Moving Day!

 

Hello lovely followers,  today is moving day.  You may have noticed not so many posts from me of late, I really have been painting but it's gotten way out of hand this outreach process, so I'm simplifying.  You can find new studio posts here http://www.fernwoodstudio.com/#!blog/c22ed  on my website, fernwoodstudio.com or here on my studio studio FaceBook page.  I hope you'll still like to follow me along.

Attached are two studio announcements as a parting gift.... check out the 2016 calendar of my illustrations published by The Horse magazine.  and a little reminder that it's never too late for a painting Gift Certificate to honor that special someone this holiday season!   Happy solstice trails, I hope to see you on my website blog (where there is more info. about both the calendar and gift certificates)  Thanks for your interest!     robin

What I do on my summer vacations....

Enjoyed the opportunity to share my park and wilderness residency experiences with Peninsula Art League membership last night!  Here are two links to guide you in applying for a park residency yourself.  National Parks, AIR program is here;  http://www.nps.gov/subjects/arts/air.htm
Voices of the Wilderness program here;  http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r10/home/?cid=STELPRD3794556   and if you'd like more information including a link to my books about Glacier and Gates of the Arctic (the books are available to read and purchase online, go here
http://www.blurb.com/user/store/probinp ) or check out my website;  www.fernwoodstudio.com   Finally, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!  Happy trails and happy creating!    robin

church was awesome this morning

We went to the early service, the chorus sang better than ever, everyone was baptized.  Hallelujah!

Horse Portrait

Annie, 7x5" acrylic

I paint small portraits for a local veterinary practice (Rocky Bay Equine) of client animals that have died.  They often give a gift certificate to their clients as a gesture of acknowledgement of the singular bond and special value of an animal and it's caretaker.  As a painter, it's satisfying to do, but I don't always have the best reference material to work with.  Even so, sometimes I like the gestural sketches that result.  This is one I like much better than the photograph.  The client is happy, so apparently it also serves its intended purpose of reminding them of their friend.  The whole process seems to be a win for everyone, even in the face of loss, thanks RBE :)

Evening Calm

Here is the first sketch inspired by our kayak trip to Bella Bella, in Canada's middle BC coast.  It's also called the "raincoast" or "the Great Bear Rainforest"... and for good reason!  I got my fix of summer rain.... but you'd never get this special kind of calm without the storm so it works for me! 

On a Roll

acrylic painting, 5x7"

Looking forward to some kayak time chasin' seagulls, maybe sea otter, a seal or two, if we're lucky some whales cruising the shoreline.  Heading north to Bella Bella in the middle of the Great Bear Rainforest and source of oh so much painterly inspiration!  See you when I get back, cheerios! 

Evening Falls on Summer Pasture

It has been a welcome break in the heat around here.  True Northwesterners are flapping their webbed feet in excitement to see some rain!  With all the fires the sunsets are spectacular.  Field hay has already been cut once, may get a second cutting if it rains enough to keep the grasses alive.

Portrait Documentary, Fox

This is a portrait documentary.  Fox, I don't know a lot about him but I believe his resume included teaching quite a few people how to love horses and dressage riding.  I met him briefly when this portrait was commissioned, unfortunately he unexpectedly moved on to greener pastures since then.  I never got to see him perform, but I'm so glad I got to meet him because even brief impressions are incredibly helpful in creating a portrait painting.  He didn't have ideal conformation and his joints were getting creaky but my clear impression was that of a dignified gentleman.   The series above shows developmental stages of this representative style portrait.  Although I didn't stray far from the structural detail of the photo, maybe you can pick out a few changes I made, keeping in mind that my goal is to capture a presence even more than just a likeness.  Below is the completed portrait.

"Fox"  20 x 24" acrylic on canvas

Resting in his field of dreams

This is Floyd in retirement, a portrait I did recently.  The monochrome view was a preliminary sketch to figure out what to do with the busy grass & flowers background in such a small space (6x8")   Which one do you like best?

Fly like Wind - portrait

Back from backpacking and Ride & Tying but still playing with horses.  This is a painting of Wind and Nelson Mittuch of Northwind Farm in Port Orchard.  Wind is a pensioner now, but still doesn't mind chasing the other girls around the pasture.  I imagine they get together to talk about the challenge of training their human partners and the thrill of a good cross country course.

An Eventful Weekend

They call a horse that has power to spare when jumping fences "scope-y".  This characteristic is a real asset on the x-country course where the obstacles are huge and the pace is just short of mach V!  Had a great time at the Aspen Farms Horse Trial last weekend.  I've wondered about the fact that most of the things I like to do best require body protection gear, but compared to these upper level event riders I qualify as rather sedate.

Discover the Great Bear Rainforest

Paintings at Blend in Key Center the month of June.  The white black bear or Kermodi bear is an icon of this unique coastal treasure.  A % of any painting sale goes to help protect the region from current threats by short sighted politics & big oil.  This is a place worth saving!   

First Race

This is a sketch that I made for a larger painting a while back.  I'm posting it in honor of American Pharoah and his amazing running talent.  Whether you like horse racing or not, you can't make a horse take ownership of the racetrack like he does.  I used to gallop racehorses.... long ago and I wasn't particularly good at it (they tended to set their own pace and get me in trouble for letting them go too fast)  but there is nothing like the rush of power and lift into flight without wings.  I will never forget that feeling.

Golden Days

Happy dogs are always fun to paint!

Baby Face

Someone spilled the paint bucket!  Can't help it, it's just that time of year! 

Mudding

So, it was one of those days... hours swiped off into the mud bucket.  Decided if everything was going to turn into mud maybe I should just paint that.  It was a lot more fun at least.

Although we haven't seen much mud around here lately, it's definitely a nod to the intrepid nature of event riders.  A little water, a little more challenge, all in a days ride!

Fly Like Wind

This is a 5x7" sketch for a larger painting.  I like the limited palette and it also helps work out value issues without the distraction of full color. 

Commissioned Art

Recent commissioned portraits.

Sweet Dreams

Moms of all sorts are happy when their offspring finally take a nap, but they are always on watch duty, because, well, they're moms.

The Green Season

On the DailyPaintWorks site there was a challenge to "paint green".  I have to say that around here the real challenge right now would be not to paint green. 

Bold of Spirit

24x24" acrylic on canvas

Hard not to get just a little dramatic with the title when you've been watching the Rolex 4star Event all weekend!  So this one's in honor of those most amazing equine athletes that are so very brave. (yes, some of them are smart enough to know better and yet still they jump!)  In this case it takes more than just guts to capture the glory, so a nod goes to their steely nerved riders too.

Floyd

This is Floyd, a tongue tipping tabby.  His portrait joins Elroy, Macgregor, Thelma & Otis on his owners wall of fame.  It's quite a line up!

Wilderness Show at Kimball through April

My solo exhibit at Kimball has mostly new work, with a few favorites from the Morso show.  It will stay up until May.  Happy to report a couple of sales, but not to worry, they've been replaced with new images so the show stays complete.  Thank you collectors!

Going Back to the Dogs

My Ball,  20x16" acrylic on canvas

Here's another one for Spring Fling.... can't miss when you have adorable subjects having a "big ear" day!

Early Bloomer

Spring is so amazing, I just want to paint everything.... my camellia bush was spectacular this year. However, I am not, not, not a flower painter!  This was rather torturous and nearly hit the swipe bucket several times.  Sometimes aggravation is necessary to make fiddly painters stop their fiddling though and I finally got it in good enough shape to post.  Whew, I'm going back to paint animals now :)

Spring Around the Corner

I'm liking this one, should be a good entry for Spring Fling.  (entries due this Saturday, you all)  I'm seeing a couple of tweaks, but always the question... is it complete?

New Show at Kimball

Silver Linings, 24x30" acrylic on canvas

New paintings, new show, same theme.  If anyone missed my Visions of Wilderness show at Morso last month here's another chance to see some favorite paintings from that show along with several notable new pieces.  This show will hang at Kimball Gallery for the month of April.  Come in and enjoy the scenery along with a latte or lunch!

Tacking Up

16x20" acrylic on canvas (sold)

I must have needed a little break from the millions of shades of green surrounding us right now and was attracted to the mixed temperatures of light and shadow and the story telling possibilities of an old photo reference.  This color palette is made up of only two blues, two browns (burnt sienna would have been enough but I got a little lazy), yellow ochre and white.  Next time I'd paint it larger with more space around the figures.  What I like about it are the warm & cool tones and the busyness of texture in contrast to the quiet routine of the subjects.  Maybe it's a hint that this is the calm before the storm, or? what do you think happens next?

Visions of Wilderness...the sequel

A bit belated, but heartfelt "thank you" to Steve & company at Morso!  The Visions of Wilderness show was very rewarding, in both feedback and in sales.  Each of these paintings has a story that becomes more complete with every sharing.  For me, they bring back specific memorable moments and they all have taught me something in the making.  Their ultimate success as "art" depends on the connections and feelings they evoke in the viewer.  Over half of these paintings have found new homes, but a few will be on display along with brand new images in my upcoming show on the Kimball Gallery guest wall, April 7 to May 4th. 

Wet

9x9" acrylic on hardboard

Here's another new painting that will go into the Kimball show, April 7th to May 4th.  Everything green & glowing this time of year!

Breakfast on the Beach

12x12" acrylic on canvas

Somehow I managed to get two solo shows back to back.  This second exhibition, at the Kimball Gallery Coffee shop on Kimball Dr. in Gig Harbor, opening April 7th, will feature a few paintings from the recent show at Morso but there will be plenty of new images too.   Like this one, another view from my kayak of a big ole black bear foraging his breakfast at low tide.  I like the heavy wetness of the day, common to the coast.  This kind of weather brings your focus in close and it's good for kayakers unless the wind comes up.

Early Spring

Even winter worn foliage has brightened up with our early spring.  Abundant song birds add to the festivities. 

At Your Service!

This painting is going into the upcoming ( Saturday, May 10th) "Bark & Bid" auction that supports the Prison,Pet Partnership.  Such a terrific program to have in our community.  I'm happy to support them with this little painting and a gift certificate. 

Equinox

The spring equinox, can't hold back a growing green poking through the winter mat of cliff holding vegetation.  The buzz of bees, kingfisher squabbles and flashes of blue behind a puffy cloud deck.  I got caught by the incoming tide on this visit.  Wading knee deep past the bulkheads to get home, hard cobble on winter soft feet, was not unpleasant.

What's Up Mr Finch?

This is my friend Brynn's springer spaniel puppy, Mr. Finch.  Trying to photograph him was like chasing a butterfly around the yard.  He is very busy making the world his own.  It's a bad photo but I don't think the weather gods are going to let me improve it anytime soon and a cuteness fix is always nice on a wet and blustery day, besides it lends a good Irish green to the moment, cheers!

First to Bloom

I swear the trillium popped out over night, now they're everywhere.  Freshly white and unfurling, it's good to live on the west coast this year!

Schooling Show

Painting warm up, gotta love ponies and kids.  This was Cate, maybe a year ago? at a schooling show here in Washington.  Lately she's been showing her wonderful pony on the So.Cal hunter jumper circuit.... winningly I might add.   When it was my turn to play (a loooong while ago) the big spring hunter-jumper show was in Indio, now it's called the Desert Classic and resides in Thermal, CA.

Hey Baby

OK, you get a reprieve from the Morso show until the presentations start in a couple of days :)  This is the first baby of the season at RBE.  First time mother with that somewhat astonished look of, " holy *!?? what is this thing and why is it following me". 

It's a Wild Ride!

With more inspiration than time before my Voices of Wilderness show at Morso, I'm happy to report that I have over 10 new paintings and a few old favorites ready to share.  My goal is to inspire you with the beauty of wild landscapes.  If you leave a little anxious for longer days to get outside yourself, I'll have done my job!

Morso has plenty to offer besides art.  The show will go up just in time for Thursday's "Muse at Morso" which will feature a reading by Jerry Libstaff from his new book.  Valentines Day (14th) will be the show reception (1 to 3PM).  I'll be there to answer your questions and share the stories behind the paintings.  If you miss that, I'll be giving a slideshow Feb. 19th and again March 7th.

There's even more at Morso, try the Fat Tuesday Celebration on the 17th, Bunco on the 18th or musical events on the 21st and March 7th (ticketed events).  Go to the Morso website for the full schedule and don't forget the food and libation.... it's also excellent!     

Walking The Line

24x36" acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

Taking a slight detour a bit further south to BC's Raincoast, the Kermode or spirit bear is a color variant of the black bear.  This is the only place it lives in the whole world.  He's walking a fine line between survival & human intervention, I support the Raincoast Conservation Foundation in encouraging protection for this incredible place.  No, I haven't actually been blessed with seeing one in the wild... but I will one day, maybe just like this, from my kayak.  This section of pacific coast is particularly notable for kayakers because of the often precipitous meeting of sea and shore.  There are some good beaches but you'd better know where they are or you may have a very long paddle to find an accessible landing site.  Although our trip to Klemtu and surrounding islands was the wettest on record, it's still one of my favorite locations.

VOTW painting, Tebenkof Bay

I finished this mixed media painting for the Petersburg Ranger District, Tongass Wilderness, SE Alaska as part of my artist residency.  It shows us watching otter and humpback whales looking west towards Baranof Island in the background shape of a map of Tebenkof Bay and our trip route last June.  The land shape (Kuiu Island) is filled with sketch book drawings and notes.  Touched on just a little bit of the amazing diversity of flora & fauna living here. 

Get a better look at this painting and many other new pieces at my solo show, Visions of Wilderness, at Morso in Gig Harbor. The show goes up on the 12th, reception Saturday, the 14th.  Then come back for a slideshow of incredible wilderness landscapes, Feb. 19th, 7-9PM or March 7th, noon-2PM.  Look forward to seeing you there!

Waiting for the Salmon

20"x24" original acrylic painting

Of all the paintings I've made so far, this one and "Passing Storm", seascape with humpback whale (posted last week) are most iconic of the Tebenkof Bay wilderness in SE Alaska.  All of my paintings tell a story and this one is of a calm that belies the tension of great expectations.  The salmon are coming, just one more "everyday" miracle in this wilderness ecosystem. 

If you'd like to learn more about wandering the wilderness, join me at Morso's on Feb. 14th (1 - 3PM) for an opening reception or come to a slideshow presentation on Thurs, Feb. 19th, 7 to 9PM or Saturday, March 7th, noon to 2PM.  My "Visions of the Wilderness" show will run from Feb. 12th to March 15th.

Salt Marsh, Aleck's Creek

Salt Marsh, original acrylic, 18x24"

OK, so here is the finished (I think, maybe, at least for the moment) painting.  The dune grass, sedges and marsh grasses were so incredible here in the Aleck's Creek estuary.  Not a lot of plants can handle the salinity at the edge of land and sea, but those that do create a lush carpet and exceptional habitat for young salmon and other fish plus insects and all kinds of other critters.  Tucked into the grasses was silverweed and chocolate lily, skunk cabbage and salmon berry, plenty of forage plants for hungry omnivores.  We could feel the bear watching as we meandered his path along the edge of the creek.  This is a painting that I think has more to say in person than from a screen thumbnail so I hope you can stop by Morso's to see the original.  Feb. 12-March 15, 2015.

back to Alaska, WIP

work in progress, SaltMarsh 18 x 24 acrylic

This is a WIP = work in progress for the upcoming show.  Soon after the excitement of beginning and right about the time I ask myself, "self... what WERE you thinking!!"