Upcoming Shows

I have been concentrating on teaching my art classes the past few months. This is very rewarding and I love the interaction I have with my students in the community. However, I told myself that I needed to devote more time to my work. I am making a concerted effort to paint, draw, and enter more shows during the spring and summer. I will also be exploring pastel plein air painting with the Ann Arbor Women Artists Plein Air Group, led by Sandy DeFazio, a great local artist who specializes in plein air oils of local scenes.

You can see my work at these shows:

Michigan Colored Pencil 2010 Exhibit,

April 2 through 29, 2010

at the Lotus Arts Gallery in Plymouth

995 West Ann Arbor Trail

Plymouth, MI 48170-1603

“WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE”

A juired show presented by the Ann Arbor Women Artists

hosted by The River Gallery

120 S. Main Sreet,Chelsea, MI

May 3, 2010- June 12, 2010

GALLERY IN THE DUDERSTADT CENTER- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

BALANCE: AN ARTISTS' COLLABORATIVE GAME

WCA-MI Traveling Exhibit: May 7-31

Opening Reception May 7, 6-8 PM

Eagle Crest Conference Center

April 21- Mid-June

Curves at Westgate Shopping Center

presented by Ann Arbor Women Artists

West Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MIchigan

June 5 - August 2010

Wild Acorn Gallery in Manchester, MI

ongoing

Circle of Art

You can bid online now and continue bidding until the start of the Circle of Art Party held May 16th, 2010 at Saline Picture Frame Co.

Many of my friends have donated beautiful pieces of art. Here are pictures of my two donations (signed Giclees). This silent art auction benefits Food Gatherers -- fighting hunger where we live.

LOCALLY GROWN STILL LIFE #2

LOCALLY GROWN STILL LIFE #2

The Next Detroit Colored Pencil Society Show is being hung at the Lotus Arts Gallery in Plymouth,MI. It will be there through the month of April.

I am honored to have a couple of pieces hanging in this show. Reception is Saturday, April 10 from 6 - 8 PM.

the address is 995 West Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI.

This new piece continues the motif of the first Locally Grown Still Life. This is a montage of veggies and fruits using the complementary color palette of yellows and violets. I am finding joy in the produce! I see happiness in food, and enjoy making compositions with many elements on a patterned background.

From My Perspective, Ann Kullberg

Ann Kullberg is an accomplished colored pencil artist who specializes in portraits. She has written several books and has a great educational website where she publishes an online magazine "From My Perspective". I was thrilled when she asked me to write a Profile article for this month's 'Member Profile'.

Here is a screenshot of that article. If you want to subscribe to the magazine or look at the colored pencil kits she offers, check out herwebsite http://annkullberg.com.

Ella Sharp Museum- Jackson, MI

My piece "Locally Grown Still Life " was included in the Ella Sharp Museum's 2010 Statewide Fine Arts Competition which is on display from January 16 through March 20 in Jackson, MI.

This show includes 60 pieces of art selected by juror Richard Rubenfeld, PhD. and Art History professor at Eastern Michigan University. It is a very diverse show with many forms of 3-D, 2-D art in abstract and realistic styles. Several colored pencil pieces were included in this show! This medium is being taken seriously by the art world, and we are lucky to have a very talented group of colored pencil artists here in Michigan.

How I work

I was recently asked by Ann Kullberg to write an article about my art for her online magazine. I had to step back and analyze my methods. Here is a small excerpt from my submission.

I keep a small digital camera in my purse in case I see a scene that would make a great colored pencil drawing. I work from life and from digital photos. I will often shoot digital pictures and combine elements from several photos to form a composition (like a collage) for my reference photo. I draw my composition on tracing paper either freehand, or utilizing a grid. Then I transfer that drawing to my support using transfer paper or backlighting it from a sunlit window. I choose my colors intuitively. Occasionally I use a grisaille technique (value drawing under local color) but most often I will combine colors and values from within the “local color” family . I like to work with bright colors. I vary techniques depending on the piece. If I use a solvent, I choose odorless mineral spirits and use a Q-tip to liquefy the pigment of colored pencils. I will do this to provide a base for a large area of color. I will burnish with a colorless blender pencil when the texture needs to look shiny. Most often I will layer many colors with a very sharp pencil. I love the process of creating a detailed piece of art.

Golden Pear Still Life

Happy New Year!

New classes are forming and you can sign up for Colored Pencil Drawing at the Rec and Ed website.

My New Year's resolutions include the usual: I want to get more organized, exercise more, nag less, etc..

But back to art>> I am looking forward to being more productive this year, and will continue to develop new colored pencil projects for my classes. Here are pictures of a step by step project from the fall session. The students in my fall class did a very nice job on this one. The reference photo is from the image library and Wet Canvas. We used solvents to help create the wood texture on the table

.

Colored Pencil Classes and Individual Expression.

I am always impressed by the enthusiasm and talent that my students show for colored pencil. We definitely work in a "representational" genre, as opposed to painting which more easily lends itself to abstract work.

Yet, I encourage my students to imprint their own style on their art. Making a photo-realistic representation of an image does not make it a superior colored pencil piece. I want each artist to find their own style, and express their vision of the world.