Holiday Cards are Here!

Its that time of the year! 
First, we're planning for our Thanksgiving celebration. But before all the food, fun, family and friends convene, there is, the trip... with two old kitties (15 & 20 years old) driving from MT to WA...they're actually pretty seasoned travelers. 
  

Don, Jazz & Seven  

Road-Trip  

Of course then there is my favorite Holiday meal! It is, my most favorite Dinner to cook and share. I completely enjoy the entire process, even the grocery shopping! I remember cooking with my Grandmother....the love of cooking in general and especially this meal, started with her. 

From The Studio
I'm  finishing up a colour collection of cards from an original Watercolour Collage: "Poinsettia".  Some of the cards will be embellished with  gold leaf, there's always room in life, for a little sparkle...... 

This years card is a 5" x 7" folded card & envelope. 

"Poinsettia" in four colours, sold in a mixed pack of ten. 
Use Free Shipping code at checkout: card15

Click Here to Purchase 

Studio "In Progress"

So many things to do, places to go, and Art to See!

I am burning through my summer, literately and well...it's just flying by again.  As I've gotten older I so appreciate the opportunity to spend time with my friends, painting, enjoying a meal or coffee and the opportunity to meet new folks, see new art and ideas...all wonderful!  Also, I'm simply enjoying the unique landscape of where we live and of our travels.  So much beauty out there, its huge on the inspiration meter. 

If you're in my area, Kalispell MT or Cashmere WA, please give me a call, stop by my studio and see what I have on the art table.....I usually have a bit of story to go with my pieces. 
(click here for my contact information)

I wanted to thank the Gallery owners and organizations that represent my Art, if you're in the area, stop in and enjoy an amazing collection of Art works form local to national Artists....super nice folks too!

Copper Sun Gallery at Branding Iron Station in Bigfork, MT. Stop in and meet Owner, Beverly Ferguson, enjoy this beautiful Gallery and generous hospitality.

Wild Eye Artistry in Downtown Kalispell.....Rick Green, Owner and Artist has assembled an eclectic group of local and national artists and their works of Art.

Glacier Sun Winery......Wonderful wines, live music and a little art, be sure to say hello to Bill the tasting room manager.

The Healing Arts Gallery at Kalispell Regional Medical Center....An amazing presentation of local arts works, take time to tour and take in some breathtaking Art.

2 Rivers Gallery in Wenatchee WA...2 Rivers is an Art cooperative that promotes visual arts in North Central WA.  Join the community on the First Friday of every month for a great Art Experience. (3 new pieces being delivered August 1st)

Art Across Montana: WaterWorks Art Museum in Miles City, MT


My watercolour "Holding onto the Glory" is showing at this event.

Art and Life.....

How is it that we are able to create Art and  manage life's commitments and daily distractions.....they might be obligations that are scheduled or needs that simply fall at your feet without notice....I have had my share of that lately. But it's like a very good old friend used to say " Life is Good".

My husband Don and I have been back and forth to the family farm in Washington, getting ready for and now working on the projects scheduled for this summer.  Two new decks, one with pergola, pool renovation and landscape......Lots of land, lots of landscape.  

There are other projects in the wings but I am grateful to have such a beautiful place to visit and call home, to paint, wander in the orchard, walk along the edge of the canyon or follow the ditch bank looking at the Cascades....amazing inspiration. 

Some pictures of our projects below and my sources of inspiration. And yes thru the distractions I have 6 new pieces going to be scanned before framing. Four leaf pieces using Hostas, Burdock picked in Washington and Rocket plant from Kalispell. There are two non-leaf pieces, a tropical fish and a jeweled sunset landscape, both with gold leaf accents.....A girl loves a little gold :)

Leave me a comment below and tell me how you stay inspired in and around the happenings of life.  

You can now purchase prints and gallery wrapped canvas Giclee's

Here

If you are enjoying my work, the story of the process please share this Blog with your friends...Thank you!

Mark Making with Leaves

I have found that using leaves to make initial marks on paper or canvas  can be a magical process.  Over the years I have experimented with image making by using acrylic, watercolours and ink painted on to all kinds of leaves and then pressed to a surface. Sometimes the results are dynamic and detailed or the impression left can be lackluster requiring work on my part to be visually interesting.

I scrounge for leaves in the winter, and have wonderful friends who bring me bags of leaves from their gardens during the growing season.  I have found that freezing leaves allows me more play in the snowy winter months.  My husband says we have no meat in our freezer as it is full of leaves....and he loves me still :)

I have experimented with applying pressure to get the paint to release and merge on the paper; rolling with a brayer, applying a paper-towel over the leaf and pressing gently with my fingers to fully weighting down the leaves overnight.   

The pictures below show an application of watercolour to leaves that I picked from our family farm in WA recently.  In this project, I applied a solid surface weight (acrylic sheet over the leaf and then plywood on top) overnight to let the paint seep into the paper and do its magic.......

Grape Leaves 

Watercolour wash applied to the vein side of the leaf

Grape leaf imprinted onto 
Arches 140 Lb. paper

Grape leaf imprinted onto 
Arches  140 Lb.  paper

Sometimes I cut the individual leaves out and use them in collage, other times I work the background to complete the piece.