Harmony - Accepted in the 22nd Juried Art Show - Schack Art Center - Awarded Honorable Mention

I am so honored to have my work, Harmony, included in this years Schack Art Center's 22nd Biennial Juried Show and it won an Honorable Mention!  The show is a collection from 70 local artists featuring a well-rounded variety of mediums to produce an eclectic and visually stimulating exhibit.  You can view the work on the Schack website, just scroll down the page to view all the work and the artists participating.  The show runs June 17th to July 24th, at the Schack Art Center, conveniently located downtown Everett, at 2921 Hoyt Avenue.(map)  

 

Harmony  © Barbara A. Freeman

  Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord  12" x 9" - Honorable Mention

 

The 22nd Biennial Juried Show is in the Main Gallery.  Also on display in the Mezzanine Gallery are works from the Summer Solstice Online Auction.  The Gallery Store featuring fabulous local art is also open, and you can view glassblowers at work through the viewing window located in the main gallery!

 

Opening Evening during the Everett Art Walk

Thursday, June 17th 5 - 8 pm

Free and open to the public

 

The Schack will be hosting a Closing Awards Ceremony during the Everett Art Walk on Thursday, July 15th, 5-8pm, with the Awards Ceremony at 6:30pm.

 

Awards Ceremony during the Everett Art Walk

July 15th 5 - 8 pm

 

Enjoy live music throughout.  Beer and wine will be available to purchase in the studios.  If you've never visited the Schack Art Center, this is the perfect time.  All the work in the exhibit is for sale.  It's going to be a great show!  Hope you can make it! 

 

The Schack Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating the arts for the enhancement of community life.  Inside the Schack Art Center, there are exhibit galleries with diverse artwork from locally and internationally known professional artists, as well as emerging young talents.  The main gallery also provides a first-class view into the world of glassblowing. Anytime they are open, you are welcome to watch this fascinating process while admiring the latest exhibit.

 

As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.  Remember to support your local artist. May your summer be a time of joy and renewal. 

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!

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! 

20th Juried Art Show - Schack Art Center

My work, Outside In, has been accepted in the 20th Juried Art Show at the Schack Art Center, in Everett WA. This is a great venue and I'm so happy to have my work included.

Outside In © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Metal Leaf on Claybord 10" x 8"

Detailed View

 Outside In © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Metal Leaf on Claybord 10" x 8"

This biennial show is a collection of Northwest artists featuring a well-rounded variety of mediums to produce an eclectic and visually stimulating exhibit.  You can view the work on the Schack website. Scroll down the page to view all the work and the artists links.  If you've never visited the Schack Art Center, this is the perfect time.  It's gonna be a great show!  All the work in the exhibit is for sale.  Oh and check out their fabulous gift shop filled with local art!

The show runs March 10 – April 23, in the Main Gallery. Opening Reception is March 10, 5-8pm, with the Awards Ceremony at 6:30pm.  The Schack Art Center is conveniently located downtown at 2921 Hoyt Avenue, Everett WA ( map).

The Schack Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating the arts for the enhancement of community life.  Inside the Schack Art Center, there are exhibit galleries with diverse artwork from locally and internationally known professional artists, as well as emerging young talents.  The main gallery also provides a first-class view into the world of glassblowing. Anytime we are open, you are welcome to watch this fascinating process while admiring the latest exhibit.

Outside In © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Metal Leaf on Claybord 10" x 8" Framed

As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.  Spring is in the air, enjoy it!