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!

Work Accepted Mountlake Terrace Juried Art Show 2011

I got an email today stating that all my submissions for the 33rd Annual Juried Art Show, Arts of the Terrace, Mounlake Terrace have been accepted in the show!  That's exciting news, as two of the works are making their debut!  My two drawings in the show are, Keeper of the Sphere and The Vernal Arrival of the Green Darner.

Keeper of the Sphere © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film  7" x 7"

The Vernal Arrival of the Green Darner © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film  7" x 7"

The four Fine Art Miniatures are From the Highlands,  Peek-a-Boo, Through the Portal and A Flash of Blue.

From the Highlands  © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Illustration Board  2 1/8" x 2 1/8"

Peek-a-Boo, © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Claybord, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Through the Portal ©Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 2 3/4"x 3 5/8"

A Flash of Blue © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Acid-free Film, 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"

Keeper of the Sphere and From the Highlands are both new works, this is their first show.  The exhibit takes place at the Mountlake Terrace Library Complex, (map), 23300 58th Avenue W., Mountlake Terrace, WA.  I really like this show and it is always a fun reception.  The show opens with the Artists and Patrons Preview Party on Friday, September 23rd from 7 to 9 pm, with an Awards Presentation at 7:30.  The show opens to the public on September 24th and runs to October 2nd.  The hours are Monday to Thursday, 12 to 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 5, and Sunday, 11 to 5 pm.     

Come enjoy painting, prints, calligraphy, drawings, miniatures, photography and 3-dimensional works by top local and regional artists. I look forward to another exciting venue to exhibit my work. I have several aritist friends in this show, so it's going to be a fun time with great art viewing. All work is for sale, so come on out and support your local artist!!

Work Juried in Miniature Art Society of Florida's 2011 Exhibit

Once again I am happy to report that I have had all five of my miniatures juried into the Miniature Art Society of Florida's, 36th Annual International Miniature Art Show. They are, starting at the top and going clockwise, Late Bloomer, Gold and Glory, The Silent Ones, "Peek A Boo", and in the center, Traveling the Slow Road.

2011 Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) Entries
© Barbara A. Freeman

The 36th Annual International Miniature Art Show runs from January 9th, through January 30th, 2011 at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, FL. For more information on exhibition dates, and times, please visit the Miniature Art Society of Florida's website, click on "Annual Exhibition", then scroll down for the 2011 schedule which includes a listing of places to stay. This exhibit is the largest showing of fine art miniatures in the USA and is always well attended. I'll have more to say on this fine exhibit as the dates get closer. Meanwhile, I'll be announcing soon, the work that I'll have in this year's Miniature Masterpieces and More Show in Bothell, WA. Check back soon and thanks for taking the time to read this. Happy Thanksgiving!

"Peek-a-Boo", New Miniature in Acrylic

Peek-a-Boo, © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Claybord, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

My latest miniature work is a redo from one that I had done in colored pencil on film several months ago. I ran into problems with the first one though, and had to abandon it, (see below). I knew I wanted to come back to doing the chickens because I liked their expressions, they were so cute. I especially liked the way the one is partially in the picture plane. It was as though it wanted to be sure to be in the picture too. They were really funny to walk through and photograph. They were difficult to shoot, would not pose and instead, would come up to the camera and try to peck it. This chicken breed is the White Cochin Bantam.

This was my first animal painting in acrylic. I have always used either graphite or colored pencil to do any animals because I liked the control in getting all the small details. Now, though, after painting these, I would not hesitate to do more. It was a bit challenging getting all the value shifts in the whites though. Such fun! It still needs to be varnished. I'll post it again when I have it framed.

Radioactive Chickens, Colored Pencil on Film, (left),
"Peek-A-Boo", Acrylic on Claybord, (right)
© Barbara A. Freeman

Above are the two works side by side. The colored pencil work was finished except for the final fixative. However, after spraying it, the piece was ruined, my chickens ended up looking radioactive!!! I think it was because I sprayed the fixative too heavily, which caused the colors to run. A very bright yellow ran on the backs of the chickens and the blues surrounding them is neon blue! Needless to say, I was upset. So, I put the chickens aside and concentrated on other subject matter using a different medium. Even though it was disappointing having my work ruined after finishing it, the experience did end on a positive note by getting me to push myself into painting the chickens. I was very pleased with the results and think it is a better work overall.

Next, I am back to finishing up Always Illuminated, the illuminated word I've posted about earlier. I'm doing it in acrylic and expanding the work, making it more than just the word. I hope it works out! Until then, thanks for taking the time to read this and look at my work.