New Blog-Southwest Virginia Artists

     I wanted to share a new blog!
 Southwest Virginia Artists

       I am truly excited about the creation of Southwest Virginia Artists. The blog is for local and regional artisans, musicians, and writers, etc. 

     I am meeting new artists, learning about techniques, and learning about the rich talent in the state of Virginia. This site features, fine art, fine craft, photography, musicians, writers, actors, and more all in one place! There are listings for galleries, classes, and other Southwest Virginia happenings. I refer to it as an 'Art Center' on the net!

     This site is a fantastic place to get your art out into the wide open and reach so many! I would like to encourage artists to visit the site and contact me if you are interested in being part of the site, or would like more information. 

     Here is the wonderful mission of the site!

Mission

To connect Virginia Artists and Crafts people with the World and each other. A place to find and make direct contact with the best Virginia has to offer.

A place where Artists of all disciplines and abilities can display their work, their Galleries and Businesses, discuss their opinions, ask for technical help, recommend a product, find a tutor, write a blog, find buddies to paint, sketch, pot, make jewelry or play music with.  A place to find art and crafts or advertise your own work.

A place where all the Folks and Businesses that support and appreciate the Arts and Crafts activities of Virginia can be found. We include in this, music venue of all types, from the Winery to the restaurent that has Jazz on a Saturday Night, to the Coffee shop that rotates local artists on its walls, to the guy that gets the framing just so and the list goes on…..

New Works

Gee, time sure has slipped by. 

Reminds me of a quote by John Lennon, 

"Life is what happens when you are busy making plans." 

How true. 

Well, (knock on wood) I have re-arranged my house and now I am working on the studio. This is a sure sign something creative is going to happen. 

Here is an extremely random mixed media image I created today. I call this abstract, "Wild Goat." I am sure there won't be another, it won't be a series, it just 'happened.' 

Hope all of you have been fairing well. 

More soon!

Quick trips: Art is the new star in Roanoke, Virginia - Quick Trips - MiamiHerald.com

Quick trips: Art is the new star in Roanoke, Virginia - Quick Trips - MiamiHerald.com


My work can be seen at Gallery 108!

Roanoke's Sidewalk Art Show June 2011

Hate to say it, but I decided not to do the Side Walk Art Show. After 30 years, the decision was hard, but now I am actually glad I will be a spectator for a change. 


New works are on the way. I have had a few time constraints over the past few months and I will soon be at a point where I can create again. I am full of energy.


If there is a work you are interested in, or a commission, I will be glad to meet people at my studio, upon appointment (please call or email). My works can be seen in several galleries in and around Roanoke, please look for me there. The listings are posted on this site. 


Thank all you you for all the wonderful comments, purchases, and excellent dialog over the years.

Pleasant Surprise!

Academy of Fine Arts National Juried Show, Lynchburg, VA.

 2^nd place ink drawing, 2011 

George Billis, from Billis Gallery NY and LA, juror

(53 artists from 26 states were included in this show)

New Works

A special thanks to everyone who came to Open Studios Tour 2011! 

I enjoyed meeting new people and having an opportunity to have wonderful 'art' dialog. 
Thank you again and I hope to see you next year!

Open Studios Tour 2011- Roanoke, VA

Please come check out all the artists studios and guest artists! 

This is our 11th year doing the tour. 

Many new artists have been added! 

This year, I will be at the 

MJ Burtch Studio - 

3296 Somerset Street, SW (off Avenham)

540-345-9316 or 761-1414

stop by to see Mary Jane, Gail, and Tom, as well as my new ink and mixed media drawings. 

Open Studios Tour

Coasting

Right now, I am just coasting....

"Coasting" Ink Drawing on recycled paper 6.5" x 9" (C) gls (SOLD)

"Blue Ridge Morning" 6.5" x 8" (C) gls ink drawing on recycled paper

Olin Hall, Biennial Exhibition

Caged Window #2 (C) ink drawing on recycled paper

Juror Lecture and Awards
March 4th at 6:00 pm in Smoyer Gallery

Opening Reception 
March 4th at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm in Smoyer Gallery

Exhibit runs through April 2nd, 2011

A juried exhibition of regional art – the grand prize is a solo show in Smoyer Gallery during the 2011-12 exhibition season. Even more impressive is that the submissions will be jurored by one of the most influential curators in America.

Carter Foster, a native of Atlanta, Ga., is currently curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. He has published and lectured extensively on contemporary and old master drawings; he has also served as curator and co-chair of the department of Prints and Drawings at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Foster recently co-curated a major exhibition on American artist Roni Horn and is now planning a long-term research project on Edward Hopper’s drawings.

The gallery is open 1-4 p.m. every day including weekends.

Ataraxis....

Ataraxis....

Twilight and the Ocean....

peace. 

calm.

tranquility.

 "Twilight Time" (C) 9" x 6" ink on recycled paper (SOLD)

"Stormy Sea" (C) 9" x 6"ink on recycled paper POR

Hiking

While I have not done it for awhile now, I love to hike.  

Hidden trails, mysterious places, 

and all the sensing one does on a hike is peaceful. 

To loose your self in the forest...if only for a moment. 

                                             "Autumn Hike" (C) ink on recycled papers 2.5" x 3.5"

Distant Moon

Through the grasses you can see, a Distant Moon.

Encaustic and image transfer   6" x 12" (C) gls POR

Oil and Wax...

I completed and framed yet another oil and wax painting. 

I used the Gamblin cold wax and Rembrandt oils on this piece. 

They 'married' nicely. 

The textural effects are so interesting!

Western Sky (C) oil and wax     8" x 16"    POR

I also framed this piece, 

Bent Mountain Spring oil and wax,  8" x 16" POR. 

More Finds....

I found two more paintings that my mother has painted!

This tempera painting was done by mum when she was in her teens. It reminds me of an O'Keefe...I found it in an old sketchbook and just recently had it matted and framed. I thought this was ironic as I had always loved Georgia O'Keefe and mum did not know who she was when she painted this. 

Mum took art lessons way up on Sheep Mountain from an artist by the name of George Solonevich. He and his wife Inga were very gracious and offered lessons in their mountain 'school'. This style differs from her original style, which I liked so much better. Many years later, ionically, I never took art lessons from George, but I rented a cabin (Mystila) from him in the 70's. 


I am hoping that, while she can, she will get back into the charcoal and draw.

More Playing....

More Encaustics on these pieces....

Bird in the Hand Encaustic and mixed media 9" x 6" each, (C), POR

Playing....

Abundance  (C) monotype, collage, mixed media 12" x 9" POR

I have been just playing. No two results, mediums, nor thoughts have been the same. I have discovered that the Gamblin cold wax is firmer, thus winning my complete attention for finishing these collages. 


As a result of playing, I have found tar gel as a grand acrylic medium, as well as the fiber paste. I am going to experiment further with the cold wax, making four panels of an abstract later today. I will post the results later.

Mysterious Night (C) monotype, collage, mixed media 9" x 6" POR

        Life Cycle   (C) monotype, collage, mixed media 9" x 6" POR

Queen Of Bees (C) monotype, collage, mixed media  9" x 6" POR

Saturday Workshop

Today there was an exciting workshop demonstrated by Suzanna Fields at Hollins University. She introduced us to all the various Golden mediums, acrylics, and inks. Many folks brought their own interesting items to 'play' with. Watching the inks, mediums, and acrylics flow was magical!


Days like this are carefree and spontaneous, something we often forget to do, in life and in art. Great comrade and creative spirit was everywhere.
Here are some of the images from the workshop.

To see Suzanna's work, check out her site....

Suzanna Fields

 Spring Grasses (C) gls 11" x 14"

Whispering to the Clouds  (C) gls 14" x 17"

Winter Mountains  (C) gls  11" x 14"

Treasures

My mother loved painting and drawing, as did her father;  I remember many times when she was painting and drawing when I was young. (My brother and I were fascinated by this and she encouraged us to explore the arts and music.) She did several tempera paintings and oils, yet she preferred charcoal drawing.  Unfortunately, most of her drawings and paintings are gone (given away or misplaced).


My brother was cleaning out boxes of things in his attic and "WALLA!", found the cat charcoal drawing she was the most proud of. I was sitting with her the other night when he walked in the door with it. It made us so happy to see the expression on her face.

The photo does not do it justice, but here it is. What a treasure!

I am hoping to sort through my hiding places to see what I can find...I know I have some more of her work someplace!  I will post them as I find them. 

Against the Wind

    This early winter morning I woke, made the morning coffee as usual. The warm rising sun peered over the hill and through the window to where I sat sipping my fresh brew. The turbulent wind was howling bringing the temperature down to about 26 degrees here in the hollow. I sat amazed as the birds were able to fly against the wind, with the wind and coast to their destinations. They are amazing....

Against the Wind, an ink drawing on recycled paper 

was created with tis feeling in mind. 

New Works- Oil and Cold Wax

     Last summer I began experimenting with Encaustics, painting with melted wax and pigments. I have tried it a dew times since, and I adore the sensual feeling of the medium, as well as the numerous ways to work with the medium. It is amazingly forgiving to work with!


     Time constraints have been limiting my ability to work with the Encaustics, so after a little research, I ordered a medium called 'cold wax'. Dorland's and Gamblin both make it. Last weekend, I tried the Dorland's first. I mixed it with various amounts of cold wax, experimenting to see how it best worked for me. 

"Dancing Leaves" (C) gls oil and cold wax   8" x 16"   POR

     Beginning with the wax, oils, and q-tips to paint with, I layered on dots of color, painted broad strokes of paint, and used my fingers to blend color straight on the substrate (which, like Encaustic, has to be sturdy). while I am in the stages of experimenting with this medium, I was pleased with as few of the pieces, so far. There are so many ways to handle the medium, and I plan to explore them all. I plan on brayering, laminating, stamping, carving, and drawing into the cold wax layers to see what happens with each tool. 

   

"Bent Mountain Spring" (C) gls oil and cold wax   8" x 16"   

POR

     For now, the cold wax is similar to Encaustic, but I interpret it a tad differently than the typical hot wax mediums. Now, I am just hoping for time to further my experiments. Any ideas, or suggestions would be appreciated!