PULPFICTION: The Art of Paper

This afternoon I went to see an excellent exhibition at the Courthouse Galleries in Portsmouth, Virginia where artists are showing some very innovative approaches to art created with paper. I love to see what people can do with paper -  very creative!! I liked everything in this show. One artist creates his work from recycled newpapers, "paying tribute to the valuble role that for years printed news has played in defining our society's cultural models." You can see his work at his website:
http://www.riccardoberlingeri.com/
Take a look!

Butterfly Count #1 - Counting with the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory

The Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory is a non-profit established in 1994 to carry out the work of volunteers who began an annual songbird banding station at Kiptopeke State Park in 1963 on Virginia's Eastern Shore about a 40 minute drive from here. I decided to join them for their annual butterfly count since I have an interest in butterflies for my artwork and have a general interest in them and nature, of course! We met at the Eastern Shore of Virginia Wildlife Refuge visitor center to begin our count and then visited three butterfly gardens, walked in Kiptopeke State Park and made some roadside stops. We found at least 18 species of butterflies! And I learned alot from the people in my group, especially the master naturalist and my leader, the planter and caretaker of the butterfly gardens! A good day! Hot but good!

Butterfly Count #2 - My Group

Where is that fritillary??

Butterfly Count #3 - Wood Nymph

Of course I wanted to take lots of great butterfly photos but they were so busy fluttering about! I was able to get this one of a wood nymph near the end of our walk. :-)
(Click on it to see the larger view.)

3 Way Rabbits #2

I wanted to do my second rabbit work in gouache paint because I love to work with the colors and see the texture of the paint on the surface of the paper. I use a hot press paper that comes in a block which helps to keep the paper flat. (yes!) I must have been imagining some sort of social gathering for the trading of carrots in the world of rabbits!

Now what will I do next for my third rabbit piece?

Art Makes me Hungry!

I am convinced that the artistic struggling for ideas and the appetite activator are next to each other in the brain. Every time I sit to concentrate about an idea, I want to eat. Maybe it is just a need for procrastination! So I try to find something healthy like this popcorn and not keep too many cookies around! And I am out of chocolate. :-(

Safe Harbor from the Storm

Safe Harbor from the Storm is a fundraiser event for Our House Families being held at Passion Restaurant and Wine Bar in Chesapeake, Virginia. A portion of the sale of art works will be donated to Our House Families which provides tangible resources to families in crisis. Passion's owner loves having the artwork in the restaurant and is passionate about supporting community organizations. My artwork is there with that of three other artists. If you can, come enjoy a fabulous meal at this trendy restaurant and see the art!! The event continues until December 31 of this year.

B&W Hare and Bridge

Printed in just black and white on white BFK Rives paper!

The Hare and the Bridge

I wanted to try something a little different with the linocut other than just print it in black and white so I decided to try printing it on gray paper with two colors and white chine color paper. I do like the soft look that the white paper has given the print. Now it's sitting under some books to see if it will go flat!