Drawings

New work, done as part of my graduate studies. I have been thinking about trees a lot, easy to do when you live up here.

When I was finding myself again last summer, I went to visit my friends in Novato, CA. I spent hours walking the dry California hills above their house, delighting in the isolation, the views, nature above giant tracts of humanity. I also delighted in the trees. Weird, oddly shaped trees, trees I was not familiar with. These trees make me think of European myths and about dryads and tree entities, beings being trapped in trees or becoming trees, trees becoming people. Some of their forms are so surreal they look like mythical beings. Some of them just Feel powerful.

Inspired greatly by Larry Thomas, I began some larger drawings on good paper. It feels great to be drawing “seriously” again.

This first image “Lost and Found” (top) is supposed to be non-representational, though I began with source photography. I fought the image of the bird that kept reemerging until, finally, I realized it needed to be there. This piece is charcoal and pastel on Stonehenge paper, 22x30" in size.

The second piece, “California Trees” (middle) is from a very complicated image, vast patterns of branches. I remember at the time thinking about the patterns of light and shadow as a language spoken by nature. Also charcoal and pastel on Stonehenge, 22x30" in size.

“Offering” (bottom) is a looser quicker image, influenced by the joy of a new paintbrush (Liquitex Freestyle Paddle brush = too cool!) The immediacy of ink and concentrated watercolor and a springy brush gave me freedom. I did not draw this out ahead of time. The focal point of the lighter branch resembles a dryad, she and her tree. This was not intentional but fits. "Offering" is on Rives BFK, 22x30" in size.

Each of these drawings are available unframed for $100 each.

Dawn

"Vessel"

My new painting is titled "Vessel." I began this piece during my oil painting class, and my students commented on how the under-painting looked like a ship. This was complete serendipity. As I have spent so much time drawing and painting boats in the course of my graduate work, the structure of the boat unintentionally manifested itself into my under-painting of trees.

I, unfortunately, did not get a good picture of this under-painting as I was anxious to finish the work. If you look at the overriding structure of tree trunks and branches, though, they kind of resemble masts.

When I started thinking of this image I was on a walk through the woods contemplating the power of becoming a vessel, of allowing yourself to step aside and let higher powers move through you. It is counter-intuitive that, in relinquishing your own ego and sense of yourself, you become more powerful. You allow yourself to become more than you can possibly be just on your own two feet. The trick is in getting yourself out of your own way!

Thus "Vessel" is a play on words but is very much on my mind on all counts.

The piece is an oil on canvas, 24" x 48" in size, and my ego is allowing me to sell it for $995.

Happy painting, walking, and contemplating to you as we head towards June!

Dawn

The Birds Go Pirate

Well I tried, but the the birds have their own agenda. After painting them and drawing them in their little canoes repeatedly they decided they wanted to evolve in the grand scheme of nautical history.

They pirated these ships.

I am not proud of this, but they are particularly driven in their need to find and claim new migratory routes. Plus these boats are more stylish.

The first image is the first pirated vessel. The pieces that follow are part of a series depicting the fleet. You will not see the birds on these ships as it is an issue of scale. The boats are huge, the birds are busy.

What I like about these two ensuing images besides the conceptual component are the lines and the flat washes. Frankly, they remind me of the children's books I grew up with in the days before full-colored illustrations were affordable. The fresh linear elements excite me. The layered sense of space came about through transparency, as if you could see through all the ships to the horizon. It is meant to create a sense of limitless space and ships innumerable. All of these pieces are mixed drawing media and tempera paint on watercolor paper, 22x30" in size.

I am a bit afraid of what the birds will make me do next. At the moment they are in their pilot quarters pouring over maps...

Manifest Destiny

One of the series that came about through my graduate work at Goddard College. This entire series is tiled "Manifest Destiny." It is a combination of the academic research I am engaged in, which involves the Romantic artists of the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. What fascinates me about these artists is that they were scientifically oriented, they traveled great distances to create their images, and they were obviously blown away by the landscapes they found in the American West. The dichotomy is that, in creating these paintings of the wilderness that so inspired them, they actually aided in its destruction.

This series began with the sculptural element: birds in boats (scale is 4" to 15", media is ClayShay(r)). The birds came to me. It is partially based on perceptual imagery from the Pacific Northwest, namely the fact that I often see a line of birds resting on a log out in the Strait. These are usually cormorants or gulls, but it inspired the idea of migratory birds building boats and heading West, looking for better migratory routes they could monopolize. I love these birds, but there is a seriousness about them that cannot be denied. Their ultimate goal is to take over the world...

From the sculpture came the drawings, which are all mixed drawing media on various paper. Their scale ranges from 11x14 to 30x40. I like the fact that they have a textile feeling to them, which speaks to the historical element. It is a big step for me to work perceptually from a conceptual element.

The birds have big plans--watch for their latest escapades here!
Dawn

The Harbor

New painting! In fact it is still quite damp... This is from an image I saw several weeks ago. In real life the bay was not nearly as interesting, it was a flat grey day with this random ray of light. The light is what I was after.

The bay is different each and every time I see it. Within an hour the light, the waves, the tide, everything changes. I could spend the rest of my life just watching the light change out there.

With this piece I was trying to capture a sense of longing and isolation I felt when I saw these boats looking towards the far horizon.

"The Harbor" is 24x36, oil on canvas, and is for sale for $795.

Horizons Art Show

Here are a few pictures from the art show at The Art Mine. It's a nice, big space and a little hard to convey just how it feels. I have 27 images up to give you an idea of the scale.

The art opening went really well; there was a good turnout and I met a lot of people. It was a great introduction of the range of my of art to this community.

As far as I know the art show in Colorado was also well attended; my art friends back there tell me it was a great opening.

Back to the studio; I am working on a 24x36 landscape this week. It should be ready for viewing by the end of the weekend. Yay!
Dawn

February is a crazy art month for me! I have two shows opening some 1500 miles apart from one another.

The show in Washington is at The Art Mine in Port Hadlock. The show will be open for viewing from Feb 2nd through March 20th; the opening reception is Sat Feb 6th, beginning at 5pm. It is an eclectic show featuring many new pieces including some of those I have previously blogged about.

The show in Colorado will be at The Art Center of Western Colorado in Grand Junction. The dates for this show are Feb 5th through March 15th, opening reception Friday Feb 5th from 7pm to 9pm. Alas I will not be able to attend this show opening as I have not figured out how to be two places at once... The work for this show features my black and white pastel series, including several large pastel diptychs on wooden panels. Here is a link to their website: I am showing with an amazing glass artist, Andy Martin, who ironically lives in Seattle now!

http://www.gjartcenter.org/exhibits_upcoming_2.html


And other than that I start grad school at the end of the month as I start to chase down the elusive MFA. Art art and then more art--life is good!

Let me know if you make it to one of the shows; I would love to hear feedback. Thanks! Dawn