B-4's And Afters

February has been a busy month, it has also been unusually cold and wet this winter. During this time of year I like having sunflowers around, even after the peddles have wilted away they are still beautiful and fun to draw. Thinking there may be some coffee stained pieces coming up soon.

                        

There are art shows still going on, closing reception for the Boyce Thompson Arboretum Gallery is February 28th from 9-3. My friend Gary Binder & I will be there doing demonstrations in oil and pastel paintings. There is a small fee to get into the Arboretum, with a discount if you have a State Park Pass. It is a great place to walk the trails with hummingbird activity, nests are being built. Plus, we have a few hummingbird paintings on display. So, drop on by and see what we are creating. During the opening reception I finished up a tree piece. I reworked it taking out a bird that never seemed to work, I like it better as just a lone tree. Who knows I may have it there all framed up and ready to sell.



My studio is ready for a new project. The last of the paper making has been packed away. We had a great time this year making paper. My friend Marilu came out for a visit and we had a nice surprise, her granddaughter, Jenni came over from CA to help us make paper.  Here are a few before and after pictures.

                   

All cleaned up and ready for a new project.

There were a few fun things outside of the studio too. Did a boat ride on the Saguaro Lake. The weather was kind to us on that day. Stopped by Liberty Wildlife to see Indian Running Ducks. You can check the photo album out on FB to see more pictures and video's of the local hummingbirds. If you are interested in making paper, well, this June, there will be opportunities in MD. http://www.facebook.com/LindaWildlifeArtist

March is just around the corner with lots more creativity going on and more company. Stay tuned to see what adventures we can find. Stay safe and warm! 

Hide And Seek

Starting out a new month with some new ideas for paintings and images to share for workshops. The last part of January Rick and I went camping at Patagonia Lake State Park. This area is known for the thousands of birds that live there, some part year (truly a snow-bird) and some are permanent residence.

We saw a Clark's grebe, our first sighting, and were told they are rare. Lots of heron's, great blue and green. Love drawing/painting herons, see one coming soon! It is good to feel like painting again, I have been struggling with wanting to work this winter. Cardinals were everywhere the males had their bright red coats on showing off for the ladies. The lake was full of coots, a small water bird, that literally runs on the water. I could not get a picture but next time we are there will spend some time waiting for this action, just because it was fun to watch and could make a fun drawing.

Here are a few photos from land and water. This is the "hide and seek" part...not that hard to find but hope you enjoy.

5,555

Five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Five
That is how many pictures it takes to do a road trip across the country and back.

I have been debating on continuing to do a blog this year. I was having a hard time keeping up with things last year. It was a hard year all around, personally, physically and emotionally. I am starting to get my head about water, as good a cliche as any. So, here we go first blog of the year.  I usually do some favorite photos from the year, sounds like that will be my jumping off point.

The last two years 2017 and 2018 we did cross country road trips. We have now been to all 50 states. There are still lots of places we want to see or go back to again. This passed September we picked up our little RV - "Ally" the Alto. We are still not sure if it is "Ally" or "Allie" feel free to weight in on that. Since we live in AZ we have not winterized her, as we plan to go on a few short trips here and there exploring different areas within the state. Might even go over to CA. We have already gone up to Cottonwood, near Sedona to Dead Horse State Park. I know terrible name but a nice park with good hiking, lots of birds, resident eagles, fishing and generally peaceful. We can start there and I will back track with some pictures taken this passed year on our road trip.

Road Runner - AZ

Aspen in CO, learned that they can turn red colors when there is drought conditions.

N.D. just a buffalo rolling in the grass. 

Sometimes it is just about the sky - east coast - MD.

Other times it is right outside your friends window in Middletown, MD.

Ending with just a splash of color from the North East in fall. 

And A Shooting Star

This morning I woke to the sound of two Great Horned Owls having a conversation in the Mesquite tree in my backyard. Still dark I knew I would not get a photograph but I wanted (needed) to see them. They never seem to mind me coming out in the yard just to watch and listen.

The one owl was in his normal spot at the top of the tree. I could see his silhouette. I could not see the owl responding to his call, and whose voice was a little higher in pitch. Then the other owl popped up to greet the male, at least I think it is a male. As the two were introducing themselves, a shooting star shot by over their heads - wow! Two owls and a shooting star to start my morning. All this before coffee, time to grab my mug and go back out to see if there are any more stars flying about.

Great Horned Owl pastel, charcoal on coffee stained paper 8X10

Travel Time

Things are coming together for the start of our road trip, bucket list stops, picking up RV, art shows, seeing friends, family and football at VA Tech. We kind-of kicked it off by going west for our anniversary this year, a short visit to CA. We literally will be going coast to coast.

We have our house sitter and friends all lined up for checking in on things and helping out along the trail. I will do my best to write blogs along the way of our new adventures. Rick will keep the Facebook pictures posted. Some highlights coming up: our trip was inspired by purchasing a Teardrop style RV. It is being made in Quebec, Canada and was back ordered. It will be ready late September and we need to be there to pick it up, hence the road trip.  After we pick up our little home on wheels, we head to MD. Staying with our friends Eric & Lori Rice, who own Willow Oaks craft cider & wine, with a large tasting room that houses original art. While we are there, my fellow artist friend Marilu Tousignaut and I will have a show at the Art Space within Willow Oaks. There are 2 stories of wall space and lots of new works will be on display. Opening weekend is October 20-21st from 11-5 each day. We will do demonstrations, talks on our techniques, Sunday afternoon, The Martin Family Band will perform folk-Celtic music for your enjoyment. Hope  you can stop by if you are in the area. October & November will have a few visits to VA Tech in Blacksburg, VA for football games, award dinners and new works coming to the Matrix Gallery on Main Street.

Lots going on this fall, we will get to visit with family and friends all along the way. But, before we hit the road, we must finish packing and load the car. That's my cue to wrap things up until next time.

Here's a sneak peak of some of the work heading east.

Inspirations Everywhere

This morning, even before coffee, the great horned owl who comes to visit our mesquite tree in the backyard was hooting away. It was pre-dawn so no great photos but will share some other photos and works in progress.

I am overwhelmed at the inspiration I great from nature. So much so that this morning I ended up going up to our flat roof so I could get a better view of the owl. Rick, got up shortly after my adventure to ask why was I walking around on the roof? When I told him the owl, he just went oh, okay, because he knows, it's what I do to see what I can see.

I am currently working on several pieces for the upcoming show at Willow Oaks in Maryland. Don't forget to mark those calendars for October 20-21st 11-5 come by and see new works, hear music on Sunday afternoon by The Martin Family Band, enjoy the autumn view and try some craft cider. It will be a great weekend, Marilu Tosuignaut and I will be there both days, doing demonstrations, talking about our techniques and sharing stories of our memories that inspired the works. Location: 6219 Harley Road, Middletown, MD

Until, then here are a few teasers...

One of two great horned owl pastel and charcoal pieces on coffee stained paper 8x10"

Willow Oaks craft cider & wine 6219 Harley Rd., Middletown, MD 

The Martin Family Band

Our neighborhood great horned owl

Marilu demoing scratchboard

Linda's sprayed charcoal technique with magpie 

Lost And Found

In my own special way I am pretty organized. The problems usually develops when I put things away in a safe place. I am in preparation mode these days. In the studio as much as possible to paint in oils. There really is a method to my art making madness. The oils need to be done first because they need to dry in order to be packed for travel. Yes, you can travel with wet canvases but I prefer these to be framed and ready to hang.

The in-between times while waiting for the painting I am working on to dry I prep other works. Pulling pictures out for references, making sketches, notan studies and preparing works to be framed. This was where the lost part comes in...I knew I had a small piece that I wanted to include in the show in October. I had put it away while I was gone to teach at CGOTH. The challenge was finding what I had safely tucked away. It took pretty much all day. I looked through the flat files, storage cabinets, print bins, and works to be framed, twice, but still not there. Finally, remembered I have a paper file for pieces waiting to be framed. I rarely use it but there it was, the last placed I looked!

Now, just waiting for the frames to arrive. Still making choices of what art goes where. Trying to think of shows I need work for in 2020, it is a strange business, having to plan sometimes two years in advance. Wish me luck that I don't lose anything else.

Found works and works waiting to be framed.

How I organize for works to be done.

In Search of Mars

As the sun was setting, the wind was picking up and the clouds came rolling in, I truly did not think I would see the moon last night. This time of year in AZ it is not only hot but windy. Monsoon season does not always mean rain, it can often be sand or just winds. Last night it was wind, a very warm wind that pushed the clouds out, exposing the moon and Mars.

The reports on the news focus on the blood moon, the effect of light reflecting on the moon because of a total eclipse. Which could not be seen from N. America. But, the other part of that was Mars was very close to the earth and moon, so close it could be seen on a clear night with just your eye. Sure enough, I could see it, not near as big as some might think but no doubt that it was a planet. My photos don't really show much, but you could see color from Mars. There was reflections in the clouds with color, the moon kept getting brighter and brighter as the evening went on, just to show off a little.

So, here is my little attempt to capture the Moon and Mars.

The evening started with clouds

Close up with veil of clouds

Within a half hour the clouds had gone

View of blood moon and to lower right the planet Mars

Owls

This morning I was greeted by our neighborhood Great Horned Owl. I only had my cell phone with me so not a great photo but enough for a memory and maybe even a reference for future works. This reminded me that I told my students from the Art of the Bird class that I would post a few photos of the Barred Owl who was fluttering around a bit before settling on it's stand.

Here are a few reference photos that you may use if you would like. I played around with some in photoshop, removing some of the background, flipping one of the images and zooming in for details. When working from photo references or rescue birds it is important to use multiple photos and to look at birds in nature. You may have a great photo of the wings but the face is out of focus, find a photo of a face in focus that is the same position to create your painting. Be aware of light sources, direction of light and reflections in the birds eyes.
Rescue birds are there for a reason, they can not survive in the wild. They may have damage to a wing, eye, talons or neurological which may cause them to sit in a unnatural position. Observe nature, you are the artist, use photos as a reference and create the painting to be your own, in your style. I try to be true to the bird or animal even trees that I am using in my work. I study them to learn their names, and parts of the country/world that they live. I look forward to seeing what you create. Enjoy!

A Light Show

A very inspiring morning, a study of lights and dark's. This morning I woke to flashing lights. It was still dark outside so the lights were pretty bright. I brewed my coffee and went out to watch the show. There was flashing light in the distance, soon the thunder came, with a little wind and more light. The sun was rising somewhere behind the clouds creating lovely soft tones in the sky.

This was a wonderful example and a way to end art workshops that dealt with lights, whites, dark's, not blacks. If that seems a little confusing, next year you can come take one of my classes.

Here are a few photos from this morning performance. A little light, some dark's and lovely soft colors. This AZ landscape keeps temping me to do a painting. We shall see what I can come up with that is not a landscape.

Companions

It has been awhile since I have written a blog post. The last couple of weeks I have been teaching at Common Ground on the Hill. Had a great time, wonderful students that produced amazing work. While I was there blue jean canvases were given away for free. I took one to experiment on, my students ask if pastel would work on canvas. Why yes it will but needs to be sealed. I was not 100% sure about blue jean canvas so I gave it a try. There is a grain that makes it hard to draw fine lines with pastel pencils. Medium soft pastels work better then really soft pastels. It too needs to be sealed, it took several sprays but did not lose the whites too much.

The first image was a barn owl, after-all we were doing a bird class. Here is a picture, it is 16x20" blue jean canvas with sealed soft pastel. Title: & Seek

Since this bird was looking at something, needed to figure out what he might be looking at, with the help of my friend, Lori, a little inspiration came about. The second image is a bunny. Titled: Hide 

Both pieces are on display at Willow Oaks craft cider and wine, in the Art Spaces. They are open Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 - 5:00. The Art Spaces are many, going throughout the two stories of the three story building. They are located at 6219 Harley Rd., Middletown, MD 

A little side note: Save the date, October 20-21st, 2018, Marilu Tousignaut and I will be showing together again. The theme of the show is " Rooted In Memories". We will revisited some of the places we have traveled together and create new work. We will have demonstrations going on and there should be music, working on the details.

Black & White

Starting with the basics, black and white. The workshops I teach start kind of at the beginning, looking for, contrast, the dark's and light's. How to deal with white or light on a dark surface and vise versa. In preparing for my demo's I make studies with step by step photos for future reference. The step by step will be posted in an album on Facebook, sometimes on YouTube. I'll keep you posted as to when they go up and where.

I have two black and white pieces on the drawing table at the moment. I have been wanting to do a magpie for some time now and thought it a good transition piece as the black and white bird has some lovely blues. This image will be used in the birds class, using a wet charcoal technique for the background.

The other image is on black paper. Using this process it helps to learn to look closely at what you are drawing/painting. Looking at the lights first and only drawing what you see, from there we will quickly move into toned paper. Toned paper helps to remove the fear of looking at a white piece of paper. Starting with a grey mid-tone, remove the highlights/light areas and finish the work using charcoal pencils to create the dark in the image. It always amazes me how a 3 tone image is so beautiful.

If you have questions about my workshops, want to set up private lessons, commissions or sale of my work, check out my website or email me. lindahp@lindaharrisonparsons.com
website: http://www.lindaharrisonparsons.com

The Smell Of Rain

This has been a very dry and warmer year in Arizona. This morning we have rain, a gentle rain with clouds that look like they may stay around for the day, hopefully. I have always loved the smell of rain in the air. In Arizona they say if you crush the leaf of the creosote bush it smell like rain in the desert. It is a different smell then back east. May be a little sweeter instead of earthy, like in wooded areas.

This morning I enjoyed sitting outside, it was cooler, the sound of the rain hitting the roof and of course the smell. I could not resist taking a few photos and trying to think how can I incorporate this feeling into my art. I will be in the studio most of the day, we shall see what comes from this tranquil moment.