Pet Portraits

©Barbara Goodsitt

©Barbara Goodsitt

I am occasionally asked to do a pet portrait. I am very fond of animals, and love to do these portraits.

AAWA Spring Juried Show

My mixed media piece, String Theory, was juried into the Ann Arbor Women Artists Spring  Show.  This show has a large variety of work and will be on display through April 29th. Our Juror is Nora Venturelli who is a lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Art.

String Theory
© Barbara Goodsitt

Paranormal Dinnerware - A work in Progress

© Barbara Goodsitt

Here is a work in progress inspired by Mr. Uri Geller. He is famous for bending spoons, but is also the mostly highly researched person with psychic abilities.  If you are interested, check out his website http://site.uri-geller.com and Facebook page. Uri is also a talented artist and was a friend and student of Salvador Dali.

Blue Hydrangea in Progress

© Barbara Goodsit

© Barbara Goodsitt

© Barbara Goodsitt

Drawing this hydrangea is a comforting process. I hope to finish it this week. It is full of beautiful shapes, colors and the promise of perennial blooming! I read an interesting fact about hydrangeas: you can change the color of this flower if you adjust the pH of the soil.  Perhaps my next hydrangea drawing will  have a higher pH creating warmer colors ♥

New Work

I am posting some of the projects I have been working on for the past month or so.

1. I completed a painted violin for a University of Michigan Musical Society Fundraising Auction and documented the process along the way.
2. A mixed media piece I created from the violin sketches I made up when brainstorming.  
3. I also experimented with a stylized, almost abstracted piece that was accepted in the Great Lakes Small Works show 2013 at the Riverside Arts Center. 

STRING THEORY ©Barbara Goodsitt

BILTMORE'S TREE ©Barbara Goodsitt

Squiggly Line Figure Drawing

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

Ann Arbor Women Artists recently rented a space where we have several artists studios, hold workshops, meetings, lectures and life drawing sessions.

I joined the life drawing group. Here is my most recent figure drawing done with colored pencils. I  experimented with a squiggly line technique that was inspired by John Smolko's beautiful colored pencil paintings. This was done in a two hour sitting.

Last Art Show of 2012

Joe and Rosies Coffee & Tea

I just hung my last art exhibit of the year at Joe and Rosies coffee shop in Dexter with my friend Nicki Griffith. Check out her webiste at Nickigriffith.com. We have exhibited together at least three times.
We recently attended a concert by Dianne Reeves and Raul Midón at Hill Auditorium with some good friends. Dianne Reeves has been greatly influenced by Sarah Vaughan and is a wonderful jazz singer. Raul Midon is amazing too. He played guitar and bongos at the same time! Enjoy the links to all of these artists!

Fall Exhibitions

Great Lakes "Small Works "  Juried 2D-3D Exhibition

Reception: October 5,  5-7PM

Riverside Arts Center
76 North Huron Street, Ypsilanti, MI 

ⒸBarbara Goodsitt
Autumn River, Mixed Media

Michigan Colored Pencil 2012, Juried Exhibit

Reception: October 12,  7 - 9 PM 

Novi Civic Center

45175 West 10 Mile Road  Novi, MI

ⒸBarbara Goodsitt

I am happy to say that I have some work accepted into juried shows this fall.

An artist-friend of mine, Christy, had some wise words about acceptance. She said that in many ways, an art juror is like a casting director. He/she picks pieces that they have in mind for a show, the same way a casting director would cast a movie.  Sometimes an artist is right for the part, and sometimes not. They might be looking for a tall blonde, and you happen to be a short red head! (You get the idea) 

I will also be exhibiting some work at Ann Arbor Women Artist Venues: 

In October and November at Sweetwaters located at 124 Washington Street in Downtown Ann Arbor , and in December and January at Joe and Rosies located at 8074 Main Street in Dexter.

Summer Still Life #2 and thoughts on climate change

11" x 14" 

Colored pencils on Stonehenge paper

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

I am doing a series of produce in my glass bowls.  Here are some Michigan cherries. 

Our Michigan cherry crop was drastically reduced this year due to the bizarre weather.  I keep encouraging better ecological policies by joining environmental groups and writing to my legislators. I also drive a hybrid car, and recycle.  If those in charge would have acted more responsibly in formulating our energy policy, we might be in better shape. I hope that we can work to lessen the damage done to Mother Earth.

Floral

Ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

11" x 14" Colored pencil on Stonehenge drawing paper.

The Flower 

 by Barbara Goodsitt

Sunshine pours down:

Acceptance, loving openness, joy and pleasure.

The flower opens.

Darkness comes:

Bringing judgment, insecurity, fear and pain.

The flower closes.

We are flowers cycling through life.

Moods change and unseen powers wash over us,

We do our best.

We have our time to blossom and grow, 

Host a bee, and have our petals plucked.

We have our time to close up and protect.

But being perennial,

We can bloom again in another season.

Karmic quandary resolved

Karmic Quandary
ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

First Sketch

I am done with my Karmic Quandary!  Well, no one is completely done solving existential questions, but this mandala is pretty much finished...YAY!!!  I have started on another piece and feel focused.  There are several juried art shows I hope to enter the next few months. Sometimes my work is accepted, sometimes not, but each experience allows me to create a new piece and grow.

I posted my first sketch, which was half of the mandala. I usually plan out my composition on sketch paper. In this case, I drew half of the design and flipped it horizonatlly to repeat it on the other half. Once that is done, I put on music and apply color!  Thank you to the Pandora Mozart Station for providing background music this week.

Mandala in Progress

Karmic Quandary
ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

I was all set to do my second piece in a series of sunglass reflections, and got distracted! I was helping with several community activities and teaching. However, all of it is good. I enjoy connecting with people and doing positive work.

This mandala is called Karmic Quandary. Again, making this piece is a healing and transformative activity.  Some fellow artists in my critique group had encouraged me to do more mandalas. I appreciate their friendship and support. Creating art is a solitary business, and meeting with other artists is great for one's soul!

New work

Ⓒ 2012 Barbara Goodsitt

Here is the first in a new series of sunglass reflections. 

This piece is 11" x 14" colored pencil.

Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Show

Starting June 16,  I will be included in a group show at the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, located at 115 West Huron Street, suite #3. I will be exhibiting some of my work that celebrates produce!

Jewish Mandala

Here is my latest mandala. This was done as a donation for the local Jewish Community Center in Ann Arbor.  I kept thoughts of peace in mind while working on this painting. 

I recently became aware of the Charter for Compassion. 

This idea comes from Karen Armstrong who eloquently articulates noble aspirations for peace and harmony on our planet:

"...The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and national difference. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter calls on us all to activate the Golden Rule around the world"...

Here is an excerpt:

"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect..."

Working on Sanded Pastel Paper

UART Pastel Paper Website

The UART Company makes a great sanded pastel paper that is used by many colored pencil artists.  A very talented Michigan colored pencil artist, Lynda Schumacher, introduced me to this paper.  I was used to working on  acid free illustration board or Stonehenge Paper (which I also love).  It took me a while to feel comfortable working on this sanded surface, but I finally did a piece I was proud of on the 800 grit paper. This drawing is of a Red Tower Ginger Plant.  I really like the softer more painterly quality.
I submitted the image of this piece to UART and they posted it in their gallery!  I am tickled to be there, among many colored pencil artists whose work I have admired for a long time.  

Teaching Colored Pencil Drawing

My first Life Long Learning students at Washtenaw Comunity College

I have a great time introducing people to colored pencil drawing. We start with excercises to acquire skills in developing values. We then move to tonal layering.  My students are just great and it is so much fun to watch them develop their skills and talents.

 Above is local graphic designer Karen Moeller. Check out her website at www.moedesign.com.  She has won awards for her work and her talent is evident in her colored pencil art here. I will be posting more pictures of my students work on my webpage at www.BarbaraGoodsittStudio.com

Artists Young Cho (with maple leaf drawing) and Alice McKeown (with pumpkin still life) display some really nice work too!

Red Tower Ginger

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

This is what is on my drawing board now: a colored pencil piece of a Red Tower Ginger plant. It is 18" x 25" colored pencil on U-Art pastel paper.

My husband and I saw this beauty on vacation in San Diego, CA. at Balboa Park.   It is such a special place full of museums, gardens and more.  I encourage you to visit it if you are in the area.

Great Lakes Small Works Juried Exhibit

The Great Lakes Small Works Juried Exhibit runs from Sept 2-25 at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanit Michigan. The Artist Reception is Sept 11, from 5-7 pm. There are 70 artists from five of the eight Great Lakes States in this show. It promises to be a visual treat!

Riverside Arts Center is located at 76 North Huron Street in Ypsilanti.  This vital arts center has many exhibits as well as theater and classes.
I was very honored to have two pieces juried into  this show. My still life of Pears and Grapes is included on the postcard. Read a  Review of this show at Ann Arbor.com

New Work

Every colored pencil artist knows this feeling: A fist bursting full of colored pencils!  

CP artists  are usually detail oriented, organized and a bit uptight.  I love using colored pencils, but tend to not be as organized as my fellow cp artists.  My pencils get all mixed up, and I only organize them according to color when I have to teach a class, or if things have gotten so out of hand (pun intended) that I cannot locate the colors I need to use!  The piece featured in today's post started out as a symbolic self portrait but I am calling it The Mighty Colored Pencil!

Here are some images of this picture as it developed.

22" x 15" Fabriano Artistico Paper, Prismacolor Pencils