"The Offering", Spirit of Giving Group Holiday Show

Saturday I delivered my graphite work, The Offering to Everett Artists' Supply and Framing for their Annex Gallery Holiday Show, "Spirit of Giving". The show was conceived around the simple act of giving and the joy both ends receive. They will be embracing that "spirit of giving" by donating 10% of proceeds to the Everett Battered Women’s Shelter and Cocoon House Shelter for homeless youth. Each individual aritst in this show reflects what giving means to them. Given that this is a group show, there will be a variety of styles and mediums! My friend, Janie Olsen will also be showing her work in this show. I'll be there, I hope to see you there, too! The Artists' Reception takes place December 4th, 2009 from 4-7pm. Their address is 9304 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA, just north of the Evergreen Branch Library. The show runs from December 4th through January 2, 2010. Remember, original art is a lasting treasure and makes the perfect gift! Support your local artist!

Everett Artists' Supply and Framing , Annex Gallery Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 2-6pm. The gallery will be closed on December 25th and January 1st. Happy Holidays!

Work in Progress, Another Silverpoint/Metalpoint continued....

I've done more work on the metalpoint. Above is a close up of the rocks with all their great textures. I think this was one of the big attractions of this scene for me. There is a great range of values I'm trying to get and I find metalpoint is great for achieving this. I just have to remember to be mindful of what it is I'm doing. When you want a very dark area, you add small cross hatching or circles over and over softly to build up that dark. You do NOT press hard, the metal point of the pen can scratch through the ground and you don't want that. You can see the dark area in the back forest where I'm trying not to get carried away! I've found the silverpoint to give a much darker mark than the copperpoint. I still don't know how this will age color-wise. It will be interesting to watch as I've mixed them in working and pick them up according to whether I want a softer or darker value. I'm still adding the forest, trying to show the shapes of trees, bringing some forward, pushing some back. I've also added the suggestion of the seagull.

Below is a detail of the upper tree and rock. There will be more branches added on the left side. The bottom photo is a long shot of the piece. There is still so much to do!

As you can see, it's difficult to photograph metalpoint due to the reflective quality of the metal. It doesn't look like this in person. The surface is a warm white. Thanks for looking and taking the time to read this. I hope you find it helpful if you want to use metalpoint in your next work. If you aready are a metalpoint user, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this interesting medium, especially if you've mixed them in the same work.

Next post will be on showing my materials, so I hope you will stop by again!

Work in Progress, Another Silverpoint/Metalpoint

I've started a new metalpoint drawing in a larger format, 8 1/4" x 10 1/2". It's from the same landscape of the tafoni rock formations that I've recently finished as a miniature in acrylic, seen here and as a miniature silverpoint, here. It's slow going, but I wanted to share what I've done so far. It's hard to photograph metalpoint, but I think you can see it well enough to get an idea of the work. I'm calling it metalpoint because I've used both copperpoint and silverpoint to create it. I've not used them together in the same work before. I find the copperpoint to give a softer look, it's supposed age to a greenish color. With the silverpoint, I am able to get darker values.

This is a shot of the whole piece so far. I think you can recognize it from the painting I just finished, except this is a wider format.

Here is a close up of the trees. This is slow going and I'm having to invent some of the things as I go. There is not a lot of information in the photos I'm using. I guess I should have done some sketches first since I can't erase the metalpoint, but I didn't! Most of this was familiar since I just painted it, however, not all, especially this section under the trees of the rocks and cliff. That area and to the right is where I'm working now.

This is a close image of the tafoni rocks in progress. The image as it appears on my screen is a sepia color, but is in reality, actually a warm white. Now time to get back in the studio and to work! As always, thanks for taking the time to look!

The reason I've been absent here is it's been a rough week and a half. First I had an outbreak of hives that lasted over a week. I have no idea what the trigger was. I've never had hives like that and wasn't even sure what they were at first. They weren't the itchy kind, just the burning, stinging kind, but they spread and were very uncomfortable. I didn't want to be seen! Then I had some family issues to deal with. I don't think the hives are caused by stress, but I can tell you they definitely get worse with stress! Then, if that wasn't enough, our hot water heater died and dumped water in our garage where we have boxes of books and I had some portfolios of old art work. I was able to dry out what was worth saving and consolidate everything. It was dirty, hard work that we hadn't counted on having to do!! Now the garage is all back together, along with a new hot water heater! Thanks goodness we were able to contact our landlord in time. He was leaving the country the next day for vacation! Luckily his son is a plumber and we had our hot water by 9:30 that night! Oh, that hot shower felt so good! So now I think things are as resoved as they can be. My hives are gone and we have a cleaner garage and hot water! Still worried about family things, but we do what we can and take one step at a time. Sorry, I needed a rant so, thanks for listening!

The Spirit of Giving Show Changes

I've received an email this weekend saying that there weren't enough entries for a juried competition for the show, The Spirit of Giving, at the Everett Artists' Supply and Framing. How disappointing! I had done the work, The Offering, to submit to this show. However, they have offered to refund our entry fee and do a group show of the entrants with the same terms of a portion of any sale to be donated to the causes stated. Since I haven't found any other local competitions to submit this work to, I think I am going to let the work hang in their show. It is better to be in a group show now than to just have it hang out in my studio until another show materializes. They are a small store, that had recently changed hands and location and are working really hard to make their place happen. This was to be their first juried competition! There are a lot of holiday shows going on this time of year. I guess they weren't able to get the word out to enough artists in time. So now that I've decided to go ahead and show it, I'd better get my frame ordered!

The Offering, Graphite and Colored Pencil on Film

The Offering, Graphite and Colored Pencil on Film, 7" x 7"

This work has been submitted for the first juried exhibition, the Spirit of Giving at Everett Artists' Supply and Framing, December 5th through January 3rd, 2010. Acceptance letters will be sent out on November 20. The theme of this show is, of course, the spirit of giving. They will be embracing that spirit of giving by donating 10% of proceeds to the Everett Battered Women’s Shelter and Cocoon House Shelter for homeless youth. I applaud them in this and hope for a successful show and many sales!

Continued - Graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film WIP

Grafix Dura-Lar Matte film is the surface that I love to use with graphite and colored pencil. If you are interested in trying it, you can find it online, at your local art supply or drafting supply store. The add states, "it is the acetate alternative. It combines the best features of Mylar® and acetate". You can see a tablet here at Dick Blick. It's smooth surface is great for getting the details I need in my miniature work. It's easy to erase, although, you do have to be careful when erasing. If you over work a spot, it may become too smooth and no longer accept the graphite or colored pencil. You can also work on both sides of the surface or use different colored papers as backing for different effects. One thing I have found is you have to be careful not to scratch the surface. I have had my fingernails leave small scratches all over the surface but I couldn't see them until I penciled over the area and the white lines and squiggles showed up. You could use that at as advantage by scoring the area for effect. There are so many possibilities and if you love to draw, it's worth trying.

Because of it's translucence it's easy to transfer your drawing. Under the film, you can see the photograph that I am using for a reference for the light source and one of my miniature works which I enlarged to use as a guide for a new image. (I've not posted that miniature work yet). I have done two different drawings of trees with a crow and wanted to explore that subject again. Sometimes I will use a subject or the same work as I have done here, as a starting point to take an idea further. I may do it in a different medium, or perhaps a different size. I don't think I could redo a work exactly the same way! This time the image I had in mind was for a local competition with a theme of "The Spirit of Giving".

Above are two reference photos of the tree and door that I am using.

The work is fairly advanced here, but you can see how I've used a variety of lines and then building up light strokes to create a good range of values. I use different pencils, mechanical 0.5mm and 0.3mm, as well as regular drawing pencils in different ranges of hard and soft, depending on what I'm trying to do.


A close -up of the doors showing where I've lifted up some of the graphite. To do this, I use a sticky putty which used to be called Hold It, but now I think it's under other names. I think it's called Blue Tack in the UK. It a very useful product around the house.

Some work done on the background.

Work on the area under the door.

A close-up of the area under the door.

Grasses in the front.

Darkening of the tree.

The crow has been added and the front tree finished. Here is where I decided that something just didn't look right to me. It was time to take a good look to see what was wrong. I took it downstairs to look at it in a different light and decided it was too dark. I got a second opinion and sure enough, the doors were difficult to distinguish from the surrounding area. It lost the impact that I was looking for! There were also a lot of the white scratches in places that bothered me as well, could it be my nails? So I decided that I wanted to start over! I figured it would be easier the next go since I already had things worked out. It was just the timing that was going to be difficult! I cut my nails, got a fresh sheet of film and got busy!


This is the reworked piece. Unfortunately, this is not a very good photo. It's been raining so there is less light in my studio. I'll be showing the scanned image later, but I think you get the idea. I used colored pencils on the other side of the film at the door and key. I liked the first crow I did better, this one looks too nice or not as mysterious. Maybe because he's happy this is finished? I think it turned out well and I hope the concept is clear. The title is The Offering, matted, it will be 7" x 7" small work. I had my webmaster scan and size it for the email submission last evening, Sunday the deadline, at 9:20pm. So I did make it, I got a conformation! YAY! The acceptance letters go out on the 20th of Nov, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed! I'll be posting links and show information after that date. Now, on to the next project! Ah, what's next? Could be the silverpoint I've been wanting to do, or I could start playing with some egg tempera? So many choices! Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this.

Graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film WIP

So sorry I've been absent here.  I am trying to make a deadline tomorrow.  I'm working on a graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film, small work for a local competition.  I started photographing it each morning before I worked on it so I could post some of the steps later.  When it was about three quarters finished, I took a serious look at it and realized it was too dark!  OH NO!!!  I tried to lift some of the dark, which usually works, but there were other problems as well.  Anyway, I ended up starting over!  I'll say and show more later.  As to now, I need to get busy!  I sure hope I can have it ready in time, but if not, there will be other places to show it.

A Surprise Visit

I wanted to share a few photos of a bit of wildlife we were honored to have on our back fence last week. I know I aways complain about the location in which we live... too commercial, noisy, etc. However, this visit caused us to pause in awe and rush to grab the camera. I've not identified it yet for certain, but I think it's a Cooper's Hawk, could be a juvenile.

All our small birds that visit us were gone and stayed away for a few days, in spite of the feeder having food. Cooper's Hawks like to visit bird feeders looking for small birds to feed on! There is a storage lot behind us with a lot of weeds and blackberry bushes growing over our fence. The little birds like to hang out in them and pop through the lattice in the fence to come to the feeder. Notice in the next to the last photo, he's standing on one leg. He stayed there for quite a bit of time, but of course as soon as we got the tripod out to set the camera in a better location, he decided he'd been there long enough. These photos were shot with a zoom from inside, through a window. We heard him for a couple of days, but never saw him again. It was so exciting and his visit came at a good time. He was a messenger of good tidings.

2009 MPSGS Honorable Mention Award!

I've just received my letter from the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society (MPSGS), and I am so excited to have been given an Honorable Mention for my work Hay Bales in the landscape category in their 76th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature!! yippie!!

It was selected from the 724 works in the exhibition. I am thrilled! That show opens on November 23rd through January 2, 2010, with an awards ceremony Sunday, November 22. I sure wish I could be there. Sigh...

Congratulations to all my online miniature artist friends who's work has also been awarded!

Final Phase, Bringing it all Together!

Work in Progress, Acrylic on Gessobord, 4" x 4"

#12

I worked on darkening the edge of the large rock, adding the holes, giving them depth. I also needed to pay attention to the rocks on the right side, give them some detail without making them too important. I added shadow areas throughout the holes and rocks.

#13

I further refined the dark forest, adding tree trunks and branches, touching up the sky holes, bringing some trees forward, moving some back. I also added some cliffs on the far right side. Here is a closer view of the rocks in the foreground.

#14

More branches were added here as well as some leaves. I also worked the roots on the upper rock on the right.

#15

The front edge of the large rock has been further defined with the under shadowing and carried over where it meets with the other rocks. I like the shape and curve of this opening. All the details have been added and it's just a matter of looking to see what else needs a bit of tweaking.

#16

In one of my photos of the area, I noticed a seagull. I really didn't see it at first, except when I was trying to see some other detail under magnification, there it was. I thought it would be a great addition. However, the seagull was not easy to paint! At first I just couldn't get it to look real, I did not want the cliché of a "bird". I realized my difficulty was the surface, it wasn't smooth, there was too much drag on the brush. So after letting the area dry, I added a thin layer of soft gel medium diluted with water, like an isolation coat, and let it sit overnight. The next day I was able to work the bird much easier, the brush moved freely on the surface. I was able to create the shape of a bird with some light and dark areas suggesting the body and wings. Whew! it was so tiny to paint! All I have to do now, is put the isolation coat on, and then after it dries, varnish and frame it. Oh, and yes, the fun part...a title!

#17

Above is the final work in the frame I have chosen to put it in. I am pleased with the outcome. I really like the way the seagull breaks up the darkness of the forest and pulls the eye through the work. What struck me was the serenity of this place. There were so many ways for the senses to be stimulated, the feel and look of the different textures of the rocks, the contrast of the dark forest and the overcast sky. Not seen in this painting, but can be imagined, is the water of the sound on the left, the sand and pebbles and tidal pools below. It was chilly, but the air was fresh. I can't wait to go back!!

I'll be posting the final image on my website and here as well when it gets scanned and I give it a title! This work was done for the Miniature Masterpieces and More exhibit coming up at Kaewyn Gallery's holiday show. I'll be talking about that in the near future, so stay in touch.

Thanks for looking and reading about my process. I have done this for myself as well as anyone else who is interested. I think it will be good to have as a history, not only of how I worked at this point in time, but what I thought about it. I do want to make it clear that this wasn't posted in real time. I took a photo every day before I started working. Then I took the best photos in their order and posted the work a few at a time. I take a long time on each work, too long! If I posted them in real time, it would take forever between posts. Therefore I chose to do it this way. I wish I were faster, but I'm not and that's the way it is. Besides, it's the journey that's important! Now, next, graphite on film.