LINDA JARVIS

HAY EWE!

2011-11-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

HAY EWE is another piece using the play on words or word play idea for the E-I-E-I-HO-HO-HO group show at The Gallery, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts Gallery. My mother's cousin is a real punster, he is a master punster, so it must run somewhere through my blood to want to play with words in this fashion.

Here, similar to some previous pieces I am thinking outside of the matte. If you have read many of my other previous posts you know I like creating depth in my work whenever possible. I like to think the layers lure the viewer in, at least that is my experience while I am in the process of developing and completing a piece.

If you are in the vicinity from December 2 through January 2 stop in to see the creations all the artists came up with using farm as their muse. And thanks for visiting these pages when you have the inclination to.

Below is a closer shot of this piece. Remember to click on the photos for a larger image.

all rights reserved by the artist Linda Jarvis © 2011

EWE & YOU

2011-10-24T14:46:00.001-07:00

This is a fun piece I put together for an upcoming group show at The Gallery, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts Gallery on Bainbridge Island. The title of the show is E-I-E-I-HO-HO-HO! The theme is farm, such as in farm animals, buildings, equipment, etc. For this piece I decided to play with words. It is a wall mirror that sits away from the wall about an inch creating shadow behind it with my depiction of a ewe and when you look in the mirror you will appear with the ewe, hence the title...EWE & YOU.
Dimensions are 11.5H X 13W X 1.25D

all rights reserved by the artist Linda Jarvis © 2011

RUNNING, LAUGHING, WILD AND FREE

2011-10-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

This piece is that which I mentioned in my previous post where I hoped to find a photo showing similarity to the piece one of my art school instructors, Fred Griffin, created using old patinaed cedar shingles for a ground to create a work of art. I rather like the moss and lichen texture on the shingles in his piece (see below) which promote more interest, from my viewpoint. In my piece above I fashioned pine needles, some stiff and some lanky, tree bark for the wild burro, feathers and waxed string for the mane. This piece goes back to 1987... It was a commentary on the demise of the wild burro.

REFLECTING & REMEMBERING

2011-09-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that as I progress in age I find myself reflecting back on my life and what were the moments that left the most significant impact and that stayed in my memory. Most recently it has been my experiential learning years in commercial art school. I attended The Burnley School of Professional Art, founded in 1946, owned and directed by Jess Cauthorn when he purchased it in 1959 (Mr. Cauthorn purchased the Burnley School of Professional Art, and worked alongside William Cumming, Fred Griffin, Austin Dwyer, and many others in creating the premier commercial arts college in the Pacific Northwest.) and since 1982 is now known as The Art Institute of Seattle. During those first three years of the 70's studies in commercial art, design and illustration under the instructive encouragement of Bill Cumming, Fred Griffin, Austin Dwyer, Jess Cauthorn and other prominent northwest artists, as well as private studies in the fine arts, provided me with a wonderfully broad background in various disciplines and media. It was such a privilege to study in such an enriching, friendly and intimate atmosphere with these NW icons.

Just last month I sadly learned that 2 of my favorite and most revered instructors, Bill Cumming and Fred Griffin have past on from this world. Bill last November and Fred just in April. I will always remember them as I knew them then in 1970-72 (as in B/W photos above). I gleaned so much insight into the realms of art and graphic design from these two free spirited artists during my years at Burnley and small private classes from Fred. All of which I utilize so much in my creative process/work and in life and will never lose.

I also learned recently that Bill had written a book back in the 80's. Of course, upon this knowledge, I had to acquire my own copy. It is titled: Sketchbook-A Memoir of the 30's & The Northwest School.

It is autobiographical covering many years from his early 20's as well as looking into the lives and goings-on of all the artist icons within the NW School, such as Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Guy Anderson and Ken and Margaret Callahan. It is quite a first hand history with personal insights of the art scenes in Seattle and the Northwest and his accounts of his involvment in the WPA Art Project during the depression. He writes with clever humor and shrewdness. A delightful and eye-opening read.

To Fred and Bill's spirits...thank you both for the illumination you brought to my years of learning and to my life as an artist, not to mention the world of art. You will always be remembered and missed dearly.

Photo Credit Annette Bauman

William Cumming 1917-2010

A celebrity in the local art scene and best known as the youngest and longest standing member of the Northwest School with Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves and Mark Tobey. He called himself "The Willie Nelson of Northwest Painting".

Fred Griffin 1931-2011

Artist and graphic designer, creating in every moment. Prolific in every sense of the word.

Here are some quotes, the first one I particularly relate to, especially the last sentence: "Get the mark down. Put your germinal thoughts into visual impacts. Notes, sketches, exercises in finding, filing, assembling and storing for visual feedback/scanning. Here is the priority, the calisthenics make all the difference. Here is the visual thinker, not the verbal thinker." FG

Well, this one hits home, too:"I am the Fantasy Archeologist. The investigator of the visible. My paintings tie together years of metamorphic work that range from seed pods to whole orchestrated walls each part of a series celebrating Nature’s magical glimpses. The jewel-like hints that mean a vast untapped treasure lies within the earth’s surface. The archeologist begins to brush aside the surface to get to the source. I want to give the viewer the excitement of that moment - to give him the desire to uncover - peel away - to draw him through my paint strokes and surface edges. I want each viewer to feel the fascination when a glowing fossil has been unearthed. I want him to begin to read the romance of the painting." FG

And this: "I believe a painting should have an attractive quality from afar. The image should have a thoughtfulness that reads further into the painting, that rewards the viewer who wants to think about it. In other words – attraction with meaning." FG

I recently discovered a web-site of Fred's work that I've never found googling in the past. It is so fantastic to reference so much of his work. This piece above is reminiscent of a piece I did years ago titled "Running, Laughing, Wild and Free", where I used old cedar shingles in the same fashion...I didn't use spent sparklers, a nice use, but I did use very long pine needles in much the same way. If I can find an old photo of this piece I will post it. Minds think alike...kindred spirits.

I hope you will take some time to read about these 2 amazing individuals and view their artwork at the links I provided above. When you view Fred's vast body of work on his site you will recognize why I related to him, his approach and reverence to nature as I have over the years. I will miss knowing they are still in our world, but they left behind a wonderful legacy, visual and otherwise.

Onward...

ARTIST STUDIO BARN SALE HIGHLIGHTS

2011-07-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

For those who did not make the 3rd Annual Artist Studio Sale last weekend, this is Gunther, our friendly crocodile sculpture (by Shane Miller) who greets our guests as they enter the magical world of GreyBird Barn Studio.

This year, with the help of my husband, I faced the wall with sound board for an easier hang.

The Artists...Beverly Saito, me, Linda Jarvis, Shirley Moss, Diane Gale and Shane Miller.

Many thanks go out again to my sister, Wendy, and friends Kristi, Carrie and Ari for all the help they offered to our efforts. Their generosity of spirit is so very much appreciated by all of us.

With such heartful team endeavors we brought to fruition our annual event once again. Thank you!

ARTIST STUDIO SALE at GreyBird Barn

2011-06-15T19:47:00.001-07:00

June 25th and 26th is fast arriving. We are all hoping you will be able to stop by the charming GreyBird Barn in Port Townsend for our 3rd Annual Artist Studio Sale. Come visit a while, share news, have some refreshments, introduce yourself and even take home an artful acquisition!

The directions on the post card above are as follows: Look for our signs just outside Port Townsend. Off Sims Way/HWY 20 take Frederick St. east to Otto St. Turn left and follow the signs to bottom of the hill. A large crocodile sculpture will let you know you've arrived. We are located at 11 Carroll Ave. See you there!

Click on any image to enlarge it.

SAVE THIS DATE

2011-05-31T09:25:00.000-07:00

Our Artist Studio Sale is coming up soon so please save these dates. We will open GreyBird Barn again with 5 of us showing our goods the weekend of June 25 & 26.

Please check back for more details, I promise I will update the information so you can find us easily.

COMMENTING ON A COMMENT

2011-05-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Time has escaped me once again, as life is full and demands are high, but here I am. A while back I mentioned I would remark on one of the complimentary comments I received back in the fall of last year. It was my surprise that they featured some of my corvid images on their site that they've dedicated to ravens and crows and the such, a site for corvid connoisseurs. It is quite a wonderful site so please be sure to visit AvesNoir.

You will find the link to my feature page bottom center of the nine image blocks on their home page.

Their comment: I am absolutely enchanted by your work! We have featured it over at AvesNoir. Enjoy!

Thanks for the feature Aves Noir! It is much appreciated!

The image above is a detail shot of a piece titled "Identity Theft".

TEMPUS FUGIT

2011-02-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

Well, here again I have let months go by since my last blog entry. I am taking a bit of a hiatus from hanging out in my studio and creating art. This is due to my elderly mother who is in need of my attention and since I live so close I am accepting the responsibility to look after her with the occasional help of my sister and others who know her. It feels right to give back to her while she is in her waning years...after all, our mothers give so much, so happily to us as children, at least mine did and for that I feel very fortunate. She is so sweet and good natured and we get along great.

It does, however, feels a bit odd to be away from my studio, that is, to not be spending any real length of time there, but I feel that my absence will generate some interesting work in the future. I will have a whole new perspective and a fresh start. Meanwhile, I will be musing and keep my sketch book handy.

Since you are reading this, I thank you for returning to see what might be new on these pages. My apologies for no visuals this time, other than the Artists Musing image above, which I love. Do keep coming back, though, as eventually I will have something new to share.

My next post will be in regard to a comment I received some time back, the latter part of last year, and I want to share it with you. I think you will enjoy it.

Thanks for tuning in.

STUDIO SCENES & FIREFLIES IN THE ATTIC

2010-12-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

It is hard for me to realize that over 2 months have passed since I last posted. For those of you who continue to revisit to see what's new, thank you for coming back.

Life can throw us challenges and when it does we simply step up and do what needs to be done with love and grace, we would hope. My plate is quite filled up these days caring for my elderly mother, looking after my dog who has a crippling neurological disorder, while trying to find balance all on the verge of turning 60! Oh yeah. So the act of creating artworks and studio time is limited to say the least, though I will do what I can, when I can and post when possible.

As you see in the photo at the top, my studio work table can get a bit overloaded and crowded with various materials and elements, but somehow this seems to be the way I work best. Not too long ago I purchased a box of gouache paints to see if I wanted to go for the big tubes...They are still sitting there partially used while I am still contemplating their further use as I seem to gravitate to acrylics, so we will see where they take me, if anywhere.

Presently, I am in a group show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in Winslow on Bainbridge Island. The theme is The Play Of Light. With that idea, the play of light, the wheels in my head got in motion to come up with a piece that might arouse one's curiosity. Which brings us to this featured piece. As I was working through the creative motions it came to mind I might like to show the progress/process of the piece as I worked. So this 2nd photo illustrates how I lay out the parts to see how I'll construct it, what material I will use to cover it and what elements to apply. To bring light to it was a task, but I had numerous minds to help me get the right lights, wiring, battery, etc. My husband's electrician mind came to the aid, ultimately getting it all wired and powered up, while he gave me a refresher course in soldering, though he really did most of it.

Eventually this was the end result (below). At the back of the base there is a switch that turns on 5 very small, and I do mean small, lights that you can see only if you get up close and peek through the round hole near the top of the structure that lets you look into the attic. Being that the lights are so close and our eyes do not focus well at that distance, or at least in the case of my eyes, halos surround the lights simulating the look of fireflies. Hence we have FIREFLIES IN THE ATTIC.

This show run from Dec. 3rd through Jan 3rd. Stop by if you are in the area.

MID-NIGHT THIEF

2010-09-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

With all the thievery we see in the behavior of crows and ravens, keeping an eye on all our shiny objects, such as keys, would be diligent on our part, lest we lose them to these clever Corvidaes. I revel in watching these savvy feathered critters. This particular species of birds is one of my favorite subjects, as you may have seen from my previous posts. I am entranced by their intelligence and impressed with their genius and mastery of tasks. MID-MIGHT THEIF suggests this mischievous act, when, in the night, the objects become lit by the moon's bright light, enhancing their chances of further, irresistible appropriations.

For this piece I used a wonderful block of wood with diminishing red paint. I have a fetish, of sorts, for weathered remnants of painted wood I pick up on our beaches. They possess so much character and bring interesting qualities when used in various applications and seem to have revealing stories within them.

MID-NIGHT THIEF is another fairly small piece. It is a wall piece, though this photo was taken as it sat on it's base. I like the shadows it cast on the backdrop. It now resides with friends Kate and Ned Schuman who are big supporters of the arts on the Olympic Peninsula. Thank you both for your continued interest in my work!

STARLIT GAZES

2010-08-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

This piece, STARLIT GAZES, is a much smaller 2D piece and unusual for me to render, but I had fun bringing it about. It is a simple piece, yet still has depth to it as I put spacers between the glass and the matte with additional spacers between the matte and the art itself (not shown-the photo of this image was taken before I nestled it into the frame) I enjoyed working in this smaller format (once framed it measured 9" X 9") and hope to do more. The next piece I will be posting is small in nature also, but in an assemblage composition.

This was the first piece to sell at the BIRDS OF A FEATHER exhibit at Northwinds, a recent show mentioned in previous posts. I am happy to say it now resides with a friend and fellow local artist, painter and illustrator, Max Grover, along with his cats in his very fun and artful home. I can understand why he was drawn to this piece since his paintings are so whimsically fun, colorful and playful. You can see more of Max's work at his web-site. His motto is Fun Art for the Serious Mind. I like that.
Thanks Max. I am delighted and flattered you connected with STARLIT GAZES.

FENCE PROOF RABBIT

2010-08-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here is another wordplay as I venture to twist the original expression, Rabbit Proof Fence, into my own, in FENCE PROOF RABBIT. It seems that what we try to do to control nature or other situations we think we have control over, nature ultimately, in most cases, wins and possibly with catastrophic results. Basically, in this piece, I just like the notion that the rabbit is not confined or restricted by a man-made obstacle.

Thanks again to friend, Ned Schumann for taking the photo of this piece during the BIRDS OF A FEATHER exhibit. I like the shadowy quality as it shows it's depth.
Remember clicking on the image will enlarge it.

BEEFRIENDING AGAIN

2010-08-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful shot of BEEFRIENDING against the vibrant wall at Northwinds Art Center taken during the BIRDS OF A FEATHER exhibit, photographed by Ned Schumann, a friend and the founder of OlympusNet.
I love how the chair pops out off the vivid red wall and the shadows it creates from the gallery lights illuminating it. This is the piece that is on the pedestal that Ellen and I flank in the previous post's photo, also taken by Ned during our Artist Talk.

MORE BIRDS OF A FEATHER

2010-07-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

In this photo I am shown sitting with the three fellow accomplished artist-friends I exhibited with in BIRDS OF A FEATHER as we shared our artistic backgrounds, approaches and techniques. The Artist Talk, which took place on a Sunday afternoon, was part of the education process Northwind Art Center provides the community. We each expressed our artistic experiences with some of our insights and methodology on one or more of the pieces we were displaying. I expounded on the piece in a previous post, DREAMS OF FLIGHT, as well as the other previously pieces you can see if you scroll down. During the presentation there were inquisitive questions from the attendees which allowed for more revelation of our work. One of the participants was Ned Schumann, founder of one of our oldest local Internet Service Providers on the Olympic Peninsula, OlympusNet, which started in 1993. He was filming the event and also took this photo (above) of us while we spoke. We are, from left to right: Kate Snow, Ellen Reichart, me and Rae Belkin. I will be posting other shots he captured of my work from this exhibit at a later date. Stay tuned. Remember to enlarge the image, click on the photo.

DREAMS OF FLIGHT

2010-07-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

Layering has always been an intricate part of my work. I like the idea of creating depth. Then within the story that unfolds comes the creation of intrigue. This piece is a bit unusual for me as I do not typically do people. But I was wanting to do a piece that depicted a person wearing a bird mask, but once I had this female image complete I did not want to cover up her dreamlike gaze. So, where do I move with it? I then thought a kite with a bird placed on it might be fun way to add some movement to the contemplative stillness of the woman. I have been using the matte as an extension of the working format and I am really liking the results and how it plays into the whole of the concept. The idea of the wings on the woman came at the end and with the dreamy trance she took on, then, of course, the title was birthed . . . DREAMS OF FLIGHT. Haven't we all, at some time or other, thought of being able to fly? I know I have. I so often imagine what it might be like to sore high on the winds, travel where and as I wish, seeing the Earth below and distances far off. Perhaps the next life has this in store for me.

This photo was actually taken before I got the piece settled into a frame, as you can see the shadow at the top of the matte is a little distorted. This was also part of BIRDS OF A FEATHER show at Northwind Art Center, Port Townsend, that is still on exhibit through Aug. 1. Remember to click on the image for a larger view of it.

MASQUERADE GONE A-FOWL

2010-07-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

Like most of my pieces, this piece metamorphosed and evolved as I created it. The mallard hen is painted on heavy vellum then cut out and set off the background. I was going to put the mask over the mallards head, but thought why cover her up after giving her life. So I decided to suspend the raven mask from string and add more dimension that made it look more 3D in it's form . . . it hangs over the matte. Ultimately, this title came to me after it had been completed. I was riding as passenger in the car with my husband when it hit me. I said out loud, "Oh! I think I've got it! Of course!". It rang a bell in my head so clear, it could be nothing other than MASQUERADE GONE A-FOWL. Playing with words creating a visual pun can be a lot of fun. Attempting to achieve that play on words successfully can only be known when I see the reaction in the viewers eyes, on their face or in their laughter. Therein showing me that the imagining effort and ultimate outcome was worth it. This is part of the BIRDS OF A FEATHER exhibit with Rae Blekin, Ellen Reichart and Kate Snow (see post below) at The NorthWind Art Center that hangs through July.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

2010-06-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

From July 2nd through August 1st our local art center, Northwind Arts Center, will host an invitational show: BIRDS OF A FEATHER. Myself, (Linda Jarvis) Rae Belkin, Ellen Reichart and Kathleen Snow are presenting works in a variety a media. All four of us share an affinity for using imagery and themes related to animals and the natural world exploring various ideas often conveying a sense of mystery and humor. I am looking forward to my work hanging out, so to speak, with these other wonderful artist's work.

If you live near or around the Olympic Peninsula area I hope you can join us for the BIRDS OF A FEATHER Walk-Through, Friday, July 2 at 10 a.m. and the Opening Reception, Saturday, July 3, 5:30 - 8 p.m., at the Northwind Arts Center - 2904 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend.

The image of the piece above the map is titled IDENTITY THEFT. It has always intrigued me how blue jays can mimic various bird's songs and/or calls in the attempt to fool the other birds and scare them from their nests. It stirred up in my mind this image of a blue jay trying to steal the identity of a crow. It always puts a smile on my face when I hear a blue jay mocking other birds and I think to myself, how clever is that! But, then again, how deceiving. That being said, crows are very clever and intelligent in their own right. Seeing this piece in person will give you the full monty and energy of what it is depicting and the embellishments on the frame. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to get by the gallery during the shows duration through July. Remember to click on the image for a larger view and don't forget to stop back to find new posts now and then. Thank you for your interest.

POST BARN SALE

2010-06-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

This is the complete crew from our 2010 Artist Studio Barns Sale. From left to right:

Shirley Moss, Kristi Templeton, Shane Miller, Beverly Saito, Carrie Eckhart (our cookie maker), me (Linda Jarvis), kneeling in front of me, my dear sister Wendy (who helps out wearing many different hats-we couldn't do it without her!), and Diane Gale. We had a blast all weekend, made new friends and visited with our previous visitors and loyal patrons. Thanks to all for making it a wonderful 2nd Annual,

2nd ANNUAL STUDIO SALE AT GREYBIRD BARN

2010-06-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE!!! June 26th and 27th

Mark your calendar for our 2nd ANNUAL STUDIO SALE AT GREYBIRD BARN in Port Townsend, WA. Five wonderful artists: Diane Gale....Linda Jarvis...Shane Miller...Shirley Moss....and Beverly Saito will be featured in a variety of mediums.

Our good friends at Diana Cronin's E gg & I Pottery Studio in Chimacum, WA will be celebrating their 5th Annual Open Studio & Pottery Sale. Once again GreyBird Barn Studio Sale will coincide with the Egg & I Pottery Sale. Read more info about Egg & I Pottery Sale here.

Bring your friends and family and come for a delicious day of art and fun.....Port Townsend is beautiful in June.

(remember that you can click on any image to see it larger)

Have questions?...Or would you like to be added to our email list?...
Contact Shane Miller

CHAIR AFFAIR 2010

2010-04-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

It is time again for the Chair Affair.
The ArtScape web-site is not currently updated when I last looked today, but you can read about ArtScape's vision and mission.

My chair this year is a retro piece I did back in '94. It was a time when I was emerging myself with a spiritual affinity for the Native Americans and the reverence they share for nature and Earth. I titled it Strong Heart.

I hope those of you who live on the Olympic Peninsula can come by to see all the wonderful chairs and tables donated by our local artists Saturday, May 1st in the Mt. Baker Building,
2nd floor, 5:30-8pm. Live music and refreshments...
Don't forget to bring your wallets...this is a great cause...
Thank you

STRAIT ART 2010

2010-03-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

This is my first year to jury for Strait Art at the Port Angeles Fine Art Center.

Above is my self promotional email announcement that I sent out to my e-list. The show is diversified and encompasses 29 artists from the Straits of Juan de Fuca area. This year the exhibition merged with the new PUB (Pirate Union Building) Gallery at the Peninsula College campus which expands the exhibition space considerably, giving each artist the opportunity to show four pieces each. The opening reception was yesterday afternoon with generous attendance. There were delectable delights for nibbling on while mingling with guests and other artists.

It was an opportune time to meet new artists and reconnect with others I had not seen in a lengthy time. The local PA paper, the Daily Peninsula News, did a cover story in their Spotlight section last Friday, 3-12-10, if you have access to this publication you can learn about the participating artists.

RETROSPECT REFLECTION

2010-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

From time to time, as with writers, artists get blocked, too. We lose our voice, so to speak. Those inspirational juices just don't flow through our blood as per usual. I have had one of these dry spells of late. You may have noticed if you have visited these pages within the last five months or so, I haven't had much to share. For a while I was in a period of experimentation, shifting my direction. I was really enjoying the creative process, but I didn't feel grounded in it, thus a bit off balance for a time. I wasn't sure of my expression which in turn silenced me in that uncertainty. I was groping, but grasping nothing. This empty phase gave me pause to review how and where my creative endeavors have assisted me.

This piece shown above was something I drew 35 years ago. I have to say it struck a chord in me when I came across it while I was thumbing through my old portfolios, struggling with this lack of inspiration. I've always felt close to this piece because it speaks with a whisper and offers a moment of tranquility, indicative of where I was in my life, living on the Big Island, Hawai'i. In that way it slowed me down by offering me quiet time to breathe and infuse intention into how I want to begin again as I move forward in my newest work and meditation.

During this retrospective ritual I saw with remembrance where I have been with my work and a small glimmer of light appeared guiding me to move forward. This meant it was time to call on my muse again and hope she would oblige with an appearance. Thankfully she did show up and with grace and calmness to help move my brushes and pencils and stir ideas and visions around in my head.

Though heavy moods and doubts accompanied this creative drought, I learned that patience was key - to be with what may be keeping me without expression and journey through it by reflecting on where I have come from.

This insightful journey was of immense support to help carry me forward to explore new creative horizons. It is good to be back, to have my voice again and I am most grateful for this quiet, yet stimulating piece...and my muse, of course. I close in gratitude.

Stay tuned.

This illustration was done in graphite pencil, colored pencil and acrylic paint back in 1975.

CVG 2010

2010-02-16T08:07:00.000-08:00

Once again I have been caught up in a capsule of time that kept me from tending to positing. I have finally broken out and have returned to these pages to catch you up on recent goings-on. Two of the 3 pieces I entered for jury, BeeFriending and King of the Towed, were selected as part of the CVG show (Collective Visions Gallery) in Bremerton, WA. Only 128 entries were selected from nearly 800. The juror was Jake Seniuk of Port Angeles. He is director and curator of the Port Angeles Fine Art Center. Numerous artists from the Port Townsend area also have pieces chosen for inclusion in this show, two of which are friends, Shane Miller and Diane Gale. This 3rd annual juried show will run through February 26th. If you are in or near the area stop by the gallery to see this show of talented Washington artists.

Click on the piece titles above to view my accepted images.

The Collective Visions Gallery is located at 331 Pacific Avenue, in the heart of downtown Bremerton, on the corner of 4th and Pacific and are open Tuesday through Saturday 10am-5pm, and other times by appointment.

STUDIO TOUR REFLECTIONS

2009-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Well, time has lapsed since my last post . . . my apologies for the delay. However, this is a follow up to my last post.
This Artist Studio Tour was another adventure in presenting ourselves and our work to our community. Here I am standing at the open barn doors during the early pre-tour hours. After completing our set up, we were all contemplating what the weekend would bring as 3 out of 4 of us had not participated in the Port Townsend Artist Studio Tour before other than our own Barn Sale previously this past summer in June.

Here we are witnessing the quiet before the storm, a view of my work after set up before the crowds arrived.

Here we are getting our signage all together so our visitors can find us easily.

The sun came out after a night of drizzle and a morning of cool fog. Walking into GreyBird barn was like walking into a gallery of sorts. We were, once again as with our June sale, very happy with our set up as it welcomed visitors into a very creative space.

If moving clockwise through the space my work appeared, then
Diana Cronin's wonderful, colorful pottery at the right and below.

This tour gave us the opportunity to show our process first hand as to how we create and answer questions visitors may have had. Above I am explaining my drawing and painting technique and the use of found elements.

Diana at work demonstrating painting glaze onto a piece of pottery and Shane documenting the affair. Shane's photo-etched metal narrative boxes and jewelry are on the panels behind her.

Here again you can see more of Shane Miller's work and in the foreground is the display of Diane Gale's earthy and imaginative ceramic works.

Diane had her wheel on site to give a hands-on demo of how she builds her various ceramic pieces and discussed the wood fire process.

Though I could not partake in these yummy looking goodies, I had to share this artful plate that was so generously gifted to us by our friend, Carrie. She baked these and much more for our tour guests. We were the talk of the town, not only for our great artistic barn presentation, but also for these delicious offerings.

My dear mom (90 years old! would you believe) and sister. They were 2 of our many happy guests warming up with hot cider that we also offered our guests.

Here we are. The troupe. From left to right is Shane Miller, Wendy Jarvis (our angel and my sister who helped us again with giving so much of herself during setup, the weekend and striking), Linda Jarvis (that's me), Diane Gale and Diana Cronin.

Over all we were very happy with the weekend, the 11th annual Port Townsend Studio Tour. The tour encompassed 47 different studios open to the public and again, Shane's GreyBird Barn turned out to be a perfect venue for the 4 of us to present our works to the community and out of town visitors. The turn out was fantastic with 265 visitors coming through during the two day studio tour. I also want to thank 2 out of town friends, one who I have known since kindergarden, who came all the way from Redmond.

We are looking to the future to next June on the solstice weekend for our 2nd Annual Artist Studio Barn Sale at GreyBird Barn. Stay tuned.

ARTIST STUDIO TOUR

2009-10-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

Art Port Townsend's 11th Annual Studio Tour

I will be sharing studio space with 3 other artist friends, Diana Cronin, Diane Gale, and Shane Miller, at Shane Miller's GreyBird Barn Studio during the Art Port Townsend Studio Tour. We invite you to come by to visit the studio, watch us demonstrate and engage in conversation with us during this studio tour weekend. We each have artist ID numbers that will correspond with map 1 and map 2 and within the brochure and on signs directing you to the studio. I hope you can get by to visit.

Preview Show October 3 -11 at Northwind Arts Center
The Studio Tour Preview Show displays samples of artwork from most of the 47 plus artists in the studio tour. Come by the Northwind Arts Center to get your Tour map, and to preview the studios you can visit. The Preview Show will be open Saturday evening, Oct. 3rd for Gallery Walk, and will remain open with extended hours through the Studio Tour ending on Oct. 11th, Sunday. Pick up a brochure and plan your art studio visits! Northwind Art Center will be open Monday through Sunday, noon to 5pm for this special week.

The Eleventh Annual Artist Studio Tour is scheduled for October 10 and 11, Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 4 pm. The popular Art Studio Tour will be enjoying it’s eleventh year with forty-seven studios. Visit studios and see work in progress including painting, sculpture, metal casting, jewelry, furniture, glass, weaving, book making, printmaking, wood and more.

For more information, see artist images and statements go to the Art Port Townsend website

Linda Jarvis: A Window of Opportunity

Diana Cronin: Shot Glasses

Diane Gale: A Quiet Conversation

Shane Miller: Daedalus as a Boy

MOON BEETLE

2009-09-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

MOON BEETLE is the last in the trio of pieces realized for the BUGS show. To learn more about this exhibit scroll down to the 3 previous posts.

While studying a borrowed book on the wonderful world of bugs and beetles my eyes fell upon a beetle that, in my vision, appeared to have moons within the patterns on its back. From there MOON BEETLE manifested when I followed my creative instinct to use that moon illusion I had pictured in my mind. I started with cutting out the beetle's body from masonite with a bit of carving and, of course, some sanding (personal note: my skin and eyes do not like the very fine dust that results.) Moving on . . . After 2 or 3 coats of black gesso the beetle birthed itself via acrylic paint and colored pencil. I had done a few doodles in my sketch book so there wasn't too much of a query as to how to apply this beetle, now in hand, to a piece. It felt only natural to follow through on my sketch and add a moon somewhere within the piece. Probing through my found object accumulations I placed my hand on a small sphere that was the perfect size to paint forming relief craters on its surface. It then took its place in a cut-out window on the back surface within a box fabricated to create depth beyond the background the beetle would rest. The legs of the beetle are emulated by using parts of dentist tools and the antennae are the tiniest of springs with alternating beads slipped onto a thin wire. Voila!

MOON BEETLE measures 9-1/8H X 8W X 3D. Click on photo for larger image.

BEEFRIENDING

2009-08-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

BEEFRIENDING is the second of three pieces I created for the BUGS exhibit. As I view this piece I reflect on my approach to my work it seems I don't often know what is going to come forth creatively so I just let it show up with each moment. Then other works come from an illustration I develop in a sketchbook or I may go further with a simple study to get more of a sense of the piece. BEEFREINDING came somewhat spontaneously. I first applied several coats of black gesso to the small, short-legged chair for a base ground to work on. Then after sanding and removing any residue I painted the imagery that came to mind. Once or twice or more I go digging through and gather up a few of my various collected objects. I then added longer legs to the chair made from turned dowels plus the addition of the balls at the foot of each leg. Colorful discs were placed where the legs meet the chair giving them a more interesting transition as they connect. These were all treated with numerous coats of gesso, then acrylic paint and colored pencil. The child's block and all the attached elements on top as well as the spheres, discs and feathers on the chair's back risers were all embellishments I affixed to add further character and whimsy.

Here is a closer look at BEEFRIENDING. The occurrence of the bee landing atop the bird's head could have been one of annoyance or even an opportunity for a snack . . . hmmmm . . . perhaps not. My feeling was that this could be a moment for a friendly and harmonious exchange, an instant for pause and tolerance.

BEEFRIENDING up close and personal .

The chair stands 23H X 5-7/8W X 5-5/8D. Click on the photos for a larger images.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER

2009-08-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

The image above is the full view of the cropped version of CLOSE ENCOUNTER I used to create the announcement for the BUG show posted previously, August 5th. I drew and painted the young coyote using graphite and colored pencil and acrylic paint on heavy, acid-free stock then cut it out with an Xacto knife. It is layered away from the background which I painted using acrylic paint, colored pencil and pastel over black gesso. The wonderful BUG creature sitting in the foreground "windowsill" is a handcrafted glass bee created by an artist friend. The entire frame and matt were also painted with several coats of black gesso then finished with a matt varnish.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER close-up

CLOSE ENCOUNTER measures 10-1/2H X 8-7/8W X 1-1/4D. Click on the photo for larger image.

BUGS

2009-08-05T10:48:00.001-07:00

I am a bit behind on my entries, time has flown and life this summer has been busy, but here is a quick note to let you know of this BUGS show that opens Friday August 7 at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery.
If you are nearby please stop in for the opening evening or sometime during the shows duration, August 7 - September 1, 2009. Thank you for your continued support.

THE FIRST OF MANY

2009-06-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

GreyBird Barn hovering in the calm before the welcomed storm.

In my previous post I mentioned that a group of five artists birthed the idea of an Artist Studio Sale at Shane's GreyBird Barn. After much preparatory work Shane's barn was transformed into an intimate gallery setting. The art-enthused visitors flowed through in a steady stream both days. We are all so pleased with the results of this event. It has grounded itself as the first of many studio sales we will present at Shane's GreyBird Barn. The weekend was full of art collectors as well as those who came to observe and offer their valued words of appreciation and praise. Thank you to all who stopped by over the weekend to help make our affair have a favorable outcome. AND to all who helped weave it all together and offered help throughout the weekend. There are not enough words to express our appreciation and gratitude.
A personal note of thanks and huge amounts of gratitude to my dear sister, Wendy, who was at my side helping haul, hang, and break down the show as well as making and bringing me lunch and preparing other various meals. Wendy, you brought lightness and laughter, love and support to a task that would not have been as much fun without you. THANK YOU from the wholeness of my heart.

Entering GreyBird Barn Studio/Gallery

My work, Linda Jarvis

A little bit of me (foreground left), Lynn Anju, Shane Miller and Diane Gale (foreground right)

Again, a little bit of me (foreground left), Shane Miller and Diane Gale

Diane (foreground), Lynn (left) and Shane (back)

Beverly Saito

The Artists - Me (Linda), Lynn, Silas (Beverly's Husband/the zen man), Diane, and Shane

STUDIO SALE @ GREYBIRD BARN

2009-06-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

For a number of years now the artists in my artist support and discussion group have passed the idea around about having a studio sale with a few artist friends in Shane's barn. So finally a couple of months ago the topic came up again in our art group about really taking the steps to actually make a studio sale happen in her barn. We hope it can be the kind of thing where we could have it year after year on the same weekend and create a following. After a lot of organizing and a lot of work pulling it all together the sale will take place this weekend! A wonderful group of 5 talented artists will be gathered at Shane's GreyBird Barn to display and sell their work.

All the participating artists have contributed hugely . . . Lynn, Diane and Beverly were in charge of making the sandwich board signs . . . I designed and created the postcard, flyers and email announcements and everyone helped in distributing flyers, especially Lynn . . . Marilyn, a friend of Beverly's wrote an article for us and Shane did some final touches and tweaking plus the distribution to the various publications. These are just some of the efforts we have put forth to create this event. Many generous friends have helped make this affair possible . . . unexpected gravel shoveled into the ruts in her driveway . . . homemade cookies and lemonade for the duration of the sale . . . help with chainsawing up a bunch of logs that were in the way . . . and many hands helping make her property look presentable. Many heartfelt thanks to everyone.

If you are in the neighborhood stop by for some cookies and lemonade and a chance to see some exceptional art for your home and/or office and don't forget your gift list.

We are doing this event in conjunction with another group of artists in Chimacum at Egg & I Pottery. 8 potters in various disciplines will have their goods on display and for sale.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?

2009-04-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

This is the seat of a chair I have created for this year's fund raiser, The Chair Affair, that PT Artscape puts on yearly which I have participated in for the last 3 years since it's inception. You can see previous chairs on earlier posts.

The inspiration for this chair, WHAT'S THE BUZZ?, came from many sources, but mostly from a dear friend, the late Suzanne Henrion, who loved vibrant colors, was an artist, art collector, art appreciator and aficionado. There were many of us who were fortunate to have known her. She gifted this little chair to me along with most of the added elements with which I embellished it.

I continue to give thanks and gratitude to Suzanne for the endless support she graciously offered to so many artists and their arts. This chair is offered to The Chair Affair in her memory.

This chair was constructed of plain pine. I gave it a black undercoat with black gesso - 3 coats, sanding in between, then painted it using acrylics and colored pencils. Then I added all the elements at the top and the spools and wooden balls and metal, ball-headed pins to extend the length of the legs, painted them after giving them the same black gesso undercoats.
The chair is approximately 19" tall. Click on the photos for larger images.

The Chair Affair will take place at the Mt Baker Building – 2nd Floor during Port Townsend's Gallery Walk, Saturday, May 2, 2009. Most of our Galleries will be open till 8 pm with some serving refreshments. Come join in the festivities of the evening and celebrate the opening of Art Wave, showing students work in various businesses throughout our town. Entertainment will be by the Bruce Cowan Trio.
Come and support our arts program. The redesigned chairs and side tables by many local artists will be for sale, and student work will be on display. The Arts are a fundamental component of a basic education for our students. The arts are a core subject in Washington State.

FIRST FRUIT

2009-04-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

FIRST FRUIT is the fourth of four pieces I completed for the STREETS AND ROADS exhibit at the Bainbridge Island Gallery. As in the previous pieces posted I used the layering of 3 planes to create the illusion of depth in hopes to take the viewer further into the piece, further into one's imagination. I like working in this format though it makes the completion more complicated.

FIRST FRUIT measures 8-1/2H X 8W X 1-1/2D - rendered in mixed media.

Click on photo for larger image.

THE RED DOOR

2009-03-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is another completed piece for the STREETS AND ROADS exhibit that utilizes the element I created and posted on March 1st. THE RED DOOR story is presented in layers taking you out to a world beyond Raven's refuge. This new format is something I am exploring. We shall see where it takes me...

THE RED DOOR measures 9-1/4H X 9-1/4W X 1-1/2D - mixed media.
Click on the photo for a larger image.

COYOTE DREAMS

2009-03-18T08:49:00.001-07:00

A distant horizon against a starry night pull Coyote into a dream. Where might the meandering ribbon of dirt take Coyote? The dreams, if told, would tell.

COYOTE DREAMS was another piece created for the STREETS AND ROADS show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts gallery as mentioned in previous posts. It measures 8-1/4H X 8-1/4W X 1-1/2D rendered in mixed media. Click on photo for larger image.

THE OPEN WINDOW

2009-03-12T10:05:00.001-07:00

If you remember, I posted this rabbit as a sneak peek a couple posts back. This is the finished piece, THE OPEN WINDOW, for the STREETS AND ROADS show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in Winslow, WA. Existing as a pull toy, rabbit sits quietly on a shelf just inside the open window. But, does rabbit contemplate this as a favorable chance to slip out through the window and up a road to adventures beyond imagination? Or does contentment to remain within a familiar world sitting on a ledge suit rabbit just fine? Options presented, choices to be made.

All my pieces are done in mixed media. THE OPEN WINDOW measures 11-1/2H X 9-1/4W X 1-1/4D. Click on the photo for a larger image.

ELEMENTS & COMPONENTS

2009-03-01T19:57:00.000-08:00

As you can gather from viewing my works in past posts it is made up of components and elements. This raven is part of a piece I have painted for STREETS AND ROADS, a show that opens this week, Friday, at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery. The blue bird below is also an element from a piece I have painted for the same exhibit. This is a new direction for me and I am rather absorbed by it. I am anxiously awaiting some cradle boards my sister is bringing to me this week. New works . . . This is always exciting and sometimes carries some uncertainty not knowing exactly where one will end up when finished. It has been a fun exploration. If you are not near this gallery to come to the opening or visit the gallery during the show's display, come back to my blog to see the finished pieces.

A SNEAK PEEK

2009-02-15T13:54:00.001-08:00

This rabbit, in pull toy form, is part of a piece I am creating for a show in March at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery. I guess I don't want to reveal too much information at this point before it is completed so you will have to come back to see the finished piece in a couple of weeks.

My work, is again, continuing to shift so I am in a state of transition with it presently. But, it still carries with it an observable style with each manifestation. It seems to always be in a state of flux which I rather enjoy as there is always some form of progression. I like to act on the state of what is moving me from within. I hope you will check back to see the final piece and the inclination my work has moved in.

Click on the photo for a larger image.

SOME ARE QUITE COY

2009-01-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

We have a small fish pond in our garden and while enjoying the tranquillity it brings to us my observations of the activities of the fish that live there inspired this piece. SOME ARE QUITE COY was part a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery titled BOXES. It has moveable parts thus making it an interactive piece creating the ability for the viewer to reveal the coy koi, as you will see in the image below. When the heavy wires at the sides of the box are pushed inward the hidden coy come out from behind the lily pads. The opposite result occurs when the wires are pulled outward sending the koi back into their hiding mode.

Click on the photos for larger images.

DECORATED DOE

2009-01-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

DECORATED DOE is an older piece that I often come back to just to feel the essence of doe. They are so graceful and I always feel blessed and graced with a special visit when one tiptoes through our property. I once had a dream many years ago of walking on the soft, needle covered shore of a quiet, wooded lake where I encountered a doe. She approached me, both of us without fear. She came closer and I gently wrapped my arms around her neck, her warm body against mine with her head resting over my shoulder as if in an embrace. Her spirit felt so gentle and then it was as though we dissolved into each other's energy becoming one. It was most magical and has stayed with me ever since. I will never understand how anyone could take aim and bring one down. It is that angst and my love of wild things in nature inspires my work. Thanks for checking in.

Click on the photo for a larger image.

WINTER'S CHILL

2009-01-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

The transition from 2008 to 2009 has been a cold and snowy one in our part of the world that began in mid December. I think about all the critters out in the wild that seek shelter, food and water during these times. This piece, WINTER'S CHILL, depicts the challenge of snow covered prairies and mountains for coyote. And what we all face during the colder months. The snow has been a way to slow us down with it's ice under foot and tire, but oh so beautiful in it's quiet presence. Happy New Year to you wherever you are. We have lots to look forward to with hope and gratitude in our hearts.

Click on the photo for larger image.

KING OF THE TOWED

2008-12-15T20:31:00.000-08:00

KING OF THE TOWED is one of the three pieces that were juried into the Northwind Art Center's Small Expressions 7 now showing at the center in Port Townsend through December 29. You can read about the first trailer I constructed in a past post, I GO WHERE I'M TOWED. Both were created with help from my husband.

Update 12/22/08: Just thought I would share that I was awarded the People's Choice Award in the show. Thank you to those who voted.

Click on photos for larger images.

FIVE RAVENS, MANY MOONS

2008-12-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

If you are a regular to my blog or have taken a glimpse through the various posts, you have witnessed my passion for crows and ravens, among the many other beauties of our wildlife. This piece was one of 5 pieces I completed for the The Gallery - Bainbridge Arts and Crafts exhibit, Function and Form: Art That Works. The mirror is on the top surface. I am pleased to say that this piece along with the Polar Bear Mirror found their new home at the opening reception Friday, Dec. 5th. See previous post.
(My apologies for the quality or the lack thereof of these photographs)

I AM YOU and YOU ARE ME and WE ARE ONE TOGETHER

2008-11-26T08:19:00.001-08:00

I AM YOU
AND
YOU ARE ME
AND
WE ARE
ONE
TOGETHER
This piece is the first of a few mirrors I have created for a new invitational theme exhibit at The Gallery - Bainbridge Arts and Crafts opening Dec. 5th. The show is Function and Form: Art That Works. Some of the artists, including my friend and artist cohort, Shane Miller, have been asked to bring to being, mirrors. Here I decided to create a mirror where I altered the shape. My subject, the polar bear, is of course, one that is dear and important to me due to it's overwhelming need for the worlds attention. As you gaze into the mirror you see your self as one with the bear. I feel the title expresses it all.

This short video, PolarBearMan is, by far, the most extraordinary commentary on our global warming plight. It will leave you with chills, but hopefully strike within you a spark to do everything in your own power to help shift the devastation. It stars the talented Lee Pace of the delightfully fanciful Pushing Daisies, the wonderfully artistic The Fall and the short lived Wonderfall, among other productions.

And, of course, I can't close this post without mentioning that I am so very enlivened and filled up by the voices and actions of our nation and the enthusiasm of our fellow communities around the world on Nov. 4th - we are creating cohesion - this is certainly something to be thankful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone around the world and those of you therein who visit these pages, I am grateful for your interest and support.

Click on the photo for a larger image.

ATTRACTED TO REFLECTIVE THINGS

As all raven and crows are . . .

SHELL-TER

Beautiful backdrop is a Kimberly Morris, hand-dyed, hand-woven wool rug, also showing in this exhibit.

Click on the photos for larger images.

TRICKSTER

2008-10-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

To my delight, I was recently re-introduced to a beautiful coyote named Charlie. After being away from the site for a while I came back with a heightened interest this time. Maybe because I hear coyotes a lot where I live and it triggered my fond memory of Charlie.

This illustration, TRICKSTER, I created some years ago now, but I was inspired to post it today because of Charlie and his friend, Shreve. You can read about them and their endearing story on their web-site which I have been following titled Daily Coyote. Charlie was orphaned and rescued as a pup and re-parented by Shreve, a talented and wise young woman living in Wyoming. This link will start you at the beginning of their connection, then you can move up to present day as you desire. I have always been amused and in awe of these wonderful wild creatures and to have such a close relationship with one must be a rewarding gift and, of course, not without challenges, from what I have read from Shreve's writings.

Remember the wild things and treat them with respect.

GATE

2008-10-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Gallery, Bainbridge Arts and Crafts, is a wonderful artists' showcase in Winslow on the island of Bainbridge, WA where I have shown since spring of 2004. The executive team there, I call them my Three Artketeers, are always challenging their artists to wonderful theme shows. This current one is WORD where we had to explore a word, it's meaning or our relationship to it. The results are quite fun and if you are near this location I urge you to stop in and take a look. While there take the time to talk with the staff and volunteers, they are very friendly and forthcoming with answers to any questions you may have.

My entry was GATE. As usual I rummaged through my trove of various collected items and played with them until this is what resulted.

GATE closed.

GATE opened.

Click on photos for larger image.

TRYING TO FIND A WAY BACK HOME

2008-09-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry to have been away for so long . . . where did the summer go? A lapse in time occurred somewhere and I got lost in it. It has been filled with much activity of all varieties, some filled with light-hearted pleasures and others sad grievings. But, we take the time out to do what the moment brings us and then move forward to find more joy that life brings such as friends, family, new adventures and new art projects.

A new piece of recent endeavor is this one that speaks of the plight of our arctic dwellers, the Polar Bears. TRYING TO FIND A WAY BACK HOME is a look at the devastation global warming has been having on our Polar Bear populations. If they are lucky they reach a large enough piece of ice to then maneuver a way back to unbroken "ground" . . . . others are not so lucky and end up drowning from exhaustion in an attempt to find a larger base of ice in hopes they might survive.

In this piece it is my vision that their efforts successfully bring them back home with a beacon of hope guiding them.

Thanks for continuing to come back to view my blog. To see the images larger click on the photos.

OPENING AT KOBO GALLERY

2008-07-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

I am a bit late in getting a new post up telling of our opening, Three Artists, Three Women, Three Friends. It was a fun day and a fun evening. We arrived at the gallery mid-day to hang and arrange the show. We helped each other get set up and a friend, Kristi, came to take photos of us and our displays. Then we four went off to have an early dinner before the opening at a wonderful restaurant, Green Leaf, a few blocks away. Wonderfully fresh and delicious Vietnamese food. It was also Shane's birthday so there was some celebrating at hand.

This is one of the photos taken during the opening in front of Shane Miller's work. That is Shane on the left, Helga Winter in the middle and I am the one on the right. It was a fun evening and we all had a great time hanging out together and answering questions from inquisitive attendees. We even had friends come across the water from the Port Townsend and Bremerton areas.

It was a lovely day that ended with a beautiful sunset during our ferry ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island with the sun hitting the city of Seattle.

THREE ARTISTS, THREE WOMEN, THREE FRIENDS

2008-06-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

Since my two dear friends and very talented artist comrades, Shane and Helga, and I hang out together regularly to talk about art, our careers and how to support one another we thought it would be fitting that we create a show as a trio. Our work compliments each others so well it felt like a natural. We came up with the title THREE ARTISTS, THREE WOMEN, THREE FRIENDS as it described our relationship so simply . We will exhibit at KOBO in Seattle's International District through July 19th with the opening reception on Saturday, June 21st, 6-8 p.m. You can read a bit about our work and backgrounds here on KOBO's web-site. KOBO has a very interesting history and I encourage you to read about it. We are looking forward to see many familiar and unfamiliar faces at the opening, so hopefully you live nearby and can come by and say hello.

PAINTING THE NIGHT SKY

2008-06-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken at Childhood's End Gallery in Olympia where this piece was in a grouping of several I was showing. The theme of the show, as you may have read on a recent post, was Stories, Myths and Legends. It was a wonderful show full of exceptional work by very talented artists from around the region.
This piece has a story about an artist . . .

She lived near a small village at the edge of the thick woods on Constellation Lane. Being an artist of versatility, the notion of residing on a travel-way named after clusters of stars and planets inspired her to start painting the exterior of her house with her own constellations. Late one evening while she was painting, her brush slipped away from the side of the house and swept skyward into the black vastness . . . to her amazement new constellations began to appear. It was like magic or wizardry. She kept moving her brush against the sky like she was conducting an orchestra. Each stroke brought new stars to the life of the night sky and would forever remain.

Along with the other exhibitors were my two artist comrades, Helga Winter, with her sensuous, tactile turned wood vessels, and spheroids and Shane Miller showing her photo-etched metal, narrative boxes that will captivate you. Here are some examples of their extraordinary work.

PAINTING THE NIGHT SKY was created with foam chore board, dress pattern tissue, aluminum tubing, make-up brush wrapped inaluminum tape, hammered aluminum sheeting, mica, beads, tacks and o-rings.

BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON

2008-05-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

Though the light of the beautiful silvery moon by herself will not be enough for the Ice Bears to find their way home, at the very least, they are now listed as threatened, but not necessarily protected . . . so, our work continues to do what is needed to keep their home land safe and free of the drilling rigs of the hungry oil-mongers. Learn what we can do to help. In tandem I will continue to hold onto a vivid image for a positive future for our arctic friends - that they all will dance again BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON. It is, however, up to us to make that vision true . . . thank you for your participation and support.

This magnificent being is created on heavy illustration paper with ink, acrylic paint and colored pencil. The silvery moon is hammered aluminum with metal pins, protected behind glass in a maple frame embellished with discs and beads and crowned with a maple wedge also embellished.
(click photo for larger image)

THE CHAIR AFFAIR AUCTION

2008-05-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

I spoke about this fun event two posts ago (see below) and now the excitement is building. May 24th is the date of the auction and all, or at least a high percentage, of Port Townsend and the outlying communities will come to view and bid on these fun creations painted and/or made by local artists. The proceeds go to support great arts programs. To learn more visit PT ArtScape. If you live in the area please come by and join in the festivities. See you there!

THIS OLD HOUSE HAS MANY STORIES

2008-05-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

As years pass and occupants come and go and family members move on in different ways, a house can gather numerous stories, on various levels, and store them within it's walls. If we are still enough we may be able to hear them or, as it is said, read the writings on the walls. What stories will your house tell?

THIS OLD HOUSE HAS MANY STORIES was built on and with metal gears, found objects, handcrafted paper, patinated metal, mica. An old wood stove element was used for the finial. (click on photo for larger image)

THE CHAIR AFFAIR

2008-05-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

In the fall of 1998, a group of interested teachers, school administrators, and community members came together to apply for a grant from WSAC that offered funding for arts in the public schools. Visual arts, music, and drama were offered as electives only in grades 7-12. Limited levy funding supported one-shot arts activities in the elementary grades on a monthly basis. There was not a climate of collaboration between the arts specialists and classroom teachers, and arts lessons were not integrated into the curriculum.

The Consortium fostered a different kind of collaboration than had ever happened before. The Port Townsend Community Consortium, now known as PT Artscape, has transformed arts education in local schools through eight years of advocacy, programming and creative problem solving. The Consortium began to take shape almost a decade ago, when a team of arts advocates saw potential in linking local resources with the school district, and launched this effort with a Consortium proposal to the Washington State Arts Commission.

The annual fundraiser, “The Chair Affair” will be held on Sunday, May 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm at the American Legion Building in Port Townsend. Local Artists’ unique hand painted chairs will be auctioned off that evening. You can get a sneak peek at the chairs by visiting the businesses that showcase student work. All proceeds will support Arts programming in the Port Townsend School District, K-12th grade.

The 2007 event raised over $6,000 for the arts in the schools program.
(above verbiage is excerpted from the PT Artscape web-site)

ArtWave 2008 and Chair-Affair-ing began last night with Gallery Walk. Student art has been placed along with all the artists creations in 40 participating venues!

Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers who work so hard to make this happen for two years now and to the artists who have joined the fun to help generate funds for this great program. I had such a good time being a part of last year's event and I am participating again this year. The photo at the top of this post is of my 3 contributions. The 3 photos below are these chairs individually. (click on each photo for larger images)

CAN'T SIT STILL
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

AS MY MUSE MOVES ME

The following photo is of my contribution last year. This photo was taken before it was completely finished. I gave it the title of FIND YOUR ART. The winning bid went to a very nice couple I know in Port Townsend who are both professional artists themselves and have it hanging above a small cabinet in their home (bottom photo).

TOUCH for the last time

2008-04-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

TOUCH once again and again and again

2008-04-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

ALMOST to the end of the series, but first . . . from The Beginning. These three pieces above were the first in this series I've been posting below. I was cutting small glass pieces myself before I went to using glass slides. (click on photos for larger images)

I was going to post the various pieces from this series by number, but I have discovered that the numbers in my photo archives are not corresponding correctly, so I am just going to add a few now and then to this post without numbers. Some of these pieces are available at Raven Blues in Poulsbo so they are not in my possession to reference the numbers. If you can check back every few days to see what I have added to this post (they will be above all of this text) over a few weeks. Thanks for your continued interest. For more details about this series read previous post. (click on photo for larger image)

TOUCH

2008-04-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

I feel Spring today!!! So much activity. The sounds and sights and energy of Spring are all around me, on my morning walks, especially. All the bird's love songs echoing through the trees and all their scurrying about busily in the process of nest making is such a gift to watch and be a part of. It is an experience that brings to mind a series of small pieces I made of young children's hands with birds resting on or near their fingers. These are pencil illustrations on watercolor paper fronted by found feathers or other fragments from nature. Then the bird is drawn on vellum and sandwiched between glass slides. I covered the mats with handcrafted paper. I gave them numbered titles preceded by the word TOUCH. Young innocent life merged with the liveliness of Spring's life force. There was a sweetness there that surged up, as hope and trust, compassion and our connectedness to the natural world and each other. This piece is TOUCH #5. (click on photo for larger image)

STORIES, MYTHS & LEGENDS

2008-04-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

STORIES, MYTHS AND LEGENDS - This will be a telling exhibit. All works are created with a story, a myth or a legend that may be from the world's rich literature or creative narratives made up by the artist. My fellow cohorts and artist pals, Helga Winter and Shane Miller, will be accompanying me in this show with their inventive creations along with 8 other artists from the NW Region. It will hang from April 25th through May 31st. The opening reception for the artists is Friday April 25th. (click on photo for details)

This exhibit and many others will be part of Olympia's Spring Arts Walk, a 2 day event, that will stimulate your whole being. All of Olympia is in festivity with their biannual Arts Walk. Plan ahead and come enjoy the Arts of all kinds.

TIME SUSPENDED

2008-03-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

TIME. How does one have a friendly and copacetic relationship with time. Can we stop time? I think when we are in a zone, like doing something we get lost in or is meditative we can suspend time as though it did not exist, where only we exist within that one moment, and then the next and the next...

Here time is put into a place of presence where it has no force or effect...TIME SUSPENDED...sits waiting within a structure of paper, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum tubing, tacks, poly-board, vintage clock face dangling on threads, with a beautifully patina'd piece of metal for the back wall and other mixed media.

ROMANCING THE SALMON MOON

2008-03-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Does bear sing to the moon when she is full to lure the salmon to bear's feasting place? Only bear knows, as does the moon. But the salmon, do they know and simply gift themselves to bear so she/he may be sustained? All is in balance as it is until we try to balance it the way we think it should be . . . and what we are doing to them and to our planet, we are doing to ourselves. An insightful, profound and soul felt expression from our own wise man, Chief Seattle. He understood. They/we are all precious.

ROMANCING THE SALMON MOON is a window into a vignette where I use my illustrated salmon swimming in a sky of handcrafted paper and disc bead for a moon. Onlooking and singing is my illustration of bear all under glass, surrounded by a maple frame that I embellished with more flat disc beads and a wedge of maple wood. (click on photo for larger image)

WHERE I OFTEN FIND MYSELF

2008-03-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

One could say, as we journey on, that we find ourselves somewhere that makes us feel at peace, a place where we often find ourselves to be. Or we become aware of ourselves in a place that feels like home, where we find our being, where one often finds one's self...That place of being connected to it all, to nature, to each other.

Imagine opening a door and all we find are stairs or a ladder that takes us to a place of calm, a place where we go to feel quiet and peaceful or to contemplate, somewhere we can frequent regularly just to be.

If we were to keep going we might find that place called nirvana, perhaps, where there is no myself. Hmmmmmmm
(click on photos for larger images)

MOMENTUM

2008-03-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

MOMENTUM is another one of the three pieces for the DOORS show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. It started with a salesman's sample door that my husband brought home to me a couple of years ago. When I was asked to be apart of the DOORS show this miniature door came directly to mind. But how to use it. I covered it, as you see and the rest grew from numerous ideas in my sketch book. With the use of the pewter wheels I felt it needed the illusion of movement . . .
Slanting the house backwards was inspiring - how to do the rest of it . . .

A clock to me represented movement, not only in how it works, but the passing of time, being here and now with the knowledge and inevitability that we are moving forward to the next moment.

The egg in the nest is nurtured now as a precious life, right now, within. And the potential for a new life in a different form, what it is going to become. Nature, life, there is always momentum if we stop for a moment. This moment turns into the next. We move from this now, right now, to the next now, which is always, now . . . Momentum. (click on the photos for larger images)

BIRTH OF AN IDEA

2008-03-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

When the idea of a small trailer (see previous post) came to me for the DOORS show, it was a vision in my mind's eye. Then I went to my sketch book where I plant seeds and started to doodle - I love to doodle - and played with shapes for this piece. The first one was a bit crude and I thought I would title it HOME GROWN, which is still on the "pieces to do" list. The second sketch was getting closer and the third one was drawn in photoshop to get the curves to transition smoothly. The next step was to scour my studio for materials I could use. Aluminum sheeting, yes. Wallpaper, I created in photoshop. Flooring, scraps of marmoleum. Wheels...hmmm. My husband went to a box of goodies in his workshop that had some parts from a very old radio...alas, there they were, tuning pulleys, the perfect wheels, down to the little "tire valve" to which I preceeded to add black paint to simulate a valve cap. And the rest evolved as I went along. Thus it was birthed.

By the way, the opening last night was a success. The exhibit was displayed beautifully. Once again, kudos to the staff at BAC. I GO WHERE I'M TOWED got lots of smiles and attention and happily found a new home to park itself. It is, often times, bitter-sweet to see one's creations depart, but much to my delight this piece is going to live with 2 dear people whom I know. They love it very much. So it remains in the extended family, so to speak. I hope you can get by to see all the wonderful and creative ideas that sprouted from the artists who participated...

I GO WHERE I'M TOWED

2008-03-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

This piece is one of three from a show that opens tonight at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery. The title of the show is DOORS.
Having a love for vintage travel trailers I thought it would be a fun project to create a small trailer with a little door. Lost in the idea I didn't know how challenging it would be. I had to enlist the talents and strong hands of my husband to help at particular junctures while I put this piece together. I also had some help from my artist friend, Shane Miller, as we wrestled with her metal shear and the piece of metal we successfully cut that wraps around the circumference of the trailer.
While out on a travel about a year ago my husband and I came across a small tear drop trailer with the words I GO WHERE I'M TOWED printed across the back bumper. We had such a great laugh over it at which point were determined to use the phrase on our little pop-up trailer. That has not come about as yet, but once I created this piece there was no way I couldn't use it as the title.
Then came the task of what would be the surprise inside the trailer once the door is opened.

It took me a while, but Voilà! Of course, put a toad inside.Then came the search for a really appropriate toad. Nowhere in all my rummaging hither and yon, including the internet and letting my fingers do the walking could I find the perfect toad that fit the personality of this little trailer. Well, a local Port Townsend garden shop was out of small toads, but they graciously suggested I try a new shop downtown PT.

Sure enough they had the perfect toad, a Christmas tree ornament, that I gathered up, took home to my studio and proceeded to paint it to look realistic. Meet the perfect toad. He goes where he's told, I mean towed.
(click on photos for larger images)

Originally I had designed the graphics on the plate to look like a vintage plate, but my husband said, "oh no, you really should have it look like a Washington license plate", so I said, go for it, and he came forth with these graphics for the plate...perfect. You can't see it in this photo very well, but the date on the license plate is the date of the opening of the show. Then I proceeded to craft the license plate holder. More fun. More smiles.

THE RECURRENCE

2008-02-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

I have often wondered if birds ever return to the same nest the following years to repeat their instinctual ritual of raising the newest generation. I have a feeling they do not from the various old and weathered nests I have found. I do, though, like to think that some may and with some research on my part I might discover that it does occur in some species. Or perhaps the dance of collection and the artful arrangement of the gathered materials is part of the internal process that begins the manifestation of new life. This piece, THE RECURRENCE, was my vision of a visitation that takes place every spring and/or more than once a year. A regular, a come and go resident with familiarity.

LUNA

2008-02-25T09:42:00.001-08:00

Luna, she comes up so much in my work. It is of no wonder as she is so captivating. I was awed and transfixed by the moon the other night when she was shadowed by our earth. My husband and I went out in the cool evening and set up our tri-pod. He took some pictures and then, due to the cold air and being underdressed, he went inside. I, however, stayed out and captured most of the event on my smaller digital camera, which is better for common day and macro photography, but to my surprise and delight, it did a pretty good job on expressing what I was experiencing, nonetheless. I was grateful that is was a clear and crisp evening, so we could witness this magical event. Though it is not rare, it is always enchanting to see the shadow of our earth against our beautiful moon.

This photo was taken while the eclipse was beginning to wane so the orange glow was fading. We live in the woods so we were having peekaboo views which this photo illustrates. I hope you were able to see this alluring phenomenon.

MOON IN THE WINDOW

2008-02-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had an opportunity to see the moon last night. She created the most beautiful shadows, inside and outside, and silvery stars that glistened on the Madrone leaves. The Olympics were aglow also. Perfect for a walk, to be in the energy of the night and still see everything in the dimmed light, (as stated in my dictionary - a book that I love - " the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible "). What a gift at the end of a spring like day.

MOON IN THE WINDOW is another older piece created using metal street cleaner bristles, rusted pieces of metal, beads, wire, handcrafted paper, original illustration of the moon. (click on photos for larger images)

TWIN PEAKS

2008-02-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

What can I say about TWIN PEAKS. It just evolved like most of my pieces do. If I remember correctly it began with making the pebble finials. I wanted to use them together somehow so I built the double peaked structure and the rest just unfolded. I am fortunate to live where I have a view of the Olympic Mountains in their grand stature, so TWIN PEAKS, you could say, reflects my good fortune.

TWIN PEAKS stands tall using handcrafted paper, metal street cleaner bristles, pebbles, hammered aluminum sheeting and wire, mica, and other mixed media. (click on photo for larger image)

MOVING DAY

2008-02-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

When it comes time to pick up and move, we gather up all that we give value to. In MOVING DAY the important and valuable items readied for moving are those that are precious and have potential for life.

MOVING DAY gets going on wings of hammered aluminum sheeting with handcrafted paper, feather, beads, polymer eggs, square nails, and other mixed materials. (click photo for larger image)

THE ROCK COLLECTOR

2008-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

My assemblage work started by creating them under glass within frames. This piece is one of a few that grew from my creating them freestanding in a 3D, sculptural fashion. I've always loved and collected rocks and I thought it would be fun to make a piece that depicted the dwelling of a rock collector. Are the rocks on display or are they about to take over the house as it swells and they all spill out?

When I went to photograph this piece I loved the way the light was coming through the back of it so I decided to do one shot of it this way . . . this is the result.

The 3D work has since evolved into using larger dimensions in every direction which, of course, increased the size of the pieces.

THE ROCK COLLECTOR consists of handcrafted paper, small pebbles, mica, metal street cleaner bristles, hammered aluminum sheeting, beads and whatnot. (click on photo for larger image)

LOON'S MICA MOON

2008-02-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

Those haunting calls of the wild echo through the silence like the moon's reflective light pierces through the darkness. The moon with the black night resting around it shines brightly on the loon as she glides gently through the water coming to rest in a safe shelter where the moon has cast protective shadows.

LOON'S MICA MOON has a background of woven grass wallpaper, with loon's shelter consisting of handcrafted paper, metal street cleaner bristles, beads, washers, wire, tacks, sitting within wavy corrugated board, with the light from a moon made of black washer, disc bead, topped with mica, all behind glass within an embellished maple frame. (click on photo for larger image)

THE PERCH HOUSE

2008-02-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

While I was out for this morning's walk I was accompanied by an exhilarating symphony of songs offered by happy, melodious birds. Their joy for the day gave me a reminder nudge to refill my bird-feeders for the beginning onset of incoming travelers. It brought to mind this piece, THE PERCH HOUSE, a refuge for the winged things to seek shelter and nourishment.

THE PERCH HOUSE is stilted on metal street cleaner bristles, handcrafted paper, tacks, brass metal sheeting, with an original sketch on vellum of a visiting cedar waxwing. (click on photo for larger image)

WILDERNESS CAGED

2008-02-02T11:24:00.000-08:00

This piece was my commentary on the state of our environment and the habitat that is being destroyed and taken from our wildlife. I feel it is our responsibility to preserve these creatures and the habitat they live in with integrity and good guardianship before it is too late.

WILDERNESS CAGED is captured with an augmented, reworked print from an original I painted of a grizzly bear fishing for salmon, handcrafted paper, corrugated cardboard, rusted flattened bottle cap, in a 3/4" inset surrounded by street cleaner bristles, and tacks, enclosed over matt board with glass within a frame. (click on photo for larger image)

MESSAGES FROM THE SKY

2008-02-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

One of the first things I do every morning is take a walk in our woods with our dog, Kinta. It gets me connected to who I am and helps me get engaged with the day. Nature is a miraculous omnipresence that is a great source for my daily musing. One of the wonders of walking in nature is finding a fallen feather. They are such amazing works of engineering, functionality, and beauty. I like to think of them as little messages that fall to earth...a gift to ponder. I have an abundant collection of found feathers all of which awakened a creative impulse to construct MESSAGES FROM THE SKY.

MESSAGES FROM THE SKY imparts a view into a collection made up of multiple feathers, string, tacks, augmented photo of clouds, wire constructed nest holding a polymer clay egg, within a 3/4" deep inset surrounded by metal street cleaner bristles behind glass and matted frame. (click on photo for larger image)

THE FORGOTTEN OFFERING

2008-01-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

What happens to a gift that is quietly offered, but is then forgotten. Does It sit in waiting gathering antiquity? To gaze upon this bestowal is somewhat spellbinding . . . what is this mysterious gift and how long has it been overlooked?

THE FORGOTTEN OFFERING appears as a mica box enclosing delicate white moth wings resting in residence on a chair made of metal street cleaner bristles and wire. (click on photos for larger images)

HIDING FROM THE MAGIC HAT

2008-01-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

Those who know me recognize I have a strong aversion to the use of animals in acts like circuses or magic tricks, no tolerance for exploitation or abuse of any kind. Hence this piece was sprung. I thought I would make a piece that was colorful, with a sense of joy that illustrates the courage and skill the rabbit achieved to hide from the dreaded magic hat. Successful in his quest he sits quietly, somewhat timidly, yet happily, never to be found, never to enter that magic hat again. Aware of a safe moment, he scurries away using his own magic powers, disappearing into a new adventure where he will seek happier turf.

HIDING FROM THE MAGIC HAT is a perfect hide out of handcrafted paper, pounded aluminum wire, square nail, domino, beads, street cleaner bristles, augmented print from an original I painted of an arctic rabbit and other found objects. (click on photo for larger image)

THE TINDER BOX

2008-01-29T07:59:00.001-08:00

This piece, THE TINDER BOX, was also a part of the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts BOXES show that I mentioned in my previous post.
It really speaks for itself. The structure starts with a hinged lidded wooden box with added elements I hammered from aluminum sheeting. I then made the roof, again, using hammered aluminum sheeting, pins, beads, on the peak made of foam core and handmade paper crowned with a finial made with a lipstick case and hammered aluminum wire to represent a chimney and smoke. It stands on stilts of porcelain insulators. The surprise inside, as you see in the photo below, is a small box I handcrafted using thin strips of cedar, added straw for tinder and a match. You can see how it fuels it's own voice. (click on photos for larger images)

SECRETS IN THE BASEMENT, TREASURES IN THE ATTIC

2008-01-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

SECRETS IN THE BASEMENT, TREASURES IN THE ATTIC was part of BOXES, a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts and leaves much to the imagination veiled with a bit of mystery especially the secrets in the basement. What might they be and will they be revealed? After all secrets are secrets and who is going to tell, unless the burden becomes too heavy and the truth then be told. The treasures in the attic, on the other hand, are easily seen within view through the attic windows. Nothing concealed, open to the world with nothing to hide, except the revelation of the gifts held within the treasured eggs.

SECRETS IN THE BASEMENT, TREASURES IN THE ATTIC are housed in a lidded box covered in handcrafted paper, with hammered aluminum, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum tubing and a roof made of poly board and foam core board, acrylic ring. Nest is wire, treasures are made of polymer clay.(click on photo for larger image)

WHERE THE MOON SLEEPS

2008-01-25T07:31:00.000-08:00

I love our moon. I think it is so wonderful that we live on a planet that has a moon, a natural satellite. A luna to gaze out upon when she chooses to be seen in various phases as she peeks out of the darkness. I've always found a comfort in the bright illumination as it creates shadows. I love walking in and out of the dark and light spaces that are formed as the light filters through trees during a moonlit walk. But, I also muse in my imagination, where does the moon sleep? And in that phantasia came the inspiration that brought into being this piece, WHERE THE MOON SLEEPS.

WHERE THE MOON SLEEPS is shown within a structure covered with dress pattern tissue paper, hammered aluminum sheeting, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum tape, aluminum tubing, beads, tacks, wire, and other found objects. (click on the photos for larger images)

HEART ON A STRING

2008-01-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Not only does this piece demonstrate the way we can put our hearts out on a string where it leads us to our heart desires, be it personal passions, love or just life, but it also gives a penetrating view into our hearts. An opening to see our true selves, to be vulnerable and truthful, to be transparent with an open heart in friendships, love and life.

HEART ON A STRING is offered up on metal street cleaner bristles, wire, washers, square nails, small reproduction of an x-ray, and a small silver heart on a string. (click on photo for larger image)

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

2008-01-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

The plight of the Polar Bear is very visible in our lives today with the serious and devastating issue of global warming. With our positive actions and our hopes for a healthy earth and environment for these great beasts, we can keep them safe with A ROOM WITH A VIEW overlooking a vast frozen terrain.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW is occupied by an augmented print from my original painting of a Polar Bear. It is built using handcrafted papers, metal street cleaner bristles, bones, corrugated card board, beads, and an eye glass bridge pad for a finial. (click on photo for large image)

MOON COMES TO STEAL RAVEN'S TREASURES

2008-01-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

Here again is a piece that repeats the theme of crows and ravens. They appear in my work frequently, as you have probably seen throughout my blog, an indication of my passion for them. The attraction of shiny objects is large in their appetite for mischief so collecting is one of their all time favorite pass times. Here raven protects precious treasures from the rising moon, as the goods are illuminated making it all the easier to steal them.

MOON COMES TO STEAL RAVEN'S TREASURES is a collection of a silver cone, hair, beads, bee button, paper, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum ring with vellum and an augmented print of raven taken from my original illustration. (click o photo for larger image)

THE CROW'S NEST

2008-01-16T19:51:00.000-08:00

THE CROW'S NEST is one of my favorite pieces. I guess it is because it represents the wonderful world of crows and ravens, the intellects of our birdlings. Today I heard a raven in the distance. As he flew over me he sent out his throaty, gravelly call. I called back, pretty nicely I might add, but he kept going without answering. However, as he flew by, the whispers of his wings pushing the air landed so quietly on my ears it nearly took my breath away. So magical is that moment when that sound barely breaks the silence, but it is enough to make my heart race.

THE CROW'S NEST is stilted with metal street cleaner bristles, accompanied with handcrafted papers, horseshoe nail, scrap metal, pounded aluminum sheeting, beads, nails, wire. Nested within is my illustration of crow. (click on photo for larger image)

JUST PASSING THROUGH

2008-01-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

This piece, JUST PASSING THROUGH, was inspired by the steady and constant rhythms of migration. The ever moving flow of our animal kingdom returning to take up temporary residency fascinates me. Their instinctive drive to move from one region or habitat to another, regularly according to the seasons, is a wonder of nature that will never cease to amaze me.

JUST PASSING THROUGH is created using handcrafted paper, copper, feathers, metal street cleaner bristles and other mixed media materials. (Click on photo for larger image)

A NEW ANEW

2008-01-10T12:35:00.001-08:00

With this new year laid before me, I see an open field of possibilities for numerous creative processes and experimentation awaiting exploration. The new year always gifts me with renewal and a freshness that is like a huge blank canvas ready for me to jump in. The excitement and creative juices flow through me rapidly as do the thoughts of contemplation as to where new creative energy will take me and how to best use it.

Yesterday was the first meeting this new year of our trio of art mates. However, we are missing our dear fourth member who passed away from us in November. But her spirit still gathers with us each time we meet. Our topic for discussion was time management and organization. It was one of our most productive meetings thus far. One of the pluses yesterday was having the company of my dear sister, Wendy, who offered some great ideas from her own experiences dealing with time management and getting organized, all of which she says has profoundly changed her life. Her input was very well received, welcomed and of great value. Thank you Wendy. All of us contributed great ideas and set personal goals to work on for the month. We will check in with each other as to how we are progressing.

Below is an excerpt from a great article that I shared with the group, Time Management for Creative People, Manage the mundane - create the extraordinary by Mark McGuinness. My husband emailed it to me with "because I care" in the subject line. He sees where I have areas in my daily life and art life that could use some help-removing obstacles that prevent easy forward motion. My work space can get chaotic after a push towards a show, but to me, that is how I work...no matter how many times I clean and start anew, it always ends up looking disorderly. However, I do know I need to do some purging in all aspects of my life. So back to this snippet from the article...I had to share it as I imagine lots of us creative types may relate as I do, although I do not get up at noon nor do I work in a dressing gown, but as for the chaos, that seems to be my feed.

"I’m not suggesting that all artists and creatives need to be ‘organised’ in a way that would satisfy a corporate boss. You might get up at noon and work at home in your dressing gown, in a pigsty of a living room. You might check into a different hotel room every day and work on the bed. Your creative process and working habits might look like total chaos to an outsider, but if they work for you, that’s all that matters. And there will be some method in the madness – patterns in your daily activities that are vital to your creativity. These are the things you need to do to keep your imagination alive – whether it’s sitting at a desk by 6am, using the same pen, notebook or make of computer, hitch-hiking across America, putting rotten apples in your desk so that the scent wafts into your nostrils as you work, or sitting in your favourite café with a glass of absinthe."

read more here: http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/12/03/time-management-for-creative-people-free-e-book/

CLOSED FOR THE WINTER

2008-01-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

All the artists that show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery were invited to create and donate an art piece on an 8" X 8" canvas, which they provided for us, for a benefit show titled Whodunit? which also commemorated the 60th birthday of this wonderful non-profit gallery. The idea was to not reveal to the public who the artists were. This was achieved by not signing the front of our pieces so it became the game of Whodunit? All the artworks were priced at $350.00 with all the proceeds to benefit BAC's new art program, Art After 60, which will bring art to senior citizens. The show opened this past Friday evening with a gala reception while the artists wore masks so as not to reveal their identity, as such . . . all for fun. The exhibit will run through January 29th.

My offering was CLOSED FOR THE WINTER. As you see in the photos it is a coolish piece that evokes stillness and vacancy while a space sits quietly during the winter months, perhaps with a sting of loneliness or even the sacred sanctuary of solitude. All created with aluminum wire, sheeting, and tape, as well as tacks, pins, brads, vellum and hair.(Click on photos for larger image)

IN ALL DIRECTIONS

2007-12-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

This piece, IN ALL DIRECTIONS, is the third of the three pieces in the "Small Expressions VI" show at the Northwind Art Center in Port Townsend. I like the small, tall and slender stature as a format for this piece. Tall windows on all sides. Giving the ability to the momma bird to come and go from any window or the unborn to fledge in any direction, N,S,E, or W. Life moves in all directions. Where we go is where we are pulled.

A feathered fishing hook is fashioned as a finial for the structure atop a pounded aluminum roof. Aluminum window frames, street cleaner bristles for the stilts, wire nest, and polymer clay egg all come together to help complete this piece.

WINGED MOON EMERGING

2007-12-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

WINGED MOON EMERGING, also part of the "Small Expressions VI" exhibit, comes into view housed in a veil of fog. As she moves, flying in and out of the clouds we see revealed, a face of well-being that shines over us with a sense of safekeeping. (click on photo for larger image)

Her face is of carved bone, window of fog from vellum, poly material for roof, feathers, beads, tacks, street sweeper bristles,
and other materials compose this piece.

WHERE THE STARS LIVE

2007-12-02T14:35:00.001-08:00

This was a recent commission piece I created for a client in New York. Ladders are of great interest to her so I came up with a
ladder that was unusual and quirky. They can often conger up the sense of imagination or symbology. The ladder travels up through the bottom of the structure so one can climb up, sit down and be WHERE THE STARS LIVE. Being that the piece was so tall and the handcrafted paper I used on the outside of the structure looked to me like constellations, I felt it called for it's given title. (click on photo for larger image)

WHERE THE STARS LIVE stands tall in the skies on stilts made with steel street cleaner bristles. I made the ladder using these same bristles, metal washers and wire, not to mention a lot of patience and perseverance. Handcrafted paper, pounded aluminum sheeting and found objects make up the structure WHERE THE STARS LIVE.

SMALL EXPRESSIONS VI JURY EXHIBITION

2007-11-27T13:05:00.000-08:00

JACK IN THE BOX is one of three pieces that will be a part of Northwind Arts Center’s annual “Small Expressions VI” juried art show. This year’s juror is David Sessions who is the Exhibition Director at the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery on Bainbridge Island. David has had a varied career as store designer, event planner, and landscape designer.
The selected works in this annual show have always been diverse and interesting. The small size often challenges the artists to think out of the box, inside and out in the case of JACK IN THE BOX.
The artist reception is Saturday, December 1, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm. I invite you to come in to see the entire exhibit and, of course, my other two small expressions. I hope to see you there.
(click on photos for larger images)

POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY

2007-11-27T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, you can guess, POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY is another piece from the afore/below mentioned show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. I was so inspired by the theme of this exhibit that I created nine pieces. POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY imparts the idea that these gifts in the form of eggs and ultimately winged creatures, are messages, postcards, from the sky. The message can be whatever speaks to you or touches your heart, whether it be the magnificence of the feathers, the air of their song or something more ethereal. Nature offers us many wonders and the feathered friend is one. (click on photo for larger image)

POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY is an interactive piece. The wire that carries the bird can be moved left or right to simulate it's flight. Within the boxed vignette is a real nest sent to me by a friend in Alabama. Within the nest are eggs I created from polymer clay. Also used are street sweeper bristles, rusted bottle cap, flat and brass beads, vintage post card, postage stamp and cancellation images, copper, handcrafted paper, walnut and maple woods.

HAVE NEST WILL TRAVEL

2007-11-26T19:50:00.000-08:00

HAVE NEST WILL TRAVEL is another of my works from the "Bird Abodes: Birdhouses and Nests" like the two previous posts. This piece tells the story of a traveling nursery of sorts, a nest that is available for hire. I liked the idea the that nest could have mobility and recyclability, to be reused, providing a service. One of the three eggs resting within the nest is real and the other two I created from polymer clay with added paint to match the real one. All of them ready and waiting to transform into another phase of life, perhaps when they are ready, their paths will cross the same traveling nest they were cradled in. (click on photo for larger image)

HAVE NEST WILL TRAVEL moves on wooden wheels. On these wheels sits an open front box adorned with tacks, scrabble tiles and an embellished finial. Housed inside is a real nest that rests nestled in grasses and reeds. A carved, wooden bird flies above topping the finial made of various beads and found objects. This sits on a maple wood base, fronted with another egg I created using polymer clay and paint.

PRECIOUS CARGO

2007-11-13T08:58:00.001-08:00

PRECIOUS CARGO was also part of the "Bird Abodes:Birdhouses and Nests" show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. Bird eggs are poised between strong shelled and delicate or fragile. Every nest carries it's own precious cargo and is vulnerable to the elements and predators. Our wild bird populations are also teetering on a delicate balance so, to me, every egg that supports life is precious. In this piece, PRECIOUS CARGO, I wanted to create lightheartedness that played with the idea of something having great value that is treated with care. I thought putting it on wheels gave it an element of whimsy. (click on photo for larger image)

PRECIOUS CARGO moves carefully on pewter wheels connected to a base that carries the house of handcrafted paper, aluminum sheeting, wire, and tubing, feathers, gold leafed polymer egg, more wire, found objects, and steel street sweeper bristles.

NIGHT TRAVELER

2007-11-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

I am fascinated by animals and their behavior, especially Crows and Ravens, two of our more intelligent species. They are so entertaining to observe, especially while they solve problems by coming up with ingenious solutions. NIGHT TRAVELER was one of numerous pieces that were part of a group show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts entitled "Bird Abodes:Birdhouses and Nests". I like to create quirky, playful or odd situations within each piece that are out of the ordinary. Obviously, this Raven's house was built for mobility and, as you can see, he moves in style, at night, among the moon and stars. Where is he going? Only he knows of his destination, but then again, maybe he is on an unplanned adventure. (click on photo for larger image)

NIGHT TRAVELER travels within a maplewood frame measuring 12 X 15. Using a painted background, corrugated paper, fabric, my illustration of a Raven, spring, hair, beads, tacks, nails, and gears... the journey unfolds.