The Art Of Coffee

Today is National Coffee Day and what better way to celebrate than with art on coffee stained paper! Here are a few works of art done with coffee stained paper and wood. I found that I do a fair amount of birds especially owls on the coffee stained paper. It was a little harder finding a tree for today's 30-30 post but I found one. It can be seen up close and personal at Willow Oaks craft cider and wine tasting room/art space, 6219 Harley Rd., #Middletown, #MD titled: Follow Me Down.

If you would like to learn more about how I do coffee stained paper check my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LindaWildlifeArtist I will post a little step by step in a album.

"Fish Eagle" pastel on coffee stained paper, on exhibit at the Burwell-Morgan Mill show, Millwood, VA

"Mountain Climber" graphite on coffee stained paper studio gallery available $240 + S-H-tax

Screech Owl I graphite on coffee stained wood panel studio gallery $500 + S-H-tax

Screech Owl II graphite on coffee stained wood panel studio gallery $500 + S-H-tax

"Follow Me Down" pastel on coffee stained paper. Available at Willow Oaks.

Walk In The Park

Since this week has been focused on trees, I have been thinking of some of the places I have hiked. This year, as always, we stopped in OR to visit our son, John. One of the places Rick & I discovered was Washington Park. It has several sections to it but one part that is especially peaceful is the area with big redwoods. Well, as redwoods go they really aren't that big but they are still pretty impressive.

The paths are pretty easy to walk even though there is a fair amount of up and down, it is gentle to traverse. In the middle of the woodlands, they put a deck with seating. A place to sit, watch the light filter through the trees, be mindful and still. The little graphite sketch I did for the 30-30 challenge today is from that spot in the woods. 

Here are a few photographs from Washington Park, Portland, OR.

Artistic Focus

September is drawing to a close, 6 more posts for the 30-30 challenge. This may be my last time doing the official 30-30. I may set up my own little challenges here and there as needed. Maybe do a Pop-Up on-line art sale again.

Why do I do some of these things? This September it was not just a way of keeping me focused on all the art commitments. Posting art each day on social media gave me a sense of peace and I hope it gave a moment of happiness to all that see my work.

Now that I have my artistic focus aligned I hope to keep producing work throughout the winter right into the spring. I spent the weekend working on the endangered bird paintings. I will share them as soon as they are done. Which is coming up soon, they need to be posted by October 1st. I spent the last two afternoons sitting outside painting. Ahhh, fall in AZ!

Here is today's post for the 30-30, continuing this week with trees.

View from the ferry going to Vancouver.

Trees, Forests, Woodlands

Starting tomorrow in B.C. Canada, it is National Forest Week, September 24-30th. This got me thinking about trees of course. Do we have a National Forest Day - Week, in the U.S.A.? There is International Day of Forest, which includes a Forest Day, March 21st.  Of course there is Earth Day in April & Arbor Day. There are several government agencies that connect to the parks: National, State, Forests. These organizations provide special free days, opportunities to help by volunteering and educational programs.

Even though National Forest Week  is not in the U.S.A., I will feature trees for the last week of the 30-30 challenge. I encourage you to go outside, take a walk in the woods. The leaves are starting to change in many areas, breathe deep, pick up a few leaves and memories.

Here are a few pieces that might me in an area near you. To see the 30-30 posts go to: http://www.facebook.com/LindaWildlifeArtist

Historic Burwell-Morgan Mill Show, Millwood, VA

Matrix Gallery, Main St., Blacksburg, VA

Willow Oaks craft cider & wine, tasting room/art space, Middletown, MD

Timing

My timing isn't off, it is just pushing the limits lately. Here in Arizona time does not change, which I must say I personally like. It is time for fall but it is still feeling more like summer. This week the temperatures are dropping but that is just a bit of a tease. Come October the leaves in Northern Arizona will be in full color. A road trip is already in the works.

Yesterday, as I was following up on art commitments, shows, commissions, workshops...I discovered that I had timing for painting two pieces needed for a show in 2018 off by a bit. When I committed to paint two endangered bird species this past spring I thought I had a year to do them. Not really, I somehow missed the part that said, the works were to be done within 6 months and posted on line by October. These two paintings will be pushed to the front of the to-do list. I at least now know what I will be doing this weekend. I need to put my paper calendar on a wall so I can look into the future a little bit and see what is coming due.

Being in the moment of each day, creating in the flow, losing yourself to the work is a wonderful feeling. I just need to work on the timing of being here and what is coming down the road. I guess that part falls under the business of art. Timing may not be everything but it does help to have the work done on time, even artists have deadlines.

Reference photos for this weekends projects.

Painting a member of the weaver bird family. These are photos of one from S. Africa.

Almost Done

Almost gone...What does that mean? Well, I am almost done with a little 6X6X2" painting that is part II of the bird nest series. Part I is the earlier one done in the 30-30 challenge "full house". This one is titled: "empty nest" it is about 95% done. The cell phone picture is off in color, for some reason my phone kept bringing out the blue tones. It is not as blue as it appears, better photos to come when it is done. But, for now it is a work in progress, hope to have it done Thursday,

Now onto the almost gone, today's project, pack up "on the hunt" great horned owl that is going to the Artists For Conservation show in Vancouver, Canada. There is a window to ship art for these types of big shows. I like getting things mailed out earlier, just in case there is a problem in shipping. You know, like it gets lost. It is almost gone, should be in the mail today, latest tomorrow. The show opens in November.

It has been a nice productive month, the 30-30 helps keep me going into the studio. Even though I am posting some images from the road trip, I have been painting most every day. The heron took me longer than I thought it would. In combination to working on the "empty nest" piece I have the bobcat on the easel. That too is a long narrow like the heron and needs to have several days of dry time in-between layers.

Time to get that owl packed....almost gone!

"on the hunt" pastel on paper

Work in progress - "empty nest" oil

Art Happenings

As it is drawing to the end of summer, the fall/winter season opens up many art happenings. Things that are coming up soon, like this week. Do you remember all the artists from the Fine Arts in the Valley show? Well, we still have work at the Amish style barn. It is now the newest tasting room & art gallery in Frederick County: Willow Oaks craft cider & wine plus art space. There are two stories filled with art for purchase. Address: 6219 Harley Rd., Middletown, MD

This week there will be a couple special events going on at Willow Oaks: Thursday & Sunday there are concerts, check the web site http://www.willowoakscraftcider.com or
facebook page http://www.facebook.com/willowoakscraftcider for times.
They have award winning ciders to go along with the award winning artists.

Next on the list: If you happen to be in Blacksburg, VA say for a football game (Go Hokies!) you may want to stop in the Matrix Gallery at 115 N. Main Street. I have several new works on display, along with my little handmade paper books. Lana the owner carries wonderful pottery, wood & metal sculptures too, worth a stop and tell her Linda sent you! Matrix is open 10:30 - 6:00.

Opening September 30th - October 15th Art at the Mill, Burwell-Morgan Historic Mill, 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA. I have 6 pieces on display in this salon style show. It is a beautiful drive through horse country. Hours are: Sun. - Fri. 12-5 Sat. 10-6 there is a $5 fee $3 for seniors, students free. This is the Mills bi-annual fund raiser event. Hope you can stop by, it is a great show.

I am waiting to hear about the pastel show in Scottsdale, AZ. As soon as I know I will post dates and times.

November 9th is the opening of the Artists for Conservation Exhibition in Vancouver, Canada. I am very honored to be part of this exhibition. A percentage of the sales go to conservation organizations.

November 17-18-19th I will be part of a local group show with the Scottsdale Artist League exhibiting at the Adobe Mission 3821 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, AZ ( just off Main St., in Old Scottsdale). Many small works will be available for the holidays).

Okay, I think this is enough for now. I haven't even started setting dates for workshops here in AZ. This is the fun part of the business of art, painting new works and showing them, nice to have some sales too. If you have questions about any of these shows please email me at lindahp@lindaharrisonparsons.com

Who Knows - The Historic Burwell-Morgan Mill, #Millwood, #VA

#Falcon - Willow Oaks, #Middletown, #MD

Red #Maple - #Matrix Gallery, #Blacksburg, #VA

Sticks & Stones

Or how I see references everywhere. Rick & I went on a early morning walkabout. The sun was just coming up over the McDowell Mountain Range. As usual I had my camera with me, because you just never know what you might see. We did a different loop trail and found some interesting downed trees. As the sun was hitting the rocks on the ground, multiple colors were appearing.

Looking at these sticks and stones, I think about them as places wildlife would be seen. Birds sitting on the limb of a dead tree. A lizard sunny himself on a rock. When I find a few moments of time, I try to put these reference images in a separate folder on the computer. I often print them out and keep them in a large plastic container. I have way to many file folders labelled trees.

Here are a couple photos from our adventure this morning. You never know when they may pop up in a painting.

American Kestrel

Continuing with Art in Education week I thought the American Kestrel for the Birds in Art class would be a good addition. Especially, since I had a visit from a Kestrel in my backyard this week. It has been interesting that since getting back to Arizona, the great horned owl has stopped by a couple times, last week a cooper's hawk landed on the fence and this week America Kestrel at the top of the mesquite as the sun was setting.

Surprisingly the Kestrel stayed in the tree for a very long time. I was able to go inside, get my camera and slowly work my way up to get some nice reference photos. Here he is, with lovely sunlight glowing and yes he sees me but does not fly off.

For the 30-30 post here is the pastel done on Canson textured paper in an additive progress. If you would like to see the step by step demonstration you can find it in an album on my art facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/LindaWildlifeArtist

Copyright on all images

Just A Little Blue

Yesterday was Day 11 of the 30-30 challenge, along with memorial of 9-11, and worrying about family, friends in FL, GA, S.C., pretty much the east coast area. It made me feel a little blue, so I decided not to post anything for Day 11.

The red tailed hawk I started for this week as Art In Education is done. I will post a step by step pictures and the final image tomorrow. Working in the toned paper, reductive style, the next step is additive. I start adding color, and shadows using blue tones. Sometimes that blue may be warmer going towards purple-blue. When using the burnt sienna color as a background and under-painting, the blues are compliments on the color wheel. Working with compliments can do several things but my main use is the blending to create darker shadows naturally. I do very little blending with my fingers, I allow the pastels sticks or pencils to do the blending.

Here are a couple more images, showing how I work.

Day 12 of 30-30 red tailed hawk continued.

Art In Education

September 10th through the 16th is National Art in Education week. Since I have been doing a lot of step by step art demonstration type post. I thought I would stay with the trend. For the 30-30 challenge, I posted the beginning of my red tailed hawk that I used in my class on Birds in Art.

I work in a old world style, using cotton rag paper (Rives BFK) is one of my favorites, and toning the paper with medium soft pastels. The "medium" word just describes the hardness the soft pastel. Different brands of pastels, range from handmade, very soft (buttery) to very hard. To tone the paper, I like a medium that does not flake as much. After the paper is toned evenly, I do a charcoal sketch, very lightly, with little detail. I move to a kneaded eraser to remove the lighter parts of the image. Kneaded erasers can be found in most arts & crafts stores.

Once the under drawing is established, I continue using an additive progress. Using stick pastels to block in under-color, also known as under-painting. These colors act as compliments to the layer that will be on top of the finished work.

The final steps are using pastel pencils and charcoal pencils. I use a white charcoal towards the end to bring up the highlights. For the spots that have the brightest whites, softer pastel sticks work beautifully.

This is a general overall of the technique I prefer. If you would like to learn more you can sign up for one of my workshops or private lessons. I believe in sharing information and this week, I will continue to post step by step images on this technique. Here are a few of the hawk in progress.

Sketchy Art

Sketching, To Sketch: ..."a rough drawing" a gesture.

I generally have a little sketch pad with me in my handy little backpack/purse that goes with me almost everywhere. While I was at McDaniel College for Common Ground on the Hill I would attend the evening events, keynote speakers or concerts. Most of the time I sketch quick gestures. The amount of time depends on how many songs the musician plays, could be 3 minutes might have up to 8 minutes. These are gestures, done in very low light.

I do some of these quick sketches outside and did a few in the classroom. I pretty much will sketch any chance I get, tasting rooms, distilleries, botanical gardens are a favorite, wildlife rescues and on and on... You get the picture, sketch, gesture, draw, for practice and for relaxation. As you can see it only takes a few minutes.

I believe by sketching a little here and there it will improve you ability to draw. You will be able to translate what your eye sees to the pencil in your hand putting it to paper. I try to draw a little something every day, it doesn't always happen. If you give it a try at the end of a year, look over that sketchbook and you will see improvement.

Another reason I sketch is ideas. As we are on the road a lot, I will be inspired by something. I might see a tree, the shadows on the distant mountains, clouds, what ever it is might bring a thought for a future painting. I don't want to forgot what I saw and a camera may not catch the idea, the inspiration for a piece of art. I sketch what I think might be a painting and make notes, color references, time of year, and format size.

Here are some rough gesture sketches. For a little step by step sketch go to my FB page. http://www.facebook.com/LindaWildlifeArtist

reductive technique using graphite and eraser

evening concert sketch - 5-6 minutes

concert sketch 3-4 minutes

Sugar Distillery tasting room - 10 minutes 

summer pool party - 15 minutes

Art Themes

Today's 30-30 post is my study drawing of #Raptors from the #CGOTH workshop held at #McDaniel #College, #Westminster, #MD. A study such as this one is not just one day of sketching but several. It started with live birds in the classroom. I work along with the students so they can watch over my shoulder what I am looking at and how I handle moving animals. Most of this was done over a 2 hour period. I did look at details from the photographs I took, adding corrections to the study. Even when I got back to AZ I did some adjustments. The sketch/study now becomes a working reference for not only myself but students. Looking at the details in the patterns of feathers. How the patterns change from the top of the head to those going down the back.

It helps to take a look at singular items, like the talon, eye, beak or single feather. Birds eyes are different even between raptor species. The bone structure of the head and eye sockets are created for day or night hunting. Do they fly fast, glide silently or use their talons as the main force in the hunt for food. All of these things Mother Nature has helped them develop over time for survival.

Doing studies will help you see the slight difference in the bone above the eye, the colors in wings, the direction feathers go along the face, head, or back. Here are a few different studies of raptors and feathers. Sometimes a study becomes a finish piece of art.

How To

Trying to go along with the road trip. We had an extended stay on the east coast. A quick stop in Blacksburg, VA to pick up and drop off art work at the Matrix Gallery. I will post what's hanging there as it gets closer to National Forest Week, Sept. 24-30th. Hint: it might be trees!

Up 81 to Maryland, I spent a week at McDaniel College, teaching at Common Ground on the Hill. It was a great week, we had Dawn Harry from the #Hashawha #Environmental Center bring #Raptors from the rescue program. The class was based on drawing birds with pastels.  Started with charcoal study of feathers. Moving into drawing from live birds with graphite and charcoal. Finished works from the photographs taken from our models in pastel.

Here is a little step by step of how to draw a owl in graphite.

Great Horned Owl, graphite

Skull study of great horned owl

Look at large shapes, note reference line

Add darks

To bring out lights, add dark beside the lights.

Mid-tones to dark's watch the direction of the feathers

Hummingbirds

I did not realize until today that the First Saturday in September is National Hummingbird Day. I may have missed the date but not the opportunity to share photographs and art work of hummingbirds. I have the pleasure of sharing my morning coffee with hummingbirds. Living in AZ we have several different hummingbirds that live here year round and some that just pass through. In my backyard I generally see Anna's, Costa's, Broadbill's and sometimes a Rufous.

Today's 30-30 challenge post is a mixed medium piece on canvas of a Anna. The photographs are from the Hummingbird Aviary in Tucson, Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and from my backyard in Scottsdale. Enjoy!