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

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

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......

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, 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

The colors of fall here in Washington have been exquisite!

Notice I used the past tense..........the Pacific Northwest rains have returned; days and days of it. Although sometimes if you watch for it, you might be lucky to catch a "window" without rain. I have learned to get outdoors no matter what otherwise it can become depressing.

In my studio I am still enjoying the fall colors and creating watercolor paintings of the brilliant colored leaves. The big leaf maples are one of my favorites. The shape of its leaves and colors are awesome!

More Sunday Sketchers.....

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.

Online Auction

Over the past weeks, I have mentioned the art show and auction at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts:

"27 Feet of Art.....And More."

The online auction has begun!

It runs from September 21 to October 6, with proceeds going to The Washington Center for the Performing Arts to support the Arts in our community. The Center was built by the community; it serves the community; and it is community supported.

There are 90 12" x 12" pieces of art that were donated by local artists exclusively for this auction and are on exhibit in the Mezzanine gallery at the Center. An additional 13 artists contributed artwork for a special exhibit which is found in the Orchestra gallery.

Bidding is fun! You recieve e-mails letting you know of other bids which were made on your favorite piece. That way you can decide to stay in the game or not.

You can bid on my painting or others by checking the website.

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

Sunday Sketches

What is it about the poppy flower that make you fall in love?

Is it their juicy color? The crepe like petals? Their wonderful centers full of invite for bees and fascination? Or, is it the bulbous pod with wagon wheel like top knot?

I cannot get enough of them! Many varieties are scattered throughout my garden, and have been subject matter for several paintings.

This red one became so tall that when the wind and rains came it continued to bloom on the ground. I thought this made for a great composition. What do you think?



More Sunday Sketchers......

Monet in New York

If you are not able to travel to Giverny, France to experience the world famous gardens of Claude Monet, you can visit New York. In the Bronx over the next several months, the New York Botanical Garden will offer a taste of Monet’s indisputably radiant living masterpiece — a riotous display of color, plant variety and landscape design.



The exhibition, which runs through Oct. 21, will feature a seasonally changing display of flora, currently a spring kaleidoscope of poppies, roses, foxgloves, irises and delphiniums inside the botanical garden’s Enid A. Haupt Conservancy. It also includes two scarcely seen garden-inspired paintings, Monet’s wooden palette, rare photos of Monet in his garden and 30 photographs of Giverny by Elizabeth Murray, who has recorded Monet’s flower oasis for 25 years. These are all located at the botanical garden’s LuEsther T. Mertz Library.

A facade of Monet’s pink stucco house with its bright green shutters — a historically accurate replica by Tony Award-winning set designer Scott Park — marks the start of the exhibition. From there, visitors are led down the Grand Allee, a shorter recreation of Monet’s rose-covered trellis pathway lined on both sides with thick beds of vibrant flowers. The path opens up to a replica of his famous Japanese footbridge arching over a water lily pool encircled by willow trees and flowering shrubs.

In the courtyard outside the Victorian greenhouse, two immense water basins contain a plethora of water lilies.

Claude Monet, artist and avid gardener, lead the Impressionist movement and revolutionized painting in the 1870s.

The story is that Claude Monet noticed the village of Giverny while looking out of a train window. He made up his mind to move there and rented a house and the area surrounding it. In 1890 he had enough money to buy the house and land outright and set out to create the magnificent gardens he wanted to paint.

Talk about the power of imagination!

Sunday Sketches

I have been on retreat this week........at home!

An idea that formulated over breakfast with a couple of my creative friends. Today ends our "seven day at home retreat." The basic rules were: to spend at least 3-4 hours a day creating and meet together one or more times during the week to process with a final session this evening.

I have six water-based oil paintings and three watercolor & ink sketches! What could I accomplish if I kept at this pace?!?!?

The Lucuma tree which I first saw at Willa T'ika in the Sacred Valley of Peru was the inspiration of the first paintings.

This watercolor and ink sketch shows the branches, leaves, and fruit in the foreground with the shape of the bark in the background.


And the oil painting.....

Day Four

Still on retreat.......at home.

Spent most of the day painting with oils. Unfortunately, I am having challenges photographing these paintings as the paint causes glare. I tried to fix in photoshop, but still not quite right.

This first tree painting of a cedar outside my window is done on a canvas that I textured with with a palette knife and gesso. Needless to say, the textures make the painting. I will work at the photo issue.



The next painting you might recognize from earlier this week.
I added the fruit, leaves, and branches to the lucuma tree.




The three retreaters met last night to process our insights.
All goes well and work continues........

Sunday Sketches

Getting excited to see color and spring flowers after the doldrums of winter!

I am intrigued by the unique looking Hellebore flowers. They come in various colors of purple, pink, green and also white. They are a wonderful delight this time of year and bloom for a long time. They have been a subject matter of several of my paintings and sketches.



Visit other artists........Sunday Sketchers

What Does 3,000 Paintings Look Like?

Curious?

I went to Seattle today to see the art show featuring 100 artists creating 30 pieces of art 8" X 10" for the 30 Day Challenge. That's right.........3,000 paintings! Being there the second day the show opened not all 3,000 were still displayed. But, I must admit, it was an awesome sight!

Each time I went around the room looking at the displays of paintings, I saw ones I missed the time before.

By popular demand, The 30 Day Art Challenge Annual Gift Sale Event will be open next Saturday, December 10th, noon - 4PM.

Location: T.K. Gallery, 115 Prefontaine Place S., Seattle WA. 98104

Oodles of Art at Affordable Prices

Over 100 local artists created over 3,000 original paintings, drawings, photographs, silk screens, etc. for The 30 Day Art Challenge Annual Gift Sales Event which opens December 1st during Seattle's Art Walk from 5-10PM.

It is the 11th annual Holiday Gift Show Exhibition at the T.K. Gallery located at 115 Prefontaine Place in Seattle, Washington.

Free Admission!

Original Art Work selling for only $40 each.

Standing on a ladder, I photographed my 30 oil paintings of "Peruvian life":