Gloria Freshley Art and Design

"Place" . . . Recent Paintings by Catherine Freshley

2012-01-21T23:08:00.000-08:00

"Willapa Bay Mudflats"

(Washington Coast)

30" x 40"

"Ross Island and Mt. Hood"
(Willamette Valley, Oregon)

36" x 60"

"Butte -- Columbia River Gorge"

24" x 48"

Our daughter, Catherine, has been painting like crazy and seems to have a ready pipeline of folks who would like a painting of a place that is special to them. Place -- i.e., those places that have shaped who we are and that continue to pull us back to them after we have left -- is a theme that Catherine has explored for several years in her writing and art. When she moved to Eastern Washington state, someone suggested that she concentrate on painting local landscapes of the Columbia Basin steppe, since the folks in the vicinity would likely be more interested in them than in paintings of the coastal area that has been so important to our family. Of course, this makes perfect sense from a statistical standpoint. Yet in the year that she's been there, Catherine has encountered people who have instantly recognized the rather anonymous scenes of her assorted paintings of Willapa Bay, and have recounted fond memories of having spent a great deal of time in their childhood actively engaged with the endlessly changing coastal estuary that is impacted by the ebb and flow of the tide.

Isn't it wonderful that mere pigments, when suspended in binders and transferred to a surface via a process of acute observation and carefully considered brush strokes, can instantly bring forth a multitude of memories and an infinite range of emotions?

Have a wonderful week!

Stitching

2012-01-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

Relief printing on found wool herringbone.

Lately, I've been taking steps toward creating some finished pieces from fabrics I have either hand printed, upcycled or both. With the printed fabric, above, it was simply a matter of ironing and laundering to make certain the ink was set so that I could move forward with stitching it into something. Other pieces have involved a fair amount of repetitive hand stitching, often in solitude, with no music except the crackling of a low fire. I have found this activity to be extremely enjoyable -- peaceful and meditative, while at the same time, allowing the mind the freedom to roam or to focus on any given topic.

Screen print with cream-on-cream running stitch.

Last night, I met up with the small group of women that have continued to get together since we first met in a wallpaper design class at OCAC two years ago. Our ages span four decades and our artistic focus varies, which always makes for interesting conversation. Our original intent was to continue hand printing wallpaper and fabric, but we've settled into a routine of simply bringing whatever we each want to work on. Often, I bring a hand stitching project. Other activities seem to require too much attention on my part and sometimes more space than is available, whereas the stitching is confined to my lap and allows me to focus on the conversation. I like the fact that we have maintained our commitment to one another, and that we are part of the age old tradition of women "stitching" their lives together as they gather in the evening to discuss family and world matters while they work.

Hoping you've had a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to a creative week ahead!

Bringing in 2012

2012-01-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

The "Talisman"

Truth be told, the arrival of the new year was trumped, in my mind, by the anticipated arrival of our daughter, who has been working her way through Europe for three months via the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program. We've been tending her orchid next to our kitchen sink, since she's been gone. It was without flowers when she left, but a bud began to swell on the main stem a couple of months ago. We urged the bud along as it grew and turned pinkish, but it dropped off the stem before blooming. And then, the same thing happened a few weeks later. At that point -- having had no experience with orchids -- I began to wonder if we were over-watering the orchid, or if these buds were in fact precursors to the real deal, and a bloom was yet to come. Finally, another bud emerged that came on faster than the other two, and surpassed them both in size. Then we began to speculate about the timing, intrigued by the coincidence of the impending bloom that would surely occur on New Year's Day, or perhaps in time for our daughter's arrival today. As it turned out, the bloom began to open on New Year's and fully opened this morning -- just in time. :)

To all who have landed here, I wish you all that is good in 2012. To those of you who have been following along, I thank you for your friendship, and for your interest and support of my work. Most importantly, I thank you for sharing your knowledge on your own blogs, and for the wonderful work and the goodwill that you are generating around the world.

Happy New Year!!

Switching it Up

2011-12-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

Found carving by unknown artist.

Time to switch it up in our little house. Time to take down this painting and put this beautiful carving, found for a song many moons ago in an antique mall, away so as to make room for a fresh-cut tree. Time to get up in the attic and bring down the holiday boxes in order to begin the process of metamorphosis. Time to clear off the dining room table of fabrics -- laid out in anticipation of productivity -- and the myriad stacks of prints that clutter other assorted surfaces. Time to switch out the current mix of CDs for holiday favorites and to keep apple cider and cinnamon on low on the back stove burner to fragrance the house. And yes, I might be just a little behind . . . :)

Hope the season is treating you well.

Cheers!

Teal Ribbon-Waves and Frosty Fog

2011-12-10T15:53:00.000-08:00

"Teal Ribbon-Waves"

Mixed Media Collage

It's a beautiful foggy, frosty day in Portlandia. No chance of seeing the full eclipse of the moon, even if one had wanted to arise in the early hours to behold it. Still working on my numerous collages, but making a short foray into the realm of sewing . . . both by hand and machine. Feeling the need to at least put some wintery/holiday music on, since there are no visual indications of the holiday season in our home yet.

Has another week really gone by already?

Happy weekend, All!

Autumn Glory

2011-12-05T22:07:00.000-08:00

Revelled in the beauty outside my windows this weekend.

Fog and frost followed by clear skies.

Went for a short drive, late,

keenly aware of the barren structure of vegetation.

Few leaves remaining, with seedheads and pods

now in their prime.

Too many miles, (though only several, actually)

traveled too quickly by car.

No time to stop to honor

each tree, bush, and patch of wild weed/flowers

while zooming along to my destination.

But in the late, late afternoon sun,

at last, a chance to walk slowly,

breathe deeply of tall cedars and firs,

and capture light

enveloping a small stand of barren bushes.

Mixed media on paper

Visit this flickr photostream to see images of someone who clearly takes time to honor the beauty of the natural world. Page after page of gorgeous landscape shots alternating with beautiful and interesting close-ups.

Hoping your week is off to a great start!

"Caliente" . . . New Collage

2011-11-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

Mixed media

5 1/2" x 7"
available

Such a lovely weekend in progress! Lots of leftover food to indulge in, compliments of others, primarily, so not much going on in the kitchen. Plenty of time by the fireside and even some time to do a little art with Catherine and take a walk. I'm still working on piecing my prints and embellished papers together -- hoping that an idea for a painting is brewing somewhere in my subconscious. Well, actually, I suppose there are several ideas brewing, so it's more a matter of settling on one and beginning. I have derived inspiration lately from Nicholas Wilton's beautiful book of paintings completed in 2011. (This was my birthday present to myself -- purchased early so as to get my hands on it sooner -- of course!) I first saw Wilton's paintings several years ago at a gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona. I loved them then and I recognized his work instantly when I came across it again on Robyn Gordon's wonderful blog, Art Propelled, many months ago.

(A scanned image of my copy of the book.)
You can link to a view of Wilton's entire book online:

Here

I've also enjoyed Wilton's blog immensely. He doesn't post often (how could one when one is so prolific?), but his posts are always thoughtful, with generous use of images, and generous sharing of information regarding technique and his personal artistic process. Really, you should take a look. :)

Thanks for visiting . . .

Cheers!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

Mixed media

3" x 3"

Giving thanks today for all that is good.

Have a wonderful day, wherever in this world you may be. May it be filled with love, joy and harmony.

Piecing It Together. . .New Mixed-Media Collages

2011-11-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

here

Last weekend, I laid out twenty or so potential collages to be made from assorted prints, remnants of prints, embellished papers and ephemera. This weekend, I've managed to finalize these three and a couple more. (These are spare, on creamy art paper -- not greyish at all -- and some of the fine graphite and ink has not been fully captured in the scans.)

Yesterday, I gave up a potential afternoon in the studio to go watch our neighbor's son play his final game as the hometown quarterback at Portland State University. There was a chill in the air, and my husband and I were "on the fence" as to whether to go or not....all things considered (which translates into "Gee, it would be great to go and support him, but there are just too many things to do in too little time.") We were glad we chose to go. It was great to drop down into the city, just ten minutes away, and take the brisk walk to the outdoor stadium. Before the game, the seniors and their families were honored on the center of the field; a bittersweet moment, to be sure. We've watched this young man and his equally talented older brother practice ball in their backyard and play assorted sports since they were in middle school.

It is gorgeous today. Time to stop and head out to assist my husband with a major leaf clean-up. (Just in time for the next couple of storms that are scheduled to blow in at the beginning of the week.)

Hope you've had an enjoyable weekend with a little time for creativity!

Thank you for stopping by!

Taking It In

2011-11-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

Well, the November rains have arrived, and with them, the fragrance of foliage and the earth, and a wondrous fabric of leaves that is developing on the ground plane. I managed to get out for two short walks in my neighborhood this weekend and it became all too apparent to me that "house / car / city office / car / house / car / city office" is a sure recipe for nature deprivation. Interestingly, it was my olfactory sense that drove home the point that here, in my neighborhood, I was surrounded by vegetation and soil that was actually alive and dynamic, and that I was a part of this web of life. Nothing too profound here, mind you; it's just that it occurred to me while walking and taking in the fragrance, that during the dry summer, this fragrance of the earth, so characteristic of the Pacific Northwest, is virtually non-existent, unless one is in the woods, or better yet, deep in the forest. And of course, it's non-existent year around in the immediate vicinity of my office downtown. And therefore, similarly to "out of sight/out of mind," if one cannot smell the earth, one can lose track of just how long it has been since one has been out in a meadow, or a forest, or even in one's own neighborhood, taking it all in.

Hope you're not in a state of nature deprivation. :)

Oh, and along this line, if you haven't already done so, pay a visit to Jennifer Judd-McGee's Swallowfield and take in Sophie Windsor Clive's short, beautiful video of the natural phenomenon of starling "murmurations." And then scroll down to see Jennifer's holiday card and recent collages, before heading over to Novembergrass to see Sue's beautiful "murmuration" of stitches on her most recent work.

Have a great week!

Splendor in the Garden

2011-11-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

Such a riot of color on this tree that is leaning over our fence. It was really something yesterday, against the brilliant blue sky. Anyone know what it is? And regrettably, these two small works are not new, and in fact, they've probably already appeared here. But they seemed to match the mood of the tree. :)

Hope the week ahead brings good things your way!

Good Cheer from Kristen Donegan

2011-11-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Such a delightful start to a recent grey and cozy Saturday in Portland . . . a lovely handprinted and stitched note, atop the cheerful package, above, from Massachussets artist, Kristen Donegan.

Image courtesy of Kristen Donegan

And inside the package? A few of her wonderful cards. :)

Among assorted art works, Kristen is currently featuring a series of bird-themed cards in her Etsy shop, as well as a very nicely curated selection of vintage items. You can catch up with what she's been up to on her blog, A Sunny Spot, where she shares snippets of her artistic process and creative daily life.

And in our garden ...hydrangea leaves recently in their glory.
(But now suffering the effects of a deluge.)

Hope you are having a wonderful week!
(Hope folks back East are recovering from the storm.)

Thanks for visiting!

(I feel an artistic weekend coming on. . .)

Columbia River Gorge in the Fall

2011-10-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Columbia River Gorge is a mere forty-five minute drive from Portland and it is particularly beautiful in autumn. We took a short excursion, travelling east on the Oregon side of the river, and then crossing to come back on the Washington side. It was wonderful to smell the fragrance of cedar and fir on the forested hillsides; beautiful to see the vibrant fall foliage against the deep green of the conifers and grey basalt rock. We passed through a series of double tunnels in rock outcroppings on our way back; narrow tunnels for the trains, and slightly wider ones for the cars. It was rather exhilarating to encounter a train speeding along in the opposite direction, so high above the river, and so close to us as we zoomed around the cliffs.

Time to transition to the week ahead. Chilly nights are in the forecast, which means the autumn leaf color will become even more intense and the "big drop" will begin in earnest . . .

Cheers!

Flower and Dots . . . to the Shop

2011-10-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

"Flower and Dots"

acrylic on canvas

24"x 24"x 3"

Detail

This painting has found its way to the shop.

Thanks for visiting!

In the Shop Now . . .

2011-10-10T00:42:00.000-07:00

"Remnants 6"

Mixed media

7 1/2" x 9 1/2"

"Remnants 6" was one of six mixed media collages that I made for a show in June of 2010. Two of the pieces have sold; another one is currently in the shop and "Remnants 5", also above, will be there soon.

And by the way, don't you just love bookhou? Such signature style in everything they do. A simply wonderful, graphic aesthetic. And such a great, conversational blog: bookhau at home. Oh, and here's their Etsy shop.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Balance

2011-10-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

Relief prints with Gamblin Inks

5"x7"

Been a bit out of balance lately. Too heavy on the work side and too many hours in front of the computer. Craving time in my home and garden, time to be out and about in my city, time to prepare a good meal, time to relax with family and friends. Easing off (just a bit) on my self-imposed pressure to produce art. Remembering that there are only so many hours in a day and one can't do it all. Looking forward to being outside; walking on streets strewn with freshly fallen horse chestnuts, inhaling the crisp air and feasting on the glorious colors of the autumn foliage.

Cheers!

The Garden in Fall's First Rain

2011-09-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Such beauty in the garden after a rain.

And in today's grey light, the colors of the produce and flowers

at the farmers' market were almost too intense.

Alas, I did not have my camera with me. . .

Thank you for stopping by. :)

In progress . . .Mixed Media Collage

2011-09-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

In progress - mixed media

8" x 10"

Well the sun is surely sinking down

But the moon is slowly rising

So this old world must still be spinning 'round

And I still love you

Lyrics by James Taylor - "Close your Eyes"

Among other activities this weekend, I'm attending a couple of events that are part of a rather momentous symposium in Portland. A story, told last night by a presenting scientist, brought the above lyrics of James Taylor to mind. Tomorrow, I will share the story and a few other "take aways" from the events. So much to think about....

Best...

Autumnal Mixed Media

2011-09-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Mixed media on canvas

9" x 11"

sold

Autumn is unquestionably my favorite season. Still, I am not quite ready for summer's wane. The above mixed media piece suggests "deep fall" to me (if there is such a thing.) It's in my shop now.

Such busy days here with very little time for art. Hope you're not in the same predicament. . .

Have a wonderful day! And thank you very much for visiting!

Print on Top of Print . . . Out into the World

2011-08-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

One of my small, original monoprints (hidden in the package) recently found its way out into Blogland via Etsy. A bit of color, in the way of a digital reproduction of collaged paintings, seemed an appropriate thing to add to the front of the package.

And isn't the red of the Indian Tobacco in the field gorgeous? (I don't know what the white flower is.)

Tomorrow night, the printing inks and brayers are coming back out to the work table. I'm looking forward to easing into the weekend while keeping those in the Hurricane Irene's path in my thoughts.

Tracery . . .

2011-08-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

Tracery...

of veins ,

and vines,

and spines.

Tracery...

of hours,

and days,

and lives.

New Work....Mixed Media

2011-08-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media - 7" x 9"

Detail

Finally. . . . a few more pieces have been added to my shop. :)

The week is winding down. Hooray!

Leaf Prints On My Table

2011-08-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

Recent monoprints have found their way to my work table

beckoning this, that, and the other thing to be added to them.

Of course I haven't made any commitments yet......

Thanks so much for visiting. :)

Holding Hands in the Moonlight

2011-07-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

Looking out (and in) through my window....

These two caught my eye as I was turning out the lights the other night. One might suppose it's just a fluke that their "hands" are touching. But whether from true love, or intense fright, they managed to remain motionless and "hang on" while I moved around in front of them -- just inches away -- taking a series of five photos with intense flashes. And yes, I felt terrible invading their reverie. But it was such an unusual, lovely sight, and quite thought provoking, so I felt compelled to capture it.

I thought about the image off and on during the work week; mentally going through my "archives" of art images, thinking about which of them I might include with it in a post. But in the end, I decided it should just stand on it's own. As I sat down to post it this morning, I took a moment to scroll through the recent posts in my blogger feed and came across the newest image in Golly Bard's Drawing Room. Holly's photographs are always stunning; the result of an amazing eye and an excellent camera. An avowed naturalist, she captures both flora and fauna in their height of glory, and long after that glory has faded. But frequently, in that faded glory, there is amazing beauty, and her most recent photos illustrate this in stark, but soft detail. Truly, I could spend hours studying the last image on her post today. It is incredibly evocative. For those of you who follow Holly's blog, you'll be delighted to find her link to a new interview where she talks about what inspires her, and the romance of summertime.

Which reminds me.......summer appears to have finally arrived in Portlandia. It's time for me to move away from the computer and head outside for a breath of the rose-scented air.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Water and Sky.....Paintings by Catherine Freshley

2011-07-26T06:24:00.000-07:00

Willapa Bay Field

30" x 40"

Float Plane on Lake Coeur d'Alene

24" x 30"

Lost Lake

18" x 24"

We had a chance to catch up with our daughter, Catherine, last weekend. She continues to paint landscapes and she had a large work -in-progress in tow. She is focused and disciplined, and somehow managed to add a couple of layers of paint during a very busy weekend. If you're in the Spokane area, you can see her work at The Elk through mid-September.

I managed to spend a little time doing relief printing on Saturday. I was working with a very limited palette again -- this time pthalo green and sepia -- and I used various bits of vegetation. I imagine some of the prints will eventually find their way to this blog after I go back into them with additional colors and mediums. Printmaking is so satisfying. Always so many surprises along the way. Alchemy, perhaps.

Hope your week is off to a good start!

Thanks for your visit :)

Texture, Color and Morning Light at the Bay

2011-07-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

I suppose the most spectacular eye candy on this particular morning outing was the "fairy dew".

Huge pink swaths of it. Softly stunning.

Visit Coco for a wonderfully peaceful and calming sense of reverence for life and the earth. Each image and word so carefully chosen. Rather Haiku-like. And also visit Abby Meadow's Infusion Fibers (where I first learned of Coco) for a similar sense of awe and gratitude, and a peek into the very intentional lifestyle of this creator of the gorgeous Infusion bag line.

Wednesday tomorrow. That's a good thing.

Cheers!

In the Morning Light

2011-07-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

Layered paintings

Acrylic on mat board and canvases

Perfume bottles by Anthony Parker

We have several skylights in our east-facing sunroom. Last Saturday, the light in the room was soft, save for a square of brilliant light on the table. The perfume bottles were created by Anthony Parker, the well-known Portland glass artist behind Parker Glass. Recently, I've been enjoying these beautiful bottles backlit by a south-facing window, but I was interested to see them in the soft morning light.

Off to catch up with what you've been creating....

Best...

Painting In Progress.......Suspended Ovoids

2011-07-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

In progress - "Suspended Ovoids"

Acrylic on canvas - 30" x 40"

So I stared at my blank canvas for a good part of the day and evening last Saturday, and finally took the plunge on Sunday-- beginning still another painting in my "Ovoid" series. By mid-morning on Monday, the painting was at a good point: suffused, somewhat evocative, a bit brooding, and in a simple palette akin to the bark, leaves, and lichen of our blueberry bushes in early summer. Two simple, warm-white ovoids commanded the center of attention. By Monday afternoon, I had managed to lose the suffused feel and my background palette had shifted. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were spent studying the painting; comparing and contrasting it with others in my midst and deliberating about whether to try to recapture the early essence of the painting, or to pursue an alternative, more graphic approach. Last night, as the light faded to darkness, I literally sat staring at the painting. Finally, I made several decisions: "Yes" to using bright orange. "Yes" to stripes. "No" to the dark, dark background. "Yes" to the larger end of the ovoids on the bottom of the painting. "Yes" to "suspending" the ovoids. And within a matter of an hour, I was well on my way! Now, it's a matter of adding more color interest to the orange stripes (ala the citrus oranges); adding refinements here and there, and perhaps adding some graphite. Cannot wait to get back to this painting in the morning light!

And then, I think I'll try to recapture the early essence of the earlier "lost" painting in a smaller version. :)

Art = Happiness

Cheers!

Printing Some....Painting Some

2011-07-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

I spent a few hours making some relief prints yesterday. Nothing too taxing-- and I limited myself to three colors: red, black and sepia. I ended up with about 20 prints that I will use as starting points for mixed media pieces. I cleared my table of my printmaking suppies in the evening in preparation for transitioning to painting.

I hung a blank canvas on my wall (well, actually two, of differing sizes) and have been staring at them ever since. Well, not exactly "ever since," but I've been "sizing them up" so to speak while alternately moving through the house and flipping through my sketch books. I'm torn: Representational or abstract? Graphic or painterly? Bold or subtle hues? Organic or geometric? Horizontal or vertical division of the canvas? (Or none at all.) Limited palette, or two or more distinct palettes within the painting? Ever go through this kind of mental anguish before starting a piece of art? Perhaps one of these days I'll get to the place of "addressing" more than one canvas at once. It sounds so freeing. But maybe it just divides the anguish between multiple canvases. However, one obvious benefit of the "multiples" approach is the possibility of moving ahead on one of the paintings while in "stuck mode" on the other(s).

I'm curious -- do you tend to work on one piece at a time until completion, or on multiple pieces at once? And if multiple pieces, are they typically within the same medium, or do you go back and forth between mediums?

Cheers!

Milestones and Moons

2011-06-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

"Moon Discs"

Acrylic on canvas 30" x 40"

Life has been very full recently...of immediate and extended family matters and milestones, short trips here and there, and of course, work. Producing art and blogging have temporarily taken a back seat, although I continue to visit others' blogs, shops and flickr sites regularly, always eager to be inspired by the creativity and beauty displayed there.

Our yard is ablaze with rugosa roses and the air is heavy with their lovely scent. A grown chicken, raised by our daughter while away at college, temporarily resided in our yard.....a first for me. And yes, within a day, my husband and I were attached to it and talking to it as though it were our "beloved" beagle, Harley.

I recently had photos taken of some of my paintings. Some of the resulting images are closer approximations to the works than what I had previously been able to capture, so I have been uploading a few of them to my flickr site. The above painting was done a few years ago, but I had not previously posted it anywhere. I wasn't thinking of moons when I painted it, but "Moon Discs" seems to fit. ( And 'discs' rather than 'disks' because I think the roundish "c" looks better than the sharp "k" in the word, especially when it pertains to moons. )

I hope you are having a wonderful week.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for the work you are producing!

Patina....on wood, metal and clay

2011-06-06T00:32:00.000-07:00

Mixed media leaf with found copper piping.

Last weekend, I travelled to southern Oregon to visit extended family and watch my cousin's children play LOTS of soccer. In between the games, we managed to fit in a couple of quick trips to the charming, historic gold rush town of Jacksonville, home of the Britt Music Festivals, and now surrounded by vineyards and wineries. While there, I was delighted to find Lisa Kaser's wonderful illustrations in a little shop, and was even more delighted to hear from the owner that they have a hard time keeping them in stock. :) I found the lovely green bowl and shoe form in a couple of antique stores and, well, they just seemed to go with the printed pieces, and a few of my favorite things.

How is it that I've never come across a peony in the "Jester's Hat " phase? My friend's peonies are all sporting these "hats" right now. And where does all that silken fuzz come from anyway?

We had lovely weather in Portlandia this weekend and I managed to turn my compost twice! Last year at this time, it was full of thousands (literally, I'm quite sure) of worms. Today, there were about ten. And last year, our Gravenstein apple tree was absolutely loaded with apples, but this year, it's absolutely loaded with leaves and only about five apples...But not to worry, our young cherry tree has gone all out in the fruit production department!

Monday is almost here again.....Hope you have a wonderful week ahead of you!

Cheers :)

A Little of This and That...

2011-05-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Happy weekend!! I'm looking forward to attending a performance of the chamber chorus that my brother-in-law is a member of. It's always so uplifting to hear their marvellous voices in unison. After that, I hope to get down to business and glue something.....or sew something......or paint something.......

Above: A few of my found pottery shards. I have many and they never cease to please me. Also, a framed reproduction of the small original print I posted last week, and another "study" of grid symmetry....just because :).

And I've been meaning to suggest....be sure to visit Alexandra Durao's Mi Mitrika shop and flickr sets. This artist/maker from Portugal has such a graphic sensibility. Her use of color is wonderful and her styling is superb! Oh, and her blog is here.

Thank you for visiting and for your interest in my work. I hope you're having a wonderful day....

Cheers!!

Small Print...Small Finds

2011-05-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

Monoprint 5" x 5"

Delicate blossoms and orbs on a coastal woodland native...(but which one?)

Small "forest" of coastal moss

Last weekend offered a visual feast in contrasts of scale: delicate new growth, as shown above, and four glorious bald eagles at close range; two in low flight, directly overhead, and two in trees just past the shoulder of the road.

This weekend, I'm concentrating on bringing order to my home. And maybe, just maybe there will be time to resume some projects in the studio.

To all of you who are celebrating Mother's Day with mothers, grandmothers and/or children, I wish you a day filled with much love, warmth and happiness!!

"San Francisco" and Spokane

2011-05-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

"San Francisco"

Acrylic on canvas 30" x 40" 2009

Above, a painting that evokes sky, water, bridges and structures.

Below, images from my recent trip to Spokane, Washington.

Woven "mega mesh" structure built for the 1974 Word's Fair in Spokane.
And at the very top of it--just barely visible in the photo--an Osprey nest!

A tree....with interwoven branches.

Close-up of a lovely sidewalk drainage grate.

Gondolas making their way in the mist across the deafening Spokane River Falls.

By contrast....stones to contemplate, beside the smallest of quiet pools in the
Japanese Garden at Manito Park.

Have a wonderful week!

Industrial Graphics

2011-04-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

I went across the Willamette river to Southeast Portland this afternoon. Ended up in a nearly abandoned area of warehouses and processing plants. Took lots of photos of an old, derelict dairy facility and fertilizer plant. The top two photos were the most graphic...... Perhaps I'll show more later.

The first monoprint, above, was digitally altered; the second was not.

Sunday night again....Thanks so much for your visit and continued interest!

Deconstruction

2011-04-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

Quince

Mixed media "snippets"

I've had a wonderfully quiet weekend that is coming to a close all too quickly. Catherine was visiting and she painted up a storm while I "deconstructed" prints, prints, and more prints. (None of which are shown above.) I am planning to turn them into small collages and add them to my Etsy shop at some point.....hopefully, sooner rather than later. :)

Daphne (my favorite winter fragrance)

While she and I were working on our respective projects inside, my husband was busy in the garden. He offered some grasses that had outgrown their beds to a neighbor down the street, and she brought this Deodara cedar cone for us to see. So amazing to see the intelligence of nature! Turns out the cone makes a perfect starting pot for seed germination.

Of course, I thought the cone had been on the ground and had come apart and collected seeds that then germinated. But no, it's a genuine, high-density seed nursery where multiple layers of cedar seeds germinate in pop-up seed "cups" that eventually "deconstruct" and swirl off the center spindle. How cool is that?!

Deodara cedar cone

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend, too!

(Oh, and by the way....am I the only one that didn't know about the magic of these cones??)

New Landscapes by Catherine Freshley

2011-04-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

Untitled - by Catherine Freshley

22" x 30"

Untitled -- by Catherine Freshley
15" x 30"

Untitled -- by Catherine Freshley
18" x 24"

Untitled -- by Catherine Freshley

15" x 30"

We're doing a little celebrating this month as our daughter, Catherine, has just hung her first solo show at Picabu Neighborhood Bistro in Spokane, Washington. "Northwest Landscapes: The Pacific to the Palouse" includes twelve paintings comprising scenes from a pristine estuary, the Willamette valley and Cascade range in Oregon, and the grasslands of eastern Washington. Here is an excerpt from Catherine's artist statement for the show:

"I have been fortunate to live the first couple decades of my life in places of particular natural beauty; whether that helped spawn my deep appreciation for place and home, or I have such a feeling for the water, the land and the sky because of it, I am not sure. For quite some time I wrote about the places that are important to me – attempting to recreate them, and preserve them as I know them, with words. While I have always been making art, it is only in the past year or so that I have taken to recreating these places (and some equally pretty, but less personally significant places) visually.

This interest in painting landscapes arose as a surprise to me, and suddenly, after driving across the country from New Orleans to Spokane. It started with a slightly blurry photo of a farm in Montana – taken one handed, eyes somewhere between focused on the road ahead and totally absorbed by the setting sun slinking across the backs of some cows and a low pond."

If you're in the area, stop by the Bistro to take a peek. You can also find Catherine's work on her flickr site and in her Etsy shop.

It's been a lovely, "squally" day in Portlandia. I managed to find visual inspiration while travelling through suburbia to get to the Department of Environmental Quality vehicle test station. I saw gorgeous stands of bare poplar trees against an equally gorgeous sky; and a bonus stand of tall, dried cattails in a large wetland area. A single red-winged blackbird stood sentry on the tip of one of the spent blooms; its form and colors in sharp contrast to the textures and subtleties of the browned cattails. Such a feast for my eyes!

Happy Saturday!!

And MORE Monoprints

2011-03-31T00:40:00.000-07:00

Monoprint 7 "x 9"

These three, most recent posts have included about half of the monoprints that I did last weekend. The process included both additive and reductive methods involving hand cut stamps, textile blocks from India, found objects, masking, and drawing and painting directly onto the plate. Only one plate was used for each print, although I had planned to use two plates of different sizes.

Monoprint 7" x 9"

And to think, tomorrow is already Thursday!!

Oh, if you haven't visited Golly Bard's Drawing Room this week,

go take a peek at what Holly's been up to! You'll be glad you did. :)

Cheers!

More Monoprints

2011-03-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple more monoprints from last weekend.

Both are approximately 7" x 9".

Still a couple more to come!

Cheers.....

Back From the Land of Busy

2011-03-28T00:21:00.000-07:00

Monoprint

7" x 9"

Monoprint

7" x 9"

Yes, I'm still here! I've been very busy recently, as I've previously alluded to. But I was able to get a little monoprinting in this weekend. Nothing spectacular, but some interesting combinations developed, a few of which evoke ethnic textiles. I'll post more images over the next couple of days.

Hope the coming week is good to you!

Thanks very much for visiting.....

Graphic Ovoids -- Finished (almost)

2011-03-06T13:40:00.000-08:00

"Graphic Ovoids"

Acrylic on canvas

36" x 36"

So this is where this painting ended up. I just need to finish the sides. Although you really can't see it here, that white basket-weave texture that I added in the second (third?) state is still barely discernible, lending a soft, suffused, and very intriguing green. Although there is no red in any area of the green, it reads as though there is a hint of it.

I'm ready to move on. I'll do one more ovoid painting and then it's off on another chase. But before I begin another painting, I NEED to get back to printing, and collage. :)

I am visiting your blogs, but I've been commenting less frequently as of late. Hope my schedule will ease a bit soon....

Here's to the week ahead! Hope yours is great!

Gloria

Works in Progress and Artistic Process

2011-02-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

Acrylic on canvas

30" x 40"

Graphic Ovoids - third state

36" by 36" (in background)

Another one of my "Ovoids" paintings has come out from hiding, ready to be finished, (top photo). I know where I'm headed with this and one more session should do it. However, "Graphic Ovoids" is causing a little frustration. I took the leap and added the textural element on the lower portion of the painting, shown above. I've decided to keep it. But now, additional treatments to the horizontal band at the top of the canvas have me in a quandry. I lost the soft ambiguity in the band that was present in the first two states and now I'll have to figure out whether to try to get it back, or to move in a different direction.

Speaking of process and the protracted completion of works of art.... Shu-Ju Wang, a Portland artist, currently has a wonderful post on the stages of a mixed media piece that she recently finished. Shu-Ju is a computer engineer-turned artist, having studied in multiple disciplines at Oregon College of Art and Craft. She is a printmaker (including Goco), book artist, painter and teacher who is always generous of her time and knowledge. Find out more about her, and view a lovely video showing her working on another painting, here.

Hope your week is off to a good start!

As always, thanks very much for visiting....

Small Paintings and Decorative Scrolled Paper

2011-02-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

"Moonesque"

Robyn Gordon has posted lovely images of paper scrolls on Art Propelled right now. I always love visiting there because she always does her homework and brings her viewers a multitude of images of whatever it is that she's interested in at the moment. I have "discovered" so many wonderful artists there, thanks to her "sluething". If you haven't visited Robyn's blog before, jump on over there and be sure to link to her website where you'll find her own, gorgeously carved totems and other objects. (She also happens to be featured this week on Patti Roberts-Pizzuto's ongoing Made by Hand series at Missouri Bend Studio.)

It being a glorious day in Portlandia, I was inspired to grab a stash of my own personal "scrolls," made from one of my mixed media-treated papers, and dash up to my garden shed where I knew the low afternoon light would be conducive to photographs. I also managed to capture a couple of of decent photos of small paintings on mat board while I was up there.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!!

Heart Apple? or...Apple Heart??

2011-02-14T07:33:00.000-08:00

Acrylic on paper - digitally altered

Happy Valentine's Day to All!!

Gloria

Valentines and Small Works

2011-02-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

Watercolor sketch

Found this sketch from some time ago while I was rifling through some storage tubs. It says, "Give me your heart. Here is mine." Stocked up on Dove's milk chocolate "Heart Promises" in honor of the upcoming holiday and because I look for any and every reason to eat chocolate.

Still enjoying these pussy willow branches that my daughter picked a couple of days before Christmas.

"Poppy and Bottles"

Prismacolor

"Ninepatch Targets"

Acrylic and crayon on matboard

"Tribal"

Acrylic on paper

Thinking I'll add these three pieces and a few more small works to my Etsy shop.

Thanks for visiting....

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!!

Giving Life to a "Dead" Piece and....Graphic Ovoids: Second State

2011-02-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

Mixed media in process

6 1/2" x 9"

Well, here it is -- mid-afternoon on a Sunday. The weekend window of opportunity is narrowing. Yesterday was filled with errands, a long overdue and much welcomed visit with dear friends, and a little baking. Interspersed, were trips back and forth from one studio "annex" (read: dining room table) to another annex (read: sunroom table) and then back to the "main studio" (read: converted bedroom). Mind you, this was strictly a "get re-acquainted with the 'this-and-thats' (sketches, surface designs, etc.), that might one day be useful in a work of some sort or another" kind of activity. Nothing productive by any stretch of the imagination. Late in the evening, I became sort of "desperate," if you will. So I grabbed a very "dullish," "reject " monoprint. "Dull" as in drab mauve and even drabber olive, and black. Then, I grabbed my Prismacolor pencils, set up camp in front of the dying fire, and begin to color. That's right -- color -- just like a schoolgirl. And now, my destined-for-for-the-trash monoprint has become this colorful "doodle-print-sketch-ditty!''

Which leads me to a wonderful bit of advice that I gleaned from the extremely talented artist behind Non-Indigenous Woman. NEVER GIVE UP ON A DRAWING. This little gem came forth when she generously took the time to respond to a question I had asked about a watercolor process she had touched on in one of her posts. (I've mentioned Non-Indigenous Woman on this blog before. If you haven't visited there yet, I highly recommend it. She instructs at the university level and the focus of her own work is currently printmaking. She is a fabulous illustrator and her mixed media sketches are just amazing.

"Graphic Ovoids" - first state

"Graphic Ovoids" - second state

Acrylic on canvas 36" x 36"

Speaking of schoolgirls (and boys), did you ever look at "Highlights" magazine in the waiting room of the doctor or dentist as a child? Remember the "Can You Find the Hidden Objects?" feature? Well, that's what these two photographs of "Graphic Ovoids" are like: Can you identify the differences between the first and second states? No? --I didn't think so -- :) -- because they are so darn subtle. So I shall assist: The changes include "Xs" in the orange rectangle, changes to the hue of some of the "white" quadrants on the eggs, darkening of the grey/brown quadrants of the eggs, additional definition on the perimeter of the eggs, and a warming up of the lower field. All that over the course of a few hours to achieve subtle differences! So that's what I've been looking at for the last week. And now, the time has come to garner my courage and jump back into the painting...

Stay tuned, and have a wonderful week!

In Progress.....

2011-01-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

Ovoid 2

Acrylic on canvas (first state)

36" x 36"

Still pondering my next move on this painting, shown above in it's beginning state. It's the second in a series of ovoid paintings derived from thumbnail sketches -- although ovoids are featured in a few of my other paintings, too. I placed a few things on the table as color references. I'm liking the current softness of this painting, which is very different from the one shown here, recently. Think I'm about ready to take the leap.......will report back....

Happy weekend, all!

Webs Amongst the Sedges... and Connectivity

2011-01-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

I started a painting yesterday afternoon but really didn't get any color on it until after dark. I took it to a stopping point and then laid my brushes down three to four hours earlier than I typically would in the course of a painting session. I thought I should hold off on my next steps until I had a chance to view the painting in the light of day.

Alas, today dawned shrouded in a heavy fog, and although the fog has since diminished, everything is still bathed in grey light. I have yet to resume painting, but while making a couple of quick trips up and down my steep driveway, I happened to notice these delicate, intricate, misty spiderwebs laced throughout the sedges in the bioswale that we designed to reduce storm runoff into the nearby creek. I had never seen such webs there before. Granted, the sedges have recently been trimmed to about 4" in length, rather than their typical 24". That being the case, I wondered aloud to my husband, "Do you think they're always there, deep in the shadows of the sedges, or do you suppose they're there now because the sedges have been trimmed?" His guess was the latter; the thought being that more light at the ground plane of the bioswale probably increased insect activity in the habitat, creating a heyday for the spiders. Regardless, the point is that I almost missed seeing them, in all of their misty blue subtlety.

While photographing them, I couldn't help but think of all of the intricate webs of connectivity that are developing amongst artists from around the world through the greater worldwide web of the Internet. Such a wonderful happening.....

Off to catch up with what you've been up to.

Welcome new followers and thanks very much for your interest!

Cheers!

Confections for the Heart

2011-01-18T22:46:00.000-08:00

Mixed Media works by Catherine Freshley

6" x 6" x 2"

3 1/2" x 4" x 2"

Looking for something other than red to give for Valentine's Day this year? Maybe something a little more than a card....with some "staying" power? Turns out my daughter thought folks might be, so she made a host of table-top or wall hearts for the holiday, (or any special day) and put them into her Etsy shop. These are very textural pieces, with many layers of paint, collage, and high-gloss medium. Oh, and if you do happen to be looking for pink or red hearts.....she's got those in her shop, too. :)

Cheers!

Graphic Ovoids

2011-01-17T21:54:00.000-08:00

Graphic Ovoids

30" x 30"

On a lark, I decided to try to photograph this painting again today. It's been out of circulation for a while and recently found it's way onto a wall. Haven't shown it on this blog or my flickr site before. These shots are certainly an improvement over the ones I took a couple of years ago. But....still not so great.

For example, you can barely see the graphite circle pattern down the center of this detail. It actually appears on the entire right half of the white "field" (background). Similarly, the fact that the lower white portion of the canvas is bisected lengthwise with a higher-gloss finish on the right side is totally lost here. Still, the graphic feel of the painting does come across rather loud and clear, don't you think?? :) And that big white "ovoid" on the dresser is the ostrich egg from Ecuador. And the branches are willows that my daughter picked at Christmas, that are just now starting to blossom.

If you're in the mood for "graphic," here's a graphically bold Treasury of some delightful works by some very talented Etsy artists. If you happen to be new to Etsy, clicking on any one of the photos in the Treasury will take you right to the artist's shop. I had a lot of fun pulling these wonderful items together!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Patterns to Build On

2011-01-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

Remnant of my mother's mid-century lamp.

Palettes at a rural Oregon wood products company.

"green whirlie" put into a pattern.

So....2011. Just getting around to thinking about it.

What to do with it...or "make"of it, in terms of artistic pursuits?

One thing is for certain: in the absence of time, one must develop proactive patterns of behavior: positive, repetitive, orchestrated patterns of disciplined behavior that will provide structure and lend strength to a determined course of action. Hmm....sounds convincing. I think I just created a mantra for myself.

"I must develop positive, repetitive, orchestrated patterns of disciplined

behavior that will provide structure and lend strength and conviction

to my determined course of action."

And, of course, it helps to limit one's focus so as not to fall prey to "scattered-itis."

Speaking of patterns and structure, I highly recommend a visit to textile artist Sophie Truong's wonderful website and blog, Stitch and Tickle, where you will find gorgeous photos of her own work and also of an installation of translucent sculptures of recycled plastic tarps and sheeting made by artist Anna Hepler. So worth the visits!

Off to repeat my new mantra while I focus on creating! Hope you are finding time to create this weekend, too.

Thanks for stopping by...

Gloria

Shifting Hues

2011-01-08T00:26:00.000-08:00

After my last, nearly monochromatic post of beigy-grey (or greyish-beige?) images.....voila! -- two colorful works on paper! The first, on tissue paper, was done via a combination of relief printing and acrylic paint. It's shown cropped with a digitally altered palette here. You can see the original work here. The second piece was painted (and stamped) on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. Neither of these are new pieces. Perhaps this weekend will yield something new.... if not in the way of art, then at least in the way of a house returned to normal after the holidays.

Been getting caught up on your blogs (though not commenting all that frequently). So much inspiration to partake of. Thank you!

Winter Patterns and Texture

2010-12-31T06:59:00.000-08:00

Hail and freezing fog at the coast made for some lovely

frozen patterns and textures yesterday.

Happy New Year to All !!

Purple Rings...

2010-12-27T00:58:00.000-08:00

36" x 36"

acrylic on canvas

Happy Holidays!!

2010-12-24T02:59:00.000-08:00

We're scaling back and simplifying at our house this year... Smaller tree with fewer ornaments; fewer gingerbread houses; simpler Christmas Eve dinner for the small, extended family; fewer presents, but more handmade and upcycled presents; scaled back expectations all the way around. All with an eye toward conserving resources and creating more time to enjoy each other.

May you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday (whatever it might be)!

Gloria

Capturing the Glow of Winter

2010-12-19T19:51:00.000-08:00

"Calm"

Acrylic on canvas

20" x 24"

Recently, I managed to catch the afternoon light streaming through the blinds onto "Calm". It virtually bisected the painting, landing a couple of inches below an existing demarcation line of lighter paint above darker paint on the left portion of the painting. I have experienced this "superimposed" light more than once on a couple of my paintings that are somewhat atmospheric. The situation is both intriguing and mind baffling, because, of course, it leaves me wondering: how could I ever replicate that with paint?

The winter sunrises have been magnificent here in Portland. So often, I lament that I have neither my camera nor the time to capture them. A couple of days ago, I had both -- sort of. The rosy glow on entire fascades of structures was fading fast, and I found myself literally running up and down the hill to find openings between the houses through which I could get glimpses of the light and three of Portland's icons:

Mt. Hood

Mt. St. Helens sans its beautiful top that blew off in1980.

(Actually located in Washington, but visible from Portland)

"Big Pink" -- as it is affectionately called by the locals.

(The architectural glass on this building makes for very special effects.)

Similarly to the light on "Calm", the light on Big Pink intrigues me. Of course I realize that I will never begin to know how to paint such atmospheric light unless I actively pursue the skill by painting from direct observation. I wonder if I have the discipline to do that??

We got our Christmas tree from our favorite tree farm today. Snow began to fall as we brought the tree inside-- the first time that has occurred in the twenty-three years we've been getting a tree. A batch of ginger cookies has just come from the oven, awaiting a slathering of real lemon icing (compliments of my youngest daughter and Cook's Illustrated magazine), and a mix of holiday favorite tunes is playing. A warm, lovely fire is glowing in the fireplace. These simple pleasures are what our family treasures. This, is richness.

Have a wonderful day!

A New Look....

2010-12-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

Oil pastel on paper

4" x 6"

If you've visited this blog before, you might be wondering if you landed in the right place today, what with the new look and all. Thought I'd "switch it up" a bit -- at least, for awhile. Really, I was attempting to accomplish one primary goal: I wanted to add thumbnail images from the many wonderful blogs I'm following, and to do so in a way that would create space for those images and mine, too. So...some things were gained, (yay! the thumbnail images) and some things are yet to be further tweaked.... Stay tuned!

And now, I'm off to work on those "paintings within a painting" before transitioning to the week ahead.

Thanks for stopping by!

Prints....

2010-12-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

5" x 5"

8 1/2" x 11" (cropped)

8 1/2 " x 11"

Assorted printing methods, here. The first two by hand and the last one by means of a printing press.

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Doodles.....

2010-12-08T00:15:00.000-08:00

Gel pens on sketch paper

Mindless vacation doodles sometimes get interesting. These were done a while back; the one above, while visiting around a table; the one below, while on an airplane. The thought being, "It's better to do something artistic than to do nothing.... (Of course, knitting would be so much more productive. I need to get back to knitting.)

Ballpoint ink and Prismacolor

And speaking of dots and such, I am really enjoying

Marie Louise Sundqvist's blog and work.

Happy Wednesday!!

East Wind Blowin'

2010-12-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

Mixed media

Recent makings, tossed upon older makings.

...as though mixed by an eggbeater....waiting to morph into something more.

And such a lovely eggbeater, at that, although this one is strictly for my viewing pleasure.

Acrylic painting 30" x 40" (detail)

And these "eggs" .....also awaiting their final state.

And meanwhile, the cold, east wind bearing down hard on us; causing the stately six-foot Miscanthus "Early Morning Light" grass to hunker down and curl itself into a unified, scrambled mat...

...that blows en masse, like a tethered tumbleweed straining to break free.

Happy December!

Visit here to see the beautiful paintings and drawings of Art Goods,

and here to see Taylor & Grand's lovely vintage gifts and holiday decor.

And if you're interested...I've added a few things to my shop......

Hope you're finding time to create!

In the Late Afternoon Light. . .

2010-11-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

December is nearly upon us. The low afternoon light of late autumn is spectacular.... so much moreso than is conveyed here. But at least I rushed out to see it ....and be in it.

Have a wonderful day!

"From Orchards, Fields, and Gardens"....A "Must Read" by Kerstin Svendsen

2010-11-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

Book, edited by Kerstin Svendsen, on "thrifted", factory-made, machine-stitched quilt.

(Thank you to the quilt's maker!)

Today in America, we are pausing to gather with our loved ones to give thanks with grateful hearts for that which is good in our lives. This morning, I am counting my blessings and am full of gratitude for a loving family, good health, warm and safe shelter, good food, and friends---the basics of "richness" that I would wish for every person on earth. And this minute, I am grateful for the flock of red-headed finch outside my window that are feasting on the hips of the rugosa roses that my husband planted to "ring" our kitchen garden. And this year, I have something new to be grateful for: the experience of blogging, which I took up in earnest last January. I am grateful for the friendship and artistic support and camaraderie of fellow artists, artisans and crafters from around the world. I am so appreciative that they have allowed me to see into their world and learn of new wonders and beauty through the process. And I am grateful that through the "habit" of blogging, and specifically, photographing, and viewing others' photographs, I have become more attentive to my natural surroundings and the rhythms of the earth.

And recently, I am grateful for "From Orchards, Fields and Gardens," an anthology of beautiful prose, poems, and art that captures the essence of living close to the land, and instills a desire to do so. I am grateful for Kerstin Svendsen, the editor, for having had the vision for this project and seeing it through, and to the individuals--many of them fellow bloggers that you will know--who have made, and will continue to make a positive difference in the world through their contribution to this project. One thousand copies were printed in the first run. I hope it was the first of many runs; hope the book finds its way into the hands of young people in high schools and colleges so that the grassroot "new agrarian" movement builds strength. The book is compelling in all of its simplicity. I hope you will have a chance to read it.

Mushrooms gathered from the field.

(Many mushrooms are deadly poisonous. Don't gather them for

consumption unless you know without a doubt that they are edible.)

The trusty garden "companion"

A late bloomer. White because of the lateness?

Blueberry bushes that my husband and his father planted years ago.

Happy "Day of Thanksgiving" (today and every day).

Gloria

Multiples in Adobe Illustrator

2010-11-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

Prismacolor and graphite sketch

repeated in Adobe Illustrator

Mixed media

Digitally altered in HP Image Zone

and repeated in Adobe Illustrator

Looking forward to a very productive "catch-up" day, (domestically speaking). Found the above while in the process of the never-ending artworks "shuffle-and-sort" task. Thought you might enjoy the digital alterations of the second piece. The original piece (in its autumn palette) is featured here, along with a link to a previous post about Diane Ellison Stroud's beautiful gameboards.

Have a wonderful day and thanks so much for stopping by.

Waiting to Work.....

2010-11-18T22:47:00.000-08:00

Monotype

8 1/2" x 11 1/2 "

Detail

Monotype

7" x 9"

I wish I could say these prints are "hot off the press." Regrettably, they aren't. And furthermore, I won't be doing any printmaking on real presses anytime soon. But it's fun to dream of a time in the future when hours and days stretch on end and printing presses are nearby. In the meantime, when a few hours present themselves, there's always the possibility of printing by means of the back of a spoon or by using a barren. :)

Cheers!!

Logs and Luck and Golly Bard

2010-11-15T01:50:00.000-08:00

Alder log

I love the ends of logs; whole or split, wet or dry, with either growth rings or sawmarks showing. Well, it so happens that Holly Ward Bimba, a.k.a. Golly Bard does, too. At least I'm guessing she does, because she's been working on a series of log watercolors for some time now. I featured Holly's work awhile back, and I've been a huge fan since I discovered her. She's looks for, and finds, the most interesting bits of natural history. And she translates what she sees into the most carefully and precisely rendered watercolors. Her recently completed pheasants, both now in her shop, are masterful renderings of fowl and vegetation, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out how she has the patience and the steadiness of hand to create such beautiful work.

Ring Necked Pheasant no. 1

by Holly Ward Bimba

18" x 24"

Ring Necked Pheasant no. 2

by Holly Ward Bimba

18" x 24"

But getting back to the logs, if you follow Golly Bard, you know that Holly periodically offers giveaways. And it just so happens, that she was recently giving away one of her original log paintings, and... that being the case, I decided to throw my name in the hat. And.....it just so happens that luck was with me in a big way and I am now the very happy beneficiary of Holly's generosity, having won her lovely watercolor painting that arrived in an equally lovely package!

"Log no.32"

Original watercolor by Holly Ward Bimba

Thank you Holly!!

If you're not already following Holly's blog, get on board so that you can catch a glimpse of the world as she sees it. You'll love what she discovers! :)

Flora.... and Little Winter A Handmade Market

2010-11-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

The "Survivor" :)

Relief print on hand-painted paper

18" x 24"

Our little pumpkin made it through Halloween unscathed and, therefore, able to cheerily see us through the Thanksgiving holiday! (I can't believe the holidays are now just around the corner...time to take action! )

Today, I'm heading into downtown Portland to spend some quality time at flora, a most lovely --and very artful--gift store and gallery. Jenna Robertson's wonderfully graphic nest "collages," made from recycled sweaters and wool are featured there, and I was only able to take a quick look at them when I breezed through the store on Friday. Among several other artists, my friend, Hadley Hutton, is also showing at flora, and if for some reason, you're not yet familiar with Hadley's work and you're not able to make it to this show, I highly recommend taking a peek at her various online venues.

flora's announcement

But the fun and enjoyment will not end at flora, because from there, I'll be heading around the corner to The Cleaners, the old laundry that's been remodeled and has become quite the pop-up store venue. Abby Powell Thompson, of Abby Try Again and Chelsea Fuss, of Frolic, have put together a stellar cast of local and distant artists and crafters for Little Winter A Handmade Market. Many of them are Etsy sellers and I'm really looking forward to meeting them and seeing all of their goods. Then, it's off to Portland's own Art Media, to have some custom mats cut for a few little items I'm planning to add to my Etsy shop.

And when I return?? Well.... there does happen to be one 36" x 36" painting that's got me a just a little bit stumped!!

It's an absolutely gorgeous morning in Portland, after a night of torrential rain. The sky is a brilliant blue with white and grey billowy clouds. The light is variable, and the fall foliage is resplendent!! Can't wait to head out!!

Have a wonderful day and thanks so much for visiting!

How Many Paintings Within a Painting? -- Work in Progress

2010-10-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

Cropped images from "Purple Rings"

Acrylic on canvas

I'm currently working on a 36" x 36" painting. It's been awhile since I've painted a canvas this large. In fact, this is the first time I've actually worked on a square canvas of this size. It always amazes me how many interesting images can be found within an image. Erin Spencer is currently exploring this concept with her "little details" oil paintings. You might want to check out her blog and Etsy shop. :)

I tried my darndest to capture raindrops hitting the surface of the rainwater that I have allowed to accumulate in this 12" high vase/candle holder. Finally caught one, but the picture was blurry. Well, this one is a little bit "soft focus", too, but I liked what was happening through the vase below the surface.

My neighbor's tree delights me throughout the year.

It has the most lovely branching pattern (to say nothing of the leaves!)

Happy Halloween !!

(I've eaten half our candy! Well - almost, anyway...)

Thanks for visiting....

Leaves

2010-10-26T23:27:00.000-07:00

Leaves turn, then fall

Silence

A cacophony of color

before the sleep

Patina and a Painting

2010-10-25T00:48:00.000-07:00

I love the patina of well-used hand tools!

Acrylic on canvas

16" x 20" x 3/4"

Another weekend has come and gone. I began a new 36" x 36" painting and have deemed the above painting to be finished. It's good to have a painting in progress. So much easier to pick up the paintbrushes after a day at the office, once a painting has been started!! So much less energy... and thought ...and effort required to sustain the work compared to initiating the work.

Spent just a little time in the garden cutting down the rampant phlox and harvesting the last of the tomatoes before the deluge. It felt good. (Way too little time spent gardening these past few years.) And I spent some time visiting your wonderful blogs, where I find so much inspiration....Thank you!!

Etsy Shop.....Now "Stocked"

2010-10-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

"Ambitions"

Mixed media on canvas

10" x 10"

You might have noticed......last weekend I finally "stocked" my Etsy shop with a couple of mixed media collages from my June Remnants show. (Mind you, it's only taken me FIFTEEN months to actually upload an item to my shop! ) So I'm in a bit of a celebratory mood because, you know what they say -- "Beginning is half done." Not that I have a zillion more things ready to upload to the shop. But I do have some possibilities, and I'm beginning to see that there could be a sort of rhythm to this process. "Ambitions" will be in the shop sometime this weekend.

A heartfelt WELCOME to new and continuing followers!

Have a wonderful day and weekend! And if you have small children in your life, be sure to check out Joel Henriques' blog. I discovered this Portland designer months ago while perusing blogs. Made by Joel is devoted to creative, artistic, play (and learning) activities for smallfries and I think it's awesome. Sure wish it had been around when my children were small. (Of course, Joel was around then, but only a youngster himself!!)

Fall Light

2010-10-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

Acrylic on recycled cotton/poly twill

4" x 6"

I've been watching David Hockney on YouTube videos and also, here. I am so inspired by his studious, disciplined and eager approach to his work. At 70, he was painting en plein air in the English countryside on a daily basis; often at 5:00 a.m. and through all kinds of weather in every season. (If you click on the first link, be sure to click on "Larger View" beneath the painting so that you can see the same scene in all four seasons.) He wanted to find out what it was like to be painting in the midst of the landscape rather than painting from a photograph of a scene that he had found by looking through the aperture of a camera. More specfically, he wanted to know how the "seeing" of the scene would differ. During one year, he literally painted 350 paintings while out of doors! And talk about sketchbooks -- he definitely fills them. But he has the confidence to "sketch" directly on their pages with paintbrushes rather than pencils; a practice he also employs on his canvases.

Watching these videos was the perfect transition from a busy work week to a weekend that absolutely MUST include putting some paint on canvas!

Have a great weekend!!

Bumblings and Sketchbook Patterns

2010-10-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

Prismacolor and graphite

8"x 8"

I seem to be bumbling about in my studio and mainly moving things around. In the "big" sense of the word --the happy result of a daughter having come home for a couple of weeks and having reclaimed her room which had morphed into additional studio space. And in the "little" sense -- that of moving small pieces of paper and fabric around on larger pieces of paper and fabric; and similarly, moving ideas around in my head. I do have ideas percolating for a series of paintings (I've never really done a series before.) and also for some hand- and machine-sewn cloth items. Meanwhile, while I continue to bumble and percolate, I thought I'd "toss" a few more sketches out into cyberspace .

Prismacolor, graphite and acrylic

7" x 9"

Acrylic, Sharpie and gold gouache

7" x 7"

Thanks very much for visiting!

Have a wonderful day.

Lisa Kaser....On the Way to Something Wonderful

2010-10-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

Detail of "On the Way to Somewhere Wonderful"

Watercolor collage by Lisa Kaser

Several years ago, before Etsy came on the scene, I stopped into Lisa Kaser's former gallery in Portland. She was seated at one end of the room, working on a large textile, but she looked up immediately and gave me her warm, welcoming smile. I had known Lisa briefly 25 years or so earlier and had subsequently lost touch with her. But as soon as we established our earlier acquaintance, we launched into talking about art, and specifically, her art. Because in addition to her textiles, the gallery was filled with her wonderfully imaginative, collaged watercolor illustrations of oddly humorous and lovable characters, and each illustration was accompanied by a line of verse that was just enough to tell a story. I was totally hooked!

At the time, I was anticipating my eldest daughter's departure for her freshman year at college and one illustration spoke directly to me. It was of a character standing at the edge of a dock-- arms stretched wide and face displaying utter bewilderment. Meanwhile, a manatee-like fish-person, upright with head and torso above water (in seahorse posture), all smiles in her spiffy hat and striped fish suit, was glibly striking out from the dock, without even so much as a turn of the head or a wave of the hand. And the accompanying verse? "If You Go, I Will Be Sadness Itself!" Yup, I thought to myself, that about sums it up.

But Lisa's illustrations are not all about sadness. Far from it. And years later, when I found her work on Etsy, I discovered the majority of her illustrations are accompanied by an additional paragraph of imaginative text, full of nuance and sophisticated humor that further sets the stage for a delightful story.

"On The Way To Somewhere Wonderful" by Lisa Kaser

"They had discussed the carnival, the county fair, the trail by the river, Betina's No-Meat Hot Dog Shack, the patch of grass over by the big tree, the little hill overlooking the pond, grandma's house, visiting Goat..."

"Jule's Place Was Too Small for the Potluck" by Lisa Kaser

"Jules was no doubt a conflicted optimist. When volunteering to host the quarterly meeting for the "Dutch Film Noir" club, he had failed to consider that he had all of one chair, his table was the size of a nail head and the dimensions of his front door did not even accommodate himself when carrying a bag of groceries."

Detail of "Jule's Place..."

Lisa holds a BFA in Fiber from the University of Oregon, but was introduced to drawing at an early age by her father who taught art in the public schools. Besides her illustration and textile work, she paints with oils and also creates fanciful sculptures out of hemp or felt, beeswax and found objects, such as tines from streetcleaner brushes found while walking the streets of Portland.

"Once Upon A Time This Boat Dreamed Of Prairie Grass"
by Lisa Kaser

Sold

"A Walk With Eudora" by Lisa Kaser

Lisa currently shows her work at assorted galleries. Through October 26, she is a featured artist at Portland's Guardino Gallery where among other recent works, her charming sculpture, above, is on exhibit. And-- hooray, hooray--her first children's book, The Story of the Three Pigs, is soon to be published! Visit Lisa's website here.

Cheers!

Images courtesy of Lisa Kaser.

Now Appearing.......enhabiten

2010-10-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Look what arrived from the East coast in time for the weekend!! A package from Liane, of enhabiten. Wrapped so simply--with string, vintage button, and a hand-printed tag with deckle edges and a personal "thank you." When I took the package out of the box, I said to myself, "Of course!!.... This is sooo enhabiten!"

Inside, were four carved wooden printing blocks from India that will be nice additions to my small but growing collection of blocks and objects that I use for relief prints and mixed media pieces. They came from Liane's wonderful Etsy shop, where she sells very cool vintage goods; beautiful, graphic handmade pillows, and assorted other items sewn of natural and vintage fabrics.

enhabiten

"forgiven" and "entwined," filled with fragrant balsam and buckwheat hulls, are available now in Liane's shop.

enhabiten

I visit Liane's blog often....as often as she posts. She has many interests, and she "sleuths out " fabulous visuals from the blogosphere to share with her readers. And she's humorous and self-efacing. And pretty doggone transparent. And ever once in awhile, she'll write a post that is so heart-felt and so very poignant.

Well....you get my drift....If you're not already following her blog....you really should head over to enhabiten.

Early morning fog at the bay. (West coast)

Detail of small handwoven sampler: linen warp and hem tape weft.

(From many, many moons ago -- when I first thought about making a living from handmade items.)

Well, those printing blocks are calling to me!! I'll give you a peek after I do something with them.

Cheers!!

Discovering the Reverse Side of Printed Fabric

2010-09-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

Screen print on organic cotton with water-based dyes
(In suffused light.)

I know, I know....I promised I'd post some highlights of the marketing workshop referenced in Monday's post. Well, not yet, but soon! Meanwhile yesterday, while clearing off the table of "stuff", I discovered that the reverse side of fabric that I screenprinted months ago (above) is far more interesting than the front side! Funny I hadn't noticed that before!

Monoprint on paper 7" x 9"

Front side of fabric (rotated). Definitely more graphic.

Some interesting comments are coming in regarding the social networking topic of Monday's post. Also, some amazing work is going on in sketch books....some of it in response to the Sketchbook Project challenge. Check out Pamela Patterson Reinhardt , Sophie Munns, and Betsy Best Spadaro's recent sketches. (Be sure to scroll down on their blogs because these three have been BUSY!!

Yay! It's Wednesday already and the sun is scheduled to appear in Portlandia! All is not lost -- the tomatoes WILL ripen!!

Have a marvelous day!

Marketing 101.....Virtual vs. "Real" Networking

2010-09-27T00:06:00.000-07:00

"Small Blessings no. 6 - On the Go "

by Annamaria Potamiti

(So delighted to have her watercolor in my home!)

Sketchbook doodle

Yesterday was the quintessential autumn day in Portland and I spent it indoors in a brand new, lovely building at Oregon College of Art and Craft. I was attending a marketing and entrepreneurship workshop for artists co-sponsored by OCAC and The College Art Association. I'm grateful to the nine local panelists who gave up their Saturday to share their knowledge and experience with those of us who attended the marketing sessions. I'll share a few tidbits gleaned from the sessions in my next post, but below are a few of my own thoughts on "virtual" vs. "real" social networking, which as you can imagine, was a topic of much discussion at the workshop.

Annamaria's painting, "Small Blessings no. 6 " was the first piece of original art that I purchased for myself from a blogger who happened to be an Etsy seller. The fact of the matter is, I waited anxiously for Annamaria's package. And I was all smiles when I found it on my porch and literally broke into a grin when I opened it. Of course, I don't really know Annamaria, having never actually "met" her. Nevertheless, through her absolutely delightful blog --which you must visit if you haven't yet -- I feel as though I do know her, even if just a little, and because of that, having her painting in my home brings me great happiness. Each time I look at it I think of her, working so earnestly to honor and pursue her creative ideals.

In the future, I hope to have more original art and handmade items in my home that have been made by others, and I expect that some of them will have been made by artists that I have come to know via the virtual realm. Certainly, I will continue to seek opportunities to meet artists from my own "neck of the woods" -- in real time and on solid ground. But that said, I might not have ever known that some of them even existed were it not for the virtual realm of social networking. And if and when I do finally meet them, chances are good it will be very easy to strike up conversations....just like in the movie Julie and Julia, when Julia Childs first meets the pen pal with whom she has been corresponding for eight or so years..... (Really, isn't all this social networking sort of like having a whole bunch of pen pals? :) )

And speaking of artists from my neck of the woods... I owe you some feature posts on Portland artists and I promise.....they're in the works!

Looking forward to seeing what you have been creating!! :)

Heading into Fall . . .

2010-09-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

Screenprint with gold gouache.

4" x 4"

Nasturtiums with "mist fringe."

A lovely combination from the garden at Adelaide's Books.

Monoprint

7" x 9"

Fall is my favorite season.

I'm reading Sue Bender's Everyday Sacred and mulling over this idea, gleaned from it's pages: Do more of less.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Thanks for stopping by. :)

Industrial Inspiration

2010-09-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

Found myself drawn to industrial-like things last weekend.

(Well, the above relief print was actually done a few months ago but it seemed to relate well to the plastic pipes and chain-link in the first image.)

Took some steel wool (0000) and a little orange citrus stripper to this vintage wooden ball....

...and thought it "cleaned up" nicely and was rather handsome with the vintage number stamps I found while out and about. (Actually, I acquired my own little "factory" consisting of three sets of different-sized numbers and one set of letters; each set housed within double blocks as above; and all of them stored within a larger vintage box. SCORE!) (Notice the pen marks made by a former owner so he would know how the top and bottom blocks fit together best. Three of the four sets were marked in the same way.)

And here is a small monoprint --- maybe 4" x 4".

And by the way, if you want to see some exquisite attention to detail, reminiscent of the chain-link fence above, check out this page on Kaija's blog, Paperiaarre. (Everything she makes is lovely!)

Cheers!!

Purple, Blue, Green and Charcoal . . .

2010-09-14T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hand-painted; machine stitched cotton

Purple, blue, green and charcoal...a very serene palette, don't you think?

Thanks for visiting. :)

Monoprints, Nature and Van Gogh

2010-09-06T22:43:00.000-07:00

monoprint

7"x 7"

Dried, inverted Water Hemlock

Monoprint

7" x 9"

More inverted Water Hemlock

(For some reason, I love the sculptural shapes.)

And what about these....the other rose hips??

(Seriously, have you ever seen these on rugosa rose bushes along with the regular rose hips we all know and love? I can't decide whether or not they're truly grotesque. If not, they're certainly bordering on it! Still...they've got me intrigued.)

Monoprint

7" x 9"

Spent a few days away from the city. Smelled the salt air and smoke from wood stoves. Witnessed a swarm of termites "descend" on an unsuspecting alder at dusk, then drop their wings and begin burrowing in. My husband said, matter-of-factly, "That alder's on its way out." And this, a tree that has shaded and sheltered us for nearly twenty years as we have gathered outside for meals beside a fire with family and friends. Later, marvelled at the stars, so brilliant away from the city.

And on Saturday, while gathering water hemlock by the bay, I looked up to see what the ruckus was and counted twelve or more great blue herons circling overhead. Had never seen that many at once, but my daughter said, "Oh yes, I've seen that many and more before."

Spent a good number of hours making monoprints. Chided myself for my lack of patience. (It makes for many false starts.) Later, I jotted down notes in my sketchbook about what I had learned so as not to have to start from "scratch" next time I get a chance to print.

Spent time looking at a beautiful book about van Gogh. Was mesmerized by paintings I had never seen that he did while in Arles, France. Painting, after painting, after painting. Somewhere around 900 total in ten or less years. Practice, practice, and more practice. Van Gogh... mostly self-taught. Driven. Brilliant. Inspiring. Humbling.

Now...looking forward to catching up with what you've been doing. Your work inspires me greatly, too.

Thanks for stopping by. Thanks for sharing your creativity.

Have a great week!

From Farm to Table in 24 Hours

2010-08-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

I found this dandelion yesterday, while walking through a field....

...in this valley, alongside a river that flows from the

Northern Cascades toward the Pacific Ocean.

We were visiting the small organic farm of a young woman who is, perhaps, still in her late twenties. She wasn't there at the time, since Saturday is her day to sell at the local farmers' market; but she farms a 4-acre parcel, and along with a handful of other growers, shares some of the outbuildings and equipment of the farmer who leases the ground. The farmers work independently but cooperatively to fill weekly CSA boxes and to get fresh produce to restaurants and farmers' markets from late spring through late fall.

Seeds are started and bulb crops are dried in the greenhouses.

A single tractor plows the parcels and these large "rakes" are

sometimes used to measure off the locations for transplants.

Crops are planted and weeded on hands and knees.

Once harvested (by hand)...

...they're transported in boxes, via these oversized wheelbarrows...

...to the sorting and washing stations...

....or to one of the long dark barns for drying.

Stakes are pulled and stored for future crops....

....and beautiful, organic produce finds it way to the table within 24 hours.

Like other small-scale growers, this woman is working seven days a week to make a living. And when we saw her at the farmers' market, she was cheerfully selling her produce -- all of it beautifully merchandised, and much of it, by the way, planted, weeded, watered, harvested and packed by my daughter, who's spent the last two summers working for her while gaining a firsthand understanding of the local and organic food movement in our country. My hat's off to both of them and to all the small-scale growers who are choosing to make a "go" of it at a time when industrialized farming is gobbling up family farms in the United States at an incredible pace.

We can help sustain these small farmers and "grow" this movement by choosing to shift our buying habits -- even if only slightly. We can support them by purchasing a CSA membership, or by buying from them directly at a farmers' market, or by dining at a restaurant that purchases produce from them, or by asking for and buying local produce at the grocery store. Imagine the impact on the health of our land, our water, our air, and the general population if each of us chose to purchase local, organic produce even just 20% of the time.

The number of family farms in the US decreased from 5,657,800 in 1950, to 2,204950 in 2007.

We can reverse this trend.

Out of Africa...And My Imgination

2010-08-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Acrylic on paper

7" x 11"

Acrylic painted on repurposed chef's coat placket

So, the small painting and the painted fabric are my creations. And these wonderful vintage wooden pieces are machine and hand carved --- not by me, of course. Visit Robyn Gordon's blog, Art Propelled, to see the truly beautiful totems that she carves.

Here comes the weekend!

Orange and Black and 1500 Dots

2010-08-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Relief print on cotton

(Yes, the vintage golf tees make me happy.)

Screen print on linen.

(How about that rock?)

Potato print, gold gouach and ink

6"x6"

And yes, there are 1500 dots there. I counted them as I did them. Or was it 1200?? (I did this several months ago...)

Still trying to find my way back to my paintbrushes....Very busy here in Portlandia but managing to find a little time to catch up with what you are doing. :) Here are a few "goodies;" one of them previously mentioned and the other two new to me: Avalanche Looms, annekata, The Silly BooDilly. Good images, good writing, good projects!!

Hope you're finding time to create!!