interpretations

From the same Notan sketch, I painted these two paintings. Notan gives me a mental boost to figure out an interesting value pattern in black and white. Once I have a design I like, I interpret it with color.

The original sketch came from a visit I made to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, Washington.

After sorting out a sketch I liked, I laid in watercolor underpaintings on Wallis sanded paper, both 12 x 12. Then I forgot about them.Now, about a year later, I finished painting them with pastels. Two interpretations of the same design.

Straight No Chaser "12 Days" is a fun interpretation of familiar Christmas songs!

O Christmas tree

11.5 x 7, watercolor, pastel

Christmas time is here. Tune in and you will hear that some radio stations play nothing but Christmas music. Cars on the roads have trees strapped to their tops. The Salvation Army Santas ring their bells at every store, hoping to fill the kettles with donations.

Our  three acres in Southwest Washington used to be a Christmas tree farm. More than 30 years ago, people could cut their own tree here, after a sleigh ride back into the woods.

We've cut down many of the trees over the years we have lived here, but the feeling remains of an evergreen wonderland. I could sing "O Christmas Tree" all year round.

Crooner Tony Bennett sings "O Christmas Tree." I love the piano accompaniment in this version and I hope you will enjoy it as well.

cold art

With Arctic temperatures pushing the red needle of our thermometer down to the teens and twenties, it's little wonder that my thoughts turn to snowmen. Here are a few designs from my sketchbook. 

I think of my sketchbook as a container for ideas. Some of my ideas have a future outside the sketchbook.

This woodcut design image will be 4" x 4" and will easily fit into a ready made square frame.

I am using a new set of carving knives and having trouble getting them sharp enough to not tear through the fine plywood layers of this Shina block.

Progress is slow, but the heater is on in the studio and I am comfortable.

More snow in the forecast. But, in the meantime, it's blue sky and very cold.

I enjoy The Piano Guys very much, but I don't think I will let them come over and do this to MY piano. "Angels We Have Heard on High."

happy Thanksgiving

Sketch of my grandson, Aiden, with the Pentel Pocket Brush pen. There are not many lines on the face of a two year old child. No creases from years of laughter. No lines from worry. No dark circles from illness and sleeplessness.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to reflect on the many good things in my life. And to think of others whose lives are lacking those good things. Thoughts lead to actions and that's good, too.

Years ago, I served as a worship director of a church. We often had a special Thanksgiving service with lots of music and times for people to talk about the things in their lives for which they were thankful. It surprised me (though it shouldn't have) to hear how often the older people gave thanks for the hardships in their lives. Their years sometimes gave them the perspective of how good things can come from bad situations. Even today, I think about how I might have to live a little longer before I can see good come out of bad things in my life.

Wishing you the most Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving makes me think of this hymn, one of my favorites for this season:
Allred. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."

peace dreamer

When I think about the hope my children express about the future, I long for their optimism.

When I think about my children having children (as they will in the next couple of months), I want more than anything for the world to be at peace.

As I played with this round Gelli plate today, I did not consciously contemplate anything, but I can see from this result that I was thinking about the world. The world as a container for the people who inhabit it.

If I am a dreamer about peace, I know for certain that I am not the only one.

Eva Cassidy. "Imagine."

change it up

Sometimes changing a drawing tool is all it takes to make things interesting. I used a Pentel Pocket Brush for this drawing and loved the variety of  marks and thicknesses of line that were possible. Once one thing changes, it seems that the whole experience is fluid.

Are you feeling bored with some aspect of your art making? Maybe it's time to change it up!

Etta James "A Change Is Gonna Do Me Good."

you are invited!

Opening Artist's Reception
November 15, 2013        5:00 -- 8:00 p.m.
In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art
2025 SE Jefferson Street
Milwaukie, Oregon 97222

Come and see the art. Meet the artists. I will be there. I hope you will, too.

Gelli plate prints

demo, Katherine van Schoonhoven

I am a member of Portland Women in Abstract Media (PDX-WAM) and yesterday I hosted our monthly meeting. It always feels good to be in the company of fine artists. 

In addition to our regular sharing of information, critique, talk about upcoming shows, art and life conversation, I set up a play time in the studio. We all (mostly) wore painting clothes and experimented with creating prints on my Gelli Arts plate.

I demonstrated by making two prints. We used liquid acrylics by Golden and many tools to create texture and interest. One of the artists saw Pisa's leaning tower in my demo print.

Although some in our group have done monotype and other printmaking, none had used the Gelli plate. The beauty of the Gelli plate is that it uses materials already in our studios. And the resulting prints are exciting and as different as the artists who created them.

Ann Fullerton

Bonnie Garrett

Collin Murphy

Marilyn Woods

Best of all, my studio was filled with creative energy and an explosion of new ideas about art. I'm sure I captured it before everyone left.

my choice

Happy is a choice. So is despair. Even if it doesn't seem so at the time. It's still a choice. My choice.

This has been a hard year for me. My father in law died in April. My father's dementia has taken him into unreachable places. Other things have not gone well. Health. Investments. Friends. Stress has taken a physical toll on my body. The bottom has fallen out of my world, not once, but twice this year.

I choose joy.

Willie and Lobo "Dance With You."

fall

 Nothing satisfies my sense of color like a clear, crisp fall day. Everything seems to shimmer and vibrate with blue and orange and gold.

The blueberry bushes outside my deck are turning glorious colors.

Little wonder that the color worked its way into my painting today.

Eva Cassidy sings "Autumn Leaves."