Three works juried in Unclad October 2012!

River Siren   © Barbara A. Freeman 

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 6"x 9"
Framed size  13" x 16"

Just Between You and Me  © Barbara A. Freeman

  Graphite and Mixed Media on Film  6"x 6"
Framed size  12" x 12"

Keeper of the Sphere © Barbara A. Freeman
 Graphite and Mixed Media on Film  7" x 7"
Framed size 14" x 14"

Great news that my three works have been juried into the UNCLAD show taking place in Stanwood, WA in October!  UNCLAD 2012 is the 15th Annual Art Show dedicated to celebrating the Nude Figure in art.  River Siren,  Just Between You and Me, and Keeper of the Sphere are all from the series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities.  All three works were done using graphite and colored pencil on film using both sides of the surface.

UNCLAD takes place at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center (map) and runs from October 12th, 13th, & 14th.  The show is opens to the public, 10 am to 5 pm (Admission $5 suggested donation).  On Friday, October 12th, 6 to 9 pm, there will be the ARTISTS & PATRONS PARTY (tickets $10).  On Saturday, October 13th from 6 pm to 9 pm there will be a Wine & Cheese event with Vicki Artimovich, giving a "Nude in Art" lecture (tickets $10).  Check the website, uncladart.com to view the show online, (be sure to check out my three works in the online gallery,  River Siren,  Just Between You and Me, and Keeper of the Sphere).  It's a great looking show with over 150 artworks (all nudes) from artists across North America.  This is a show that is much anticipated, with paintings, sculpture, photography, glass and including a great Gift Shop!  Hope you get a chance to view the show in person! 

New Work - "First Encounter"

 First Encounter  © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 8 1/2" x 8"

Here she is, my latest river siren placed in a Pacific Northwest landscape.  This time I've given her a frog to keep her company.  The frog was inspired from one I spotted while on a hike at Lake 22  in the North Cascades.  Like most of my work in this series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities, this drawing was done in graphite on film, with colored pencil on the reverse side.  Lastly, back to the front with a thin glaze of interference violet on her tail and a few other places to add a bit of sparkle.

 Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae)

Lake Twentytwo - North Cascades  2011/07

The frog is a Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae), this one was camera shy but I did manage to get this photo of him.

Below are a few photos of the work as it progressed and then the final scanned image again at the end. I really enjoyed creating this piece.  I love drawing trees and rocks so that part was meditation for me.  The tree branches and water were another story! I think the most difficult part of the work was the water.  By the time I got that far, I was ready to be finished!  Getting a  good range of values to read as water wasn't easy.  There was so much going on with the patterns and textures in the rocks and wood that I wanted to make that area quiet.  I needed to show some rocks under the surface and on the edge as well as the quiet movement of the water near the shore without making it too active.  

 First Encounter  © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 8 1/2" x 8"

My intention was to create a space in which to be calm and perhaps ponder what will happen next, after the First Encounter.

Now it's on to the next project, creating fine art miniatures for all the spring shows.  Those deadlines are fast approaching!   I'm hoping to have work, fine art miniatures and larger work, in the following shows:

March   Gallery North - Edmonds, WA (miniatures and small works show)
April  Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC  (miniatures only show)
May  Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA  (miniatures only show)
June  Edmonds Arts Festival, Edmonds, WA  (juried art festival which includes a miniature category) 
June  LiveARTS Bothell, Bothell, WA  (juried art festival which includes a miniature category)
Spring  UNCLAD, Stanwood, WA  (Date coming, rescheduled for the spring)  (Unclad (nude) Figure Show)

I will announce any new shows I'll have work in on this blog as they approach and new work when completed so please do check back.  As always I thank you for taking  the time to read about my work.   It may be winter now, but fear not! spring will be here before you know it!

"River Siren" - New Work

This is my latest work, just put the finishing touches on it today.   The substrate is drafting film.  I do the graphite drawing on one side, then turning the film over, add colored pencil on the back in selected areas. Once finished to my satisfaction, I used a very thin interference violet acrylic paint on the front on the tail and a bit of gold on her ear/fin tip.  I think using the color sparsely,  gives the work an antique look.  I had fun creating the waves in the water and repeating that in her tail and hair.  I've included a few photos of the work as it progressed.  This is the final scanned image, it appears on my website without the watermark.  You can also view the work on my website by clicking on a title, or view all the work from this series together at, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities.

River Siren   © Barbara A. Freeman 

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 6"x 9"

Happy Holidays to all my blogger friends!  The Winter Solstice is just around the corner and I know I'll be happy to see the days lengthen!  Happy New Year and I hope YOURS will be filled with wonderful things!!  Thanks for taking the time to read about my work!  

Just a note - I still have work showing locally at Miniature Masterpieces and More, Kaewyn Gallery in Bothell, till January 25th, Lowell Art Works in Everett until January 14th,  and if you are near Washington, D.C., I have work in the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society and that show runs until December 30th.  Opening on January 15th, the MASF show runs until February 5th and I have five miniatures in that show.