ARTIST STUDIO TOUR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.