Minis at Cannon Beach

Back in action!

Two of my mini paintings submitted to the Cannon Beach Annual Miniature Art Show were accepted. The show takes place at the Cannon Beach Gallery located at 1064 S. Hemlock in Cannon Beach, Oregon. It is open during the fall and winter Thursdays through Monday from 10am - 4pm. The show runs from November 2nd to December 2nd.

All entries must be 6" X 6" or smaller and does not include the frame. I photographed the watercolor paintings in their frames hoping to capture their small size. Not sure it worked well plus not the best way to display the art.

Joanne Osband
Lily
watercolor & ink

Joanne Osband
"My Garden"
watercolor & ink

Here are better images of the actual paintings......

Cannot Resist

Hooked again by color and beauty!

Innocently I went to Home Depot to pick up an item for the house. Mistake number one was to enter through the nursery door where I saw the most gorgeous hibiscus flower. The colors were phenomenal!!! The price too was outrageous! I also had no room in my car for the plant.

I continued on my mission to locate the object needed for my project. BUT,this little voice in my head...........said go back.

This beauty won my heart!

George volunteered to hold her on the trip home.

Needless to say, I am enjoying this lovely plant and its blossoms. Here is my first painting in watercolor and ink.

Tiger Lily Love

What is it about tiger lilies that make me smile?

I think they give me a similar joy to the fuchsia with their movement and grace. It is almost like a dance as they develop from bloom to blossom to the final pose before their fall back to the earth.

One day, I got overly excited over a cluster of tiger lilies at a phenomenal garden we visited. Next thing I know the dearest man in my life, George, bought me a dozen tiger lily bulbs. He even helped me prepare the bed for planting.

This summer I was overjoyed with their presence and display.

Here is the first of my tiger lily paintings.

It is watercolor and ink. Stay tuned for the water-based oil painting..........

4th in the Series

The decision was made that an additional watercolor collage painting was necessary to balance my display for Splash Gallery. It is run by local fine artists who work in a variety of media and I just joined them. Splash Gallery is located at Percival Landing in Olympia, Washington; 501 Columbia Street NW.

This month I will feature watercolor collage paintings. Six paintings have been hung and today I finished another to round out the collection. Five of the paintings were created very recently and the subject matter is waterlilies. The other two paintings are ocean themed and center around starfish. The exhibit of paintings will be rotated, if you live in the area be sure to stop by regularly.

Here is the fourth painting in the Yellow Water Lilies Series.....

Yellow Water Lilies Series # 4
Joanne Osband

The other three watercolor collage paintings were featured in previous blogs. Scroll down....

Sunday Sketches

What are six panels called?

I am creating a painting using six one foot square canvas. I am calling it a double triptych for now unless someone knows what to call it.

Continuing with the yellow water lilies series, here is the watercolor and ink sketch for the oil painting:


More Sunday Sketchers

Sunday Sketches

I am on a roll!

This is the sketch that inspired the watercolor collage and oil painting. Here is the progression.......


watercolor and ink sketch


watercolor collage


water-based oil

More Sunday Sketchers

Sunday Sketches, Sort Of...

Although these collage paintings do not qualify under the sketch category, they originated from my sketch of last week.

These watercolor/water-based oil collage paintings evolved with input from Bernie Bleha, the instructor of the workshop I have been attending.

This first one I did last week and brought to class today. I love the shapes created by tearing watercolor paper; my old paintings.


Bernie suggested I add more interest by breaking up the shapes.


I was on a roll......

This next one came together quickly as I focused on bright colors, patterns, and shapes.


My fingers need a break, but I WILL BE BACK!

More Sunday Sketchers.....

Surprise!

The end of March I visited Savannah, Georgia. One day George and I explored the city and came upon a series of galleries where the individual artists were painting. What a treat to go into galleries not only to see art up close but also to meet the artists.

I had the pleasure of spending time with Alix Baptiste and delight in viewing his exquisite paintings. He is a self-taught artist and creates paintings of his home in Haiti. We had a great conversation while he was finishing a painting which was already sold. I fell in love with the painting entitled, "Eggplant Harvest".

Alix wanted me to have it, so the bartering went on....



And a close up...


Even though he was very generous, my budget was not. I left the gallery feeling embarrassed having entered in the bartering process. Before we left that day in Savannah, George returned to get a business card from Alix. Me, on the other hand, could not even go into the gallery to face him again.

George returned to Washington recently and to MY SURPRISE gifted me with Alix's painting! Need I say, I was overjoyed?!

The painting is displayed prominently in my living room where I get to enJOY it each time I enter the room and lose myself in its beauty and charm.

Thank you, Alix.

AND, thank you George!!!

Sunday Sketches

This was a quick sketch for a painting I plan create as part of the workshop I am attending for the next four weeks. Bernie Bleha's "Atelier #2" focuses on the individual artist creative process.

My goal is to create several watercolor collage paintings for my September show at the Splash Gallery, in Olympia.


More Sunday Sketchers......

Additional Bird to the Flock

I love Arts Walk in Olympia, Washington, especially the Spring one which is two days and includes the Procession of the Species Parade.


I actually quit showing my art because it is more fun to see other artist's creations. One artist, Ray Evans, who calls himself "Old Geezer" was my favorite pick this time.

I could not resist adding his peacock to my collection of yard art.



The shadows are wonderful too!


Unfortunately, Ray's website is not up, but you can view his unique creations at his home in Olympia: 8813 Old Hwy 99 SE in Olympia or e-mail for his next show; geezerevans@comcast.net

Sunday Sketches

Not a sketch.

But I used last week's trillium sketch for this oil painting.........



I am challenged to photograph oil paintings as there seems to be a sheen with the background. Anyone have suggestions?

More Sunday Sketchers...

Pancake Artist

This is really amazing......

Hotcakes artísticos from sergutel on Vimeo.

And I thought my heart shaped pancakes were rather fancy!

Nature Rorschach Test

Once again on my daily walk on the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington, I came across a "nature Rorschach test".

Let's see if you see what I see.........

For those of you who are not familiar with a Rorschach test, it is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning.

What do you see in this cut section of tree?


How about an owl face?

Re Do

After a week or so of scrutiny; snatching glimpses at the oil painting as it sat in my studio, I figured out what was wrong with the Magnolia Blossom painting.

Let's see if you can figure it out.........

First rendition:


Now, the FINAL painting!


Do you see the change? It is rather subtle. Better, right?

Sunday Sketches

Spring would not be spring without a new trillium painting!

I could not resist this subject matter for my Sunday Sketch.


More Sunday Sketchers....

Sunday Sketches

Georgia on my mind........

Just returned from 10 days in Savannah. The trees and birds were highlights of my adventure. Thought I would attempt a quick sketch to see if I could portray the feeling of the live oak and moss.


More Sunday Sketchers......

Regal Bird

How many times can you just drive by before stopping?

For me it was three times. On my way to Belfair, Washington, to visit with a hospice patient for art therapy, I pass George Kenny School of Chainsaw Carving. His sculptures are displayed outdoors and definitely make a statement. You can get a glimpse driving by, but it is well worth a stop.

The day I stopped George just finished carving two bald eagles one of which caught my eye. Two weeks later I could not resist stopping to see if the eagle I liked was painted, burnished, and finished.

Yes, and I am happy to report he made his way home to my yard.


Check out the details he achieves with a chainsaw!

Sunday Sketches

I am sill obsessed with the magnolia blossom!

Previously I posted the block print version.

Here is my latest rendition in oils.


It feels great to be painting again after a quiet time.

View more Sunday Sketchers.

Block Printing Addiction

Yes, I believe I have the cravings to make block prints!

The other day, my artists friends and I had our second play date and, once again, chose to create block prints. Ellen Miffitt teaches the medium locally, but we got to enjoy her in-home class and culinary treats.

Last time I tried the flexible block and this time I went for the more stiff kind, but not as stiff as the old linoleum block.

I chose to carve the dogwood flower which bloomed in my yard last spring or was it early summer? This bloom was unfolding and a bee was in a frenzy searching for nectar and annihilated the stamens. It was absolutely fascinating to watch.

Here is the block:


The first print:


Printed on wall paper:

We put another date on the calendar; addiction confirmed!

Murals for a Cause

A fellow artist was brought to my attention because she too creates murals to bring awareness to a specific cause.

I was in Gaza creating murals to bring awareness to the water crisis, and Jame Kim is creating murals to bring awareness to endangered migrating species.

She calls her project the Migrating Murals.

Jane Kim combines the accessibility of street art with meticulous scientific detail. She plans to paint a series of eye-catching large-scale murals in public places along the migration routes of endangered species like the North Pacific blue whale and the whooping crane. The whale murals will stretch from Baja California to Alaska and crane paintings in locations from Texas to Canada.

Her Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep murals will dot U.S. 395 from Olancha to Lee Vinning - two small California towns that mark the herd's approximate southern and northern boundaries. She hopes to complete them by October.


The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep population has dwindled to around 400, and estimates suggest that the remaining numbers of North Pacific blue whales is currently in the low 3,000's.

Next on Kim's agenda is to paint murals of endangered coho salmon, possibly stretching all from the Pacific Northwest to South Korea.

Play Date

My artists friends and I set aside a day to get together and create art; we call it a play date.

Ellen Miffitt, artist and teacher, facilitated the play date with everything needed to create a block print. In addition she provided tea and coffee cake, yum!

For those of us new to block printing or returning after attempting years ago, the materials have changed making it easier in many respects. The block we carved was soft, flexible, and easy to wash. You could also carve another image on the back side!

Ellen is a fabulous instructor who teaches locally this medium as well as several others. Check out her class schedule at her website.

Here is what the block looks like:

First print in black:

Print in black and gold:

Print on colored paper in black and gold:

I am looking forward to our next Play Date.........

One More Time......

The other day I blogged about the Logo I created for my cousin's new business. I commented that I am one of the rare breeds who hand draws logos instead of using computer software.

So after finally coming up with two versions of the logo, my cousin commented that the jam jar looked like an ice cream container. His comment was that he did make ice cream, but not for shipping (ha,ha!). So back to the drawing board.....for real.

Magically the blue marker did not run out of ink!

This I believe to be the final logo for his new business:

And the ice cream carton version just for comparison:

I agree, how about you?

Sunday Sketches

I have been a bit negligent in creating art lately, but I was inspired to design a logo for my cousin's new business. Besides, if he liked it I would get some of his outrageous pastries and preserves!

Apparently in California there is a new law passed which laid the foundations for his business to take off commercially instead of selling to friends and family. He can use his own kitchen.

I did not win the contest for business name, but I did win the logo design. Cannot wait for my goodie box to arrive :)

Do people still create logos by hand? If I were more versed at Photoshop it would have looked very different and maybe more professional. Mine has a hand drawn look and when reduced will not show the imperfections.

Which one do you like?

He is leaning towards number 2.

More Sunday Sketchers.....

Paper Play

Do you see what I see?

Not just pieces of colored paper pasted to the wall......

New Year Collage

I enjoy taking the time to reflect and think about the new year. Last year I made an intention stick; this year a collage.

I gathered with two friends who have been on retreat with me twice this past year. We came up with our idea of an "at home" retreat which proved very helpful in our individual journeys into creativity.

I have made collages many times.....alone and with groups. This gathering to create a new year collage fell on the final days of our second retreat. Together we focused on the year ahead as individuals yet the camaraterie made this time very special.

There are several major events ahead for me this year and I gave them some focus. But the magic of creating collages is that images that are selected may manifest or predict a future event. For example, I made a collage of skiing in the Alps because that is something I wanted to experience. A few years later, I visited Switzerland and randomly selected three ski areas to ski. When I returned home and looked at my collage......................ALL the images were from places I visited and skied. Even a spot where I ate lunch outdoors in the snowfield was in the collage!

So, here is my new year collage. Let the magic to happen.