New Work, "A Flash of Blue" - Miniature

A Flash of Blue © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"

At last, a new miniature work finished! The work is done in graphite on Dura-lar Matte film. I used acrylic paint and interference colors for the dragonfly and mushrooms. I also added some color on the back of the film with colored pencils giving the end of the path, a subtle, soft, warm glow. Unfortunately, it doesn't show up very well in the photo. There is a LOT of detail packed in this tiny forest!

This is the first time I've used a dragonfly in any of my images. I wanted something to suggest a bit of magic and the dragonfly and also mushrooms seemed likely images. I thought they would fit well in this landscape. I didn't know until I started my research that the Common Green Darner dragonfly is actually the Washington state insect! The dragonfly I have used here is the Blue Eyed Darner. I liked this particular dragonfly not only because of its wonderful color, but I have seen lots of these beauties once when we were on one of our walks. There was an abundance of beautiful blues zipping by and checking us out. The blue colors would vary as they darted in and out of the sunlight. It was a beautiful sight and I don't think I'd ever seen that many dragonflies at once.

The forest is inspired by Lord Hill Park. There are a lot of water spots and ponds in this park, so lots of dragonflies as well. My first walk in this park was in late February, it was very wet and cold, so we didn't walk very far. The next trip was in the spring and it was a magical experience. I must confess that I usually have magical-like experiences when I get away from the noise of people and all their stuff! When I get my work finished and submitted, I'll be heading to one of these wonderful places to experience that magic again. In the meantime, I love creating these tiny miniature escapes! I hope you enjoy looking at them.

I still need to cut mats and frame the work. They each need to be scanned and put up on my website. Those images will be a much higher quality than the photo shots I show here. When they are all up on my site, they will be complete with title, size and framed. I'll post which work I'll be submitting to each show. When they get accepted, I'll post again with more information on them. I hope if you are near any of the shows that you'll go take a look to see my miniature escapes in person. Thank you for taking the time to look at my work and read this.

Another Miniature Silverpoint, "Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed"

Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed © Barbara A. Freeman, 2 7/8" x 3 7/8"
Silverpoint on Prepared Art board

After I finished my last miniature in silverpoint with the tree and rabbit, I decided to do the rabbit again, only as a single subject. The challenge was how to do a white rabbit in silverpoint. In the previous work, the rabbit was surrounded by the grasses and tree, so they helped form his white body. In this one I drew the outline along the top areas and the grasses helped define the bottom area of him. The ears were fun to do and I loved doing his eye. I added some acrylic color to the eye and used that same color in the mushroom ring around him. There is a hint of color on the nose and in the ears. I don't think this is the last rabbit I'll do. I have some more ideas for him. I would like to get some photos of the other side of his face where he has some larger spots.

My posts may be a bit spotty as the April deadlines approach. I have four shows I'm am preparing for, but once the work is packed up and shipped or delivered, I'll have more time. I'll be deciding which work to send to which show and will post all that information shortly after it's decided. I'll also have more time to visit all my blogger friends and see the fabulous work you are all doing! As always, thank you for taking the time to read this and look at my work.

Latest Miniature Art, and Now an Associate Member of MPSGS!

The Time Thief, © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film, 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"

This is my latest miniature work, just finished the final fixative coat on it yesterday. Now, it's ready for scanning, then finding or cutting a mat! As you can see, I am still on my crow and clock theme here. Thanks to the Arts Council of Snohomish County for the Of Clocks and Crows Exhibit that I did my work, Finding Time for, I have now done four works with a crow in them. Oh, I forgot, there is a crow in both of my Buddha paintings, but I did those two before the Clocks and Crows show. Still, I love getting inspired with a subject and then having it repeat in more work. It creates a series and allows me to further explore that subject.

This one, still untitled, is done on * Dura-lar Matte film with colored pencil on the underside for the watch and the interior of the tree. The chain and a bit of highlight on the eye and watch were done with acrylic, with a tiny bit of gold. *Check out the review I did on Dura-lar Matte film on the link at Dick Blick.

I love drawing trees, they have so much character and great texture. Just after I completed this, I knew I had to move on, (deadlines, deadlines, deadlines,) and I am now working on a silverpoint miniature continuing the tree with all it's mystery theme. This one though has a rabbit featured in it! Hopefully it will be a successful piece. Silverpoint does not allow you to erase, so you really have to know where you want to put your marks and have them work! So far, it's going well. I'll keep you posted.

More wonderful news... I have been invited to become an Associate Member of the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington D.C.! (MPSGS) This is the oldest Miniature Art Society in the US (founded in 1931) and is the second oldest in the world! The Royal Society of Miniature Painter, Sculptors and Graver in London, England is the oldest. The membership is by invitation only and decided by a vote of the other members. To be eligible, you have to have exhibited in three annual Society shows or have been awarded a first, second, or third prize at any Society exhibition. I am so honored!

As always, thank you for taking the time to look at my work and read my blog.

Siverpoint WIP

I've finished, or so I think, my miniature silverpoint piece. It's approximately 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". Here are some of the things I'm concerned about. The paper is toned blue which ended up being a darker blue than I intended. Should I add some color or rather change the color in the sky area by using some grayed white watercolor? I also had a problem area where I attempted to erase and rework. That spot turned cloudy and didn't match the other darks around it. (So much to learn.) I cropped that with the mat and I think the composition works. The island on the right is straight in the actual work. The patina is already starting and I can see where I had worked on it several weeks ago and then stopped. You can see it when you click on it to enlarge on the left rocks and top of the trees. It's turning a warm sepia color and I know it's still changing. That's the beauty of silverpoint!



Here is the uncropped image. Notice the darker blue of the surface. This is why I'm wondering if I should do some grayed white for the sky only. Notice the glare on the left. It's really hard to photo silverpoint. On the bottom right of the work is where I overworked the dark. I used some china white watercolor on the bottom of the work to see what it would do. I'm still not sure I trust messing with it anymore. I'm not going to do anymore drawing on it. Any suggestions would be most welcome at this point. Should I leave the sky alone? I think it would be so risky right about now, but if it doesn't work as it is, then it does need to be changed.


Here it is temporarily popped in a mat and frame to show the difference in color. Does this distract from the work? Is it a problem?