Out of the Box and into the Fire

Class completed and wonders never cease.....

Joanne the welder

Yes, I have a new medium; steel.

This summer I took the Introduction to Welding and Creative Metalwork class at South Puget Sound Community College. It was a hot summer intensified by time behind the torch, but what fun! The ten week class just ended and I will definitely miss the time spent under fire. I was allowed to dumpster dive in the scrap metal pile at a local company. The pieces I found said, "wings and then, dragonfly." So with the help of the class instructors, Ken, Mary, and Dave, I created this sculpture which now lives in my garden.

I found the eyes at a antique store at the Oregon Coast; they are painted knobs for cabinets.

Mary demonstrated how to use the forge and made a calle lily. I decided to make a few for yard art. It was not as easy as Mary made it look. I really like the way the leaves turned out.

I like the look of the steel, but am toying with painting the lillies white to make them stand out more. What do you think?

Post Sabbatical

I AM BACK!!!

Yes, I gave myself permission to take a year off from painting. Funny, when I have used the word "sabbatical" in my explanation of "why I am not painting," I never looked the word up. In the definition it says "a period of paid leave." That did not happen! Needless to say, I have been enjoying life and that is payment in itself, right?!

At Breakfast Club, inspired by my two creative friends, Don and Linda, endeavors at publishing their written art, I began to paint. Not only that, I signed up for a class at South Puget Sound Community College: Intro to Welding and Creative Metalwork.

I am excited by the unknown possibilities of creativity from this day forward. Is it the quiet before the storm? Maybe the seed germinating ready to sprout? I feel the energy and it feels great!

This collage painting was brewing in my mind after spending time at Gleneden Beach, Oregon. Hiking down to the beach with my good friend Elaine and our doggies, this vista presented itself. I wanted to capture the beauty and delight I felt upon experiencing the view. I needed to give it more personality than just the typical gorgeous view; thus, the watercolor collage painting evolved.

Joanne Osband
Watercolor Collage

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..........

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

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......

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....

Dog Portrait Winner

Shelley won the drawing sponsored by Training Collar Source for a dog portrait painting. All that was required for one's name to be entered in the drawing was to click on "like" at the business page of Training Collar Source on Facebook. You can still do that and who knows what exciting things may happen.....

Because Shelley has two dogs, I decided to paint both on separate canvases. They are Wire-hair Pointing Griffons and Mother(Frost) and Daughter(Bailey).

Frost
12" X 12" water-based oil
Joanne Osband

Bailey
12" X 12" water-based oil
Joanne Osband

CONGRATULATIONS SHELLEY!

Return of Froggie

What is it about those little green frogs which create delight.......
not just for children, but also for adults who cannot resist calling them "cute"?

A couple of Sundays ago, I shared a watercolor and ink frog sketch and story on Sunday Sketches. Here is the sketch....

Well, that little froggie stayed in my thoughts and sparked the desire to paint its portrait in oils.

Now, isn't he cute?!?

Trees Take Two

The other day I completed, or thought I had, a sketch of the maple trees along the Chehalis Western Trail. I was not totally satisfied, but posted it on Sunday Sketches which is a group of artists who post art each Sunday as a weekly discipline.

It looks like this.......

And I complained that the computer over did the blues.

Well that was truly not the issue!

VALUES!!!

No values! A classic mistake which can make the difference between a good painting and a mediocre one.

I believe I fixed the sketch and the computer was cooperative.

What do you think?

BTW, for those of you who are not artists, value is an element of art that refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.

Sunday Sketches

I woke early the other morning with lots of thoughts going through my head. I took a dose of my own creative remedy.........a mandala painting! Painting a mandala is like a meditation and a journey through the "mind field."

I usually let the colors and shapes flow and go with whatever appears be it an image or pure nothing. At first, the two center images were bonded and floating together in a sea of...... Then, one image sprouted branches followed by its separation and trajectory of the other. I am not sure of the meanings and will allow some time and space for processing.

Any thoughts?

More Sunday Sketchers

Sunday Sketches

I believe in echinacea.

It is the herb I turn to when I feel a cold coming or when I am around someone who has a cold. Echinacea linked with some vitamin C are my first choice for cold defense.

I am also very fond of the grace and color of the echinacea flower. After it goes through its first bloom the petals begin to fall and drape gracefully from the center. The orange-ish center contrasts beautifully with the pinkish petals.

Unfortunately, the colors did not come through as clearly in this photo of my painting.

Visit more Sunday Sketchers

The Chosen One

Summertime in Washington is soooo outstanding that I have been rather negligent in posting blogs and probably left you hanging as to which painting was chosen for the 27 Feet of Art.....and More.

Thank you for your input in helping me select which paintings to enter. By popular demand and also "the chosen one," the painting of the fuchsia flowers was selected.

Ballerina
Joanne Osband
water-based oil
12" X 12"
The opening reception is Friday, September 21 from 5:30PM to 9:00PM. The artwork will remain in the gallery through Arts Walk. The closing reception is Saturday, October 6 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM. All artwork will be part of a silent auction to benefit The Center’s arts education programs.

Sunday Sketches

Fuchsia........the ballerina of flowers. Each one is so enchanting.

I tried to keep the flow of watercolors, but I think I over painted the background.

I have been known to tear up paintings and create new. I think I might make this one into a mini painting. What are your thoughts?

Please help me decide which of the seven oil paintings I should enter in the "27 Feet of Art....And More" show and auction. Thanks!

Visit more Sunday Sketchers

Last Three

Completed my goal of painting all seven 12" X 12" canvases!

Here are the last three......

Alpine Lily

Calla Lily

Fuchsia

Next week you will have a chance to vote for your favorite oil painting and help me select which painting to enter in the "27 Feet of Art......And More" art show and auction to raise money for The Washington Center of the Performing Arts in Olympia, Washington.

Sunday Sketches

We are so in the throws of summer and I am loving it! Thus, I am posting early as I am off on another hiking adventure this time in the Olympics.

My gardens are going wild. I have lots of beautiful flowers for painting subject matter. I keep going back and forth with watercolor and oil paint.....

Today's sketch is a gardener's still life.

View more Sunday Sketchers

The Square Format

I must admit, the square canvas format is starting to grow on me. It is challenging as far as composition, but I am enjoying it.

Here is painting number 4 which is a view through the blossoms of the Oriental Dogwood tree with the orange and yellow splattering of the California poppies and calendulas.