susan melrath

Lucia Douglas Gallery

2011-12-06T11:01:00.001-08:00

Moondance acrylic on canvas 10"x10" each

A selection of my small abstractions are on display at the Lucia Douglas Gallery in Bellingham, WA now through January 4, 2012. Linda Gardner, runs this beautiful art space with the grace of a born host, making every guest feel welcome. Opening night, December 2nd, coincided with Bellingham's first Friday art walk, and the place was hopping. Other artists participating in this small works show include Kim Murton, Jean Bradbury, Alison O'Donoghue, Jennifer Phillips and Emily Peck.

...at the Lucia Douglas Gallery, Bellingham, WA

My work on display.

Sold! "Seven Inches From the Midday Sun"

Commissioning A Painting

2011-10-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

"Sofa" by Holly Farrell

You have a big, empty wall space and you want something special to hang there, but you just haven’t found the perfect fit. Maybe you love a certain artist’s work, but none of her pieces are the right size or color for your decor.

Commissioning a piece of work can be a great solution and can be a thrilling (but intimidating) experience. I have been on both sides of this experience, so I fully understand the concerns of both parties. Here is a basic idea of what to expect from the commissioning process, and how to avoid problems.

A contract might seem scary, or too formal, or even threatening, but actually it is a great tool for bringing clarity and for remembering specifics. It outlines the project details so that everyone is on the same page. A good contract might cover the following....

Description of the project - This would be as specific as possible, including size, color palette, imagery, surface (paper, canvas, board), frame or no frame.
Deadline - Smaller pieces may take less time than larger - specific details and timing of the commission request will determine the time required for completion.
Pricing - My prices for commissioned work are comparable to my existing works, so by looking at other paintings in a size and medium similar to what you want, you will have an idea of what your commission will cost.
Payment Terms - I require a deposit of 25% on all commissions (up to 50% on highly directed works). You have a grace period up to but not including the date I have booked to begin your commission to cancel and receive a full refund of your down payment. After this period (once I have started your commission), the down-payment is non-refundable. If requested, sketches can be used to approve specific imagery or color schemes. Additional fees may be charged for revisions made after approval of sketches, and for revisions reflecting a new direction to the project. Final payment is due upon completion and acceptance of the work.
Right of Refusal - It is my intent to create artworks for my clients that they will want to purchase! However, if, after the work is completed, the collector does not wish to purchase the work, he/she may refuse. In that case, I will retain the refused artwork, the nonrefundable deposit, and revision fees, free of any claims or interests of the collector and the collector will owe no additional fees.

As a future member of my collector family, you are going to be as involved as you like in the commissioning process. When possible, I am happy to help choose a size and a color palette, and to send images of the work in progress. In this way, you can be confident that your painting will be a perfect fit.

Kill It or Save It?

2011-10-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Memory of Magnolia ~ acrylic on paper ~ 20"x26"

Underpainting

Not quite there yet

I love all the stages of creating a new painting. I often start by laying down random color and shapes and just getting lost in the process. In those early stages, anything goes - I more or less feel my way around. There comes a point, however, when choices must be made and I can feel my brain switching over to "edit" mode....and then back again. Then sometimes I'm just stumped.

This painting kicked around my studio for a year looking like a total failure. That's harsh - let's just say it was "unresolved." The funny thing was that I liked it at first, then - the more I looked at it the less I liked it. I stuffed it away in my flat file because it was annoying me. Mocking me, actually.

Then one day - it was back on my painting board and I was determined to kill it or save it. Where to start? Sometimes it's just a step at a time. First step - get rid of just one thing you don't like. Slowly, everything starts to change, you respond to the changes, and now you're back in the saddle. So, today I like the piece. Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow.

zoom zoom

2011-07-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

"Story of the Sun" acrylic on cradled board 6x6 each

I've posted about these paintings before, but want to share a little more about their inspiration.

Some of my paintings get pretty busy with patterning and layers. I was craving the serene, simplicity of uncluttered space and shapes, so I zoomed in on "Wandering" and found many restful compositions hiding in the tangle of line and color. It's funny how different things look,

depending on how close we are.

Ahhh - art as a metaphor for life - I love that.

Here is "Wandering"

and the close ups....

can you find these in the larger piece?

work in progress...

and the finished set of panels....

"Story of the Moon" acrylic on cradled board 5x7 each

flora and fauna

2011-07-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

The Eastside Association of Fine Art's "Flora And Fauna" exhibition has opened at their Seattle Design Center Gallery. The gallery is a beautiful space and I anticipate this to be an inspired show. The exhibition runs from June 28 - August 26. It is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. "Indigo Garden'" above, was juried in and our artists' reception will be July 14th - from 4 to 7 pm.

The address is

Seattle Design Center

5701 6th Ave. South Suite #A239

Seattle

Unplugged

2011-06-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

One week: no news, no internet, no social network or texting. “Unplug yourself!” was the request and challenge of ArtsWest Gallery Director Nichole DeMent and co-curator Michele Osgood of Bherd Studios. Participating artists had to unplug from TV, Internet, and text messaging for 1 full week.

Unplugging for me meant....not visiting my mom on Skype, not seeing my far away friends on Facebook, not curling up on the sofa with my family to watch an evening show together. I didn’t make it through the week! I missed all of it.

In the artwork I created, that absence was expressed through an absence of color and organic shape. “Flower, Unplugged” is a gray tone, pixelated version of a colorful floral painting called “Twelve Bar Blues.” Here's the original, and the unplugged version...

I also felt compelled to express my reaction in materials other than paint. Pulling a plug out of it’s socket, I saw the sad little faces on the outlet plate. Okay, so I was projecting a little. In Photoshop, I played with the image until it was just right...

Taking a look at the electrical plug, I wondered how it might be used to express my feelings towards the unplugged experience. My solution...

"Permanently Unplugged" electrical cord

Reviewed by Michael Upchurch of the Seattle Times

HERE

The Unplugged Challenge shows the various interpretations from the artists’ experiences and unveils intriguing insights on the plight of technology dependency. The result of this isolation experiment can be seen in the Unplugged Challenge in ArtsWest’s gallery from

June 28 – July 24, 2011.

ArtsWest gallery presents

the unplugged challenge
eXHIBITION RUNs june 28^th – july 24^th

aRTISTS’ RECEPTION on tHURSDAY, July 14^TH, 6-7:30pm

what's blooming

2011-06-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

"I Made This for You" ~ acrylic on canvas ~ 36"x48"

My garden is bursting with color and texture....what an inspiration. And here is what's blooming in the studio. I've captured this piece in photos as it developed (below), for your amusement! The flower shape comes from a sketch my son made for me when he was around five years old.

Issaquah ArtWalk: Save the Date!

2011-05-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

Save the date for a unique experience at Issaquah's ArtWalk on Friday, September 2nd, 5-8 pm!

Hint: you'll see a lot of this....

the birth of a painting

2011-04-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

Dream Garden acrylic on board 80"x24" $2500

Dream Garden is hanging at Sightline Institute through June 30th. Read about the show and

Art and Sustainability here.

I'm having too much fun on Apple's Keynote - making slideshows and videos of my process.

Hope it's entertaining! (double click to see full size)

tetraptych...really?

2011-04-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

I've made diptychs, and even triptychs, but I wasn't sure what to call this new work made up of four panels. So I looked it up and yep, that's what it's called. Although I'm not sure if mine qualifies, since it's not actually one image broken into four segments. But it is meant to be viewed together as shown. The general term for multi paneled paintings is "polyptych." So there's your word for the day!

Having said all that, I just hung them in a different format, and I kind of like them this way...

Story of the Moon ~ acrylic on wood ~ 5x7 panels ~ $400.

art & technology

2011-03-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Recently I showed a time lapse video to a relative. The video showed hours of me painting, condensed into 2 minutes. His remarks were interesting. He said, “I didn’t know you turned the canvas around so much when you painted.” He was intrigued by that, and surprised at the changes that took place throughout the process. I never thought such a simple aspect of my painting process would be interesting to a viewer. He noted that seeing the video made him much more curious and appreciative of the work.

This is why I think QR codes are so great. There is such terrific potential for connecting with your viewer in a very personal way, even when you are not present. You might share in-depth information about the inspiration for your work, or maybe a video of the work in progress. This can add a dimension to the viewing experience that couldn’t happen otherwise.

Anyone using a smart phone with a camera and the proper application to read the code, can scan it on the spot and open the artist’s website, contact info, blog or video. From that point, the artist’s presence online is available for the visitor. The codes are being used extensively in Japan and are slowly catching on in the States.

Imagine driving by a house for sale and wondering how it looks inside. Scan the little code on the “for sale” sign, and take the 365 degree tour right there on the street. Posters for the Picasso exhibit at the VA Museum of Fine Art, include a black and white image of Picasso’s face made up of QR Codes. When scanned, the codes take you immediately to the sales office with information on purchasing a ticket for the show. Seattle Art Museum used similar technology with Microsoft tags, for the same Picasso exhibit.

So be ready! You might come across one of these codes one day and if you have the app on your phone, you’ll be able to access the information it’s offering. Follow this link to download your free QR Code reader. If you have an iPhone, you can get “Quickmark” from iTunes.

If you’re standing in front of “Midnight Angels,” which is hanging at the Virginia Inn in Seattle (through 4/30/11), you will see a code posted on the price tag. Scan this with your new app and see where it takes you. You can even try it right here on your computer! Here’s the code....

Red Between the Lines

2011-02-14T16:23:00.000-08:00

I knew this triptych was going to be about "red." That was the setup. So, while the flower shapes remained red throughout the painting process, everything around them needed to be adjusted over and over. Each layer of glaze made subtle (and not-so-subtle) changes to the overall feeling. I also played with patterns throughout. I focused on the checked patterns for a while, then on the circle-chains. There were times when I ended the day in the studio with a very ugly painting on the easel.

I hate that feeling.

I'm really miserable until I'm on the right track (ask my family). I lay awake at night wondering what that "red" wants. Why doesn't it look voluptuous, like I had intended? "Maybe I just suck as a painter," whispers that nasty little voice in my head. "Shut up - nobody loves you," I reply.

It feels like such a relief to have solved the problem at hand. I can enjoy the other aspects of life, free in knowing that my last painting was a success. (Sometimes I'll even peek in the studio to be sure)

So I think I'll take a moment to enjoy this feeling before diving into the abyss once more.

This painting, and the rest of the "Garden" series will be on display at the Virginia Inn on Thursday, March 3rd. Opening reception is 5-7pm. See my last post for all the details.

"In the Garden" A Solo Exhibition at the Virginia Inn

2011-01-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

Virginia Inn

I am looking forward to seeing the fruits of many months of labor, all come together on the walls

of the VI. There will be wine and simple hors d'oeuvres from 5-7. The opening is on Seattle's First Thursday ArtWalk, so many galleries will be open late. SAM is just around the corner and will be open until 9pm with free admission for all. I hope if you're in the area you'll stop by!

crimson kiss

2011-01-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

crimson kiss © susan melrath; acrylic on canvas ; 36x36

this painting began a little differently than it ended. below, you can see all the patterning that was edited, and the too-realistic shapes that were simplified.

ruby harvest

2011-01-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

ruby harvest © susan melrath; 24x36; acrylic on canvas

below is a little of the underpainting of "ruby harvest." i didn't start documenting the painting until this point which is a shame because underneath this layer is a completely different painting - one that wasn't cooperating!

midnight angels

2011-01-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

midnight angels © susan melrath; acrylic on canvas; 48" x 60" each

red seed

2011-01-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

this painting was the first created in the "brushes" app on my iphone. i loved the fact that it was part doodling and part painting - no pressure, just fooling around. "brushes" also allows you to replay your painting stroke by stroke, and export it as a movie....

i decided to see how this image might translate to canvas.

so.....back in the studio i begin the process of layering....

red seed © susan melrath; 24x48; acrylic on board

....and this is "red seed."

the process of wandering

2010-12-30T11:28:00.000-08:00

wandering © susan melrath; 80x24; acrylic on board

there's something about painting on a hard, smooth surface that makes me happy. the first wood panel paintings date back to the 9th century a.d., so this is hardly a new concept. but i've worked on canvas for years and never really "loved" it. i prefer paper, but geez.....the framing costs are ridiculous. wood surfaces can be less expensive and they can take a beating. they do need to be prepared properly - sealed and primed, of course. "wandering" was painted on a hollow core door from home depot and it's a beautiful size for over your sofa or bed!

a work in progress: "trinity"

2010-11-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

it's fun to start a painting...just throw colors around and play...

like running through a dream...anything can happen. explore...try new things.

no thinking....just doing.

eventually some ideas start to form and i follow.

choices do have to be made. early on they aren't too important.

stay in the "unknowing" for as long as possible.

edit.

what is right?

what needs adjustment?

how far to go?

it's a lot like life.

and more shows....

2010-10-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

thursday, november 4th will be the opening for "impressions: faces and figures" at the ida culver house, broadview in seattle from 5 - 7 pm. the art will be on exhibit through march 20, 2011. there are some amazing artists exhibiting in this show including kelly lyles, chris crites, gini lawson, karen hackenberg and ken van der does to name just a few! guitarist julian catford will be playing and there will be hors d'oeuvres and wine served. don't miss this one if you're a fan of figurative work.

here's the flyer...

shows

2010-10-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

"chinatown" watercolor ©susan melrath

my work is all over the place lately. since i have a finite inventory, this means the walls at home are looking a little bare. great incentive to get some work done!

this piece is part of an exhibition titled, "what makes a city?" opening this wednesday night at the providence marianwood gallery in issaquah, wa.

i have some figurative work in a group show opening this friday at the maple valley creative arts center including one of the largest figurative paintings i've made at 4' x 4' (below). the show includes the work of fellow EDGE graduates, Greg Bartol, Debra Calkins, Nikki deRelle, Ren Lis, Glenda Powers, Joan Schlichting, Maggie Stokes and Larkin Van Horn. what will make the show interesting is diversity - our disciplines include fiber art, collage, woodwork and furniture, photography, metalwork and my humble paintings. the opening should be lots of fun with music and wine tasting.

the happiest color

2010-08-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

this piece was in the last issue of “the palette” magazine where christopher schink wrote the following....

"washington state artist, susan melrath creates a warm, quiet image by stylizing her subject into long, flowing shapes filled with subtle, subjective color. she makes no attempt to describe the surrounding space. the geometric background shapes serve only as a contrast to the flowing, curvilinear figures. by gesture, shape and color she conveys her intent.

we don't know who these people are but we know how they feel. “

when i'm painting, i don't think about the meaning of the color or the meaning of anything, really. i work on a gut level...not in an analytic frame of mind. but when completed, it's always fun to take it apart and find meaning. yellow shines with optimism and happiness, carrying the promise of a positive future. that feels right for this painting, inspired by a photo of my son and me when he was little.

now you know who those people are!

safe harbor

2010-08-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

"birthday" is hanging at the port angeles fine art center as part of the show titled "safe harbor." jake seniuk has once again done an amazing job with this thematic exhibition

which runs through october 10th.

the show uses port angeles's role as a harbor community to serve as the vehicle for exploring a broader interpretation of shelter and safety. here what was written about and my contribution...

"SUSAN MELRATH’s (Redmond) style of reductive figuration wrests emotion from her subjects with bold volumes of color and pattern rather than with descriptive detail. In the safe harbor of a birthday party, her faceless celebrants are expressions of archetypal roles in the nuclear family. That is not a specific child readying to blow out eight candles on the cake but the embodiment of unconditional acceptance."

why can't i ever write anything that insightful about my work? my husband has been asking for years why there are no faces on my figures and i'm not really sure. now i know - they are expressions of archetypal roles in the nuclear family. so there.

montmartre

2010-07-18T01:21:00.000-07:00

i'm in europe for the month of july. my son and i started in paris where we visited montmartre. i had been there before and made this painting from an old photo i had taken. it was fun to see the building again after having painted it. it had inspired me in some way, but the painting is by no means a simple likeness of that building. it is a separate thing altogether. the shapes may be the only things that remain somewhat true. "all art is abstract art" - who was it that said that?

floral art

2010-05-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

here's a peek at a new piece - one of my largest florals to date, it measures 30" x 80."

and posing in front ins the newest addition to our family! his name is ozzie...i think....we keep changing our minds about that. he came through the evergreen golden retriever rescue - a great organization that places abandoned dogs in loving homes.

Taos Flower

2010-05-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

Been in Taos at a painting workshop, "Intensive Studies Seminar" with Katherine Chang Liu, Skip Lawrence, Fran Larson and Christopher Schink. There were about a hundred painters and collage artists gathered to glean knowledge and get feedback from these very experienced eyes. It was good timing for me as I have just begun a new body of work - patterned florals - and I'm very excited about it! The vistas here are grand and the food is remarkable. What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a guava leaf margarita, a chile rellenos, and artist friends?

flower painting

2010-04-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

i've been away from the studio for a while. my son, nick had spring break and we hung out for a week. then my husband brian took his awesome sales team on a little cruise to cabo san lucas and i tagged along, of course. used to be that i wouldn't paint at all during these spells - just sketchbook stuff. but once again - the iphone brushes app helps to keep the creative juices flowing. i have so much fun with this app - i am oblivious to the passage of time. technically it's not painting, i guess - but when i get back to the studio i have some very interesting ideas to put to canvas. just for fun - here's a movie version.....

illustration friday

2010-04-02T15:12:00.001-07:00

illustration friday" is a weekly illustration challenge. a topic is posted every friday and participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation.

this week's word was "dip."

i submitted a little painting i had done of my father in law taking a dip in the pool. i'm looking forward to bringing out the noodles!

hold your horses

2010-03-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

THIS is the best art video i've seen in a long time - you're gonna LOVE it. it's a french band (singing in English) called HOLD YOUR HORSES w/ each frame representing them in pose of famous paintings, from Delacroix to Warhol, Caravaggio to Chagall. they must've had so much fun producing it!

seattle dog show

2010-03-18T10:38:00.001-07:00

last weekend the seattle kennel club hosted a dog show at qwest field event center. i LOVE dogs. what is it about them? they are honest, loyal, trusting, curious, affectionate, funny, good natured, patient....geez - what's not to love? there are so many amazing breeds and although golden retrievers are my all time favorites, i just loved seeing the little wire haired dachshunds, german shepherd dogs....all of them! i realized that over the years i have made many paintings and drawings of dogs - so i'm posting some here. i know, i know - it looks like the work of seven different artists, right?

magnolia

2010-03-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

magnolia acrylic on paper 12"x18"

i am surrounded by blossoms - cherry, forsythia, daffodil, crocus, rhododendron and magnolia. i can't stop looking. everything is busy bursting with new life. but i can't help but think of death. a neighbor's beautiful, young son has been killed in afghanistan. in my neighborhood yellow ribbons are tied to the flowering trees. death mocks the hopeful innocence of candy pink and yellow buds. if this were my son, i would want it to stop. but i'm the lucky observer. i can feel the hopefulness of rebirth as well as the pain of loss. at a distance, it is bearable.

rest in peace, eric ward.

studio visit

2010-02-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

come into my studio and take a look around.....can i get you a cup of coffee?

in the studio....

2010-02-22T15:47:00.000-08:00

at home i worked on canvas in the same manner as on my i phone in the brushes app (see previous post), laying down color and pattern without much editing. it's not quite as spontaneous on canvas however, and i could feel myself getting too picky. the beauty of the digital image is that you can "save" at any point, make a copy and continue. it makes it so easy to try anything that comes to mind, knowing that if it doesn't work out you can always go back to the earlier version.

spring flowers

2010-02-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

i was playing with my brushes app a few days ago while on the way home from skiing at stevens pass (and no - i wasn't driving!). i admit i have trouble just sitting in the car for long drives and this iphone app has satisfied my need to do SOMETHING productive while en route.

for two hours i just moved around colors and created patterns. i pulled out some tulip shapes in the end. i am so inspired by this unexpected spring weather we're having here in seattle....cherry blossoms, daffodils, forsythia - in february!

i liked what was happening, incorporating all the color and pattern, but in the end simplifying with some big, strong shapes. i have loved flowers since the years my mom spent working as a floral designer. she would come home with green fingertips and smell of cut greens.

just for fun - here is the movie version of the painting.....

why it presents in a horizontal format i will never understand.....

grey gallery

2010-02-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

i'm having so much fun seeing all the amazing submissions to grey gallery's 5 x 5 show. there certainly is a lot of talent here in seattle!

http://greygalleryandlounge.blogspot.com/2010/02/5-x-5-submission-77-susan-melrath.html

paint what i see

2010-02-03T18:13:00.000-08:00

i wonder what my work would look like if you plucked me out of my world and plopped me down in another. i respond to my surroundings and the people i come across. when i lived in south florida my work was altogether different, but even today a move there would have a big impact. such strong light that the shadows become shapes of their own. here in the pacific northwest i don't have that problem most of the year! so i can focus on color and not so much on value.

new work

2010-01-13T18:23:00.001-08:00

bonnard was once referred to as a chronicler of domesticity. i'm no bonnard, but i can relate to his subject matter....and i try to relate to his use of color as well. fearless man.

more brushes

2010-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

having fun on my iphone!

the first painting was made in the jiffy lube lobby waiting for my oil change. the lady across the room was knitting as she waited.

the second was just a quick sketch in my front yard as the sun set.

have i told you how much i love my iphone?

"back to the old grind?"

2010-01-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

i enjoyed my christmas break...spent time with family & friends, played games, baked cookies, skied, partied - it was great. now it’s monday and the party’s over. but it’s hardly a “grind” to come into my quiet studio, turn on my favorite music, and play with my favorite things. i am so fortunate. i found something i was good at, something i love to do. i have a family who is supportive and encourages me.

now i just need to make a little money!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-07T11:37:00.001-08:00

The Seattle chapter of the Graphic Artist's Guild asked me to come up with an image for their holiday card....this is it. Happy Holidays from my studio!

two down

2009-11-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

well, i have a slew of unfinished paintings still kickin' around the studio but these two are finished.....aren't they?

new landscapes

2009-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

i'm usually more interested in the shapes i find in figurative work, but the colors this fall were so rich and beautiful. autumn made me into a landscape painter.

irons in the fire

2009-11-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

i'm working on six paintings right now. they're all at about the same stage...the stage of unlimited possibilities. i love this stage. i don't want to move. it gets harder from this point on, but also more fascinating. i put down a color and everything changes. connect a shape, blur an edge, follow an instinct....hope for the best.

here is what delacroix said about this reluctance, "finishing a painting demands a heart of steel: everything requires a decision, and i find difficulties where i least expect them....it is at such moments that one fully realizes one's own weaknesses."

infusion

2009-10-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

lately, painting has been hit or miss. i seemed to have lost track, somewhere along the way, of what was important. bouncing around between illustration and painting can be tricky. illustration often calls for accuracy in drawing and painting. in my personal work i don't want my shapes to be accurate; i want them to be interesting, awkward, clumsy even. it's hard to put aside what i know about drawing to get at a shape with more character and charm. i spent this past week in a workshop with christopher schink here in seattle. he's a great teacher (and painter) and the workshop was just what i needed. thanks, toph.

around and around...work in progress

2009-10-13T14:59:00.001-07:00

i love circles....and cycles....summer into fall. i thought i would have trouble saying goodbye to summer, it was so fresh and delicious. but right now, autumn is my best friend. warm, earthy leaves are dancing around outside my window, blown around by the blustery harbinger of a storm on its way. colors are jewel-like and i am inspired. i think i'll go bake some gingersnaps.

dr milne

2009-10-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

a newer version of dr. milne.

en plein air

2009-09-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

no more lugging the easel, paints, brushes, water and paper or canvas.....just me and my iphone.

collective memory show

2009-09-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

tonight is the opening for art east's third annual collective memory show. i was selected as one of the 14 artists chosen to represent and honor individuals who have helped shape the issaquah community. each artist spent time with a designated community member "partner" to learn about them and how their contribution helped shape the fabric of the community. through the form of visual art, the stories of these area citizens are told.

my "partner," dr. john milne, is chairman and ceo of eastside emergency physicians and leads strategic development for swedish's new hospital in issaquah. he's designing this hospital with the patient's comfort and needs in mind. he's really in tune with the fact that people are vulnerable and often scared when they find themselves in a hospital - especially in the ER! i met with him and shadowed him in the hospital for an hour.....took lots of pictures.

i ended up submitting two pieces to the show. the first was a portrait of the "doctor" - the medical director guy. i incorporated a collage element - the architectural plans for swedish's new facility. i enjoyed painting this visual interpretation of dr. milne's connection to the hospital and i'm happy enough with the painting, but it was missing a compelling component of the man's career - the mix of science and compassion. how to convey this message of heart in the language of medicine? i pictured a hand reaching out to another.

i won't tell you exactly how i got into the radiology department, but i had some ex rays made of my hand along with the hand of a volunteer radiologist. i know, i know - it's crazy. i wasn't even sure it would work but i played around with scratching into the film with an exacto knife - like scratchboard. i scratched out shapes and patterns resembling blood cells under a microscope. the picture here was taken while still in progress, shown on a cheap light box - but tonight it will be displayed hanging, on a framed light box.

i can see a series coming....any volunteers for ex ray model?

open studio

2009-09-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

the open studio on saturday at jean's was a real success! this is the cozy courtyard where i was lucky enough to hang my work. it was a beautiful seattle, summer day and lots of folks came by. i thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other artists and seeing their beautiful art.

here are jean's amazing little paintings nestled among the tomatoes, zucchini and sunflowers.

what a charming way to view art!

for more pictures, including a group shot of the artists, take a look at jen phillips' blog...

http://jenniferphillipsart.blogspot.com/

art in the alley ~ open studio

2009-08-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

this saturday my work will be at jean bradbury's open studio along with some very talented seattle artists'. should be a lot of fun in a very informal venue. eleven artists all together between two studios. (jennifer phillips is opening her next door studio as well) the participating artists are as follows...

Jean Bradbury

Jennifer Phillips

Ethan Jack Harrington

Asha Hossain

Meridith Lee

watercolor, acrylic and oil - oh, my!

2009-08-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

i'm looking at my posts and geeeez, it looks like the work of three different artists! i've got tight watercolors, loose acrylics, abstract pieces. i'm all over the place.

maybe i should try to work in "series" like all the successful artists do.

or am i just too ADD for that?

shapes and color

2009-08-16T14:12:00.001-07:00

from a photo taken poolside in cabo san lucas in march. i find people so much more interesting to paint than other subject matter. something about the shapes...but mostly about the connection between people.

"brushes"

2009-06-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

i'm so excited about the "brushes"application for the iphone. okay, i know it's not new - but it's new to me! this is my first sketch. it's not going in a portfolio or anything, but it was fun figuring out how to use the app and download the art and see it as a movie. what a fun way to work on location.

2009-06-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

finished the cover art for "smiths of ohr-rey" by kelly owen. thanks to greg and johnny my amazing models. the painting is mostly watercolor, but i worked in colored pencil for the final details.

underpainting

2009-06-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

i'm working on a book cover for a sort-of science fiction adventure novel by kelly owen. this is not my favorite genre of reading material, but his first book, "the keep of time" was really good! it's funny, we illustrators, in the course of our work, are often exposed to literature we would never ordinarily read.

watercolor

2009-05-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

sometimes i get in the mood to work in watercolor...it's so familiar to me - like comfort food. so i'm adding some food spots to my portfolio today, and working in watercolor.

layers

2009-04-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

i am having so much fun building layers with golden gels. this piece is painted on 12"x12" cradled board.

blockprinting

2009-04-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

spent the weekend in vancouver, bc and found these beautiful blocks in a textile supply store on granville island. the carving of these blocks is an art in itself.

mexico

2009-04-13T13:45:00.001-07:00

just got back from los cabos - the beach was wonderful, but the art was fabulous!!!

golden acrylics workshop

2009-04-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

i spent three delicious days in edmonds,wa experimenting with golden acrylic gels and mediums and learning about their properties in a workshop with barb depirro. fun!

website ideas

2009-03-03T14:33:00.001-08:00

My website is in need of a facelift. I'm working with a talented young guy who is helping to make my vision a functional one. Can't wait to see it working.

birthday - family series

2009-02-22T16:57:00.000-08:00

think big. start with an idea....create a mood. forget the subject matter and focus on the large shapes - space division - color - edge.

my mom made birthdays special for all of us...cakes, balloons, friends, presents.

the old photos are fun to work with.

charger - family series

2009-02-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

charger, my aunt and uncle's beloved german shepherd was my guardian and playmate. he was a gentle soul and was the first in a long line of canine companions. this small piece is acrylic on board. i love to focus on the shapes - positive and negative - they can be so poetic.

work in progress - family series

2009-02-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

i'm going back to working smaller again. for a while i was painting up to 48 x 48. i love the impact of that size but as i'm getting back to illustration, smaller is better. it feels like coming home. this painting is about 12x12. it is part of a series based on old family photos.

day one

2009-02-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

this is where i spend most of my time. yes, i'm still working traditionally - the ol' brush and paper stuff. (but i plan to start saving up for that wacom cintiq - that would tidy up my studio quite a bit! no more paint on the carpet)

i've been away from illustration for a while and so much has changed. the digital age is here. thankfully i've kept up with technology so i'm holding my own. i could use a class or two in photoshop, though.