80th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature - MPSGS - Washington, D. C.

I received good news that all three of my entries were accepted in the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society (MPSGS) of Washington D. C. for their upcoming show in November! This is very happy news!  This year all my entries are bird images, from my series, Birds - Wild and Domestic. 

 Crow and Clover  © Barbara A. Freeman M.A.A.

Graphite and Colored Pencil  2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

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

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

Crow and Clover   Graphite and Colored Pencil  2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

© Barbara A. Freeman M.A.A.

My three works, Crow and Clover,  Negotiation and The Hunter will be in the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society's 80th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature.  The show is held in The Mansion at the Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD.  They are open, Weekdays 10-4 • Wed. 10-9 • Sat. 10-3 (closed Sun. and Holidays).  The Exhibition Opening is Sunday, November 24th, 2013, 2 to 4.  The show runs November 25th through January 4th 2013.  If you are in the area, this is a beautiful venue and a show not to miss.  These tiny treasures make a great holiday gift!

I will also have work in the annual invitational, Miniature Masterpieces and More! show coming up in December at Tsuga Gallery in Bothell, WA.  (formally Kaewyn Gallery) Then upcoming in 2014 is the Miniature Art Society of Florida's (MASF) annual show that I will be participating in.  More information will given about these shows when they are announced.

I know I have been scarce with news this year, but it's been a very unsettling year with family business and responsibilities for both my husband and myself!  We also are involved in some personal life experiences that are taking up much of our attention.  Needless to say, there hasn't been much time to be in my studio.  I am really stressed that I'm not making any new work!  Sadly, I may have to skip submitting to some of my favorite shows in 2014.  Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel and we should be moving forward before the new year!  I will be back with new work as soon as I can!  I still have a lot of new ideas waiting to be put to board!  Wish me luck and support your local artists!  Thanks for taking the time to read about my work!

Palate, Palette - Serving Masterpieces: Art at The Sisters Restaurant

Also this month, I have two small works in Palate, Palette, the latest show of Serving Masterpieces: Art at The Sisters Restaurant, in downtown Everett.  The Palate, Palette, curated by the lovely Lyussy Hyder, is a wonderful show all about food!  Great theme and I look forward to seeing the show!  The Sisters Restaurant is located at 2804 Grand Avenue, Everett.  They are open Monday through Friday from 7 to 4pm.  Great place to have a breakfast or lunch and meet up with friends. The show runs from October 11th through November 1st, 2013. Check out this fun show from the artists palette to your palate!

$2.00 /bunch  © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Gessobord  5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

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

Acrylic on Gessobord  5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

"Around the Block" 2013 - Parklane Gallery, Kirkland WA

I'm happy to be participating in Parklane Gallery's group show, Around the Block!  This is their 4th annual juried show of exactly 12 x 12 inch work, including frame, from artists and photographers in the Puget Sound area.  This is my first time submitting to this show.  My entries are three of my pieces from the Wood Nymph series, Just Between You and Me, Lost and Found, and Snail Tales.  These three are smaller works matted and framed in 12" x 12" frames.  You can view all the work in the show on Parklane Gallery's online website here.  Look for my three works close to the bottom.

Lost and Found  © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Gessobord  5 7/8" x 5 7/8"

 Lost and Found, from my Wood Nymph and Other Curiosities series, is not a piece I get to show often.  It's the only one from that series that I've painted, so far.  The rest have all been done using graphite and mixed media on film.  Revisiting it now, makes me want to paint more!

The 2013 Around the Block Show runs from Octobe 8th to November 3rd.  The Artist Reception and the Kirkland Art Walk takes place Friday, October 11th, 6 to 8 PM.  Parklane Gallery, 130 Park Lane, Kirkland,  WA.  (map)  All work is for sale.  Looks like a fun show!  I'll be attending the Artist Reception tonight, hope to see you there too!

"Smoochin'" Awarded Second Place - 35th Annual Arts of the Terrace - Mountlake Terrace

Friday evening we went to the opening of 35th Annual Arts of the Terrace Festival in Mountlake Terrace.  What a fun time! I was very pleased to see that my entry, Smoochin' received Second Place in Miniatures and my entry, More Salmon, Please was awarded an Honorable Mention! That was a BIG surprise!!  My friend, Janie Olsen was awarded Third Place in Miniature for her lovely work,  Butterscotch, from her Rabbit Series.  I love her rabbits!!  We were both surprised to see that the First Place in Miniatures, Jade by artist Valencia Carroll, also received Best in Show! Congratulations to Valencia Carroll!  I don't have a link to her work, but you can go to the show and see all the wonderful pieces in the show!  I thought this years show was even better than last!  All work is for sale and make wonderful, lasting gifts.  It will bring happiness to you for years to come and you get to support your local artist!   Map and directions follow in post below.


It's autumn and that means it's time for the 35th Annual Arts of the Terrace Festival in Mountlake Terrace! I am so happy to say all my work submitted was juried in!  I also got an email that my miniature, Smoochin' received an award!  That makes me even happier!  This is a fun show I always look forward to participating in.  Last year I missed submitting to the show due to sad family issues, but I'm so happy to be back this year!  My three miniatures in the show are, Ol' Blue Eyes,  More Salmon, Please, and Smoochin'. Also selected, my new drawing, Special Delivery, and the small works acrylic painting, Snowy Visitor.

 Smoochin'  © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic  1 3/4 x 2 3/4

 Ol' Blue Eyes Colored Pencil - Smoochin' Acrylic - More Salmon, Please Acrylic

© Barbara A. Freeman

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  7 5/8" x 9 5/8"

The show runs from September 28th through October 6th, at the Mountlake Terrace Library Complex, 23300 58th Ave. W. in Mountlake Terrace.  (map)  There will be an Artists & Patrons Preview, on September 27, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, with an Awards Ceremony at 7:30pm. The show will be open to the public starting September 28th - October 6, 2013.  The hours are listed below.  Hope you get a chance to see the show. 

 Monday - Thursday: 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Friday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Saturday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Sunday, October 6, 1:00pm - 3:00pm 

Shows in September

It's going to be a busy September!  First off, I'm happy to say that my entry She Weeps was juried in to the 3rd Annual ICON show at Hanson Scott Gallery, 121 Prefontaine Pl S, in Seattle's Pioneer Square.  (map)  The First Thursday Artwalk is happening on September 5th, from 5 to 8 PM.  Also, on September 14th there will be an Awards Reception, from 5 to 7 PM.  The Hanson Scott Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 to 5.

I will be attending the show and Artwalk on September 5th.  I hope you'll stop by to say hello and check out this eclectic show with the many interpretations depicting the theme,  ICON.  It's sure to be fabulous and the Pioneer Square Artwalk is always a fun thing to do!

 

She Weeps  © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Claybord  8" x 10"

She Weeps is a new work on claybord using graphite and carbon pencil with just a bit of added color using colored pencil and acrylic paint .  I have been wanting to explore drawing on different substrates.  It was different working on a surface this hard, especially after using the gliding buttery-ness of film.  This one almost ended up in the reject pile until my order for some carbon pencils arrived.  It was just what I needed in my drawing, some dramatic darks!  I was impressed with the amount of darkness I could add to the already saturated area of graphite.  I'm happy with it now and may even use the claybord again with graphite, only this time I'll use the carbon for my darkest places. I am even thinking I would like to go larger next time! As usual, the forest was inspired by one of our many great hikes here in the Pacific Northwest!

 

I'm so happy to announce that Janie Olsen and I are doing a show together titled, Charmed, at Wise Design in September!  I will be exhibiting my works of mermaid, fairies, wood nymphs and a few of my trees, many works from the series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities.  I know that Janie Olsen will have all of my favorites of her fabulous pieces in the show!  This is a great opportunity to see many of my works together side by side.  I usually only have a few at a time in any one show.  It will be exciting to be to be showing them all together as a group AND alongside Janie Olsen's imaginative work!!

Charmed Art Exhibit -  September 2013 at Wise Design 2908 Wetmore Ave Everett, WA Reception at the Everett Artwalk - Third Saturday, September 21st, 2013 from 4 to 7.  I'll be in attendance so come by and say hi.  Hope you will be "Charmed" by our work!

**Please note, I am having a lot of problems writing this because Blogger keeps adding code that messes up the format!  I have spent more time than it should have taken to write this and was very happy to share my news with you, only to have ended up becoming very frustrated!!   I do hope this turns out readable and I do thank you for taking the time to read about my work. 

"Lady and the Dragon" - Meyers Cafe

Lady and the Dragon  © Barbara A. Freeman

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

 
Each summer for the month of August, local artist Shannon Leah Danks curates a show at Meyers Cafe at the Marina in Everett.  This year the theme, The Extraordinary Ordinary, is an eclectic mix featuring work inspired by the everyday, ordinary that becomes the extraordinary!  The show by local artists using a variety of styles and mediums, runs the entire month of August.  Meyers Cafe, a beautiful place to have lunch or brunch, is located at The Everett Marina, 1700 West Marine View Drive, Everett, WA. The Everett Marina is also the location of the Sunday Farmers' Market! Be sure to see the show during your visit! All work is for sale ... support your local artist!

My entry for the show, Lady and the Dragon, is a new graphite and mixed media drawing on film.  This work is not a fine art miniature because it is not to 1/6th scale. 

From the Association of Miniature Artists [AMA], "most contemporary societies have adopted a one-sixth scale guideline: Subjects should be rendered one-sixth their life-size or smaller with some leeway given to naturally small subjects (hummingbirds, butterflies and delicate flowers)."  

It would be difficult indeed to draw a tiny dragonfly to 1/6th scale, let alone a ladybug! However, this work was done in the "spirit of a miniature".  I consider it a "small work".   Work done on film does not always scan well and with this one, the color appears lighter than it does in person.  As I do with most of my drawings on film, the image is drawn on one side in graphite.  I then turn the work over and use colored pencil to add color to the work on the back side.  Then lastly, I return to the front side and add a bit of acrylic interference color to the wings of the dragonfly. They sparkle and glow as you view the work from different angles.  

I know I have not been as current in blogging as I would like.  I am still trying to catch up from all the time I had been away from home and studio.  New artwork has been slow in coming, trying to find time to be in my "creative head space"!  Life does have a way of taking you on detours.  I think the best way to cope is to look for new opportunities in the detours and keep an open mind.  I do hope to get back on track! 

Next month, I am so excited to be doing a show titled, "Charmed", with Janie Olsen at Wise Designz!  Details to follow in the next blog post.  Hope you will come back to read all about it.  Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope you get a chance to stop by Meyers Cafe and see The Extraordinary Ordinary!

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 Miniature Show - Snow Goose Gallery - Bethlehem PA

I am excited to have been invited to participate in the Twenty First Annual Invitational Miniature Art Exhibition at the Snow Goose Gallery, 470 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania! (map)  There are 66 top miniature artists in the show and wow, it's such an honor to be included!  Because of recent family responsibilities, I have had a few major interruptions in my creative time.  Therefore, I didn't think I would be able to participate.  Also, my inventory of artwork was very low and I hadn't enough time to create any new pieces.  When I found out that another show I usually participate in was cancelled this year, it was the perfect opportunity to send that work, along with two earlier works to Snow Goose Galley!  Sometimes things just work out!!
 

Above, my four submissions in the show (l to r) 

A Touch of Autumn, Gold and Glory, 
Afghan Kitty and More Salmon, Please.

Snow Goose Gallery 
Located in the heart of Historic Bethlehem, PA

the art of the miniature xxi

The Twenty First Invitational Exhibition of Fine Art Miniatures from Around the World

May 5- June 16, 2013
Collectors' Preview: Saturday, May 4, 5- 8 pm

Opening Reception: Sunday, May 5, 1- 5 pm
Enjoy the music of Brian Bortz (bass)
and Lou Czechowski (keyboard)

with hors d'oeuvres by The Mint Gastropub!

Afghan Kitty  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

More Salmon, Please  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

Gold and Glory  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

A Touch of Autumn  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Polymin  2 1/8" x 3 1/4" 

The opening sounds like great fun!  I wish I was able to see this one in person.   Okay, I admit, I'd love to see them all in person!  If you are anywhere near Bethlehem, PA be sure to make the Snow Goose Gallery a visit.  You will be happy you did!  The work will also be up on the Snow Goose Gallery's website starting on the opening weekend, May, 4th until the end of the show.  The work will be available for purchase as well.  The only problem, will be, which ones to choose!  All beautiful jewels, they'd make the perfect gift for MOM!  As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.    

Parklane Gallery 21st Annual International Miniature Art Show

My four framed entries in Parklane Gallery's Miniature Art Show

Parklane Gallery's 21st Annual International Miniature Art Show is online for viewing at www.parklanegallery.com. The show opens April 30th and runs through June 2nd.  The Reception and Awards Ceremony is on May 10th from 6 to 8 PM.  That is also the same night of the Kirkland Art Walk.  Parklane Gallery is located at 130 Park Lane in beautiful downtown Kirkland WA.  For more information, phone 425.827.1462.

Smooching © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Panel 1 3/4" x 2 3/4"

My new acrylic painting, Smooching is number 86 in Parklane's online show.  These two cuties were inspired from a visit we made to the Evergreen State Fair last summer.

On a sad note, I'm sorry to say that I will not be able to attend the Parklane Miniature show this year due to other obligations.  Therefore, we will not be able to photograph the show to post on my blog and other miniature group sites as usual.   This is the first year since I've been participating in this show that I have not attended.  I will miss seeing all these tiny treasures in person and the enthusiastic gallery visitors viewing the show.  I am so glad that at least I can view these many wonderful artworks online.

Undaunted © Barbara A. Freeman  SOLD

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

Undaunted is number 87 on the Parklane Gallery online show.  It's another tiny work inspired from a hike.

Hideaway © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. 

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Waiting © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A. SOLD

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 2 5/16" x 4 1/2"

Hideaway, number 88 and Waiting, number 89 are the two works that were part of the Miniature Artists of America's (M.A.A.) submissions that recently traveled as part of the World Federation of Miniature Artists to the 5th Worldwide Conference and Exhibition of Fine Arts in Miniature, held at the Russian Academy of Art in Moscow, Russia,  September, 2012.  At the time I didn't have much information on the show, or if they were even exhibited.  When they were returned, I was glad to find out they were in the exhibit.  They were gone a long time and traveled from here in Washington to Florida to London to Moscow and who knows how many custom stops in-between!  Now they are back home and showing for the first time here at Parklane!

This is a great show, I will miss the excitement and all the miniature art lovers at the reception.  My friend Janie Olsen is in the show with five of her wonderful goat and dog paintings, starting number 195 in the online show.  Be sure to check out Janie's work, it will put a smile on your face!  This is the best miniature show in the Pacific Northwest, so hope you get a chance to see it.  You can check out the show online www.parklanegallery.com for a preview and after May 1st, it will be possible to also put the work in your cart and purchase them online!

As always, thank you for reading about my work.  Hope your spring has arrived and you are enjoying the beauty around you. 

Seaside Art Gallery's 22nd Annual International Miniature Art Show

The 22nd Annual International Miniature Art Show at Seaside Art Gallery is happening online now.  I look forward to this show every year.  It's always exciting to see the wonderful variety of art from artists all across the globe. 

Above are my three works in the show, shown in their frames.  The top two, Dreamer and You Too Shall Have Wings, were done in graphite and mixed media on film and are both from my series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities. Below them is my new work, Ol' Blue Eyes, using colored pencil on a new substrate called TerraSkin.

Dreamer © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

You Too Shall Have Wings © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Ol' Blue Eyes © Barbara A. Freeman

Colored Pencil  3" x 3"

The miniature, Ol' Blue Eyes was inspired by the beautiful white geese we saw at the Evergreen State Fair last year.  It was the beautiful blue eyes surrounded by the orange lid that did it!  It is an Embden goose which is one of the most common breeds of geese in the United States. Guess I never got close enough to their beautiful eyes to appreciate them.  I used colored pencils with a different substrate, called TerraSkin, which you can find out more about by clicking on the name.  TerraSkin is not paper made from trees, but from stone, using no water!  I wanted to try it because I read that it accepted silverpoint really well, but it works really nicely with all mediums! There may be more use of this in the future!

This great show is a favorite of mine. I love the presentation of the entire show online. Sadly, this year their website was hacked!  They are in the process of creating a new website which will be up in time for the show on May 1st.  When Seaside's site is up, this post will link to their site as well as to my work in their online gallery.  Seaside is a very organized and well run gallery.  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!  Just click on Dreamer, You Too Shall Have Wings or Ol' Blue Eyes to see my work on Seaside's online gallery.  *(Links will not work until after Seaside Gallery's website is up.)

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 exhibition runs from May 1^st through June 1^st,  2013. The Open Reception is May 25^th from 7 to 9 PM.  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.  Each year, this nationally acclaimed miniature show exhibits approximately 600 works of art by artists from all around the globe. Some of the world’s most renowned miniature artists participate each year. Miniature art is often referred to as "the little jewels of the art world" and enjoys continued growth in popularity worldwide. I wish I could be there to see it in person! I hope if you are in the area, you will go see this great show!  Seaside Art Gallery, 2716 Virginia Dare Trail South, Nags Head, NC 252.441.5418 or 800.828.2444