The 26th Annual International Miniature Art Show at Seaside Art Gallery

My two works, Sylvan Slippers and When the Night Comes, are both in the 26th Annual International Miniature Art Show at Seaside Art Gallery in Nags Head, NC.  If you can't make it in person to see the show, it is also happening online now! Each year the show exhibits around 550-600 works of miniature art by talented artists from all around the globe. Some of the world’s most renowned miniature artists participate each year! This show has a wonderful variety of fine art miniatures!

 

**Sylvan Slippers, and When the Night Comes
© Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"
Both works are from the Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities Series.

You can view my two works in the show on Seaside Art Gallery's webpage here, (scroll down).  I love the presentation of the entire show online. Seaside is a very organized and professionally run gallery.  Seaside Art Gallery is one of the largest galleries in the Southeast with 55 years of excellence and reputed customer service.

*When the Night Comes © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Seaside Art Gallery's show is one of the top five national miniature shows that you can see in person and online. This year the juror is Mary Serfass, artist and owner of, The Snow Goose Gallery located in the heart of Historic Bethlehem, PA.   The Snow Goose Gallery also hosts it's own miniature art show every year.

*Sylvan Slippers  © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

The exhibition runs: May 6^th - June 3^rd,
The gallery location: 2716 South Virginia Dare Trail in Nags Head NC. (map)
Toll-free number: 800-828-2444.
The Artists Reception: May 27^th 7 - 9 PM.
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet many of the artists and see the award winners. Refreshments will be served. The reception is open to the public and is free to attend.

The online exhibition starts upon arrival of each artist’s work. When the artwork arrives in the gallery, it is examined, measured, photographed and posted. Not only will you be able to click on the work to see an enlarged view, but if you click on the details, it tells you the artist's name and where they're from. There is also a thumbnail of the work in it's frame which you can click on for an enlarged framed view. The clarity of the image is perfect AND you can put it in your cart and buy the artwork online! Collectors are buying pieces as they come into the gallery. You can purchase them before the show opens. When the show is over, the gallery will send your purchase to you, with free shipping in the USA. How easy is that! Miniature art is often referred to as "the little jewels of the art world" and enjoys continued growth in popularity worldwide. All beautiful jewels, they'd make the perfect gift for MOM! I hope if you are in the area, you will go see this great show!

As always, I thank you for taking the time to read about my work and the shows I am participating in. If you are one of my collectors, I thank you for your support!  Happy Mother's Day!

**I am happy to say both of these works have been SOLD!

56th Annual Edmonds Arts Festival - Work Selected!

I'm very happy to announce that all my submissions have been selected for the 56th Annual Edmonds Arts Festival!  This year my entries have a bird theme.  In the drawing category, my new graphite work, Special Delivery, features a crow as messenger.  My work in the painting category, Snowy Visitor, has a snowy owl regally posing on driftwood.  In the miniature category, my paintings include a pelican, Catchin' Some Rays, a heron, Patience, an eagle, The Hunter, and more crows, this time as a trio in, Negotiation.  I guess you can tell, I love birds!

  Special Delivery  © Barbara A. Freeman

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

 

 Snowy Visitor  © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on True Gesso Panel  7 5/8" x 9 5/8"

Fine Art Miniatures

Catchin' Some Rays  © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.  
Awarded:  Second Place Miniatures

Acrylic on Gessobord  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Patience © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board 3 1/2" x 2 5/8"

 

The Hunter © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on True Gesso Panel  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Negotiation  © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. 
Acrylic on Claybord  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

The Edmonds Arts Festival is a three day fun filled event that takes place over Fathers' Day Weekend, June 14th -16th, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Frances Anderson Cultural Center, 700 Main Street in beautiful downtown Edmonds, WA. The Edmonds Arts Festival is one of the longest running in the Northwest, attracting artists from across the nation.  There are artists booths outside along with performing arts and children's activities and yummy food.  My work will be in the Juried Gallery Show which is INSIDE the Frances Anderson Center.  There are different rooms exhibiting the juried work, the main gallery where my work is located, you'll find, paintings, drawings and miniature art.  Don't miss the photography and artisan work which is located in rooms a few steps up.  Also, you can find the excellent student art show downstairs. Don't miss out on a fun weekend!  Bring Dad along, too!  All artwork is for sale.  Remember, art makes a fine Fathers' Day Gift!  Happy Fathers' Day to all you Fathers out there!

New Feline Fine Art Miniatures

With so many show deadlines fast approaching, I've been in my studio painting away, focusing on  creating new miniature works.  My two new miniature feline paintings are both done in acrylic on Strathmore 500 series Illustration Board.  They are my first cat paintings and I loved painting them, especially their eyes!  These two boys are brothers, (Sid top - Sam bottom) and share space with my Mom and Dad in Florida.  On my visit there last year, I did my best to try and photograph them.  I have to say photographing them was like trying to photograph a moving target.  Get out my camera and they were gone! Sis did like to show off after a while, but Sam was shy and liked to hide under things.  It was really fun to paint them.

Afghan Kitty © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board  2" x 2 "

More Salmon, Please © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board  2" x 2 "

I have two more miniature paintings finished that need to be varnished before I unveil them.  In addition, I'm hoping to finish two more.  Because of the all the detail and fine tuning, these miniatures take a lot of time! Unfortunately, I may not have as many miniatures for the spring/summer shows this year as in the past.  The rest of March and April will be very busy so I may not be blogging as often as I would like.  Much of my time beside creating new miniatures will be taken up with framing, doing paperwork for entering shows, etc.  There is also a family visit scheduled that will include some travel time.  I do hope you will check back to see my new work.  I'll be posting about the spring shows that my work will be in as soon as I know.  As always, thanks for taking the time to stop by.  I hope you have a great spring!

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.

Three New Miniature Paintings

As promised, my three latest miniatures, all done in acrylic, each on a different substrate.

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

This cow is from a hearty breed of Highlands cattle.  He kindly posed for me while on the Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms, which takes place around the end of September, first of October.  The farm tours are self guided, so you can pick and choose which route and farms you want to visit. They are so much fun and a great way to learn about different farm animals, as well as veggies and fruits. One of our favorite stops is the apple orchard. I never knew there were so many varieties of apples!  We do the apple tasting, then purchase the ones we like, along with my favorite pears. They store well and we can enjoy them for weeks to come.  Another one of the many reasons I'm really starting to enjoy living here in the Pacific Northwest!

I Got My Eye on You  © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Illustration Board  2 5/8" x 2 5/8"

These pelicans, however, are not from the Pacific Northwest. This one along with the one below are from our trip to Dunedin, FL in January when I attended the Miniature Art Society of Florida's (MASF) annual miniature art show.  Gina, Wayne and I took a walk along the causeway where folks were fishing.  The pelicans were in various modes of relaxing and watching all of us! 

Catchin' Some Rays © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Gessobord  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

This pelican was hunched down into his body, looking very relaxed, indeed! He was a bit older I think and trying to have his afternoon nap. We didn't seem to be bothering him at all, but I'm sure he wished we'd go away!  One of these pelican miniatures will probably be heading back to Florida for this year's MASF's show.

I have been busy with many different projects this summer.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to keep up with blogging as often as I'd like, nor have I been able to visit my blogging friends' sites and leave comments. Facebook has taken away from some of that time. It's really been difficult to stay connected to everyone and all the different events taking place. I'm sure many of you must be experiencing some of the same. Therefore, I thank all of you who do manage to take the time to read about my work and leave a comment. Your support is much appreciated!

*The faint red marks on the images are my watermark and do not appear on the actual work.

2nd Place Miniatures! - Edmonds Arts Festival - Fathers' Day Weekend

Traveling the Slow Road © Barbara A. Freeman

Fine Art Miniature, Acrylic on Masonite, 2 7/8" x 3 3/4"

Second Place Miniatures - Edmonds Arts Festival

Sunday evening Wayne and I went to the Reception for the artists and volunteers of the Edmonds Arts Festival at the Frances Anderson Center . The show was still in the "raw", the work not yet hung in it's final position nor with information labels and awards ribbons. Therefore, it was hard to see who the artist was and what works got awards.

I saw someone looking at the tag on my miniature, Traveling the Slow Road and when I told her it was mine, she congratulated me and told me it had taken Second Place!! When the show opens with the Preview pARTy on Wednesday, the 15th, all will be labeled and polished.

Pastel artist, Cheryl Hufnagel and Acrylic painter, Janie Olsen

While there, I met up with several artists friends. My friend Janie Olsen has two paintings and four miniatures in the show. She was happy to find out that her work titled Jingle Bells, took Third Place in Miniature! Pastel artist and friend, Cheryl Hufnagel has two paintings and three miniatures in the show. It's always great to run into Cheryl and see her latest work.

Yours truly with Cheryl and Janie.

Being an artist who loves to draw, I was also excited to see several very nice graphite pieces in the Drawing Category. I was blown away by a really wonderful piece featuring rocks and shells. It was filled with texture and a beautiful range of values. When I looked to see who it's creator was, I found it was my friend Susan Jones' work! Sorry, I didn't get any photos of Susan.

Awards and kudos to artists, sponsors and volunteers.

I am looking forward to returning to the show when the festival is in full swing this weekend. Mark your calendars and take Dad to the Edmonds Arts Festival , this Fathers' Day weekend, June 17th through the 19th - Friday, 11am to 9 pm, Saturday, 10am to 8pm, and Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Also, this year’s annual Preview pARTy will be held on Wednesday, June 15 at the Frances Anderson Center beginning at 6:00 pm. Look for my work at the Juried Art Show, inside the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main Street, Edmonds,WA

Needless to say, I was very happy that my miniature received an award, especially after I received notice last week that the silverpoint and acrylic work in progress that I had just blogged about, Trio, was rejected from the competition I entered it in! Just goes to show, you never know what gets in and what gets turned away. As most jurors will tell you, it's a hard job! In the meantime, I'm working on another mixed media piece on film and will post it here when it's finished. As always, thanks for taking the time to read about my work. Do try to visit some of the great Art Events in your area wherever you live, and support your local artist!

Gold and Glory, New Acrylic Painting in Miniature

This work is another recent miniature I've done in acrylic. It's a painting that I'll submit to one of the upcoming miniature art society shows*. It was inspired by the small country church, The Little White Church on the Hill.

I saw a peek of this church as we were driving by and had to stop to photograph it. I love our drives in the country, this one was on the Pioneer Hwy, close to the town of Silvana, WA. It's near the bridge overlooking the scenic Stillaguamish River Valley. The Little White Church on the Hill is an historic site completed in 1898 and is listed on the Washington State Register of Historic Places.

Gold and Glory ©Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Art Board 2" x 2"

It was in late autumn and the trees had already lost most of their color. I didn't have as much information in the photograph to work with as I would have liked. I decided to give the tree colors a touch of autumn gold. It worked well with the whites, bathing them in a golden glow. I tried two different frame styles on it and I think the one above is the best choice, more delicate. It works well with the theme of Gold and Glory.


In the above photo you can see where I started the painting by covering the entire surface with a blue wash to tint the illustration board. Then I built up the layers with thin applications of color. On the upper right side next to the first tree you can see the color of the first blue layer. This helped me to lay in the whites of the church and the blue was a great contrast to the orange. I painted the roof and shadows with tints of blues and lavender. Actually, this piece is filled with complementary colors. I also used a bit of metallic gold paint on some of the trees. The bell in the tower was a real challenge, it was so tiny! I decided to mat it in a smaller format to create a more pleasing composition.

I selected this frame and the first one above as possibilities for the finished piece. I think the first one is the better choice, more delicate and the yellow gold is a better match. Sorry, as you can see the first gold framed work is not very straight. I'll post a better photo of the final matted and framed work at a later date. As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

*I am in the process of putting the final touches on my work and will be shipping them out soon to the two Miniature Art Society Exhibits coming up, the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington DC, (MPSGS) and the Miniature Art Society of Florida, (MASF).

Traveling the Slow Road - New Miniature Art Work

Traveling the Slow Road © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Illustration Board, 2 7/8" x 3 3/4"

My latest work is another in my Italian Landscape Series of Miniature Art. This drive was not far from our apartment in the countryside of Montepulciano. We would often choose to travel this route, the slow road, to connect to the larger roads. There are many cypress lined roads in Tuscany, the most well known near La Foce. As you can see from the photo below, my painting is NOT that one. However, even though I took some liberties and changed a few things with my version, I'm sure it will be familiar to those of you who have traveled in this area. As usual, the time of the season is autumn, one of my favorite times of the year, when the fields are in transition, recently plowed or sprouting the green winter grasses, the hay stacked in storage. We always traveled in the autumn, less tourists, fresh olive oil and la raccolta delle uve da vino, the grape harvest for wine making. Seems everytime I do one of these works, my mind takes a bit of a vacation, memories come flooding back. Oh, to return someday!

View Near La Foce © Barbara A. Freeman

Traveling the Slow Road © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Illustration Board, 3 3/4" x 2 3/4" Framed

Late Bloomer - Miniature Acrylic Painting

Late Bloomer © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Illustration Board 2 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Wow, time sure flies! I really didn't fall off the edge, I've just been painting away trying to get my miniatures finished in time for the fast approaching deadlines. Then there were computer issues and life things getting in the way. So far I have two miniatures finished, and am working on my third. This first one is varnished and ready for matting and framing. I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I really had a time doing the strands of straw though! Also, orange was a challenging color to mix at first, finding the right combo of red and yellow that didn't look neon. I chose to stay with my favorite earth colors of transparent red iron oxide and yellow oxide. I started the piece by covering the surface of the illustration board with a layer of blue. I like it better than starting out with an all white surface. I'm still thinking about the title.

I'll try not to be so long before I post the next miniature painting, an Italian landscape. Thanks for taking the time to read about my work.

Art Beat Includes Mention of Work, "The Key"

I've just received my unsold work back today from Seaside Art Gallery's 19th International Miniature Art Show, in Nags Head, North Carolina. They always include the art review, "Art Beat" by Mary Ellen Riddle from their local paper, The Virginian-Pilot, inside the box. I was delighted to read that my work, The Key, was mentioned in this review. Here is what Ms Riddle said about that work:

"Of note is the magical graphite and mixed media work by Barbara A. Freeman. Her image, "The Key", features a raven in the woodland standing in a ring of golden toadstools. In its beak, the raven grasps a red ribbon upon which is tied a key. Behind the clearing where the raven takes center stage stands a regal tree with intricate patterns. The majority of the work is black and white with only minute bits of metallic color adding contrast to the monochromatic palette. These gem-like dots work well with the pearly sheen of the film on which the work is drawn. But don't overlook the faint purple shadow under the raven - subtle but powerful."

Wow, that really made me happy that she got that! I'm also happy to report that that particular work has sold.

Fine Art Miniature, The Key, © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Acrylic on Film, 2 3/8" x 3"

As for now, I'm, back to working on the graphite on film of the forest and dragonfly, not a miniature, but a small work. I'll be sharing my progress on that work tomorrow. I also have some framing to complete for the festival this weekend at Live ARTS Bothell. As you can tell, it's been a very busy month! As always, thank you for taking the time to read this.

Crow Series

This is a post to show my series of graphite drawings featuring a crow or crows. My friend, Mona Diane Conner has invited me to share my series of crow drawings to the Facebook Group, Birds in Art. There are so many beautiful images of birds on this site, so many talented artists and bird lovers!

In this series, the crow is part of the landscape, usually the focal point, but sometimes used as a symbol. I don't post my images on Facebook. If I want to announce new work to my Facebook friends, I post it with a link to be viewed here on my blog. Therefore, I have collected this series of work in a new post, in the order as created. If you would like to read my process or thoughts about each piece, you can click on the title of that work for it's blog link. Please note, you may have to go to the bottom of the link to find the matching blog. Thanks for looking and thank you Mona for suggesting it!

Finding Time, © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite on Film, 8 1/4" x 10 1/2"

Fine Art Miniature, The Key, © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Acrylic on Film, 2 3/8" x 3"

The Offering, © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Colored Pencil on Film, 7" x 7"

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

This last work, above, is the latest work in graphite with a crow, to be titled soon. You can see that I've used the same crow twice in two of the works. They are everywhere until I get my camera to get new shots!

I've also included three works done in acrylic that the crow is used as a symbol.

Buddha in Austin, A Personal Altar*, © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Gessobord, (painting continued on deep sides and top)
Stones, Fossil and Root Fibers, 8" x 6" x 4" (*to see other views of this click on the title)

Fine Art Miniature, Buddha in the Pacific Northwest
© Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Claybord, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

A Meditation on the Pacific Northwest, © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Gessobord, 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

New Silverpoint Drawing in Miniature, "The Way Home"

The Way Home © Barbara A. Freeman
Silverpoint, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Finally I have a new work to share! It's done in silverpoint (with a bit of watercolor added for interest), on Strathmore 500 illustration board. A great surface, very forgiving, thick and sturdy. I used Golden Silverpoint Ground to prepare the board, and once dry, it's ready to accept the fine silver stylus, (mine was purchased from the silverpoint.com website).

If the trees look familiar, it's because I've used the same reference photo that I've used in other work. Each time I do them, the trees become slightly different. It's really the placement and the way the light hits the trees and surrounding landscape that I need from the photo. I may make the trees with different textures, or placement of limbs, etc when creating a new piece. In this one, I've given the tree an opening for the rabbit to escape to. I added color to the opening in the tree which not only draws your eye in, but also gives contrast to the rabbit's white face and the color is repeated in the eye. The rabbit is from photos that I took of the one that my husband sees when he goes for a run. Wayne has named him Spot. When he comes back from a run he tells me that Spot says hi if he sees him. We think Spot was someone's pet at one time as he allows you to get rather close before bolting. I was able to take photos easily enough moving very slowly.

Below is the frame I'm going to use. I am thinking I'll not mat the work, but use spacers to separate the work from the glass. Thanks again for taking the time to read about my work! Now on to the next one!

The Way Home © Barbara A. Freeman,
Silverpoint, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Always Illuminated, New Work of Miniature Art

As promised, here is the finished work, Always Illuminated! It started out as a first attempt at egg tempera, (First Attempt at Egg Tempera blog post), but alas, that didn't succeed. This piece is from that design with some additional work all done in acrylic. It still needs to have the master scan done so the "Always" has not been completely attached to the miniature landscape. Each piece will be scanned separately. This is to show how it will look when all together and which frame I have chosen. It will not be matted, but will have spacers between the glass and the artwork. That is so that the art does NOT rest on the glass. It was done on 100% rag illustration board using acrylics, including gold and iridescent colors. The only thing I would do differently next time is to make my background much lighter. The varnish seemed to darken the work more than I intended. But otherwise, I am happy with the final image. I loved painting the tiny landscape with the fields and trees. The castle was great to do. I mean, how often do you get to add a castle to your landscape?

I wanted the work to be more than just the word, so I added a landscape to rest the word on. I used the same surface and background color. Because the letter design used the autumn leaf and colors, I tried to bring that same theme and color to the landscape.


The word is attached to a piece of rag board with acrylic gel medium to lift it slightly when attached to the landscape with the same gel medium.

Always Illuminated, ©Barbara A. Freeman, Acrylic on Rag Board, 4"x 5"

Above is the frame I have chosen for it. Sorry, it is showing more of a shadow at the top than it will have when framed. Thanks for taking the time to read about my new miniature work. I'll let you know when I have decided which upcoming show I will be submitting, Always Illuminated to. I really had fun doing this, I hope it comes through in the work! It will be interesting to see what kind of response I get with this. I could see a series of illuminated words!

Coming Soon, & 4 Show Deadlines in April!

This weekend I'll be doing the isolation coat and varnish on my three new works. Then after they are dry enough, I'll have them scanned. I have completed the third work, Always, my illuminated word and will be able to show it then. If you have been following me, you may remember this one because it started out as an egg tempera painting. I had some problems with the egg tempera but liked the design, so I redid it in acrylic. I liked the way it came out, but decided I wanted to take it further. I created a tiny landscape painted on the same kind of surface, using the same colors, including gold, with the autumn theme. I'm going to "float" the work, Always on top of the piece with the landscape. In other words, the word Always is raised slightly in the space that is the sky with the landscape below. That is why it can't be shown, it needs to be varnished before I can connect the two pieces. Words! It would be so much easier to just show it! Hopefully I made all that clear. If not, stayed tuned, Always Illuminated, Coming Soon!

In the meantime, I am starting to panic! I have four deadlines for miniature art works! I'll need at least 16 or more quality fine art miniatures total for all of them! The show in Florida will end this weekend and I'll be waiting to see how many are returned from that show. Those remaining works will all be available to show in these upcoming shows, but I will still have to have new work to add to them. The shows are listed below, if you are a local artist or you live elsewhere and don't mind shipping your work. Or perhaps you are a collector of fine art miniatures and want to see the work in person, please check out the shows. Seaside and Parklane are miniature art shows only and are exhibited for a longer time period. Bothell and Edmonds are several day festivals with both miniature art and larger work. Good luck to all of you entering these fun and exciting shows! Now, it's back to my studio to get busy!

April 16th: Edmonds Arts Festival, Edmonds, WA edmondsartsfestival.com
April 20th: Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC. seasideart.com
April 23rd: Live Arts Bothell, Bothell, WA liveartsbothell.org The site is in the process of correcting information. Deadline is April 23rd!
April 27th: Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA parklanegallery.com

"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.

New Miniature in the Italian Landscape Series, "Over and Beyond"

My latest miniature painting is another in my Italian Landscape Series. I had started this one a while back, but didn't like the colors in the sky, nor the way the light was hitting the tops of the mountains. I put it away and moved on to another work. I find it's good to do that, when a piece just doesn't grab you but you have put so much work into it. This one had been at that point. Meanwhile, I was thinking about what I wanted to do next, when I saw it sitting there on the miniature easel where I prop them to "age". I picked it up and just started working on it. I think it's good sometimes to put all the photos and references away and let your painter's eye take over. Once I got the sky area worked out, the rest was the fun part of just refining the details. I'm very happy with it now. It still needs the isolation coat and varnish. When that has all been done and a frame chosen, I'll post it again. Thanks for looking and taking the time to read this.

Over and Beyond, © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Claybord, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"