Third Place Drawing at MASF for "A Flash of Blue"

A Flash of Blue © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 2 3/4" x 3 3/4" 

Great news for me!  I received my letter today from MASF, Miniature Art Society of Florida, that all five of my works have been accepted for the 37th Annual International Miniature Art Show!  Not only that, but A Flash of Blue has taken 3rd Place in Drawing!  I sent my very first submissions to MASF back in 2008 and have gotten my work in every year.  This is my first award in this show, so I am thrilled!  It's the largest miniature art show in this country and there are hundreds of entries!  This particular drawing received 1st Place in Drawing in the 2010 Miniature Painter, Sculptors and Gravers Society in Washington D.C. which was an honor!   I guess the judges like this piece.  It makes me happy!

The other four works juried in this show are Early Autumn, From the Highlands,  I Got My Eye on You and Through the Portal.  The show opens on January 15th and runs until February 5th, 2012.  I attended the show last year and it was incredible seeing all the tiny masterpieces! If you get a chance to see the show, it is well worth it! For more information on the show and miniature art, visit the MASF website by clicking on their name. 

Miniature Art Society of Florida Exhibition will be held at the Dunedin Fine Art Center 

1143 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin, FL  Hours: Mon.-Sat.: 10AM-5PM; Sun.: 1-4PM

Thanks again for taking the time to read about my work.

Good News and a Reminder of Shows This Weekend

Good news and a couple of reminders.  First the good news ...  I just got the call that my miniature painting,  From the Highlands took 2nd place and my mixed media miniature drawing,  Through the Portal was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 33rd Annual Arts of the Terrace Art Show in Mountlake Terrace!!  This is so exciting, I'm doing the Happy Dance!!   The show opens this weekend  and I'm looking forward to seeing it.  Hope you can make it too! You can read more about all my work in the Arts of the Terrace show on an earlier blog post here.  There are so many fun things going on with this festival! (read more below)  

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

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

Reminder: 33rd Annual Arts of the Terrace Art Show in Mountlake Terrace.  The show opens to the public, this weekend, 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 5pm.  To find out more about all the fun things to see and do, visit Arts of the Terrace on  FaceBook.   See you there!

Another Reminder:  The Icon Show at Fraker/Scott Gallery in Pioneer Square, Seattle will have it's Artists Reception this Saturday, September 24 from 5 to 7.  The show will be up until October 1st.  You can read more about that show and my work in it on my previous blog post here.  You can view a slideshow of the artists and their work on opening night Art Walk at this link.  It's a fun show in a great space.  Always fun to go hang out in downtown Seattle and visit all the galleries.  What are you waiting for!  Fraker/Scott Gallery, 121 Prefontaine PL South, in Seattle.

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!!

Miniature Masterpieces and More! Kaewyn Gallery Holiday Show - Two New Works

Garden Gnome, Contemplating His Latest Work
© Barbara A. Freeman

Small Work, Acrylic on Gessobord, 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Early Autumn © Barbara A. Freeman

Fine Art Miniature, Acrylic on Polymin, 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Kaewyn Gallery's annual Holiday Show, Miniature Masterpieces and More! is opening this weekend. The artists showing in this exhibit are by invitation only and I am happy once again to be among them. This year I have a total of six works in the exhibit, four fine art miniatures (under 25 inches square) and two small works.

My four miniature works in this exhibit are from top left, cock-wise, Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed, Always Illuminated, Early Autumn, and Through the Portal. I have matted and re-framed the silverpoint drawing, Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed to give it a new look that I am much happier with. Always Illuminated has been featured as a work in process on this blog post here. Early Autumn is a new acrylic painting done on polymin, the ivorine/ivory substitute, and Through the Portal, is a new graphite, mixed media on film, fantasy drawing which was also featured in a blog post here.

My two Small Works are, $2.00/bunch and Garden Gnome, Contemplating His Latest Work.

Kaewyn Gallery will be celebrating the opening night of the Miniature Masterpieces and More! Exhibit by participating in Vintage Bothell, a winter wine walk. Both take place Friday, December 3rd from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Tickets for the wine walk can be purchased by following the link, explorebothell.com. ($15 with your own glass, glasses available at event for $5) Now there are TWO reasons to go, great affordable art and if you choose, a wine tasting!

Kaewyn gallery is located at 10101 Main Street in downtown Bothell, WA. The Exhibit runs from December 3th through January 25th, 2011. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 10-6, Friday, 10-5, and Saturday from 10-4. I'm planning to be there on Friday for the opening, hope to see you there! My friend Janie Olsen will be participating this year with her magical works as well! Remember, original art is a lasting treasure and makes the perfect holiday gift! Thanks for taking the time to read this. Best of Wishes for the Holidays and Support your local artist!

Through the Portal...New Fine Art Miniature in Graphite

Through the Portal ©Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 2 3/4"x 3 5/8"

This is a new miniature work on film using graphite and mixed media. It's another of my fantasy trees, this one with an opening to tempt the viewer to follow the path inside. I used the photo as a basic reference, for shape and light source. Next to that, is a copy of a colored pencil drawing I did many years ago thinking I would use a similar opening in the new work. However, once working I decided on a different pathway. I started this drawing in my studio with the intention of taking it along with me to work on while visiting family in Indiana. I figured graphite would be easy to carry and work on in short spurts of time. Rather than buy a hand held magnifier and have to pack it, I decided to buy one after I got there. I did some research and found most of the large office supply and art supply store chains have magnifiers and lighting. I googled the location of several in the areas we were passing through and stopped on the way. (I found a decent enough one with a good balanced light AND it was on sale! It worked out great and I left it there for our next visit.)


Once I had the outline worked out and the drawing started, I then focused on doing the inside of the portal. The castle idea came from the work that I did in the miniature, Always Illuminated. I was able to complete enough of the acrylic painting before leaving so would only have to concentrate on the graphite work while away.

The inside work was so tiny, measuring 1/2" x 3/8" !!!

I love doing the texture of trees and bark, so the rest of the work flowed and was a calming mediation for me. I managed to finish all the graphite work while away. However, I'm sorry I don't have more photos of the work in progress. I only have the beginning as above. In fact, I even forgot to photograph it before I put it in a mat and frame under glass! Luckily, I do have the official scans for my website which I hope to have up soon.

Once back home in my studio, I was able to look at the work as a whole and decided that some changes needed to be made. I did a bit more work on the inside acrylic, smoothing out some of the color and added some colored pencil on the underside of the film between the two sets of stairways. I also added a touch of blue on the right side to balance out the color. Below are the photos with the work framed under glass, so there is a bit of glare. I'll be submitting this to a local holiday show. I'll say more about that show as the time draws near. Meanwhile, thanks for taking the time to read about my work.

Through the Portal ©Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 2 3/4"x 3 5/8"

**When using film, the product is Dura-lar Matte film by Grafix.