May already

Not much to say here.   The weather is finally getting really nice and there will be a lot of yardwork in my future.   However, I did want to post the newest art - acrylic. 
"Splashdown"

"Through A Child's Eyes"

Ha! - New art, finally.   This one is rather large again - 30 X 40 - so it's taken a while.   It is loosely modeled from our local community beach; and yes, there really was a piece of driftwood that looked a lot like a dragon.   Of course the driftwood is gone now.   This was many years ago.   The boy is my son when he was about five.   He's 31 now.   Time flies.  

Work Party

I'm still working on a rather large acrylic - about 3/4 of the way through.   Not ready to post it yet.

However, I wanted to mention the newest art league project.   For the longest time we have needed packaging material to transport members paintings to and from venues.   Of course, people bring their work to the meetings in their own packaging - but then it falls to the hanging committee to keep everyone's packaging straight and return them; and often the people don't show up to take their things home and someone has to store them. 

So...I had the idea to purchase (at league expense) foam to make a whole lot of packages that we can store at the art league meeting room.   This is sheet foam - 1/4 inch thick.   I wouldn't ship with it, but it should work well to transport things.   I didn't anticipate how large the roll was going to be, but we shouldn't need any more for....forever.   It's four foot tall and a yard diameter.   This cost us about $170 and $50 to have shipped.  Not too bad I think and our group has the funds.  

Now - we are planning on a work party this Wednesday to cut and tape a whole bunch of packages.   We will use duck-tape to close up the sides, leaving the tops open.   I am guessing we only need three or four full size envelopes - maybe 3 foot by 4 foot.   Most of our members don't paint that large.   Beyond that we will probably make a lot more medium size. 

It's been awhile...

Painting took a backseat for the first month and a half of the year - a couple of weeks of illness for first myself and then my husband - and several other issues as well.   Hopefully, things will fall back into place.  

I am uploading this small new piece in support of the "Safety Pin" Movement.  In short, it's a show of support and a reminder of what I stand for.  Attaching safety pins to lapels, shirts and dresses signifies willingness to stand up for the vulnerable in the aftermath of the election.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/fashion/safety-pin-ally-activism.html?_r=1
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/11/11/safety-pins-brexit-donald-trump-election/93639074/

Last of the Year

December is a slow month for almost anything not related to the holidays.  We even take the month off from Art League meetings.  However, I did really want to get this painting finished before the end of the year.  Made it - yeah!
"Tanager"

I was working with the concept of depth and varying light conditions.  And believe it or not, it was inspired from a dream I had.  This is the "Western Tanager" - not the "Scarlet Tanager".
Oh, and I didn't manage to get accepted into the two shows I entered a couple of months ago.  Frustration abounds...

Xmas early

I'm going to post my holiday card early.   I don't think it will spoil things for anyone I will be sending it to later. 
Husband and I have used bubble lights for the holidays for our entire marriage.  We also remember them from our childhoods.   Nice nostalgia. 

Just a few comments...

     I don't have any new art to upload; but did want to add some information.   The library "artists in residence" event on October 20th was fun - if somewhat under-attended.  There were six of us there painting and talking to visitors.  I still think this is a good idea.  It could have been better advertised; and we were tucked away in a back room, so less visibility.  Not sure if we will be doing this again.
     We also hung new art in the conference room on October 28th.   That art will be up until some time in 2017.   Longer showings are better.
     Two other art league members and I put up artwork in the Clearwater Casino Angeline Spa today.   This is a new experience and not related to the art league.  The Spa will be taking 25%, but the exposure is potentially great.
     I have two entries in to a brand new ferry art show - art to be displayed on one of the new ferries.
     And finally, I've entered three pieces in the Collective Visions Gallery contest.   I won't know the outcome of either of these two shows for at least a couple of months. 

Indulgence

I painted this one specifically because I am on yet another diet.   Ugh!   This one and the last are being submitted for the next Central Market show - we hang this Saturday.

September Already!

Several of us from my art league group hung a new show at an office building in town yesterday afternoon - some 30 items.   It's always a lot of work, but should be up for around 4-5 months.   Long venues are always nice.   We change the artwork at Central Market in two weeks and at the library next month.  A couple of us are scheduled to present demos on three consecutive Thursdays in October as well.   More on that later.

And -- here is my latest acrylic - "Attitude".   I'd sell it if there was an interested buyer; however, I really painted it for myself - to look at if I need to "kick myself in the butt" to get motivated over something.   The intention was to make the face look metallic.  

WooHoo!

As I've mentioned, I moved my art show to the Kitsap Golf & Country Club.  I just found out last night that someone wants to purchase one of the pieces.  Admittedly, it's been a long time since I've sold anything - so I'm really excited. 
"Eyes Over Stomach"

Happy news

My show at Artist's Edge, Silverdale came down on Monday.  The lady whose art was scheduled to follow mine told me that the venue she had just been located at needed an artist with work ready to hang - and gave me the contact information.  SO - now about half of the work I had hung in Silverdale, is now at the Kitsap Golf and Country Club in Chico, WA.  I hadn't even taken my paintings out of the car.  The lady in charge picked out about half of my work and hung it right away in the main dining room of the club.  Cool, huh?

Fantasy Art

Before I discuss my newest piece, I should report on the artist's reception I mentioned in my last entry.  The event didn't get into the local newspaper like the store owner expected.  So the turnout was less than stellar - maybe 4-5 people.  I did get into some interesting conversations with a couple of folks - disappointing overall however.
Now....
This newest art is a watercolor.  I painted it large and specifically so I could try a new method of display.  Some time ago I saw a demo on how to stretch watercolor paper onto stretcher bars (the kind used for canvasses).  I wanted to try it - and lets face it - it would be a lot less expensive than matting and framing with glass.
The transparent parts of the wings and the light brush-strokes along the edges of the wings is water-based iridescent paint.
"Reflections"