Arts Walk Spring 2014

Another fun Arts Walk experience here in Olympia, Washington!

I showed several new paintings in the upstairs balcony at the Urban Onion.

Current exhibits in the area where my paintings are displayed include:

44th Helen Norris Art Show
Sidney Art Gallery

202 Sidney Avenue
Port Orchard, WA 98366

May 1- May 30, 2014

Waterworld show at University House Wallingford
4400 Stone Way N @ 45th St. in Wallingford, Seattle, 98103

February 23rd - June 15th

Kolam

Kolam is a sacred design drawn with rice flour at the entrance of homes in India. The women and girls of more than a million Hindu households in South India create new kolams every day of the year. The only exception is during the heavy rains of the monsoon season when drawing outside is impossible.

Kolams are made as invocations to the gods and goddesses that are believed to protect the home. They also provide food for ants which keep them from entering homes. Always placed on the ground before the front door of a house, these drawings are believed to prevent evil and to encourage good spirits to enter the home. The designs have been passed down from mother to daughter for untold centuries, although there is a premium placed upon innovation and experimentation with new concepts. Once she has created a kolam, each woman prides herself in never precisely repeating that design.

Here I am at Visalam Hotel in Karaikudi, Talmil Nadu, India, getting a lesson in kolam. It starts with a grid of white dots and then I was instructed on which ones to connect with what sort of lines...straight or curved. I got a bit frustrated with the need for symmetry and started freely adding designs. My teachers reacted to this disobedience, but I informed that it was called "free form".

Here is the master and my teacher......

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.