6th.  Thanks for taking time to read about my work.  See you soon and Happy Holidays!

New Miniature Show - Snow Goose Gallery - Bethlehem PA

I am excited to have been invited to participate in the Twenty First Annual Invitational Miniature Art Exhibition at the Snow Goose Gallery, 470 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania! (map)  There are 66 top miniature artists in the show and wow, it's such an honor to be included!  Because of recent family responsibilities, I have had a few major interruptions in my creative time.  Therefore, I didn't think I would be able to participate.  Also, my inventory of artwork was very low and I hadn't enough time to create any new pieces.  When I found out that another show I usually participate in was cancelled this year, it was the perfect opportunity to send that work, along with two earlier works to Snow Goose Galley!  Sometimes things just work out!!
 

Above, my four submissions in the show (l to r) 

A Touch of Autumn, Gold and Glory, 
Afghan Kitty and More Salmon, Please.

Snow Goose Gallery 
Located in the heart of Historic Bethlehem, PA

the art of the miniature xxi

The Twenty First Invitational Exhibition of Fine Art Miniatures from Around the World

May 5- June 16, 2013
Collectors' Preview: Saturday, May 4, 5- 8 pm

Opening Reception: Sunday, May 5, 1- 5 pm
Enjoy the music of Brian Bortz (bass)
and Lou Czechowski (keyboard)

with hors d'oeuvres by The Mint Gastropub!

Afghan Kitty  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

More Salmon, Please  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

Gold and Glory  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

A Touch of Autumn  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Polymin  2 1/8" x 3 1/4" 

The opening sounds like great fun!  I wish I was able to see this one in person.   Okay, I admit, I'd love to see them all in person!  If you are anywhere near Bethlehem, PA be sure to make the Snow Goose Gallery a visit.  You will be happy you did!  The work will also be up on the Snow Goose Gallery's website starting on the opening weekend, May, 4th until the end of the show.  The work will be available for purchase as well.  The only problem, will be, which ones to choose!  All beautiful jewels, they'd make the perfect gift for MOM!  As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.    

55th Annual Edmonds Arts Festival Work Accepted

Good news this morning via email for the 55th Annual Edmonds Arts Festival!  My two drawings and four miniatures I submitted for the show were accepted!  Woo Hoo!  Now that's the way to start a Monday morning!

Afghan Kitty © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board  2" x 2 "

Peek-a-Boo, © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Claybord, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Gold and Glory ©Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Art Board 2" x 2"

You Too Shall Have Wings © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

My four works juried in the Miniatures Category are, Afghan Kitty, Peek-A-Boo, Gold and Glory, and You Too Shall Have Wings. The two works juried in the Drawing Category, First Encounter and The Wood Nymph are both from the series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities.

  First Encounter  © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 8 1/2" x 8"

The Wood Nymph  © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 8 1/2" x 8"

The Edmonds Arts Festival is one of the longest running in the Northwest, and a great time for the whole family. The Juried Art Show will be inside the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main Street, Edmonds,WA (map here). 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 15th through the 17th.  I'll be adding more news about the festival as it draws nearer, so mark your calendars for this fun filled art weekend in beautiful Edmonds, WA!

New Feline Fine Art Miniatures

With so many show deadlines fast approaching, I've been in my studio painting away, focusing on  creating new miniature works.  My two new miniature feline paintings are both done in acrylic on Strathmore 500 series Illustration Board.  They are my first cat paintings and I loved painting them, especially their eyes!  These two boys are brothers, (Sid top - Sam bottom) and share space with my Mom and Dad in Florida.  On my visit there last year, I did my best to try and photograph them.  I have to say photographing them was like trying to photograph a moving target.  Get out my camera and they were gone! Sis did like to show off after a while, but Sam was shy and liked to hide under things.  It was really fun to paint them.

Afghan Kitty © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board  2" x 2 "

More Salmon, Please © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board  2" x 2 "

I have two more miniature paintings finished that need to be varnished before I unveil them.  In addition, I'm hoping to finish two more.  Because of the all the detail and fine tuning, these miniatures take a lot of time! Unfortunately, I may not have as many miniatures for the spring/summer shows this year as in the past.  The rest of March and April will be very busy so I may not be blogging as often as I would like.  Much of my time beside creating new miniatures will be taken up with framing, doing paperwork for entering shows, etc.  There is also a family visit scheduled that will include some travel time.  I do hope you will check back to see my new work.  I'll be posting about the spring shows that my work will be in as soon as I know.  As always, thanks for taking the time to stop by.  I hope you have a great spring!