Apple Revisited

Last fall I drew this apple (unknown variety) in colored pencil. While looking for work to print for an uncoming show at Quailcrest Farm I decided to add a blossom to the picture. Sounded good to me, the only problem was that this year was apparently not the year for apples in our orchard. Last year we had a bumper crop so I thought maybe they were taking the year off. As a result, there were no blossoms to be seen! I checked each day with the same result...no flowers. But this past week as I was walking by I saw one blossom on the right tree. No others. I quickly snipped the branch, brought it inside, set it in a vase of water and finished my drawing. While working with nature it's always a challenge but I love it's happy surprises.

Pinus resinosa (Red pine)

Back in January while thinking of projects for the year ahead the idea was presented to me by my friend Vicki, a fellow artist living in Australia, that we would each do a painting of a plant from our gardens each month and by the time the year had ended perhaps make them into a calendar. Well, life got busy and neither of us had time for the commitment but I am sure we will do it one day! This drawing in colored pencil, which took much more than a month to complete, would have been my "January" entry.

This pine branch is from one of our trees in the field behind our house. It was so striking in the snow and was clipped toward the end of winter. It took many weeks to complete and I had to wrap the cone on the branch with a wet paper towel to keep it from opening. I'm finding botanical art has it's challenges aside from just getting an accurate representation of the plant. We are dealing with living things that sometimes have minds of their own and we have to adjust to them! 


Check out Vicki's blog.  She's a wonderful artist.

Planning...

 Since deciding to visit the Ohio state parks as part of a personal ongoing art project, I have received lots of information from the state park system both in the mail and on-line. I have set up a "planning central" of sorts to keep it in front of me for motivation and also to keep the info in one place as I plan. One thing that is very helpful is the map of where the many parks are located. A few that we would like to visit this year are:  the Lake Erie Islands, Mohican and maybe Malabar Farms in the late summer/fall.


Last weekend my husband and I began by traveling to Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie. I should have a couple preliminary sketches to share in the next couple weeks -- sketches that will be made into larger, more detailed artwork at a later time. 

The State Park Art Adventure

As the end of a year approaches with thoughts of a new year ahead our minds sometimes turn to 'what's next?' This is especially true for a wife and mother who has finished raising our 2 children wondering what to do with the next season of life. We all want to make a difference. We want our lives to be significant in some way. We all need a reason to get up in the morning with something to look forward to each day. Lately my ear has been tuned to stories of people who are doing what they love to do and wonderful things have been coming out of their journeys. 


Inspiration to do something BIG has been everywhere lately. Last month I heard a story about the son of a couple I know. He had made it a goal to drive to every town in Ohio on his Honda motorcycle. Having achieved that, it is now his goal to drive on every road in every county of our state. Last weekend I heard Greg Miller, son of a dear friend, share about his life leading up to his Big Year -- "an informal competition among birders to see who can see or hear the largest number of species of birds within a single calendar year within a specific geographical area..." His story has been included in a book titled, The Big Year, and soon to be released in a movie by the same title. These were 2 men from ordinary families who I actually know just doing what they loved. 


So this brings me to my new adventure. This will probably not sound very significant to most people--maybe to none at all. But to this northeastern Ohio girl, living in the same area all my life who loves to travel and make art with next to nothing in the travel budget, this seems to fit the bill. I am planning to visit all of Ohio's State Parks and produce some form of art to represent each. This could very well be a lifelong adventure--I only have 3 visits planned this year! But I think that makes it all the better. I think it's something my husband can get into with me...or maybe not. (You local friends, don't be surprised if you get an invite to travel with me sometimes.) So, from time to time I will be posting an update, painting, drawing or other "something" from my trips.


I hope that in sharing this someone will be inspired to do something you really want to do, large or small. The ordinary just might become extraordinary.


Happy journeys and happy 2011!

Pictured above:  East Harbor State Park, Port Clinton, OH

The 120 Artists CoOp Grand Opening

Come join us for the Grand Opening of the 120 Artists CoOp! Currently, there will be 14 local artists displaying and selling their work. Yesterday as I was setting up my space I took a look around and saw some wonderful watercolors, oils (or acrylic, not sure), sparkling etched glass, mosaic and note cards to name a few. I will have pastels, botanicals, other prints and ornaments available for sale. Two potters will also be included and will be demonstrating over the weekend along with a few other artists. Add coffee and goodies to snack on while you take in the beautiful artwork and we hope it will make for an enjoyable experience. The CoOp is located at 120 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH. This weekend we will be open for business Friday, November 26, 10am - 9pm, Saturday, November 27, 10am - 6pm and Sunday, November 28, 1pm - 4pm. Following weeks until Christmas hours are - Thursdays 10am - 6pm, Fridays 10am - 9pm and Saturdays 10am - 6pm. Hope to see some of you there!

Fall classes come to a close

 

 During the months of September and October I had the privilege of working with 2 groups of creative young artists in my fall children's drawing classes. Oh how this group pictured above loved to make art! -- and glitter. They are working on an underwater scene where they used glitter paint to embellish the fish.  My older class, who were equally enthusiastic, met on another day and worked in a variety of media including artist grade pencils, pastel and oil pastel and watercolor. Though I will miss my students I will be working on lessons for another round of classes in the spring. I am considering adding a more advanced class to my 1st through 3rd and 4th through 8th classes. This class will concentrate more on technique and larger projects with a focus on drawing for grades 6 and up--not sure on the age limit yet.  As in all of my classes,  I want to teach the basics of art but also want to encourage each student to develop their own unique style. More info after the first of the year.

Treasures

  ""One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few."    
 I've loved this quote from Anne Morrow Lindbergh since I first read it in her little book, Gift of the Sea. So often in our lives and even in our artwork it can be difficult to decide which treasures to choose. There are so many beautiful sunrises, flowers and scenes to paint. There are so many "places to go and people to see". I can't do it all! But as the quote seems to suggest I will live a more content and productive life if I concentrate on the important, the most meaningful, the most beautiful. ~~just a thought to begin the day.

Sketches from my sketchbook
pen & ink with watercolor pencil 

Handpainted ornaments

From time to time I take a break from the pencils and pastels to hand paint ornaments for two local shops.  The ornaments pictured here are on their way to The Victorian House in Millersburg, OH for their gift shop. I also paint ornaments with messages like, "Our First Christmas", "Happy Anniversary", "Baby's First Christmas" and other Christmas sentiments. These are available at 'Tis the Season   , an all year  Christmas shop in Berlin, OH.

lakeside sketches...

We recently spent a week at a friend's cottage by Lake Erie. During our stay I took some time to sketch a few  memories. I find that a page of sketches in my sketchbook can take me back to the time and place much better than an album full of photographs. On this page are, a hibiscus that was blooming at the cottage, an unidentified fish washed up on shore, a sand sculpture sculpted by a man who kept us entertained several days at the beach, some shells and a leaf from a tree that lined the beach path.
     We also experienced some of the most wonderful sunrises while we were there. We took so many photos which should keep me busy painting for a long while...painting one of my favorite places to be...

Summer Sky over Gem Beach

As I prepare for 2 art shows next month and anticipate our Catawba Island vacation on Lake Erie, I've just finished painting another view of Gem Beach. This time with the focus being on the cloud formations from a photo taken from last year's trip to the Lake. Looking forward to days in the sun and water, the sound of the waves and seagulls and relaxation of the week soon to come. Hope to also do some exploring of the area for future paintings.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser'

The more I learn about botanical art, the more I like it. Something about the detail, the color, and the close attention to the small things in the world that so often get overlooked. In 'Nelly Moser', I have added a few leaves and vine along with the flower this time. The plant lives beside our front porch and was just covered in blooms this spring. Looking forward to it's second blooming in the fall.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' ~ image size 9"x8"
colored pencil on bristol

Small Wonders

When I want to emphasize the intricacy and design of a small subject, I sometimes draw them with a sepia colored pencil on acid-free cream Mi Tientes paper. There is so much to be seen in these "small wonders". They are framed in locally handcrafted pine frames in sizes 5", 4" and 3" square. Other drawings in the works include pinecones, morel mushrooms, jack-in-the-pulpit and whatever else I might find on the forest floor.

Spring Flowers

The flowers in my gardens were so beautiful this spring I just couldn't resist painting a few. They are each 5"x7" framed in a 10"x12" narrow oak frame with a cream top and green inside mat.

These pieces are also available as giclee reproductions.

Dry Season

While with a group on a missions trip to El Salvador I passed this gnarled tree alongside the road. It was during the dry season, but I was struck by the beauty I found there. I thought this tree with its interesting branches in the midst of a hot and rugged environment captured the beauty of the landscape and the people of this mountain community.


This drawing takes on a dual meaning in its title, "Dry Season". We all, at one time or another, experience seasons of drought, be it creatively or spiritually. This is a reminder that these times can expose an inner beauty and strength we would have never found without them.


"Dry Season" ~ 18"x18" sepia colored pencil on cream paper.