Thomas Dambo Trolls at Science Museum

 Dambo is on a mission to make a thousand trolls and other artworks from waste materials. That’s a big goal! Last fall there were a few at the adventure park behind our science museum. It was fun to see them interspersed among the trees. I believe that they’ve been shown in other countries too. You can see more at his website.

thomasdambo.com

Familiar Facades - Solarplate Exhibit

My building series is now an exhibit! They are my solarplate etchings of buildings in Norfolk, Virginia. The opening is next Friday, the 28th, postponed because of snow. A lot of snow!

Julia Child Exhibit

This past year I saw an exhibit in Richmond, Virginia about Julia Child, American Chef extraordinaire! She’s very well known for her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and for her television cooking shows, especially The French Chef (premiered 1963). She became very interested in French cooking while living in Paris. There is much to learn about her life there!

Julia Child (1912-2004)

Virginia Museum of History and Culture

                                        

Floral Attraction - Solarplate Etching

I decided to experiment in combining a solarplate etching with a linocut. I drew the roses on glass and then exposed it onto a light sensitive plate. I developed the plate, inked it and then printed it on fine printmaking paper using my etching press. I then cut out the border in linoleum and printed it around the solarplate print. PHEW! It was tricky to get it lined up correctly but I think it came out pretty well!

I like the added color that the linocut brings.

                                                                       Floral Attraction

                                                                            14"x17"

                                                        

Paul McCartney: Eyes of the Storm

This exhibit is being shown at my local museum. Nearly 1000 photos taken by McCartney from 1963-1964 were rediscovered in his archive and are now being shown on tour in several museums. He was just an amateur photographer taking pictures as the Beatles were on tour in Liverpool, London, and the U.S. Here are some shots from the exhibit. The excitement around them was incredible!

 

U.S. National Parks Puzzle

 Almost finished!

Happier Cactus

My old cactus now has branches! It's nice to be surprised. It was a gift from a friend at least 15 years ago. Maybe I should let it go outside now and then! It has been in a window.

 

Melt Down

In some states in the U.S. climate change has taken a toll on the snowshoe hare. The lack of snow and ground cover makes them well seen when their coat is white in the winter. In the summer they have brown coats. 

linocut 11' x 17" movie poster :-)

Elizabeth River Ferry Solarplate Etching

This year the paddle-wheel ferry celebrated 40 years on the water. There are actually three ferries operating on the river between Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia. Of course, before the ferries and for hundreds of years, there were all types of other vessels taking people from one side to the other. It was a challenge drawing that paddlewheel and all of those railings. I really like taking the ferry when I get a chance. More relaxing than dealing with tunnel traffic!

 

American Box Turtle

 I love to see turtles but I don't see them very often. This is an American Box Turtle that was crossing my yard a few days ago. I read that they can live to be 100 years old! Usually it's 25-30 years but that's pretty impressive too. I once saw a snapping turtle in the same place, much bigger and a little scarier. Apparently that one can really bite!

American Box Turtle

Eastern Box Turtle
Painted in gouache a few years ago.

Norfolk Downtown Tunnel Solarplate Etching

Why not draw a familiar site like this and add it to my Norfolk series? Since there are a lot of waterways in the area and lots of boats, we have quite a few tunnels. Six to be exact, with each place actually having two tunnels, one for each direction. This is called the Downtown Tunnel.  It crosses the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. The first tunnel was built in 1952 and the second in 1987.

Anyway, I had to take a photo while someone else was driving. Of course! 

 

Brock Environmental Center

Two weeks ago I visited the Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach. It was built by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to engage and educate all generations about the environment and how we can all help save the bay, one of our countries most valuable natural areas. I learned a lot about native plants of Virginia and even created my own masterpiece, as you can see below. The center is one of the world's greenest buildings, both energy and water independent!

A profusion of native Virginia plants!

A masterpiece, for sure :) Included Wax Myrtle and Solomon's Seal

 

Hund's Re-Cycle Factory Solarplate Etching

I'm enjoying my solarplate etchings. I don't know when this Norfolk,Virginia business started but I know they love bikes! They have all sorts of new and used bikes and can repair anything. I love the creativity displayed on the outside of their building which made it fun to draw. Although it was a bit challenging sorting out the bikes' wheels and shadows!

 

Cactus Wreath Class

 Our botanical garden is offering a class to make this fascinating wreath. I’m wondering how large the cacti could become and if I could manage to keep them alive! Someone I know who loves cacti could probably do it :)

Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Glass Company

Clara Driscoll worked at the Tiffany Glass Company in New York City for 20 years and won a bronze medal at the 1900 Paris World's Fair for her dragonfly lamp design. She also designed and oversaw the production of many more works of glass. She wasn't publicly acknowledged at the time but historians have changed that after later finding letters about the work she did at the the company. This book tells the story of her design process, struggles at the company and relationships there. A very interesting read!

Our wonderful museum in Norfolk, Virginia, the Chrysler Museum, has a great glass collection and I learned that some of her most popular designs are there. I had to go check it out! 

Wouldn't you enjoy having one of these on a table? Pretty fancy.

Dragonfly Library Lamp by Clara

Wisteria Lamp, one of her most popular, by Clara

Tiffany vases, opalescent glass

Owen B. Pickett U.S. Custom House - Solarplate Etching

The US Customs Service was established in 1789 and is the oldest federal agency. This customs house is located in downtown Norfolk, Va near the waterfront which makes sense since one of its purposes is to control carriers of imports and exports. The architecture is an example of the Classical Revival style. The construction was completed in 1858. Historians at the time expected it to be "one of the most imposing and showy buildings in the city."  I'm sure they weren't disappointed! It underwent rehabilitation and restoration from 1996-1999 and still serves as a customs house. It certainly is an unusual building for the area.

Another addition to my Norfolk series of solarplate etchings. 

 

Ocean View Fishing Pier - Solarplate Etching

The Ocean View Fishing Pier in Norfolk, Virginia is the longest free-standing fishing pier in North America at 1,690 feet. It was built on the site of the former Harrison's Pier which was a very popular fishing spot until it was destroyed by Tropical Storm Isabel in 2003.  It was a good subject for my next solarplate etching of historic Norfolk places. I love that there are great views of the Chesapeake Bay from there!

Chrystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas

This museum was founded in 2006 by Alice Walton, daughter of the founder of Walmart, Sam Walton. Her love of art started as a child when she painted watercolors with her mother on camping and hiking trips. I really enjoyed its architecture and the grounds are superb! 120 acres of Ozark forest and 5 miles of trails. So lucky that it was a beautiful October day. The spider is a sculpture called "Maman" by a famous French artist Louise Bourgeois.

Elmwood Cemetery Solarplate Etching

Another in my Norfolk series isn't a building but an angel at Elmwood Cemetery that I couldn't resist drawing. The cemetery is an historic municipal one that was officially established in 1853. It's listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The tombstones have much Victorian funerary including shells, lambs, wreathes, lilies and anchors. And there are quite a few angels, this one being my favorite. I drew it on glass and then exposed it in the sun on a solarplate that is light sensitive. It needs to be near noon and a bright sunny day. (Panic can set in when clouds suddenly appear!) It only took 30 seconds! That's so amazing to me. Then after a couple of other steps, I was ready to make some handmade prints from the exposed plates. 

Elmwood Cemetery Angel

 

Sweethaven Lavender Farm

To my surprise I discovered that there is a lavender farm in Williamsburg, Virginia so I had to pay a visit since I was there for the day anyway. It was a tricky weather day but it stopped raining just as I got there. I was given a basket and some scissors and sent out into the field to gather my own bouquet. How pleasant, I thought! After I finished, I went to the shop where various lavender products are produced and sold. It brought back memories of Provence....I'm sure that's what most people think about when it comes to lavender!