Merry Christmas

From many years past, a little watercolor I thought suitable for a Christmas card. It may be a bit odd but I have some affection for it. It was one of my first paintings! So, Merry Christmas and may the new year be full of happy times and art viewing!

Another Bead Artwork by Ubuhle Women

I added another artwork which is composed of four panels. Wonderful is right!

Ubuhle Women Art Exhibit Features Tons of Beautiful Beads

The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia is hosting an exhibit of work by the Ubuhle Collective of African women. The works are made from tiny Czech glass beads sewn onto black fabric and are very impressive. Much time and patience is needed to make them! Here's one of my favorites. I think it's about 5' x 3'. I love the design!

Funky Bull by Bongiswa Ntobela

Lilypad Linocut

This is a miniature linocut that I made a few years ago. I made a visit to the Japanese garden at our local botanical garden(which is quite nice!) and was inspired by the beautiful flowers and lilypad shapes. I'd love to make a larger one. Maybe some day!

Arches National Park in Utah

Recently I went to Utah to see some of the national  parks. The landscapes are so majestic and different from anything I have ever seen. No oceans here! What inspiration for a landscape painter! Here are a few photos from Arches.

Interesting trails!

fascinating lecture about caterpillars

This past Sunday I went to a lecture arranged by the Butterfly Society of Virginia. The speaker was very knowledgeable about the caterpillars of moths and butterflies. A very good speaker and funny too. He spoke about common species and behaviors and the biodiversity crisis. It was fascinating all the way through! Something to think about while I'm painting butterflies! Dr. David Wagner is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut.

This one really stings!

Grassy Flip-Flops!

When I was in Zion Park, Utah last week, I saw these unusual flip-flops for sale. Surely they make a funny fashion statement. But I bet they feel good on your feet!

Experimenting With an Etching and Solarplate

I decided to try an experiment. I etched a plate with line work using my acrylic ground and ferric chloride. Then I decided to add tones with a solarplate and printed it over my etching. I learned that it can work which is exciting! I just need to go back and make another solarplate but make the tones darker this time. That way I have more shading in my print which is what I want. I can also add more details to make it more interesting. Ah, printmaking and experimentation! That's the way it is!

Vero - Black and White Linocut

I recently finished this linocut of a good friend. We were having breakfast in a cafe during one of our visits to New York City and I took a photo of her enjoying her tea. Looking back on it, the photo always gives me great memories of our time there and inspired me to make this print. I made additions and changes from the photo to make it more interesting and quirky. Now I see it a different way and like it just as much!

Vero 15"x 18"

Flights of Fancy Art Exhibit

We were asked to exhibit our butterflies and birds in the new Unitarian Church in Virginia Beach for the summer. Now they have decided to host a reception for us, as you can see in the flyer. All visitors are welcome!

Sheep Linocut

I love putting sheep in my artwork, hence this linocut! I always start with a drawing on my linocut, realist that I am. I'll probably add some color in the background but it's not certain yet. Sheep remind me of the time I tried to spin fleece with a drop spinner and even dyed some wool with natural dyes and made some sort of decent hats. You should try it! There's no lack of fascinating things to learn about and do in the creative world. It's easy to get tangled up in them!

Jupiter Painting Butterflies

Since I enjoy looking for paintings with butterflies, I found this one by Italian painter Dosso Dossi titled Jupiter Painting Butterflies, Mercury and Virtue, circa 1522-24. It certainly is a funny view of the supreme deity of the ancient Romans. Painting butterflies promotes relaxation! Apparently, since he is god, just painting the butterflies brings them to life.

The Charms of Door County, Wisconsin

Who can resist the charm of Door County in northern Wisconsin!

Summer Breeze Restaurant. Wow! So colorful.

Someone on vacation :-)

Panning for Gold??

Lavender from Washington Island

Good idea!

So cute! Pipka's in Sister City

oink

Friendly Thoughts

I tried a similar design earlier as a traditional etching but had some challenges when I did the aquatint to get some good tones. I thought I'd try it again as a solarplate etching. I drew it on the glass and then exposed the drawing under UV light to a light sensitive plate. The plate was washed, carefully inked and then printed. And truly, it's always more complicated than it sounds!

Birds and Butterflies Exhibit

I'll be showing my work with another artist in the Meyera E. Oberndof Central Library Gallery during the month of June. There will be paintings, linocuts and etchings on view. Come to the gallery the evening of June 6 and you will enjoy a brief presentation about some of the work and have some tasty food!

The Magic Garden

How's this for magic?!

Seagull Linocut

I have more bird and butterfly pieces to make since I have two exhibits this June! This week I finished this linocut of seagulls. It was a bit of a challenge at first because the linoleum was an older piece I had and was somewhat dry and hard, as it will get if you keep it for awhile. I finally found that a heating pad will help to soften it so then carving was a lot more comfortable.

Seagulls are very common where I live since I'm near the shore. They can be amusing to watch but they have no qualms about stealing your food at any opportunity!

Titmice Solarplate Final

I exposed my drawing on a solarplate and then developed and printed it. I could add some color with watercolor but I like the black and white. Before long I'll try a different drawing with color! 

Some D'ART FIRSTHAND Student Works

Here are a few examples from our two hour FIRSTHAND make and take workshop. The round prints were made from working on styrofoam and the square ones from Gelli plates, gelatin-like plates. There were ten people working and they all seemed to love expressing their creative sides this way. Making prints can be a lot of fun and the results are usually surprising!

D'ART FIRSTHAND

I'll be at the d'Art Center in Norfolk, Virginia tomorrow night with another artist talking about my art and creating magical take-home works of art with the public. You're welcome to join us!

 

A Pretty Day on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Last week I picked up my artwork from an exhibit at the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Center in  Manteo, North Carolina. It's about a 2 hour drive south of my home in Virginia. Here are a few photos from my visit there, one that had to be postponed from the previous week due to 8 inches of snow. So much snow on our coasts recently! But this day was perfect for a visit.

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

A funny idea!

Nearby Duck, North Carolina

The only butterfly I saw :-/

Duck, North Carolina 

There's a good restaurant here.

Another possibility to show art!

Tiny Pencil Gift

I received this set of tiny colored pencils for Christmas. So cute and best for tiny works! There's even a matching pencil sharpener. Easy to carry in a pocket with room for a phone!

Tiny vs Regular