So much news to share!!!

Hey everyone!  I'm sorry I haven't posted in quite a while, but I have been BUSY!!! Since I last posted, my scratchboard has earned me a membership in the North Carolina Wildlife Artist Society.  I also showed one of my scratchboards in the Bring Us Your Best VIII Show in Hendersonville, NC. Although I didn't win any prizes, it was still an honor to be juried into this exhibition.

Even more has happened in my quilting career!!!  In the past couple of months I have designed seven new quilt patterns.  These can be seen at my pattern website Primrose Lane. I had them displayed at the Asheville Quilt Guild's Annual Show and was very pleased with the response. 

By far, the biggest seller and most popular quilt was my "Appalachian Memories Quilt".  This quilt features 12 hand embroidered barn blocks with quilt blocks on them.  You can purchase this quilt pattern on my website at Primrose Lane.

48 hours after the quilt show was over, I was in Ohio and West Virginia promoting my barn fabric that I drew for the Mystery Harvest Shop Hop group.  (Last January I was commissioned by this group to design a special fabric for their shop hop that featured 12 drawings of barns with quilt blocks on them.)  The shop hop was a smashing success, and it was great to see all the different ways that the shops were using the fabric.  Of course, everyone made quilts, but some made purses, tote bags, table runners, wallhangings, pillows, aprons, pot holders, T-shirts, window valances, and used them as appliques on dish towels. One even had them applied to the backs of clear plates, making matching dishware.  It was a fun and exhausting trip.  I got to meet a lot of wonderful ladies and visited some really great quilt shops.

By the way, if you are interested in purchasing the fabric, please go to their link above, and you can order directly from the shops.  Although they gave me a few yards, I don't have extra to sell.  Here are a couple of my favorite items the shops created...

I wish I had the time and room to post all the pictures I took during this shop hop.  The creativity of the different shopowners and their employees was amazing.

I have already started designing some more quilt patterns and am eager to get busy sewing next week.

By the way... they have already commissioned me to design another fabric for them for next year's shop hop.  I can't tell you what the topic will be, but I know it will inspire as much or more creativity than this year's fabric.  Guess you will all have to just wait and see...

My First Art Award!

As a member of the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League, I was able to enter their recent juried show being held at the Tyson Library in Black Mountain.  I placed second in the Drawing Category! 

Here I am with my art and my ribbon.  The drawing is called "Stories to Tell", and is an 8" x 10" on Ampersand scratchboard.  My daughter says the picture makes it look as if she is fussing at me.

Freedom

Saturday I felt the need to paint rather than scratch. The watercolor that follows was painted that afternoon.
I found this photo online and loved the action of the scene. I think the appaloosa was the most challenging since the shadows had to be so much more subtle than those on the darker horses.

Two New Works and Booth

A week ago I participated in an Arts & Crafts Show in Cullowhee, NC.  It was a lovely show.  I will also be participating in their winter show during the Thanksgiving weekend.   Here is a look at my booth...

While at the show, I stayed busy working on some scratchboard. The Lioness that follows was completed at the show.  The Tiger was started at the show and completed in my studio.

"Making Friends" is finished!

My big scratchboard is finally finished and ready to be framed.  The frame was ordered today, so it should be ready sometime next week.   So looking forward to having these two precious foals hanging on someone's wall.  ... I apologize for the glare.

Almost finished!

This larger scratchboard (16" x 20") has been a real challenge.  I think I enjoy the smaller boards because they can be completed more quickly.  However, it is nice to have the larger surface available... more room for details.  Here are two more pictures of it in progress.  I have some fine tuning still on it, so it is about 2-3 hours from completion. 

New watercolor and another scratchboard started...

I completed a watercolor this morning that was started on Wednesday.  Not sure what to call it, but it is a close-up of the flower boxes at the Ranger's Cabin at the Cradle of Forestry near Brevard, NC.

I have also started a LARGE scratchboard... at least it is large for me - 16" x 20". 

The finished drawing will be two foals nose to nose. 

The area shown below is about 9" x 16". 

Here it is after a few more hours of work. I have plastic wrap

on the right side of the board to help protect

the guide lines from getting rubbed off by my hand.

Another busy week...

It has been another busy week in the studio... actually out of the studio.
I finished another scratchboard on Tuesday during my art class.  I am not sure what to name this one.  So far I am calling it "Nan's Wolf" since Nan photographed it.

On Wednesday I went ot the Cradle of Forestry near Brevard, NC and spent the day painting.  The painting below is not yet complete.  It is a close-up of the flower boxes at the Ranger's Cabin. 

It is a 12 x 16 watercolor.

Today I spent the day at Floyd & Lori Kemp's garden in Black Mountain, NC.  I was participating in a local "Art in Bloom" event to promote the arts.  Artists were stationed in various gardens painting, and people went from garden to garden to see the gardens and the artists at work.

This is a 12 x 16 on Arches watercolor block.

It will be on display and available to purchase on Sunday at the Black Mountain center for the Arts.

"Waiting for Mama"

Here is another 8 x 10 scratchboard that I completed today. I call it "Waiting for Mama". I love the innocent expression on the little fawn's face.  Pardon the glare.  I have not yet sealed it.

"The Scruffy Colt"

Here is my newest scratchboard.  It is 8 x 10 on Ampersand board.

"American Pride"

This is the first scratchboard that I have done on the white claybord surface.  It is colored with scratchboard inks before the surface is scratched. 

First I laid down the colored inks.

Then I transferred the guidelines I would need for the scratching.

Finally I was able to begin scratching.

...and scratching...

This is the finished result...

8 x 10 on white claybord using colored inks.

"American Pride"

original $300.00

New Scratchboards completed!

I participated in a local arts & crafts show this past weekend.  An unseasonal heat wave kept many of the potential customers away, but it allowed me an opportunity to work on my scratchboards.  I was able to finish the orangutan on Saturday and started a tiger on Sunday.  This morning I was able to complete the tiger, so I now have two ready to seal, scan and frame.  Both are 8 x 10.

Here is a close up of the eye, and another of the muzzle.

"Stories to Tell" is finally finished!

This lady has been quite a challenge, but I am thrilled with the results.  I learned how to draw (aka scratch) human skin, fabric, and knitted caps.  I have an arts and craft show this weekend, but after that I hope to get busy scratching and drawing again.

Orangutan continued...

Today was my last scratchboard class, giving me three hours to work on the orangutan uninterrupted.  As you can see, I have made quite a bit of progress.  His muzzle seems to be taking forever, but as my teacher reminded me... it is about half of the picture.

Scratchboard Adventures Continue...

Since discovering scratchboard five weeks ago, I have become completely hooked! This is such a fun medium to work with.  The details that can be obtained are amazing, and I am only just beginning.

Here are a few of my recent projects...

"Angel 2"

8 x 10

"Orchid 1"

8 x 10

scratchboard and ink

"Watchful"

8 x 10

I am still working on the next one. I call it "Stories to Tell".  I was attracted to this piece because of the challenges involved;  flesh instead of fur, the various clothing textures (especially the knitted caps) and the challenge of doing a human portrait.  So far I am very pleased with the results.

"Stories to Tell"

work in progress

8 x 10

Finally I am working on an orangutan portrait.  Yes, challenged again by the various textures, especially the wrinkled skin and dynamic eyes. ... also an 8 x 10.



I've discovered scratchboard!

Like me, many of you used to do scratchboard art when you were in elementary school.  Whether we used purchased kits or made our own using crayons, we were always fascinated by scratching away the layer of black to reveal the drawing hidden beneath.

Scratchboard has come a long way, and is being once again accepted as fine art.  Thanks to my art teacher, Lorelle Bacon, I have discovered this fun and addicting medium.  In the last 8 days I have completed 5 different scratchboards with topics ranging from animals to lace to statuary.  If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it.  Supplies can be purchased online at sites like Dick Blick and Jerry's Artarama.

Here are the pieces I have completed thus far... Specially formulated inks were used to add color to the zebra and cat.  All are 5 x 7.  In addition to the originals, they are available as prints or notecards.

Portrait Commission

Now that it has been delivered, I can finally post a picture of a portrait that I just completed.  It is 16" x 20", oil on canvas.  The clients were thrilled with it.  In fact, it received such a favorable response from all who saw it, that another person commissioned a portrait that very day.

Pears & Grapes in a Blue Bowl

I painted another still life yesterday.  This one is 9" x 12" on Arches 140 lb cold press paper.  I am very pleased with the results.  I am enjoying painting these still life subjects.

Lemons on a Blue Plate

I painted this little painting today while spending the day with a friend of mine. I am very pleased with the outcome.  The reference photo showed the plate of lemons on a striped tablecloth.  The doily was from my imagination.  Watercolor on 9" x 12" Arches block.

African Violets in Colored Pencil

I finally got out of the house today and went to Jerry's Artarama.  I needed some tracing paper for a project that I am working on.  While I was there, I picked up some colored pencils.  Tonight I decided to play with them a bit.  The following study of an african violet  is the result of my "play time".  I did the initial drawing in pen.  (I wish that I had done it in pencil, since I am not thrilled with how it looks on the flower petals.)  However, I love how the leaves turned out.  I think they do look fuzzy.

Just had to draw something!

I am so very tired of being sick and having trouble breathing.  This afternoon I finally decided that I had to draw something or go mad.  (Only another artist would understand that sentiment.)  The following pen & ink was in response to the February Pen & Ink Challenge on Wetcanvas.  I am very pleased with the results. 

I was drawn to it because of the lace doily, but honestly found the cherries to be more difficult.  I wasn't quite sure how to make them look shiny.  I certainly hope I succeeded.

Playing with watercolor pencils...

I apologize for the recent silence.  I have had a nasty respiratory bug that I can't seem to shake. Today was my third trip to the doctor.  Hopefully I will feel better soon, because I REALLY miss painting.

Several weeks ago I spent the afternoon playing with some watercolor pencils with a painting friend of mine.  We had a good time experimenting,  The following is 9 x 12 on Arches 140lb cold pressed paper block.  We used the Inktense watercolor pencils available from Cheap Joe's or Jerry's Artarama online.
I was so impressed with them, that I ordered the complete set from Cheap Joe's.  I can hardly wait for them to come in...

Let's try this again...

I rebooted my computer, and it seems to behaving

a little better. The following two paintings were done

 in watercolor on Aquarelle Arches Watercolor Block.

In addition to these, I have also been working

on some pen & ink drawings, and a couple of

watercolor pencil drawings.

I will upload those tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I will try to get some rest and

see if I can get rid of my cold.