2015 17th Annual Juried Kenmore Art Show

I'm happy to announce that my two works, First Encounter and Special Delivery were accepted into the 17th Annual Juried Kenmore Art Show, sponsored by and held on the lovely campus of Bastyr University, located on the north shore of Lake Washington and surrounded by the 316-acre St. Edward State Park.  The show theme is, "Inspired by Nature."   Entries exemplifying the show theme will be considered for the special Theme Award!

The show opens to the public on
Wednesday,  June 24th, through June 28th, 2015

 Bastyr University 

145000 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore WA.  (map) 

Preview, Awards Ceremony & Reception

Wednesday, June 24th 5:30 - 6:30pm

Reception &  Awards 6:30 - 8:00pm

Show hours

Thursday - Saturday, June 25th - June 27th  10am to 8pm

Sunday, June 28th 10am to 7pm

 All art on exhibit is available for purchase. The show will also feature nightly entertainment and guest speaker programs that will be held in the Bastyr University Auditorium. For more information of all the fun things to do, please click on this link.  Hope to see you there!

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

Special Delivery  © Barbara A. Freeman

 Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 9 3/4" x 7 5/8"

There is a WIP (work in progress) of the above drawing, Special Delivery , on my blog if you wish to read more about the process of this piece.  Both pieces were inspired by the lovely landscapes we have here in the Pacific Northwest.  I particularly love the trees and rocks that I see everywhere!  There are so many magical places to encounter, how can you not be inspired!

Special Delivery  © Barbara A. Freeman

 Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 9 3/4" x 7 5/8"

I am hoping now to be back in the studio on a regular basis, creating new work.  After nearly two and a half weeks of a fun filled road trip adventure, we are home with our daughter who will become a new WA resident!  It makes us happy to have her near and to enjoy her company.  As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.  Hope you have a great adventure filled summer!

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 Work - "First Encounter"

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

Here she is, my latest river siren placed in a Pacific Northwest landscape.  This time I've given her a frog to keep her company.  The frog was inspired from one I spotted while on a hike at Lake 22  in the North Cascades.  Like most of my work in this series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities, this drawing was done in graphite on film, with colored pencil on the reverse side.  Lastly, back to the front with a thin glaze of interference violet on her tail and a few other places to add a bit of sparkle.

 Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae)

Lake Twentytwo - North Cascades  2011/07

The frog is a Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae), this one was camera shy but I did manage to get this photo of him.

Below are a few photos of the work as it progressed and then the final scanned image again at the end. I really enjoyed creating this piece.  I love drawing trees and rocks so that part was meditation for me.  The tree branches and water were another story! I think the most difficult part of the work was the water.  By the time I got that far, I was ready to be finished!  Getting a  good range of values to read as water wasn't easy.  There was so much going on with the patterns and textures in the rocks and wood that I wanted to make that area quiet.  I needed to show some rocks under the surface and on the edge as well as the quiet movement of the water near the shore without making it too active.  

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

My intention was to create a space in which to be calm and perhaps ponder what will happen next, after the First Encounter.

Now it's on to the next project, creating fine art miniatures for all the spring shows.  Those deadlines are fast approaching!   I'm hoping to have work, fine art miniatures and larger work, in the following shows:

March   Gallery North - Edmonds, WA (miniatures and small works show)
April  Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC  (miniatures only show)
May  Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA  (miniatures only show)
June  Edmonds Arts Festival, Edmonds, WA  (juried art festival which includes a miniature category) 
June  LiveARTS Bothell, Bothell, WA  (juried art festival which includes a miniature category)
Spring  UNCLAD, Stanwood, WA  (Date coming, rescheduled for the spring)  (Unclad (nude) Figure Show)

I will announce any new shows I'll have work in on this blog as they approach and new work when completed so please do check back.  As always I thank you for taking  the time to read about my work.   It may be winter now, but fear not! spring will be here before you know it!