The CPSA 18th International Exhibition..........from the back side.

Having just returned from the annual International Exhibition of the Colored Pencil Society of America near San Francisco, California, I am reminded of the fact that there are those experiences in life that simply provide one with tremendous joy -- and over the few years that I have attended this event, it has become just that for me.  I am so fortunate to be able to spend time with such talented friends and colleagues, and each year that I go the experience only gets better.  Over the course of the past couple of CPSA events I have attended (and to my own amusement), it has become increasingly clear that I have developed a reputation as the woman who's laughter can be heard clearly across a crowded room -- or possibly from one end of the hotel to the other, as the case may be!  Despite some degree of good-natured 'ribbing' for this characteristic of mine, I'm okay with this -- laughter is such good medicine for the soul.  (However, I'm seriously considering fooling everybody next year by perfecting the development of a polite titter.)

As always, my heartfelt appreciation for the national CPSA board members who work tirelessly to organize wonderful events such as this.  This year's CIPPY award (Best of Show) was garnered by Shinji Harada of Japan for his lovely still life, Grapes in a Basket.  Highlights of this year's convention week included the awards banquet, artists' reception at The Art Museum of Los Gatos, workshops by artists Allan Servoss, Ester Roi, and Melissa Miller Nece, and the National Meeting / Invitational Silent Auction.  At this year's auction I was fortunate to 'snag' an Elizabeth Patterson original, something I've tried to do over the past three convention auctions.  In addition there was time for a little shopping, alot of eating, and a road trip to see the redwood trees at Muir Woods just north of San Francisco.  All-in-all for this "little girl from Michigan" (yes Jeffrey, I'm still quoting that!) who had not been to California prior to now, it was a great time.

Finally, I must express my appreciation to fellow-blogger Denny Holland, a San Francisco-area artist.  Denny, his wife, and one of his daughters attended the CPSA artists' reception, and it was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet them and spend time talking with them.  (Thanks Denny!)

Following are several photos taken during convention week.  Enjoy, and as always -- thanks for reading.

A bop-fest at the National Meeting, commemorating CPSA's 20th year

Clearly, Jeffrey Baisden is saying something absolutely hi-larious (again!)

Myself and Massachusett's artist Deborah Friedman, at the Awards Banquet

Bonnie Auten (MI), and Mari K Moehl (FL)

At Muir Woods:  Dianna Soisson (MI), Elizabeth Patterson (CA), myself, and Teresa Mallen (Canada)

Apparently I am feeling somewhat objectionable about something, but Jeffrey Baisden and Elizabeth Patterson appear quite content!

Teresa Mallen, Elizabeth A. Patterson of Maine, and Deborah Friedman

"Chasing the Rain: Drawings by Elizabeth Patterson"

Okay, enough of this blog-neglect!  Suffice it to say that the month of June was a daunting one, unlike any in recent memory what with its numerous circumstances and stressors.  Simply the passing of it into July was a relief, and with it, a return to work in my drawing room.

I can think of no better way to break this drought than to share with you about the current solo exhibition of fellow pencil artist and good friend, Elizabeth Patterson.  "Chasing the Rain: Drawings by Elizabeth Patterson" enjoyed a well-attended reception on June 19th, and will be on display through August 28, 2010, at Louis Stern Fine Arts in West Hollywood, California.
                                            

                   Elizabeth Patterson, Wilshire Boulevard, 5PM

The show features approximately twenty-five of Elizabeth's recent drawings, in both color pencil and graphite.  Each depicts a moment in time as viewed through the windshield of a car, many on the rain-drenched streets and roads of the Los Angeles area.  Her work is distinctive and tremendously original, and causes one to take pause and look at the commonplace.  Elizabeth's execution of light, reflection, and shadow are phenomenal, as is her ability to generate a sense of movement in her drawings -- not to mention all those tiny, detailed raindrops -- each with their own sense of depth and dimension.

To see more of Elizabeth's work, visit her website at http://www.eapatterson.com/ .  Elizabeth is represented by Louis Stern Fine Arts.

Of Bigger Fish to Fry

Usually I tend to be an upbeat, rather perky sort-of-gal: it normally takes alot to get me down, and I bounce back quickly in most cases.  But in recent weeks there seems to be an abundance of irritability, lack-of-focus, indecisiveness, and yes...........dare I say it?  Sadness.  It seems to be subtly waiting around each corner of the house, and sitting on the edge of each new activity I perform.  And as I do on rare occasions, I am once again guilty of attempting to fill my days with much more activity than one woman can possibly handle -- in an effort to not feel what it is that is happening............The fact that my son has only two days left of high school.

All of this and more struck me (again) as I worked in my drawing room this evening, lettering calligraphy on the senior band and choir plaques for our area high school -- (incidentally, the most action my drawing room has seen in the past couple of weeks!)  Don't misunderstand me.  I know I should be happy; and I am happy.   I am proud of my son, and excited and scared for him simultaneously.  But.......and now this is all about me here, folks............I must have my moment to say that I'm not ready for this yet.  How is it possible that nearly eighteen and one half years speeds by in the blink of an eye?  UMMMM, I'd like a rewind..........please.

Regardless of whether I am ready or not however, the next couple of weeks will pass with warp speed through awards night, commencement, numerous open houses, etc.  Since my last blog post, I naively have moved on to paint the rest of the house.  The planning for my next drawing, another equine piece, is completed -- and I'm anxious to begin as soon as the events at hand allow.  SO...........as Dora the fish sang, "just keep swimming, swimming, swimming".  I will enjoy the next two to three weeks with a smile on my face, a lump in my throat, and extra kleenex in my bag...........because as some of you know, I am a crier.  

Thanks for stopping in.   

Colored Pencil Society International Exhibition News.......and a much-needed facelift

This year the 18th Annual International Exhibition of the Colored Pencil Society of America will take place from July 22 to August 20, 2010, at the Art Museum of Los Gatos, in Los Gatos, California.  I'm pleased that my piece depicting a pair of wild horses, "The Hand of Man", has been juried into the exhibition.  This year's juror is Janet Bishop, the curator of painting and sculpture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.  Further information as well as the list of accepted artists can be viewed at http://www.cpsa.org/ .  My congratulations to all the artists who's work was accepted into the exhibition.

Closer to home, I'm happy to report that after about two years of calculated procrastination I have finally painted my drawing room.  As those of you who rely on the reflection of light are aware, working in a poorly lit area, or an area with walls of a wrong or dark color, can be challenging.  After completing the swan drawing last week I decided I simply could not draw one more line in that oak-toned room!  So I moved everything out, and I painted...........and painted.............and painted..........and about eight coats into my project someone cheerfully said to me, "You should have used Kilz."  (I do not think of these kinds of things........Did I ever claim to be a house-painter?)

Finally though, the room is completed and the resident artist is happy.  I will spend some time tomorrow continuing to organize its contents, and then its............

BACK TO WORK!

Thanks for reading.     

Trumpeter Swan Completed

Untitled
14" x 12"
Derwent Graphic pencils on Strathmore 400 Bristol


Yet untitled, this young trumpeter swan that I began at an artist's retreat a number of weeks ago is finally completed.  As I previously indicated I nearly abandoned it altogether, but decided to return to it in part at the encouragement of others -- who clearly could see more potential in it than I could.  Now in retrospect, I'm grateful for their vision and my (not always the case) willingness to listen.  This drawing as well as the graphite barn swallow, "On the Fence", will hang in a show featuring sixteen artists at the Hudson Gallery through the end of May.

The completion of this piece is a tremendous relief, as it is the last of several works that I have finished just under the wire of their perspective deadlines.  For the first time in about six months, I do not know what I will be working on tomorrow.  I like not knowing -- and relish the thought of taking the time to shuffle through hundreds of photo references and scan hastily-written ideas on dozens of bits of paper that are haphazardly stuck to one of my drawing room walls.  As with many artists (I presume), I have more ideas than time to execute them!

Also, it is likely that I will be spending less time on my art over the next few weeks.  My son is approaching the end of his senior year in high school, so graduation and its related functions and festivities are looming.  In addition he and I are knee-deep in the onslaught of tasks related to his beginning college in the fall.  Is this possible????  There are moments, and people, and experiences from his infancy that are so vivid, it seems they happened last week.  How is it possible that eighteen years has passed?

Oh, and the barn swallows have returned.  All is right with the world.  Tick-tock.   

Wild Horses: Completed Drawing

"The Hand of Man"

20" x 25"

Color Pencil on Uart 500

You may recall that the recently completed wild horses drawing has been in flat-file-exile, while my loss of objectivity adjusts itself.  Today I removed it from the "flat file drawer of shame" (to quote a very funny comment by Australian artist Peter Brown).  As I suspected, the drawing and myself simply needed some time and distance from one another.  I'm feeling much better about it than when I placed it there two weeks ago..........and alright-okay-yes-you-caught-me: I changed the title.  While talking with a good friend about the drawing several weeks ago, she used the phrase "the hand of man" when discussing the fate of many wild horses.  It stuck with me, and better captured what I wished to convey than did "Broken Spirit".

To recount some of what I shared several months ago when I laid out the initial drawing, the two wild horses portrayed here were in a holding area owned and operated by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Wyoming.  They had been captured during a wild horse round-up organized by the BLM.  Though difficult to see in this photograph, their recent struggle is evidenced by the small wounds, spots of dried blood, and grass stain on the pale horse's coat.  I was drawn to and sought to capture the emotion displayed by these two horses: the fatigued sadness of the pale horse, the rather haunting gaze of the dark horse, and the obvious bond between the two.

It bears repeating that there are an estimated 38,000 wild horses roaming free on U.S. range lands, and more than 30,000 in captivity in holding areas and corrals managed by the BLM.  Sadly, this icon of the American West is caught in a controversy involving wild horse proponents, cattle ranchers and land owners, and the U.S. government.  Round-ups are periodically orchestrated in several western states in an effort to manage wild horse numbers, and are sometimes performed in ways (including the use of helicoptors) that cause injury, death, and the separation of mothers from foals who cannot sustain themselves. 

My drawing is not intended so much as a political statement, as it is a venue through which some may be compelled to learn more.  As I indicated in a previous post, my own knowledge of the issue is too limited for me to develop strong opinions regarding how this issue should be handled.  However it is my hope that our government will implement strategies that eliminate the harm caused, and will allow as many wild horses as possible to remain on open rangelands. 

For further information on both sides of the controversy, visit the official site of the United States Bureau of Land Management and the Wild Horse Preservation Campaign.

   

Current / Upcoming Exhibitions

Close-up from
"This Above All"

Some of you are well aware that yesterday was the big deadline for the annual international juried exhibition of the Colored Pencil Society of America, to be held near San Francisco, California this year.  Now for the big wait, as the list of accepted entries will be released toward the end of April.  In the meantime, I am priviledged to have work in three shows.

Michigan Colored Pencil 2010 is sponsored by the CPSA Detroit District Chapter 104, and is on display at the Lotus Gallery in Plymouth, Michigan.  The show runs from April 1 - 30, 2010, and the opening reception takes place from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10.

The Michigan Fine Arts Competition is an annual, all-media juried exhibition/competition, to be held at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center in Birmingham, Michigan.  This year's juror is New York state artist and teacher, Sondra Freckleton.  The exhibition takes place from April 2 - May 7, 2010, and  the artist reception is on Friday, April 2,  from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Finally, a show titled  "...Birds" will take place at the Hudson Gallery in Sylvania, Ohio, from April 24 through the end of May, 2010.  This is an all media exhibit which will focus on........well.......birds.  The artist reception is from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2010.

Though very different from each other, all three of these shows have some great art and alot to offer.  If you are in their neighborhoods, stop in!