Barn Owl

Barn Owl, May 2012

Acrylic on canvas, 4" x 6"

ps. September 8, 2014.  The Barn Owl was entered in the 2014 Sterling Fair and received a first prize blue ribbon.

Negative Space

Trees, May 2012

Watercolor on Strathmore Bristol, 5" x 7"

After reading Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines by Linda Kemp, I thought I would try painting only the negative spaces.  So.... I didn't paint the trees.  I painted the spaces between the trees.  It was a fun exercise, one in warm colors, one cool.

Hooked Miniatures

Hooked Miniatures

Wool Strips on Linen, 2012
each 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"

These pieces began with the idea they would become hooked Artist Trading Cards.  However, when I designed the patterns, I didn't consider that the hooking would enlarge the design.  ATCs are supposed to be 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", so I decided to finish these as ornaments.  Each piece has a strip for hanging, a wool backing (to cover the backside of the hooking), and a strip around the edge to neaten the sides. The cat's eyes and nose and the crabs eyes are glass beads.

Zentangle Snowflake with Color

Zentangle Snowflake, 2012

Micron Pen on Bristol, 10" x 10"

Derwent Inktense Pencils

This zentangle is colored with Inktense pencils. They are water soluble and the color is more vibrant than watercolor pencil. Some areas I colored and went over the pencil with clear water and a fine brush, and other areas I used the wet brush to take color off the pencil point.

Zentangle Snowflake

Zentangle Snowflake, 2012

Micron Pen on Bristol, 10" x 10"

This zentangle started with a folded paper snowflake (like the ones I did in grade school). First I folded the paper and then cut into the folded edges and the outer edge. I know that in nature snowflakes have 6 sides. I just wanted more areas to tangle. I lightly traced parts of the cutouts as they were and connected the lines to make a new design. The idea came from Zen Mandalas. The author admits to getting the idea online. Now, I'm off to color the piece.

Asters

Asters, 2012

Wool strips and yarn on linen, 15" x 20"

Original Design

This is the latest rug. I'm off in a new direction, a lot of different fibers and design elements. The change is due to the influence of Deanne Fitzpatrick from Canada (Amherst, Nova Scotia). I took a 5 week on-line course with her called Wild with Wool. It was well worth the time and money. She developed a site that students entered by password with video demonstrations, audio recordings, activities, and critiques of student work. She includes her technique, her philosophy, and personal anecdotes. She encourages each student not to hook like her, but to find their own artistic voice. Participants were able to interact with one another and upload photos of work and questions, if you chose to do so. She's offering the same class again in April.

Landscape

Landscape, 2012

Wool strips and yarn on linen, 6.75" x 7.75"

A simple mat using a single color palette. Green was a challenge, but good practice. There are many times I look at a landscape I want to paint and there are so many shades of green. This is an original design.