Welcome to our 9th Annual Art-a- Day event!

I'm super excited to get to the studio everyday this month and make sh*t!

Let's do this thing!!

A snip from my Astrolabe 2015

Schweitzer Mountain Sunrise, tapestry

Schweitzer Mountain Sunrise
Hand woven Tapestry
16.5" H x 45.5" W
May 2015
Patti Kirch

Outcome goals are difficult to accomplish because they tend to have factors that are not solely in one's control.  Layne Goldsmith, a University of Washington Professor of Art and Design was the juror and selected 36 tapestries, including the above piece, for the Pacific Time Zone tapestry show.
The show will be in Corvallis, Oregon
August 18th - September 20th, 2016
The artists must live in the Pacific Time Zone, including Mexico and British Columbia.
TAPS, ( Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound) is the sponsor organization.
My personal goal was a stretch but I completed weaving Schweitzer Mountain Sunrise by one of my daughter's May 2015 graduation.
This view was so inspiring, 6:20 Christmas morning, apricot to azure, I had to weave it!

The Altered Page: Purge or Splurge

The Altered Page: Purge or Splurge
Recently I had a major "art emergency"! From my outside hose spigot, water leaked into my art studio and adjacent kitchen causing a lot of damage. Antique and vintage books got wet! Since I hoard art supplies and ephemera, this has force me to clean up, organize (dirty word to me) and purge. After its all over and I have a new "wood" floor, it will be worth it.

Tea, Books, Henna, Lotus Flowers and Barracuda

Hey guys!!!

I hope this year is going well and folks are continuing to create art even after January's Art-a-day challenge. This is what I have been working on!

If you live in the Tri-Cities you can go check out my henna and lotus flower inspired tea artwork at Barracuda Coffee in Richland. I am really excited about how the large piece turned out... The work will be up Through March and into early Aprily (dates TBD).

Feel free to watch the video below (or if you want to watch it on YouTube and subscribe to see more of my art click here.)

Makerspace in Tri-Cities!

The Confluent Space recently had their big grand opening and Red Show Art Exhibition. There were over 30 artists involved in the event and I think it's safe to say that we all had a fantastic time. It is a beautiful thing when hard work pays off and artists come together to make the world and our city a better place.

This video shares some of the ways that the arts community in the Tri-Cities, Washington was able to have fun and share what they do.

Pugs completed at last.

Finally. I'm satisfied. 

Tapestry Scroll, Hanafubuki and Tea for Two

Tapestry Scroll of a Hanafubuki event while sharing a cup of tea, delightful weaving in the month of January indeed!

A cherry blossom landing in one's cup of tea is good luck!  

Hana is a cherry blossom and fubuki is a snow blizzard.
Hanafubuki event is a Cherry Blossom Blizzard!

Tapestry Scroll, Hanafubuki and Tea for Two,  5 3/4" x 33"
Bobi, thank you again for this great challenge during our mostly grey sky January, mine was swirling with Cherry Blossoms while sipping aromatic tea.
Patti Kirch

With Gratitude and Appreciation...

Thank You! for your posts, your work, your sharing.  It is such an honor and pleasure to witness each unique process, share the ride and experience your wonderful art.  

Clearly it hasn't been a 'making' or posting month for me. What's typically my quiet time of year has been jam-packed so my appreciation for all of you who have contributed, commented, encouraged and kept this community going is huge.  Huge.  Thank you. 

I'm hoping for more time in the studio and making in February  - and maybe even posting.  The blog doors remain open - feel free stop by and hang out!

 

joy in all things,

Bobi

   

Pugs progression.

Pugs. Think I'm almost done. 

  

Compote heart in process

Thus far...

The picture shows the parent materials up top.  And both front and back (inset) so far.   I flatten a piece of the very thin, crinkly base then soldered it to a piece of side trim (also flattened), then cut out the heart shape.

Both of them are very thin so I soldered a piece of the hammered bowl to the back to give it some stability.

It has potential to become a fun, bohemian piece but pretty ho-hum so far (bo-ho-hum?). My only ideas of added wire and rivets are pretty boring too.

This is from yesterday.  I hope to get to the studio yet tonight and have a wild and crazy idea take hold.

Progress

Pugs are coming along slowly. Will probably finish today or tomorrow. 

sketching Paris

I attempted to sketch another Paris building - hubby took this photo of the Paris Opera House.  My first dome attempt :)

source photo

There's a lot going on in this photo so I did some editing - also wanted to begin to use shadows and introduce some of the darkest darks.

And then, for something different, I tried a quicker sketch and simpler subject (except for the cars).

source photo

We walked home to our rental apartment many days on this street - the beginning of fall in Paris. Again added color with my Inktense watercolor pencils and a water brush.

Thanks for checking in - Bobi, thanks again for reminding and including me - it's a great way to start the new year!

The cat, adjusted

I am so grateful with the inputs from Chris, Bobi, and my teacher, Yichien, so here is the cat peeking out.

Helping out in a time of need

The music teacher at Scott's school was trying to reformat her student's wonderful art by copying and literally cutting and arranging components on a photocopier to make a poster.  Poor babe was about to pull her hair out trying to align things and find space for words and sponsors.

I'm not a graphic artist but  even rudimentary photoshop skills are 100 times, ...no 1000 times easier than photocopying.

The young artist is rightfully proud.

FYI: new art scam.

(I know this is off topic, but seems like good info to know. )

Dear members (of Montana Watercolor Society),

One of our MTWS members was recently involved in a scam reported to be hitting the Northwest. The folks who emailed her posed as art dealers, wanting to buy or saying they had a buyer for her painting. They sent her a phony cashiers check that was about $1000 too much and told her their mail carrier would pick up the painting. They told her to cash the check and send them the balance. She is working with her bank and has the police involved too. They are supposedly working out of the East coast area. 

The major red flags here were the use of a cashiers check or money order for an amount way over the artist's given price. Also be aware of the buyer using a 3rd party for things like shipping.

As artists we all get excited about someone loving our art and wanting to own it, but we can't let our guard down and fall into this kind of trap. Always keep in mind the warning "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." The following are good articles to read about what to watch out for:

http://www.agora-gallery.com/advice/blog/2014/12/11/how-to-recognize-an-art-scam/

https://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

Jessica Glenn

MTWS Membership Chair

www.montanawatercolorsociety.org

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Day 24 - HOLY SMOKE!

These are the last 2 of 8 in a 'GRAPE SERIES'.  I need 6 to take to Frichette Winery this week and will take 3 Whites and 3 Reds.

"Birds Eye View of Columbia River "

Getting my inventory up for the The American Empress steam boat to return in the spring.

Passengers buy little flat items to squeeze into their suitcases.

Birds Eye View of Columbia River

THE AMERICAN EMPRESS steam boat

8x10 watercolor and sharpie

on arches 140#  matted w/ clear sleeve

$25.00

Gail Roadhouse artist

instructor, #USkTC urban sketcher

gailsgalleryandgifts.com

Still feeling awkward as a new bride in the studio

Toyed with this old drawing as a Heart a Day brooch.  Would probably combine copper, silver and brass but it's just not grabbing me enough to push through this awkwardness.
Perhaps down the road a bit.


Repaired the ding in my rolling mill that happened during the move.  Pleased it wasn't any worse.  It's my most expensive piece of equipment.

 This is kind of calling to me.  A sterling compote thrift store find from back when silver was cheap. Imagining a Heart Brooch from a mix of these scraps.

More dinking around.  Two silkworm cocoons cut and tucked together.  This could be fun.  They're super light weight yet darn tough. Ripe with potential.
In my mind I imagine silver inlay but seriously question how to pull that off.
These are charming to hold and cogitate possibilities.

Portrait of Delia, and Hanford Cloudscape by Laura Gable

"Delia" oil painting sketch on 8x10 canvas, ©Laura Gable

"Clouds Above Hanford" 8x6 oil painting on oil paper, ©Laura Gable

Working on the daily paintings allows you to paint all manner of things. My artist friend Delia popped by the studio yesterday, so she sat for a quick portrait sketch. The light from the window shifted quickly, so we wrapped it up after about 1.5 hours, but it was fun to capture the nuances of color on the beautiful high cheekboned planes of her face. She did a lot of chatting, as she filled me in on her life, so I'm not quite sure that I got the smile on her lips to move to her eyes. Oh and as John Singer Sargent said, "There's something about that nose that's not quite right." (Or did he say it the mouth??) Yah I do like portraits and will give it another go soon.

The other painting is a small one I did on a piece of Arches Oil Paper, which I mounted to gatorboard.  It's from a photo I took up around the Hanford site near the Ringold entrance... a great spot to go do some storm watching. Working with the paper is interesting. It has a soft vellum texture and holds up to oil paint and washes surprisingly well. According to a few "how to" sites, it's best to put a thinned wash of oil paint down first which seems to keep the heavier strokes of color from absorbing totally into the paper. I've got a few spare pieces sitting about, so let me know if you want to practice on it. ;-)

Happy creating!!

another sketch attempt

Sketching an elevation view (ala Stephanie Bower) using info from her Craftsy perspective drawing video course (on sale right now). I added color with my inktense pencils & a water brush.

Here's the source photo I took on a neighborhood street

Wish I'd have thought to take a photo before color - it sure helped a lot, especially since I think much of the interest in this photo derives from the red door.  About to attempt 1 point perspective......

Day 21

Finished Moving, started a new one...

Totally missed this one's process but it's done...

Will submit 6 finished paintings (all 20" x 16") to show through the month of February at Frichette Winery on Red Mountain - part of 'Heart Healthy' month!

"Urban Sketchers at Allied Arts"

Urban Sketchers: Tri-Cities will be sharing the gallery with David Wyatt, local aerial photographer, at Allied Arts during the month of February.  All of the "Art-A-Day" folks are invited to attend the reception - February 7th from 1pm to 3pm.  The Super Bowl is on at 3:30, so there's just enough time to come on over and enjoy the show. Want to know more about us?  Click here, or find us on FB. 

"Yokes Fresh Market Pasco Sketch"

#USkTC Urban Sketchers Tricity met yesterday at Yokes in Pasco.  There was 18 of us mostly in the produce section sketching away while the staff tried to fill up the baskets around us.  Very Funny.  I did this sketch in 1/2 hour with watercolor no touch ups.  It could use more but I feel a sketch should be done quickly and is the first step to a larger more elaborate painting.  I could be wrong everyone was taught differently.

Gail Roadhouse

full time artist / instructor

urban sketcher member

Mid Columbia Watercolor Society member

The cat

 I am almost done with the cat painting....there's something bothering me, and I don't know what it is, so I'll wait and see for some time.

enough of bubbles

I finished this one, and liked it, but it does not like bubbles floating around. So I think I'll stop my bubbles thing. until I figure out how to do them right, or give them another name. :-)

attempting to sketch

I've long held the wish that I could draw / sketch.  My artistic commitment to myself this year is that this is the year I tackle that challenge. I had perspective drawing years ago as an interior design student, but I never really "got" it. I've purchased and read a zillion books on it, and while intellectually, I kinda understand, as soon as I sit down with pencil in hand, I'm lost.

So, I purchased a Perspective for Sketching video class on Craftsy.com and took a free sketching class at Daniel Smith last night. The journey begins................

My first effort for my first video lesson was to draw an elevation view of a building. I chose a photo of a door that I took in Paris last fall.

Sketches don't scan very well, but you get the idea.  Below is my reference photo.

I feel like I did a decent job of getting the proportions right - I'm excited to expand my sketching skills this year!

branching out

I was challenged to "branch out", try something new, be bold. So I did.....tried a couple things I've been meaning to work on for years - image transfer for one.

I created a background with an acrylic wash and stamps on a 90 lb paper. Printed out a photo of mine on a laser printer and went to work.

I covered the base paper with matte gel and rubbed out all the air bubbles from my photo (with a little tear).  It dried overnight.

The next day, wet the paper and rub and rub and voila....the image appears.  Why was I so intimidated by this again?

I like how the stamping can be seen through the transfered image - and the rough, rubbed away edges adds a vintage or aged feeling. I did a couple more - don't like the next one because I feel like all the detail in the dark area was lost - but it's all an experiment, right?  The other is a photo I took in Paris last fall and again, my fave part is seeing the stamps through the photo.

Also - a quick update....I shared my round robin journal page start earlier in the month. Here's the finished pages:

paintings, 12x36 each

All I need to do is add a couple coats varnish and some wire and they are ready for sale. Collage paper has been added.
 

Still working on this one, just added first layer of collage paper.  This painting is 36"x48".