Potomac Artworks

Entering 2012 With a Bang

2012-01-27T20:01:00.001Z

I now have a QR code for my blog, Potomac Artworks

and my photo blog:

More to come. My computer has been up and down for a month. It's about to be up again if it kills me.

Coming Clean Closing

2011-12-27T19:04:00.000Z

Open through New Year's Eve, Coming Clean is still showing at The Loft Gallery in Occoquan. Go for a fabulous taste of Italy from Naples to Venice, laundry or no.

Find a map and gallery hours at the Virginia Tourism site, below. See you there!

Tuscan Harvest

2011-12-19T01:35:00.001Z

The photographic reference for this pastel painting came during a train trip from Rome to Venice and I know it was from north of Florence, but I am not sure how far north. The entire trip was wonderful for seeing the lush fields and vendor carts. This is my homage to them.

This was the beginning of the piece, prior to a water floated underpainting.

Tuscan Harvest
pastel
12x16

San Michele

2011-12-12T01:21:00.000Z

San Michele is another beautiful island near Venice. The brick walls makes one wonder what is within.

This is among my miniature collection for the exhibit.

San Michele
3x4
pastel

Valle a Campania

2011-12-11T02:22:00.003Z

I took many reference photos out a bus, ferry, taxi, or train; often times it was out the other side of the transportation. This one was like that through a bus's window into a glowing Campania valley.There were so many levels and layers to the landscape that I chose to use a different style to show it. Call it elongated pointillism ... over a watercolor underpainting on UArt 500.

Okay, I did manufacture the cloud, so Naples Sun is not the only painting with a cloud, but it is the only genuine one.

Valle a Campania
4x10
pastel

Coming Clean Opening

2011-12-10T14:07:00.000Z

The Virginia Tourism website has more details about today's opening of Coming Clean: Clotheslines in Italy.

Also find a map and gallery hours. See you there!

Naples Sun

2011-12-10T01:51:00.008Z

A pair with Naples Fresh, Naples Sun depicts several buildings which could boast of laundry billowing in the breeze and drying in the heat. It also has the pleasure of having my only cloud in the whole series. Anyone looking at my blog knows how I love to paint a cloud!

Naples Sun
pastel
8x8

Naples Fresh

2011-12-09T02:04:00.006Z

Naples is a port city. It reminded me of an old woman with beautiful bones, but past her time. The living accommodations also seemed to limit space for appliances ... to my benefit. There was laundry everywhere!

Naples Fresh
8x8
pastel

Linee Electriche

2011-12-08T01:22:00.024Z

The reference photo for Linee Electriche was taken early one morning as we traveled by bus from Rome to Naples and Pompeii; it is from the Campania Region.

There are many sorts of lines, not all hold laundry. I especially like that this painting shows adjacent electric towers, one with lines closer to a mountain ridge and heading deep into a valley. Just like laundry lines, they run every which way.

Linee Electriche

4x10

pastel

Burano Colori

2011-12-07T02:43:00.001Z

From a photo I took in Burano, Italy, a small island known for their lace industry, colorful houses, and fishermen, this pastel painting is a play on what colors you'll find in Burano. Instead of the emphasis being on a colorful house, the emphasis is on the colorful laundry I found there instead.

Burano Colori
9x12
pastel

Venezia Originale

2011-12-06T02:50:00.037Z

All referencing my own photography from August 2011, some of my paintings for this exhibit are charming miniatures which have nothing or everything to do with laundry! The photo basis for this one came from our trip the airport, which is primarily accessible via water taxis, beautiful wooden powerboats which zoomed along within these structures as guidance.

The painting's title salutes Venice's origins, the marshes, which still exist at its edges.

Venice Originale
3x4
pastel

Coming Clean: Clothlines in Italy

2011-12-05T01:12:00.004Z

My first Featured Artist exhibit at The Loft Gallery at 313 Mill St in Occoquan is called "Coming Clean: Clotheslines in Italy" and runs from December 6 through December 30.

You are invited to my opening, which will be officially from 1-4p on Saturday, December 10, and will feature Italy-inspired food and live violin music. Unofficially, the reception will begin before noon; come around 11:30 to get your free ticket in the Occoquan $1000 in gift certificates drawing at noon.

The exhibit marries my two loves: I use my own photographic references as the basis for pastel vignettes of this highly intimate subject, laundry, found hanging in southern, central, and northern Italy. It's been a labor of love, so come out and see this collection of pastels.

Workhouse Small Works in Building 16

2011-12-03T01:50:00.004Z

Come by the Workhouse in December for the continuing W-16 Associates Small Works ShowS. Yes, that "S" means the show will change over each month and the next time is on December 7.

Sales can walk, so we will back fill to keep the gallery freshly stocked. Come early, as these little pretties go fast. Check out the new gift shop in W-16, too, which also features small works as well as other gift items created by Workhouse artists!

Workhouse Arts Center Black Friday Schedule

2011-11-23T16:08:00.001Z

Come out to see our Small Works Show in W-16. Sales have been great, so stop by early.

Small Works in Pastel at The Loft Gallery

2011-11-16T01:19:00.023Z

Visit The Loft Gallery at 313 Mill Street in Occoquan for well priced Small Works decorating trees and table tops galore beginning November 15.

Hours are Tuesday-Friday 11-4, Saturday 11-5, and Sunday 12-5.

The Town of Occoquan will hold their Annual Tree Lighting at 8pm at the Town Hall on Friday, November 18. Begin across the street beforehand at The Loft for a special Open House from 4-8pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Here's a sampling of a few of my pastels which are on display:

These beautifully framed pastels are perfect for teacher's gifts and other small, but meaningful, occasions.

Pint-Sized Mixed Media

2011-11-13T01:12:00.002Z

Don't miss the Annual Small Works Exhibit at The Loft Gallery at 313 Mill St in Occoquan!

Here are a few of my mixed media minis in their cuter than cute heart frames...

Watch for my pastel minis in a few days, plus look at the Workhouse for more!

At only $12 each, these mixed media minis make incredible gifts for friends, family, teachers, neighbors, and Secret Santas alike. The show begins on November 15 and runs through the holidays, plus there's a special holiday reception November 18 from 4-8pm.

Pastel Demo for Second Saturday, Workhouse

2011-11-11T01:09:00.004Z

In preparation for my Featured Artist Exhibit at the Loft Gallery in Occoquan in December, I am doing a pastel demo at the Workhouse's Second Saturday from 6-8pm this weekend in Building W-16.

The upcoming theme will be Coming Clean: Clotheslines in Italy and I'll be working on a piece for hanging next month at the Loft.

Here's a nibble of something else that will be in the show, although it is one of the few things with lines and no laundry.

Valley Lines

4x10

pastel

Workhouse Small Works in Building 16

2011-11-09T01:40:00.002Z

Come by the Workhouse in November and December for the W-16 Associates Small Works ShowS. Yes, that "S" means the show will change over each month, beginning November 9 and December 7. Black Friday, November 25, is another big date to remember with demos and children's activities.

Sales can walk, so we will back fill to keep the gallery freshly stocked. Come early, as these little pretties go fast.

Check out the new gift shop in W-16, too, which also features small works as well as other gift items created by Workhouse artists.My Lemon Duo (4x6, pastel), as well as Plein Air notecards, are found in the Workhouse Gift Shop.

Pastel Scarlet Marsh (4x6 on the new Richeson rust-colored pastel surface) is among my first submissions for the W-16 Associates Small Works Exhibit in November. I've had an obsession with marsh scenes lately:

For the first time, I have bin pieces in photography...

Lace Above (Bellagio, Las Vegas)
metallic ink photography
8x10 (larger available)

and I will feature photography minis from Italy for the Small Works show in December.

See you there! Everything pictured is under $100 and is great for gift giving or providing that je ne sais quoi.

Central Green at Shades of Pastel

2011-11-04T01:14:00.003Z

It's time again for the Maryland Pastel Biennial National Show, Shades of Pastel. This year, it is at the Workhouse Arts Center. Talk about convenient!

Liz Haywood-Sullivan is the juror. She will host a demo Sunday morning, then the opening is from 2-5p on Sunday afternoon.

The exhibit runs through November 20. Stop by to see my entry, Central Green, which is of the area adjacent to the Workhouse. It's a real honor to be exhibiting among this talented group of pastelists.

Dying to Get In

2011-10-22T08:04:00.000+01:00

Co-sponsored by the Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association and Springfield Art Guild, Dying to Get In is an artistic look at cemeteries for the sake of cemetery preservation. The exhibit is housed both in the SAG gallery and in the Springfield Mall hallway outside.

The Opening, a costume party, is in the SAG Community Room at Springfield Mall on Friday, October 28 from 6-9pm. The exhibit will be up through November 19.

Margaret's Zombies
St. George's Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg, VA
Honorable Mention
metallic ink photograph
11x14

SAG October Featured Artist

2011-10-14T01:10:00.006+01:00

This month, I am Featured Artist for Springfield Art Guild at their Springfield Mall location near JC Penney and the Information Booth. It's only appropriate to have a full show of photography, as I am now a juried Photographer at the Workhouse Arts Center! Gaining this exposure (ha!) had been a long journey and I am thrilled to be able to primarily focus on and show both pastels and photography, plus whatever else I might mix in.

My Featured Artist exhibit at the Loft in Occoquan will be pastels based on my photography in Italy and my Featured Artist exhibit at the Workhouse next June will have one wall of each medium. It has been a long time coming and I look forward to marrying the two media in my efforts to exhibit. Please look to my photo blog for more examples.

NOTE: The exhibit will continue throughout November as well.

Coming Clean: A Sneak Peek

2011-10-10T19:58:00.002+01:00

In December, I will be Featured Artist at The Loft Gallery, 313 Mill Street in Occoquan.

Here's a sneak peek at the back of the postcard with all the details:

Please look to this tab for the latest.

Birdhouse at Burke Lake

2011-10-01T01:11:00.007+01:00

Begun with a watercolor underpainting en plein air, I sought to keep it loose and to preserve the watercolor feel while applying different thicknesses of pastel and pastel pencil.The pretty fringe of grass is what interested me at the outset, but I really like the orange offset by the blue. Begun the same day, Glow used a different underpainting technique.

Birdhouse at Burke Lake
soft pastel with watercolor underpainting
8x10 Pastelbord

Fort Willoughby

2011-09-28T01:57:00.012+01:00

Oh the rains! So I paint inside.

In the spirit of my ambitious underpainting demo at Fairfax Art League on Saturday, here's a bit of step by step as inspired by a recent Pastel Journal demo by Robert K. Carsten. I enjoy painting rock formations and his first demo really caught my eye.

On a piece of Gessobord, I began with a thick and textured layer of Golden's Fine Pumice Gel. Some parts were made fluffy with my brush, others shaped with a palette knife. Then it dried overnight.

I chose several values to force in the tooth as a preliminary layer of pastel.

Next, I brushed on rubbing alcohol.

Finally, I worked in foliage with additional pastels and used the texture to catch bits of pastel in order to create extra depth.

Fort Willoughby, USVI
pastel with alcohol underpainting
8x10

Top Ten

2011-09-25T01:22:00.000+01:00

Of one of the top ten beaches in the world, this painting of St. John, USVI was based on one of my pictures.

Top Ten
Pen and Ink with Watercolor
5x7

How'd She Do That?

2011-09-20T01:50:00.003+01:00

Watercolor Underpainting * Floated Pastel Underpainting * Acrylic Underpainting

I will not only answer questions about "How'd She Do That?," I'll actually demo it, too.

The Flexibility of Pastels and Relating Them to Your Media

Pastels are not just for pastelists anymore. See Bonnie Ferguson Butler demo numerous methods of underpainting for pastels as she begins paintings using four different media. An underpainting is a layer of color applied prior to the painting itself. She will show three methods of using pastels under pastels as well as watercolors, oils, and acrylics under pastels. The secret is using sanded supports, which allow for wet applications and getting pigments into the tooth of the paper or board.

Fairfax County artist and published biochemist Bonnie Ferguson Butler is a juried artist at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton and The Loft Gallery in Occoquan, who enjoys experimenting with art techniques. Approaches that utilize her vast collection of art supplies make her happy. While her emphasis is en plein air painting, she also enjoys photography, which are often works that began as reference materials, but wind up deserving on their own. Award-winning and active in the local arts community, she maintains blogs devoted to her art and her photography and is Founder of the Pastel Society of Virginia, which meets twice monthly in the Springfield Art Guild Community Room.

Attend this informative demo at Fairfax Art League's monthly meeting on Saturday, October 1 at their Village Gallery at 3950 University Drive in Fairfax near the library. The meeting begins at 10a.

~~~
See address and directions here.

This is my hand out available for your reference.

The Loft Gallery in Occoquan VA

2011-09-17T16:42:00.001+01:00

Celebrating 25 years, The Loft Gallery in Occoquan is the co-op home to 21 talented professional artists. I am thrilled to have begun our association this earlier year. My page and gallery on The Loft's website has been created and you're welcomed to check it out. Although I have blogged for many years, really applauding the merits of that presentation style, I appreciate how concise a gallery can be, too, so go there for more bang for your clicking and viewing buck.

In breaking news, I will be featured artist at The Loft beginning December 6 and running throughout the month, plus the collection will hang until the end of February. My theme will be "Coming Clean: Clotheslines in Italy," to honor my pet photography image, laundry.

Pastel Society of Virginia Opening

2011-09-06T02:22:00.008+01:00

Labor Day was a special day for the members of the Pastel Society of Virginia. We installed 29 paintings from eight pastelists for the first group showing of pastels in Virginia, plus we had about 60 guests, many of whom voted in our Terry Ludwig People's Choice Award. Adults and children alike took voting very seriously.

The exhibit is located in the Community Room of Springfield Mall and is hosted by Springfield Art Guild.

Have a stroll through our images.

See also:View even more on our Facebook page. And learn more about us in this Springfield Art Guild Newsletter article.

Springfield Art Guild at Green Spring Gardens

2011-09-02T01:38:00.004+01:00

The annual Fall Art Show and Sale hosted by Springfield Art Guild at Green Spring Garden Park was installed on Monday and continues until October 31. The Opening is 1-3p at the Horticulture Center on September 11.

For the second time, I entered a juried competition with my photography and I had two accepted for this.

Portulaca

Jalousy (an old way to write jalousie, which is based on the word "jealousy")

Both are printed in metallic ink and have a delicious extra shimmer.

Please visit my daily photo blog and add it as a favorite.

Friends and Family

2011-08-30T04:00:00.002+01:00

The Workhouse recently held a juried entry for their Friends and Family show. Artists already exhibiting there were asked to choose a friend or family member not affiliated with the Workhouse to come together and submit works for jury.

The Opening is September 3 5-7p and the show runs until September 25.

I had seen this image already on my sister's Facebook and immediately thought of it when I learned of the special exhibit. My sister, Roxann, has a keen eye for composition and especially likes naturally-created still lifes, but she doesn't use her photography like she should! The bike is labelled as TAXI, so it seemed fitting for the photo's name.

To coordinate with it, I chose a picture I took of my son and called it "Sun in my Eyes" which, of course, is a homonym for my real intent.

The incredible news is that our photos made the front of the show's postcard! My sister is going to be spoiled into thinking all this art stuff is easy.

Pastel Society of Virginia Exhibit

2011-08-26T03:36:00.004+01:00

NOTE: Look to the tab above for current Pastel Society of Virginia activities.
~~

The Pastel Society of Virginia's exhibit slated to begin on Saturday with the Opening on Sunday is being delayed due to the weather.

Installation will be complete on Labor Day, September 5 and we will have an impromptu Paint In and Reception beginning around noon.

Come by to help us celebrate the first purely pastel group exhibit in Virginia. It is located in Springfield Mall in the Springfield Art Guild Community Room between JC Penney and the Information Booth. Once inside Entry 6 under the Modell sign, head to the left.

We invite all viewers to choose their favorite artist, who will win the Terry Ludwig People's Choice Award $150 gift certificate and a pad of Wallis paper. All participants will receive several Terry Ludwig pastels. Look for our ballot box; paintings will be located in both the Community Room's gallery and the outer window space.

See also: Pastel Society of Virginia Opening blog link for views of our extraordinary collection. View even more on our Facebook page. And learn more about us in this Springfield Art Guild Newsletter article.

"Remains to be Scene" Extended

2011-08-12T01:59:00.003+01:00

The "Remains to be Scene" Exhibit at the Hylton Center at GMU in Manassas has been extended through September 4. Visit my painting and three photographs, plus read their descriptions.

Manassas Battlefield Today (right), Metallic Ink Photograph,11x14
"Maintaining the Manassas Battlefield Park is monumental in its mission to preserve this area for future generations. This simple image catches a small part of that effort today."

Solitude in Splendor (below) pastel, 9x12:
"Painted en plein air at Heron Pond in Fairfax Station [VA], this work honors the nursing duties of Clara Barton, who tended both Confederate and Union Troops nearby in Fairfax Station ."

Glow

2011-08-07T01:06:00.000+01:00

Begun en plein air at Burke Lake, this is a water float pastel underpainting in which I sought a more abstract and angular interpretation.

Initially, I used light colors, so the chalk separated and floated a bit much, but I was able to get in plenty of color over that, despite the rules about darker pastel over light not covering completely.

Using textured surfaces certainly helps.

I appreciate how energizing, yet tranquil, this little painting is.

Glow
pastel
5x7 Pastelbord

Breeze By Installation

2011-08-04T14:35:00.001+01:00

Tonight is the Opening night! Here's a preview of some summery paintings and quotations.

Pastel Society of Virginia in the News

2011-08-04T01:14:00.003+01:00

The Pastel Society of Virginia has a our first exhibit beginning August 27 with the Opening August 28 2-4p. It's very exciting to have a press release that worked!

Thanks to Springfield Connection, page 15, and thanks to Springfield Art Guild for hosting us as well as Springfield Mall for hosting them.

In the mean time, "Breeze By" my Opening tonight at 905 King St in Alexandria for my August show. It features pastels and photography with a few oils and mixed media added for even more variety. I am quite proud of it and especially enjoy hanging so many of my photos. Hey! Free pizza and wine!

Skyline Atmospherics

pastel

11x14 on Pastelbord

Thor's Hammer, Bryce Canyon, UT

2011-08-01T01:14:00.001+01:00

In leading a demo for a floating pastel underpainting, I chose the photo of Carolyn, fellow Pastel Society of Virginia member, to use as an example, which was an unusual move for me, as I only paint from my own photos. However, this image was so compelling.

The underpainting didn't cover the entire surface. I mostly worked in darks and greens, saving all the lights for later. This way, the edges I wanted to be sharp and colors deep wouldn't be hazed by floating chalk from the lighter pastels.

Almost entirely done in Pastel Society of Virginia meetings, this painting was so much fun to model and sculpt.

Thanks, Carolyn.

Thor's Hammer, Bryce Canyon, UT
pastel
9x12 Pastelbord

Featured Artist in August - Breeze By!

2011-07-26T01:37:00.022+01:00

My time as Featured August Artist in the Exhibition Series begins Monday. Before then, catch the final days of Megan Coyle's show and read this review about her collages. My show will be about half pastels and half photographs, with a few new pen and inks with watercolors and a smattering of oils, all featuring summery themes and a lot of the outdoors.

I'd check it out just to read the quotes. One favorite is, "Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it," by Russel Baker.

See you at the Opening on Thursday, August 4! Breeze By!

Welcome to Half Moon Cay

2011-07-24T01:21:00.004+01:00

This beautiful arch created en plein air at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, was our introduction to a day of kayaking and a lot of laughs. A cay essentially is a key, except that a cay supposedly has nobody living there. Turns out that Half Moon Cay, err, Key has 34 people as inhabitants. It's a private island owned by Holland America and Carnival.

Welcome to Half Moon Cay
4x5
Pen and Ink with Watercolor
SOLD

Remains to Be Scene

2011-07-22T01:04:00.009+01:00

In commemoration of 150 years since the Civil War began, the Manassas Art Guild has held a juried art and photography show concerning both the event and lush Virginia. I entered five pieces and had four accepted.

The show runs at Hylton Center at GMU in Manassas from July 13 to August 13. Gallery hours are 12-6pm Wednesday through Saturday.

The entire show is seen here on Facebook. My photography blog can be visited here: bfbutlerphoto.blogspot.com.

Blandford's Arch
Metallic Ink Photograph
11x14

Lily Pads 1 & 2

2011-07-20T01:13:00.014+01:00

The plein air trek last week was to Mason Neck State Park to see the lily pads in bloom. There were no blooms in sight, but we found these quaint, miniature lily pads to paint instead. These tiny paintings remind me how much fun it is to glaze watercolors, although outdoors things dry very quickly!

Currently on display at The Loft Gallery on Mill St in Occoquan:

Lily Pads 1 & 2
Pen & Ink with Watercolor
3x3

Get Away - San Juan

2011-07-17T02:29:00.001+01:00

Get Away - San Juan
Pen and Watercolor
5.5x8.25

Pastel Society of Virginia

2011-07-14T01:26:00.006+01:00

NOTE: Look to the tab above for the latest on the Pastel Society of Virginia, our exhibits and membership.

~~

This topic gets a good number of hits here daily and, b/c our PSV website is still under construction, I will offer up some details here.

Bottom line: I wish I had a nickel each time someone told me this project was overdue or that they had wanted to create this society themselves! With everyone's help, we will fulfill the dreams we've all had for so long.

We meet to paint/critique/support on the third Thursday evening and fourth Tuesday morning at the Springfield Art Guild Community Room at Springfield Mall. In the future, we'll mix it up with some weekend and plein air opportunities. Everything is flexible and we ask for patience as we get our groove. Meeting topics will develop in time as we develop additional structure. Further, we intend to be a major stop on the workshop circuit to draw big name pastelists, b/c Virginia has been long neglected.

Our goal is non-profit status when someone steps up to pursue it. We also have IAPS membership to come. Most of us are located in Northern Virginia, so we meet locally by default; however, if others want to join us or to extend our reach to other areas of Virginia, all is in the realm of possibility. It takes many hands and not all will be mine!

For the record, I am more of a start up personality, so I like to brainstorm and see what can happen to develop possibilities. Hence, I am not the administrative, maintaining sort, so others will need to step up into positions of leadership.

Very exciting, our first exhibit will be in the SAG room and runs from August 27 through October 1. The Opening will be Sunday, August 28 from 2-4p.

Any Virginia or local dry pastelist is invited to hang; we will have over 25 slots. To share the load, all participating artists will need to volunteer during drop off/hanging, reception food/set up/clean up, reception demo, and/or pick up.

Please comment with additional questions or email me from the sidebar link. We currently communicate through several mass emails a month; let me know if you would like to be included on our email list.

Bonnie Ferguson Butler, Founder
Pastel Society of Virginia

Leaving Miami

2011-07-13T18:21:00.004+01:00

Pastel and oil kits can be cumbersome, especially for someone like me who acts as if every expedition is like car camping.

Expanding my repertoire with a much more portable medium, the next few plein air paintings were created with Sakura pens and a WN travel watercolor set.

Leaving Miami
5.5x8.25
Pen & Ink with Watercolor

Judith Beheading Holofernes (Caravaggio)

2011-06-09T02:17:00.014+01:00

I'd never done street painting, but it seemed like a logical thing for a pastelist to try. To make doing something new even harder, I chose to do a portrait instead of a landscape. My inexperience showed, but it was a lot of fun working with Via Colori and Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts.

I chose to replicate Judith of Judith Beheading Holofernes a la Caravaggio, or at least that was the plan!

which in two hours developed into

She became Amazon Molly Ringwald! I am spoiled by the many colors in my pastel set and a straight on perspective!

These are some street painters looking up the alley toward Market Square.

Here's my favorite label of the day, which is at the entrance of Frederickburg's St. George's Episcopal's cemetery.

If I get up my nerve, I will try to do the street painting festival in September, although it is probably three times the size of my little 20 ft2 Judith.

A Title And An Invitation

2011-06-02T16:30:00.000+01:00

Save the Date for my Breeze By Opening on Thursday, August 4 from 6-9pm in Old Town Alexandria!

Workhouse Demo in Oil

2011-05-19T01:59:00.055+01:00

Over the weekend as a part of the Second Saturday Gallery Walk at the Workhouse, I created a replica oil painting of a 5x7 that sold there last summer. Doing a demo can be a gab fest laced with education, but despite all the talking I almost finished the 9x12 version of that 5x7 image from a photo I took near Nokesville VA.

Regardless of working in oil, I got in a lot of education about pastels based on the attendee's interests in my hanging this month. Looking left to right at the pastels, below, my display had an acrylic underpainting with a prepared pumice surface on foam board, a watercolor underpainting on Uart, and (top) a pastel underpainting using the float method on Pastelbord. The variety of methods that pastels offer can be mind boggling and I was amazed at how interested adults and children alike were about techniques and materials.

Ever pragmatic and humorous, I found it wonderful painting in front of a wall of my work, which gave credibility to my skills as people witnessed my demo piece go through its ugly stage, as all paintings do. I should bring a similar display when I work plein air so that passing viewers know that paintings do come around.

Fellow Workhouse artist and metal fabricator, Mike Minnery, later brought his family by for a pastel lesson.

Many thanks to Workhouse artist, Jack Dyer, for the photos.

Old Town Alexandria Patch

2011-05-17T00:30:00.013+01:00

I enjoy the local Patch online newspapers. They actually want community news and follow leads you provide. Great system there!

Here's their first installment of the Exhibition Series. More to follow.

Firebricks and Frames Exhibition Series: Save the Date

2011-05-15T07:01:00.022+01:00

I am very excited to be a part of this solo show series, which begins in June. The kick off will be June 8 at 7pm in Alexandria. My own show, Breeze By, will be up for the month of August. It will combine painting and photography, the mundane from a summer day made even more beautiful. The Opening will be Thursday, August 4, 6-9p.

Quite a diverse group, other participating artists are Marsha Brown, Meghan Coyle, Camden Noir, Tracey Wilkerson, Jessica Hopkins, and Vaughn Cottman.

Skies and More Skies

2011-05-07T15:58:00.000+01:00

For Saturday, May 14, at the Workhouse's Second Saturday from 6p until probably 8p, I will be doing a demo in oil in W-16. My goal will be to finish a painting and have a wet canvas sale at the end. Please stop by if you're in the area.

Sometimes artists have a little ping of regret when a piece sells. Last year at the Workhouse, I sold a beautiful 5x7 in the most glorious gold frame. It was a Old Masters gem based on a photo I took near Nokesville, VA.

Let's hope I have the same ping on Saturday. I will be recreating, to some degree, Evening Flame in a larger format, using a wonderful Pannelli Telati fine cotton panel again. They are perfectly smooth, which is the feel I want for a sunset.

If you happen by the Workhouse, look for my wall of paintings, an unusual honor as I requested my submissions for the month be displayed together. When I paint this sky, I will be surrounded by other skies I've created in pastel and oil, to include the two most recent posts here. This will be a lot of fun.

Skyline Atmospherics

2011-05-01T01:26:00.021+01:00

Skyline Atmospherics was created based on a picture I took from Skyline Drive. It's a very close recreation, which began as a watercolor underpainting.

Put together as a demo for the Springfield Art Guild, I am happy to have volunteered for the project. Today is another demo day for SAG, so come by the Springfield Mall's Community Room (between JC Penney and the elevator) between 2-4 to see demos and the current show, a Member's Choice Award Exhibit. As you can tell below, when given a whole table and not balancing it all outdoors, it makes me very happy to spread out.

Photo by Jon Strother

Next weekend, I'll be doing a demo in water soluble oils at the Workhouse in Lorton from about 6-8pm May 14; there will be a framed wet canvas sale when I am finished. My goal will be to recreate a larger version of Evening Flame, a 5x7 which sold there last year.

Skyline Atmospherics
pastel
12x16

Evening Play

2011-04-29T09:58:00.000+01:00

Evening Play was created in preparation for the Virginia Pastel Society meeting this week. Two shades of brown ground were laid down and fixed. Next, the sky of medium blue, deep purple, and magenta were broadly painted in pastel. For this one, I sprayed it all down with isopropyl alcohol. A surprise to me, it took about two hours to dry! The pastel did not float the same way as with water, but it buried itself nicely into the sanded texture of the Pastelbord as it dried, just as it would have with a water float, so I like it as a means of pastel underpainting.

To the left, some of the pink did float to give a slight pink glow into the white triangle I'd left untouched. I accented that with creamy sunlight, extending it upward and outward. I waited until after floating to put those details in so that the overall painting would not have a chalky feel with a floated chalk-based color.

At the base, I streaked in a medium tan and a darker green to give the ground more life. The distant trees, treated just as the ground was, show several dark purples and I layered in a bit of pink glow on them.

It is difficult to paint a believable sunset, but I continue to try, as the bold colors are an enjoyable substitute to green!

Evening Play
pastel on Pastelbord
8x10

Pastel Society of Virginia - Meeting 2

2011-04-28T02:24:00.008+01:00

NOTE; Please look to the tab above for the latest on Pastel Society of Virginia, our shows, and membership.

~~~
This week, we had the second meeting of the Virginia Pastel Society and had our first opportunity to paint together. In advance, we had decided a number of meeting topics and first on the list was the pastel underpainting method whereby pastel is laid down on Pastelbord, then saturated with water and left to dry. The resulting painting can be merely accented, can be painted heavily, or can be sprayed/dried repeatedly.

I first saw it in a demo with Stan Sperlak, which I covered here.

Following are the works of some of the participants. Mine from both that day and the day before will be posted soon.

Roxanne used a sunset photo I took at Cape May NJ last week. In this image, her board has been sprayed with water and still has a wet area remaining. Surprisingly, we found these 8x10 to 9x12s to take less than 30 minutes to dry in the sun.

Esta's is from a dramatic sunset picture she took near her home in FL.

Roxanne's wound up very mysterious.

Unfortunately, my camera download malfunctioned and I lost the last half of my card, so I can't show off Carolyn's landscape or the other finished pieces.

Our next meeting will be on May 24 at 10am. We'll dive into some landscape, architecture, and animal portraits when we go plein air at Frying Pan Park. Rain/yucky day alternate location will be at the Sully Substation.

Sadie's Sauna

2011-03-28T21:59:00.000+01:00

This prissy, petite cat and I were inseparable. I got her from the pound when she was five weeks old and she lived to be almost 19. She was my pair bound, constantly on my lap or sharing my bed. In her later years, she grew to have a scruffy coat and darkened eyes. She found the computer monitor and cable box to be great sources of warmth to her skinny bones. I called them Sadie's Saunas, which lends itself to her red background.

Sadie's Sauna
soft pastel on Canson
12x12

Tap Tap Tap

2011-02-21T19:28:00.000Z

This blog beckons. I'm waiting on the good weather again to paint. Although I've been painting and demoing a bit indoors, it gives me less satisfaction than plein air.Green Acres!

Keeping up my photography blog has been a blast. I have it programmed for daily photos to come out for months. Although I am lucky to have a cute kid and cats, the blog offers much, much more. Go add yourself as a reader.

In the meantime, I am trying to organize local pastelists who might want to form a society at some point, probably either Pastel Society of Virginia (PSV) or Pastel Society of Northern Virginia (PSNova). We can meet and paint and share, then we'll make it more official down the road. This has been a passion of mine for many years and I am ready to drive it, but I don't especially care about leading it and dealing with all the details. Hopefully, we'll come together to nail it all down, plus have communicating chapters all over the Commonwealth to boot!

We meet for the first time on Tuesday March 22 at 10am in Chantilly near I-66 and Routes 28 and 50.. Please contact me for more info. I'll keep a running email list of ideas and preferences. If the meeting time/location does suit you, then we'll see you there each month. More will be posted here.

As always, look for my paintings hanging in Workhouse W-16 in Lorton and The Loft Gallery in Occoquan.

Photography Success

2011-02-15T15:11:00.026Z

It would be so easy to get spoiled. My first time out of the gates, I won a People's Choice Award through SAG and the visitors of the Photography and 3-D Art Show. This image is called Wings of Fancy #2 and it is printed in metallic inks, perfect for shimmery butterflies.

If you live near DC, don't miss the butterfly exhibit at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton each year. The whole experience feels like an instant spa day.

Here's to finding more photography exhibits to share my finds.

BF Butler Photo

2011-02-01T03:16:00.031Z

I began taking photos when I turned nine and used my birthday money to get a Kodak Instamatic, probably a 124. I haven't stopped taking pictures.

Especially during non-plein air times, I want to pursue photography more aggressively, so it made sense to start a photography blog; it is set up to publish a picture a day. Butterflies are a specialty, but there are still lifes, figures, landscapes, and portraits galore. Come along for the ride; dozens are uploaded and waiting in the wings. Please add yourself as a follower.

My first photography showing is in the Community Room at Springfield Mall as a part of the Springfield Art Guild's Photography and 3-D Exhibit during the month of February. I have a number of pieces in each category; it is an eclectic show and a lot of fun.

Instructor, Student, Staff Show at the Workhouse Closing

2011-01-26T05:16:00.001Z

If you haven't made it by the Workhouse for this exhibit upstairs in W-16, be sure to drop by soon as it ends on Saturday, January 29.

Collector's Showcase Gala 2011

2011-01-23T05:52:00.000Z

Tickets went on sale a few days ago for the Workhouse 2011 Collector's Showcase Gala on February 19. Artists have contributed paintings and attendees to the gala get to select their valuable works of art to take home. Purchase your tickets now for the best positions to choose your paintings!

The Loft Gallery Display, January-February 2011

2011-01-20T16:57:00.003Z

As you might be able to tell, I am very excited with my new position as an artist at The Loft Gallery in Occoquan. In addition to joining some fabulous artists, I am especially excited about designing my own wall space. At the Workhouse and the many other shows I do, I generally drop off art and have no input in how it is hung. Sometimes I stay to help hang, but the decisions about placement rightly go to others who do it routinely.

The Loft Gallery is my chance to be in charge of my own display. Following is the current exhibit; it will be beefed up considerably tomorrow as about a dozen sale items go around it. The whole gallery will be full of red slashes.

Of course the privilege of having a name plate, statement, and bio are pure gravy!

Top Row:
Want
mixed media
4x6

2
mixed media
4x6

Try
mixed media
4x6

Second Row:
Subterrane
mixed media on canvas with gemstones I hounded
6x6

Stalagmite
mixed media on canvas with gemstones I hounded
6x6

Fracture
mixed media on canvas with gemstones I hounded
6x6

Annual Sale at The Loft in Occoquan

2011-01-17T05:19:00.008Z

Come early, as this is a well-attended and highly anticipated annual event! Sales are unusual for me, but I will have a good number of oils and pastels on hand and at great prices.

Workhouse Instructor, Student, Staff Show

2011-01-15T01:14:00.001Z

This is my third time to participate in this annual show which highlights the heart of the Workhouse community.

You are cordially invited to the Opening Reception on Sunday, January 16 from 2 to 4pm. It is located upstairs in W-16. Check out my four pieces downstairs in the main gallery as well.

The show runs through January 29.

Beehive Oven
pastel
8x12

The Loft Gallery

2011-01-11T18:23:00.000Z

Occoquan VA is a quaint little town on the Occoquan River, which leads to the Potomac River. It is a thriving, scenic, tourist town only about two miles from the Workhouse Arts Center and a few more miles from me. It is definitely in my plein air vision for my 10 MILE RADIUS continuing series.

For 25 years, Occoquan has been home to The Loft Gallery, which presently houses 21 artists, one of whom is now me! I am thrilled with the affiliation and the opportunity to hang my own walls with such an incredible group of talented artists around me.

Stay tuned. This will be a lot of fun.

Plein Air Cards

2010-12-14T06:39:00.000Z

I designed some 4x5.5 cards on high gloss paper for shows and other displays. Read and discover why I consider them to be a public service announcement, too.

~~~

Ask about very reasonable prices via PayPal, plus USPS shipping.

Point to Point

2010-12-10T07:42:00.000Z

Completed en plein air with my painting buddy at Burke Lake, Point to Point depicts that not-yet-fall atmosphere which I have grown to love.The water was calm except for when a slight breeze kicked up. We sat along the walking path and got to extol the virtues of pastels as we would answer the questions of passers-by: pastels are not chalks, crayons, or watercolors. They are pure pigment, essentially oil paints without the oil, but with a little binder added instead.

Education of the public about the beauty of pastel is a large part of the mission of pastel painters who work plein air.

Point to Point
pastel with watercolor underpainting on UArt 400
5x7

DLA HQ Atrium December 6-8

2010-12-04T11:19:00.002Z

Join me for another round at the DLA HQ Atrium outside the Gift Shop. This time, I will be there just three days, Monday December 6 through Wednesday December 8, with demos from 9a-2p daily. Look especially for small works of local places.

South County School Fair December 4

2010-12-01T08:09:00.001Z

Join Wendy and I from 10a-3p at SCSS. Between the two of us, our booth will have a large variety!

4th Annual Small Works Exhibition, Workhouse Arts Center

2010-11-28T04:19:00.006Z

This year, all my of small works at the Workhouse coordinate. They hang salon-style in a column of five on the first floor of W-16, working beautifully together. And they are selling fast. Replacements will be arriving Wednesday when the Workhouse reopens.

The overall collection on the first floor of W-16 is so much fun - scaled down versions of the usual larger works or all out divergence from the status quo. It is wonderful to see the creativity of my fellow artists and to include the Studio Artists in W-16.

In a personal record, I have eight paintings at the Workhouse through the end of the year. Please visit the second floor to vote for me in the People's Choice so I will have a solo show in the Spring!

MAD for Color, 2010 MAD Artist! Collective Exhibition

2010-11-25T13:00:00.004Z

From November 26 until the end of December, swing by the Workhouse Main Gallery, W-16, on the second floor to find an opportunity to view the prize winning works of the Workhouse artists chosen monthly by Interior Designers of AIDP.

Among other things, this exhibit will have a People's Choice element to choose one Associate Artist (those juried into the Workhouse and choosing not to have a studio) and one Studio Artist (juried in and choosing to have a studio), with the winners to receive solo shows in the spring in W-16.

I have three pieces on display, but Skyline Stands is the one up for People's Choice. Sure would enjoy a solo show next Spring as the People's Choice Associate, so get out and vote, people!

Skyline Stands
pastel on UArt 800
9x12

Cruise by Gallery West before Sunday

2010-11-24T16:41:00.007Z

For all things bright and beautiful, here's a reminder to check out Gallery West on King St in Alexandria before Sunday to see my two pieces juried into the Power of Color II Show!

Escape to Black Friday 9a-7p at the Workhouse

2010-11-23T15:42:00.000Z

All Black Friday pieces are 8x10 or less in size, hung salon-style, and very reasonably priced. The show ends in late December.

Here are a few examples of my 4x6 pastels which are available:

Occoquan Marina

2010-11-17T07:32:00.001Z

Occoquan is a quaint town near both me and the Workhouse Arts Center. Having a quaint town only a couple miles away is quite convenient, both in proximity and in the cause of getting other painters to come out to create.

The Occoquan docks and marina areas have undergone an effective overhaul which makes it easier to both paint and find beautiful subjects. I pulled out my artistic license on this one, as I appreciate chances to make things in the landscape red.

Occoquan Marina

pastel

5x7

SOLD

Gallery West's The Power of Color II

2010-11-13T06:44:00.006Z

RECEPTION

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 5-8PM

Meet the Artists ~ Light Refreshments

All are Welcome

Please look for the two pieces I have in the exhibit.

Welcome to The Power of Color II show.

This exhibition explores color in the creation of artwork.

Sometimes we use the same colors in all of our work, avoid others, and use others to cue our viewers

into our meaning of a specific piece. Sometimes we make statements with color.

This juried exhibit features drawings, paintings, photography and mixed media in all styles, as well as

custom made jewelry and pottery. All artists live within the Washington DC metropolitan area.

1213 King Street • Old Town Alexandria, VA 22314 • gallerywest@verizon.net

Open Wed-Sun, 11-6 • 703-549-6006 • www.gallery-west.com

Chrysalis

2010-11-12T04:17:00.000Z

This has been a wonderful autumn for painting as I've been concentrating on smaller works. I sure appreciate my painting buddies for revisiting old haunts as well as blazing new trails.

The latter was the case for me in going to Chrysalis Vineyards near Middleburg, Virginia recently. One usually thinks of traditional fall foliage in the trees, however the vines showed off extraordinary color well before them. As a landscape painter, I don't get to use reds that often, but not so this day!

Chrysalis
pastel
5x7

Sky Meadow Clouds, Left & Right

2010-11-09T16:33:00.001Z

Sky Meadows is a beautiful state park near the tip top of Virginia. The view is spectacular. These fluffy clouds adorned the early fall sky and I chose to paint them instead of the early changing foliage.

I especially love it when I can paint, finish, and can just move my set up 180 degrees to begin painting again. Sky Meadows offers that opportunity.

Sky Meadows Clouds, Left
soft pastel on UArt
4x6

Sky Meadows Clouds, Right
soft pastel on UArt
4x6

McNamara HQ at Ft. Belvoir: Art in the Atrium

2010-10-27T10:55:00.020+01:00

Hope to see you there. I have two blocks of time coming up, November 1-5 and December 6-8. Come for lunch and enjoy the full service cafeteria!

Lee Boynton Plein Air Oil Demo

2010-10-26T08:02:00.015+01:00

Joined fellow plein painters of MAPAPA for a Paint Out at Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary' River Farm last weekend. We were lucky to have a demo by painter, writer, (comic), and instructor Lee Boynton, who is a follower of the Henry Hensche model of Impressionistic painting.

This barn will become central to Lee's composition, although not not focal point.

Lee used an 11x14 Mars Violet-tinted piece of mounted linen.

This is the way people who paint in local color see the color and light.

This is the Impressionistic way to see light. Note, the focus is on the light, not the color.

Lee crafts these large and well-balanced palettes and their accompanying cases.

Beginning with the greatest source of light, Lee scratched in a pale yellow and tops that with a Cerulean blue for the sky. He put in the middle light value, the land mass, and then darkened the verticals/trees in the distance. The primary three landscape structures - the sky, land, and verticals - with their accompanying values were in quickly as references for the rest of the painting process.

Lee's goal was for the road and shadows to be his focal point.

The figure provided balance for that side of the board.

After this point, Lee put in a lot of time with the finishing details.

The light had changed so much that I must apologize for the differences. I wound up using two different cameras, so the colors vary as well.

While I consider myself a rather Impressionistic painter, I now believe I am a more local color painter, this despite plenty of purples in the shadows, pushing other colors, lots of blending, and often inventing skies.

Pastelists traditionally begin with darks, because pastel lights are too hard to effectively cover with darks later on. Pastelists are usually in the singular during demos and paint outs, too, so our difference can be evident!
Almost like a watercolorist (which he is, although he was using oils this day), Lee began with the sky, establishing his lightest light first. I certainly see the value of beginning with the sky and could see doing that and juxtaposing it against the darkest darks early on, as long as the lights are something I don't want to cover with darks later.

See also this sidebar element:

Directory of Demos Blogged

Trisha Adams - oil still life
Kenn Backhaus - oil en plein air
Lee Boynton - oil en plein air
Louis Escobedo - oil from landscape photo
Bruce Handford - watercolor en plein air
Carol Iglesias - pastel, alcohol underpainting en plein air
Mark Isaacs - oil & acrylic, landscapes
Richard McKinley - sketchbook, field sketch, pastel underpainting, watercolor underpainting [all en plein air]
Barbara Nuss - oil en plein air
Sara Linda Poly - oil en plein air
Stan Sperlak - pastel landscapes
Daniel Wise - pastel en plein air

666, the end is near

2010-10-25T13:53:00.005+01:00

LibertyTown's 6x6x6 show featuring pieces to not exceed six inches in any direction is open another week until October 31.

Come see the creative variety of artist bent on creating 666 artwork.

"Once Upon A Time" is almost over

2010-10-19T14:45:00.000+01:00

My first Del Ray Artisans' exhibit, Once Upon A Time, ends on October 24.

This appealing gallery is located at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center on 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria.

SAG: Green Springs and Goodwin House

2010-10-13T12:50:00.000+01:00

The Springfield Art Guild and Friends of Green Spring Garden Park Fall 2010 Art Show And Sale runs until October 25 at various venues within Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria. My three pastels are all housed in the horticultural center.

Also in SAG news, the annual show at Goodwin House, 4800 Fillmore Ave. in Alexandria, will have a Opening reception and Power Point show featuring the artists' paintings and statements for this "On My Vacation" exhibit from 3-5pm on October 17. This show runs October 2 through November 20.

Four for One

2010-10-09T12:04:00.008+01:00

All four of my entries are on one wall at the Workhouse this month! Come out and see my miniature Featured Artist gig during Second Saturday tonight from 6-9pm with food, awards, interior design, and lots of art.

The actual Featured Artist in Gallery W-16 is fellow pastel (and watercolor) pal, Ariel Freeman, so don't miss her show.

Clockwise from left: Heron Pond, Late Summer (8x10 pastel); Day Ends (8x10 pastel); Evening Show (9x12 oil); and Cape May Canal (9x12 pastel.)

The Passion of en Plein Air

2010-10-07T15:39:00.004+01:00

As found in Subaru's magazine, check out a good article about plein air competition. (I actually bought my Matrix for its plein air-friendly features.)

Even though Easton (and Annapolis, Riverbend, etc, for that matter) are right in my back yard, the bottom section of the article has become a wish list for future vacations. Once I can take off during the week, I will put my competitive juices to better use!

Heron Pond, Late Summer

2010-10-05T01:17:00.000+01:00

Almost a year ago, I posted my first effort at Heron Pond, Solitude in Splendor, which featured dramatic fall foliage. Several weeks ago, I was able to go back to the same stretch along the neighborhood's walking trail. Unlike ever before, I was struck by the beauty of late summer and this painting shows just that. It is of the same area as the first, but makes the small point the focus instead of the foliage. The reflected sky is daring and almost all watercolor.

Heron Pond, Late Summer
pastel
8x10

LibertyTown 6x6x6 Show

2010-09-29T20:35:00.004+01:00

Continuing my fascination with square canvases, I have progressed from 3x3 for the Workhouse to 10x10 for PONSHOP and have now regressed to 6x6 for LibertyTown's 6x6x6 show, one to not exceed six inches in any direction.

The exhibit Opening is October 1 from 5-9pm and the show runs until October 31.

Mixed Media with Semi-Precious Stones

2010-09-27T18:35:00.001+01:00

Much like the pieces for the Workhouse 3x3 show which ended earlier this month, these 6x6 works on stretched canvas also capture geological cross sections and the treasures withim.

Following are Stalagmite, Subterrane, and Fracture. All feature water media, black gesso, antique book biology figures, and semi-precious stones like star ruby, star sapphire, moonstone, peridot, garnet, rhodolite garnet, and quartz.

Del Ray Artisans Show

2010-09-24T13:26:00.001+01:00

As another first these past few months, I am participating in my first Del Ray Artisans exhibit. The reputation of the Del Ray Artisans preceded themselves and their space is beautiful and well lit.

The Show is called Once Upon A Time and features fantastical, magical, and nostalgic re-imaginings with Curator Amy Souza. I have three pieces submitted. Two are city renderings from above, which relate to my endless source of flying dreams which remind me of Peter Pan. My third piece is historical in nature and a great story very close to my heart; although it is true, the image is fantastical.

The show runs from October 1 through October 24. Opening is the first night from 7-10pm at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center on 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria.

Springfield Art Guild at Springfield Mall

2010-09-22T16:41:00.001+01:00

Springfield Mall is undergoing major renovations and Springfield Art Guild will benefit as a result. Stores are being shifted and spaces open. On this rotating basis, SAG will have a Community Room to use for art classes, demos.and meetings. On the second Wednesday, SAG meets there monthly at 7:30pm.

Here are some inside shots of the member's gallery on one side and the long mural designed and created by talented members on the other. In addition to this, members exhibit in the Mall corridor outside the Community Room.

The pictures don't do the mural justice. Come by to see it, located between JC Penney and the Information Desk on the first floor.

Square City closes in a week

2010-09-19T13:37:00.001+01:00

Visit the PONSHOP exhibit at 710 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA through September 26.

It's a great view for the engineer, architect, and city lover in all of us.

Up From the Cliffs

2010-09-16T14:11:00.042+01:00

Begun under the Occoquan/Rt 123 Bridge, this was started early on an overcast day. The scene looks east from the Occoquan River toward the Potomac River.

Across the way, pinkish, orangish sandstone cliffs called as they peeked out from the lush, dense foliage of Occoquan Regional Park. For a time, the sun opened up on the park's entrance road in the distance, making the area glow. For added interest, the waterline's rich purple striations played on the water. This was such a beautiful scene to paint.

Finding cliffs in Fairfax County, away from Great Falls, was quite unexpected, but a real treat.

Up From the Cliffs
pastel on Pastelbord, watercolor underpainting
9x12

Good Morning

2010-09-14T14:51:00.048+01:00

Visited the scenic valley of Hillsborough Vineyards again last week to paint plein air. It is west of Leesburg on the way to Harper's Ferry and amongst other wineries I have yet to investigate.

The property is a wonderful place for the variety and depth of views or for partaking in some repetition. I've painted this dairy farm twice before, but the pieces always look different. Two are hanging at the Workhouse through October 3.

Good Morning
pastel on UArt 500, watercolor underpainting
4x6

Behind the Scenes

2010-09-11T14:44:00.012+01:00

In a surprise move, I won an Honorable Mention at the Springfield Art Guild's show at Green Spring Garden Park. See more about the show here; the Opening is tomorrow 1-3pm.

This pastel, I now realize, wasn't shown here yet, so I will rectify that post haste. Truly hovering behind the scenes, the piece was created for the 10 MILE RADIUS show this summer using the Stan Sperlak pastel floating method, so it has a pastel underpainting that resembles a watercolor. Based on a photograph I took, it is called Behind the Scenes, because it shows the back of the Workhouse from Lorton Road at Furnace Road.

Behind the Scenes
soft pastel
9x12

Virginia Wine Festival at Bull Run

2010-09-08T17:52:00.001+01:00

Talk about a good time! Virginia Wine Festival really draws the crowds. And this year, it'll draw some of my 3x3 Muses in the Workhouse Arts Center booth. Check out the Muses on Parade September 11-12 at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA.

The Muse collection comes down at the Workhouse on September 12, although mine will be coming down a few days ahead of that. We're hoping you will be able to view them at holiday time, too.

The Muse Collection

2010-09-06T10:59:00.005+01:00

Not only is it fun to be a part of a collection, it is great fun to be within a collection.

Left is Tex Forrest, a Workhouse metal fabrication artist, showing my son, Jasper, his 3x3 box. Jasper was thrilled to be able to show off his own as well.

Below is the poster explaining the Muse Collection, as it appears amongst the overall Centennial Exhibit.

Look closely and you see my son and me, along with my piece of art, and we appear IN the exhibit. It's trippy!

The exhibit runs until September 12.

The Fall 2010 Art Show and Sale, SAG

2010-09-04T11:23:00.007+01:00

Presented by the Springfield Art Guild and Friends of Green Spring Garden Park, this annual show runs from August 31 to October 25 at various venues within Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria. The exhibit focuses on horticultural, natural, and local history themes.

The juror was Susan La Mont, an incredible landscape artist. She chose three of my pastels for the show.

The Opening is on September 12 from 1-3p in the Horticulture Center. Although I would love to be there to congratulate the winners, it is the very day my son will be ushered into teenagerhood, so we will have to miss this one.

Kelly's Art & Frame

2010-09-02T17:46:00.005+01:00

The next turn over of art begins at Kelly's on September 9. In the mean time, go see what she has to offer Alexandria and beyond. The following show runs through October 21.

Enjoy your holiday. I'm hoping for curving fingers of near miss hurricane clouds on otherwise sunny days.

PONSHOP's Square City

2010-08-31T20:25:00.002+01:00

"In September 2010, PONSHOP will transform their gallery walls to reflect the richness, diversity, and life emerging from cities of the past, present, and future."

In an exhibit with exacting measurements, "Square City" required all pieces to be 12x12, 16x16, 20x20, or 24x24. I submitted a 12x12 that was accepted into this Fredericksburg, VA show. The juror was artist and VCU Professor Bob Worthy, who carved 63 pieces by 37 artists down to 32 works for the show. I am happy to be included in those stats.

Here are some looks at the juried pieces before hanging...

The Opening will be Fredericksburg's First Friday on September 3 from 6-10p at 710 Caroline St and the show runs through September 26.

City Squares

2010-08-30T23:18:00.000+01:00

In preparation for the PONSHOP show in Fredericksburg, I did something I don't usually do: created specific work for a specific show. I painted/compiled/mixed media'd three 12x12 pieces using wrapped canvases, airbrush watermedia, black gesso, antique books, and semi-precious stones, like peridot, star sapphire and ruby, garnet, moonstone, rhodolite garnet, amethyst, and quartz that I hounded myself in North Carolina.

City Perspective (Washington DC)

City Equation (Alexandria VA)

City Geometry (Fredericksburg VA)

Creating these pieces has been a fun tangent, no PON intended.

BSA Art Merit Badge in Two Parts: October 9-10 Lorton & Springfield, NCAC

2010-08-24T19:13:00.003+01:00

Here's the blurb for my next Art Merit Badge session for Boy Scouts. Please circulate it among the local Scouting community. Further, if you need this taught to a group, please contact me, as Springfield Art Guild is very excited to have groups use their new and incredibly decorated Community Room at Springfield Mall. I like coordinating it with a Workhouse Second Saturday the evening before.

The abbreviated link is: http://bit.ly/bsa859art .

~~~

The Boy Scouts Art Merit Badge is a fun way to spend a little time to earn an interesting and quick badge. There will be two required parts.

We will start off with Second Saturday Gallery Walk at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton (Rt 123 at Lorton Road) on October 9 from 6-7pm. Meet in the foyer Building W-16 and we will walk the quad to see glass, pottery, woodworking, fiber, photography, and 2-D art, plus meet many artists and eat free food! Past participants did not leave after just an hour, because it is so much fun for the whole family!

The next day, Sunday, October 10, we will meet from1:30-4pm in Springfield Art Guild's new Community Room in Springfield Mall located between JC Penney and the Information Booth/elevator. Use door #6 near Penney's and go left at the first set of escalators, then right at the second set of escalators with the Community Room on the left. This is the hands-on session where we apply principles discussed the night before and learn more.

There are no prerequisites, but Scouts should think about requirement 2a. in which they must design something useful. Come ready with an idea.

If you cannot attend the Workhouse gallery tour on October 9, you may visit the Workhouse ahead of time or choose another gallery. Local suggestions include the Museum of the Marine Corp Gallery (Quantico), Torpedo Factory (Alexandria), Gallery West (Alexandria), Kelly's Art & Frame (Alexandria), The Loft (Occoquan), and Artist's Undertaking (Occoquan.) Further, both inside and outside the SAG Community Room in Springfield Mall has members' art on display.

Please contact your merit badge counselor, Bonnie Ferguson Butler, Workhouse Associate Artist, with questions and your RSVP. Indicate what you will be attending: both sessions or, if you're going to a gallery on your own, just the second. Feel free to visit her website for images of her art: bfbutler.blogspot.com.

Very important: blue cards available from your Scoutmaster are required and they must come from you, because the merit badge counselor will not have any. Please coordinate this ahead of time. Also, publicize this within the local Scouting community as you are able; maximum is 10 Scouts. For security reasons, parents are requested to come into the mall to pick up their Scouts.

Cost is a $10 supply fee due on October 10.

Trummer's Opening

2010-08-19T12:36:00.000+01:00

NOVAL joins with Trummer's On Main in Clifton for an evening of member's art, appetizers, and wine. The Opening Reception is August 25 from 7-9pm. And you are invited!

Muses

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In September, the Workhouse is celebrating two years since the prison doors swung open to the public and 100 years since the prison was created. There will be a focus on the past, present, and future of the facility.

Artists, staff, and community members have been invited to submit Muses, 3x3 works of art, which may be on canvas, paper, or other supports. They will be hung with magnets on metal plates. Each of us will hang one on a collaborative board. The Associates and Guild will hang downstairs in W-16 while Studio Artists will have panels in their areas.

My 12yo son with his love of WWII was inspired to create a number of battlefield scenes with a diorama feel. The one he submitted for the collaborative area is entitled "The Liberators" and is on 3x3 stretched canvas.

My contributions to the project are on the same support, as these canvases are quite cute and inspiring. I am calling mine Geological X-Sections and each represents a different sort of rock formation with a multi-media viewpoint from within the Earth. They are adorned with semi-precious stones I hounded myself, including amethyst, garnet, rhodolite garnet, peridot, and star ruby and sapphire. They represent the treasures of the Earth if one was to peer inside.

An additional layer of interest was created by using organic illustrations from an antique science book. The pieces are definitely best in person! The show runs from August 17 through September 12.

Cleavage, Grotto, Precipice

Peak, Cavern, Crevice

Chasm, Crack, Fissure

What economy?

2010-08-09T13:45:00.002+01:00

Last month at the Workhouse was a stellar one.

Not only was I chosen as Designer's Choice by the AIDP, I sold two of my four paintings being exhibited: one oil, one pastel.

Pictured here is Two Dog Lane, a 8x10 pastel painted on location in southside Virginia.

And there really were two dogs sauntering around, surveying their vast holdings. I love the locals entertaining me while I paint.