125 Years: Women of Vision

Rustler  |  8 x 6" | oil on panel

This painting was juried into the National Association of Women Artists 125 Years: Women of Vision Exhibition last month and is now on its way to the Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, Florida. 

Exhibition: December 5, 2014-January 10, 2015

Opening reception: December 5, 2014 | 6:00-8:00 pm

Far Away

 14 x 14 oil on panel

I took a year off painting to work full time—overtime on the second edition of my book, Books, Boxes & Wraps: Binding & Building Step-by-Step. When the manuscript went out for the second set of proofs, I returned to the studio to paint again. I put a new panel on the easel and wondered if I would even remember how to paint.

The experience was one of great joy! I felt alive and free . . . and this is what happened.  Far Away will be in the National Association of Women Artists' 125th Anniversary Exhibition in New York City next month.

Books, Boxes & Wraps: Binding & Building Step-by-Step — Second Edition

At last . . . 

I am happy to announce the Second Edition of Books, Boxes and Wraps: Binding & Building Step-by-Step is now available, but you should be forewarned—opening this book can easily lead you to create many, many more!

This second edition is an expansion and refinement of the first—more projects, more information, more instruction. 

The clear, step-by-step instructions and graphic (yet beautiful!) line drawings offer easy-to-follow guidance for both the novice and the seasoned artist. All projects can be made with the simple tools listed in the first chapter—which also describes how to use these tools, where to find them, and, in some cases, how to make them. Information on choosing papers, inks, adhesives, cloth, ribbons, and threads is given in the final chapter, and an up-to-date list of resources is one of the appendixes.

Described as “a workshop in a book,” Books, Boxes & Wraps is an invaluable aid to teachers. It’s been assigned as a college textbook and is often employed as a creative resource for classroom projects.

For crafters and calligraphers, bookbinders and writers, artists and homeschoolers—this is the guidebook for you! It’s a concise yet comprehensive workbook on creating all different kinds of books and boxes—from traditional to contemporary, from rustic to elegant, from large to small. 

To see finished samples made from directions in the book, click here.

The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society's Mikado

The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society's 60th season ends this coming weekend. 

:

Final Performances:

Friday July 25  7:30 pm

Saturday July 26  

     2:00  and  7:30 pm

Click here for ticket information.

Act I set painting:

The "Japanese screen" and all the "vase and jars" were painted for pervious productions. The screen is 18 x 32'. Each panel is 4' wide. It was painted flat on shop floor. I outlined the hills and village in chalk, then climbed a tall ladder to see how it actually looked before I started painting.

New this year are 16 fans I decorated with painted flowers, vines, butterflies and leaves. They are used by all the ladies in the cast.

 

                                                                                    

book project nearing the end . . .

Almost from the time Books, Boxes & Wraps: Binding & Building Step-by-Step first appeared in print, requests began coming in for a "second book." Both printings sold out long ago. Requests kept coming.

The first week of August 2013, I set painting aside to give full time to putting the book in digital format. Since every page had to be reformatted and all images scanned, I decided to add a few more projects, expand notes on others, and update the sections on materials and supply sources.

Now, 11 months later, the first set of proofs has arrived, the master is being updated and will soon be ready to upload for the second, and hopefully, last set of proofs.

. . . to be continued . . .

Early Morning Fish Market

8 x 6 inch  |  oil on panel

A shop keeper setting up for for the day in Seattle's Pike Place Market. The painting is now in the National Association of Women Artists Annual Open Small Works Exhibition in NYC NY.  

floaters, readers, and too much sun . . .

Sketching on the dock. After several days, Martin was looking for a little shade, so he made his own.  Reading was popular for some, most chose to be floating, swimming, jumping in or diving and coming out on the dock only long enough to drip-dry and get toasty enough to get back in the water. 

Some of the family on the dock.

 As you might guess, everyone came out for breakfast and dinner!

behind the scenes . . .

Painting Venice

The image above was shot in 2003 in the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society's shop on Dexter. It was part of the set for the society's production of The Gondoliers that year. The town was saved, since it could be stored flat. Venice was painted on a series of 8' plywood sheets. Scenic Designer, Nathan Rodda, comes up with the most amazing things!

Last week Venice was updated in the society's Crown Hill shop. Parts needed to be retouched, always necessary when they have been in storage. In the process Nathan wanted some areas of the town to be made lighter as if caught in sunlight. Some of the shadows in windows and doorways were made darker, to make them feel closer to the audience.

And an extra surprise — the top of the tall tower was remade . . . seems someone was carrying it across the room and forgot about the ceiling fans. Ceiling is high, but so was the tower.

The spatter paint looks a bit strange here, but it actually makes the town look much more three dimensional under theater lighting. (Shot before the windows, and last two doorways on the right, were made darker). Click image to enlarge.

Michael Crow working on the 'stone' platform. Steel fittings have been mounted to two identical platforms and short wooden 'posts' have been mounted to the steel fittings, thus stabilizing tall column structures to be added at the theater.

Dress rehearsal Tuesday night - columns are set in place, Venice is hanging in the shadows here. If you are in the Greater Seattle area — come see the show!

The Bagley Wright Auditorium at the Seattle Repertory Theater

Seattle Center Grounds • 155 Mercer St • Seattle

Matinees at 2:00 pm:  July 13, 14, 20, 21, & 27

Evenings at 7:30 pm:  July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27

click here for ticket information

N.A.W.A. 124th Annual Exhibition, NYC

Deruta Camellias

11 x 12 1/8  |  oil on panel

The National Association of Women Painters is the first professional women's fine art organization in the United States. The group was founded in 1819 by five innovative artists who named the organization the Women's Art Club. In 1913, they changed the name to the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors, and in 1941, they renamed the organization the National Association of Women Artists, Inc. 

Many recognized women artists have been associated with N.A.W.A. including Mary Cassatt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Isabel Bishop, Alice Neal, and Miriam Schapiro. I consider it an honor to have been chosen for juried membership in 2010.

Deruta Camellias will be in their 124th Annual Exhibition to be held at the Sylvia Wald & Po Kim Art Gallery in NYC, August 27 - September 28, 2013.

Sophia & Annalisa

Sophia

10 x 8  |  oil on panel

I have just finished this painting! In the several years since painting her sister, shown below, I have lost track of how many attempts I have made at painting Sophia. None of them made my heart sing . . . that is until this one. And I really do like it!

Annalisa

10 x 8 | oil on panel

Click on image to inlarge.

Ballard & Call Fine Art Gallery | features Marilyn Farrell Webberley

Gallery owners held private reception in my honor the evening before the exhibition opened. They invited people I grew up with, some I hadn't seen in many years. It was a wonderful evening! The flowers were sent by a friend who was unable to attend.

Donna Roberge Nozel, Clark County Arts Commissioner

with a card showing images of my work in the US Embassy residence in Tel Aviv, Israel, in the US Department of State AIE program.

Sharon Ballard and Maquita Call | gallery owners

. . . and a great group of friends!

Friends

9 x 12 | oil on panel

Both are good company and very fun to paint. The painting captures the feeling I wanted. As I was going thru my image files yesterday, I came across another painting from years ago. Thought it would be fun to post here, since it is the same person. 

12 x 9 | oil on panel

Sketching with Friends again . . .

The artists on this day are Ambika, Indira, who also work up close at times, and Kara.

A late lunch followed sketching. Then a walk along the Sammamish River Trail, onto the North Creek Trail to the University of Washington Bothell campus, past the sports fields and on up the hill into town and back to the car.
Next came dinner and a Jane Austen movie in the living room. Another great day!

Yesterday's Sketchers

Giuliana, Gala, Sophia and "Charlie,"a friend visiting from Germany. They all arrived with their sketchbooks. We sat around the kitchen table for several hours, then had a late lunch. A wonderful day!

Coffee Shop sketching again . . .

Another walk ended our walk at our favorite coffee shop (January 28 posting). This was last Friday, February 8, 2013. Two people were just leaving two of the prize comfy chairs by the fire when we arrived. We quickly added our coats, then went to the counter to place our usual order at the end of a crisp-afternoon walk—a tall decaf mocha and a tall chai latte/no water.

The first sketch is the view across the room. The second is along the front windows. I loved the way the person in the rose sweater sat. She was reading something and every time she moved, her body formed fun patterns to sketch. The next figures on this page have been at this shop almost every afternoon I have stopped by. They always sit by the windows, always visit quietly and are always busy with hand work . . . making things. They are also fun to sketch.

Across the room again. The floor was just mopped and people are busy with their laptops and books. This place has become quite popular with students from two universities and a community collage near by.