When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

design

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Forest Chic

Friday, May 7th, 2021


 

Forest Chic, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Forest Chic, 18H x 24W inches unframed size, soft pastels on 90 lb. watercolor paper. Framed size 27H x 33W”.

The forest interior presents gorgeous layers of texture created by Ponderosa Pine needles hanging from mossy branches year-round in Oregon. This is inspired by my favorite trails in Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Beaverton.

Golden Hawaiian Bamboo

Tuesday, September 8th, 2020


 

Golden Hawaiian Bamboo, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Golden Hawaiian Bamboo, Foster Botanical Garden, Honolulu, Hawaii – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Thunderbird Park Totems

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020


 

Thunderbird Park Totems, Victoria BC, Canada - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Thunderbird Park Totems, Victoria BC, Canada – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, framed size 27H x 33W”.

Fern Song

Tuesday, February 4th, 2020


 

Fern Song, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas

Fern Song, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas

In Full Bloom, Feb. - March 2020, J. Mane Gallery
Honorable Mention, In Full Bloom online exhibition February 7 –  March 7, 2020, J. Mane Gallery

Turn tomato cages into festive trees

Saturday, December 7th, 2019


 
Turn tomato cages into festive trees

Use tomato cages to create festive trees. Turn upside down – 2 together make a stronger structure. Wrap with lights.

Decorative vine balls

Monday, July 30th, 2018


 
Decorative balls made with periwinkle vines

Tidying up the garden mid-season, the periwinkle benefit from an aggressive cut-back, so these decorative balls were made with the vines that would otherwise end up in the yard waste bin. These vine balls can be created any size and the larger ones don’t require much more effort than the small. Tomato cages prop up larger balls perfectly if you don’t have hooks. Inexpensive solar lights were removed from the stakes and snuggled into the top of each woven ball where they emit a peaceful glow at night.

Inexpensive garden solar lights are snuggled in the top of the ball, very attractive at night.

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Periwinkle vines stripped of leaves. Make a loose wreath, wire-wrapped at two endsHow to create: use fresh periwinkle vines stripped of leaves. Dried vines are difficult to work with, and even soaking does not reconstitute them satisfactorily, so plan to make balls the same day vines are harvested.
Pull out 1/4 of the vines on each side of wreath and wrap with wire. Continue wrapping groups of vines together in a symmetrical fashion.Make a loose wreath, wire-wrapped at opposite ends. Pull out 1/4 of the vines from the main section to each side, wrapping centers with wire. You will then have 2 wreaths interlocked. Continue adding and weaving in extra groups of vines in a symmetrical fashion. Keep pulling smaller groups of vines together until the ball is compact, constantly judging and defining the shape.

For a while it seems like a chaotic mess, but keep pulling smaller groups of vines together. Constantly judge and define the shape.Like anything made by hand, the first stages are most difficult and may seem like a chaotic mess, but stick with it and you’ll be happy you did.

Tips: 1) 24 gauge florist wire is most finger-friendly 2) the solar lights don’t sufficiently recharge if dropped inside so are placed on top where they still show off shapes nicely in the dark. 3) Virginia Creeper is excellent for this except it irritates the skin, so check into that if experimenting with other materials. 4) don’t use blackberry vines.

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Inexpensive solar lights removed from the stake are placed in the top of each woven ball.

Diamond Lake – night study

Wednesday, March 15th, 2017


 

Diamond Lake Oregon - moonlight study - 14H x 20W inches watercolor on 140 lb cold pressed

Diamond Lake Oregon – moonlight study – 14H x 20W inches watercolor on 140 lb cold pressed premium. 20H x26W inches approximate size framed.

Progress on the Shiva and Moche Earplug Replica Chairs

Tuesday, May 24th, 2016


 

Shiva as Nataraj chair work in progress detail

Shiva as Nataraj chair work in progress detail Shiva as Nataraj chair, sanding again to refine and repaint Shiva as Nataraj chair work in progress detail Shiva as Nataraj chair, 1st varnish then using markers to outline detail

The extra time working on each the Shiva, Lord of the Dance and Moche Earplug replica chairs means 1) increasing familiarity with the authentic originals, and 2) layers of color and contrast add patchy timeworn impressions which might not have otherwise occurred.
The Shiva statue design is so complex, in retrospect it might have been enough to paint it on a flat surface, like the Mayan Bowl replica chair. Certainly it would have been easier and might be finished by now, but in artwork, I am not always necessarily seeking the easiest way through. Ease is usually the result of something already learned. The point is to discover how to do something, learn how to resolve issues that are presented and/or self-imposed, and the energy is driven by those challenges.
Moche Muscovy Duck Earplug Chair work in progress

Moche culture Muscovy Duck Earplug Chair work in progress Moche Muscovy Duck Earplug Chair back, work in progress Moche culture Muscovy Duck Earplug Chair work in progress Moche culture Muscovy Duck Earplug Chair work in progress

While staying true to the original concepts, I also applied artistic licence since the chairs are unique interpretations in their own right, so some of the designs are improvised slightly, like the ring of fire around Shiva, and the faux turquoise inlay design on the back of the Moche Muscovy Duck chair.
Some issues I’ve encountered: The water-based metallic gold paint reflects off every bump, dries and clumps quickly, and does not spread evenly compared to other acrylics colors even with additives, and the effects of build-up require extra sanding to keep the surface smooth.  The overall sculpted  effects of carving didn’t seem to make a difference aesthetically so I finally abandoned the idea last week. A lot has been filled in, but some carving is left to keep the hand-worked appeal.

Chrysanthemums Chair finished

Thursday, January 14th, 2016


 

Chrysanthemums Chair, 29H x 29W x 29D inches refurbished vintage chair, woven canvas strips, layers of plaster cured, sanded and carved. Painted with acrylics, varathane, and waxed to enhance colors

Chrysanthemums Chair, back detail Chrysanthemums Chair, back detail Chrysanthemums Chair, back detail

Chrysanthemums Chair, finished front and thumbnails of underneath/back details, 29H x 29W x 29D inches one-of-a-kind refurbished vintage chair as a base, woven canvas strips, layers of plaster cured, sanded and carved. Painted with acrylics, finished with varnish and waxed to enhance colors. Durable, functional.

Chrysanthemums Chair Update

Sunday, October 18th, 2015


 
Chrysanthemums Chair, work in progress

Chrysanthemums Chair front detail, painting in progress Oct. 2015    Chrysanthemums Chair back plaster layering detail, Oct. 2015

Chrysanthemums Chair front and back: plaster layering, sanding and painting in progress

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