it's raining so much today i feel like a fish.
this is an intaglio print made a long time ago. for anyone who loves to draw intaglio is a fun and magical process. a zinc or copper plate is prepared by polishing the plate and beveling the edges. then a ground is applied to the plate. using a sharp tool you draw through the ground to reveal the plate. the plate goes into an acid bath and etches away where the plate is exposed and creates an etching. the plate is cleaned and inked, placed on a printing press with paper on top and the press squeezes the paper and plate to print the image. the first print is labelled A.P. for artist's proof. it has been many years since i have made intaglio prints. i'd like to return to this fun and intensive form of expression.

i'm having fun making fake stamps on flickr toys with my photos.

detail from "incipient summer"








front and back of a card i'm doodling

the cherry tree buds are swelling yet it's 26 degrees outside....hold on blossoms, not yet, not yet

happy valentine's day....

welcome back to all the bees as we inch closer towards spring!

will i ever finish the mural of island wildflowers?

crow show extended

my allegorical fiber illustrations will be on display at gallery fraga through the end of february

illustration friday
for the past couple of weeks i have created submissions to illustration friday. it's a way to experiment with media that i don't ordinarily use (i'm dabbling with digital media). each week illustration friday e-mails a topic and there you go...create whatever seems appropriate and send the link in to their website. i love seeing how others, from all over the world, interpret the same topic. this week the topic is "glamour" and i illustrated my favorite fashion designer's latest purse design. click here to see my submission. it's certainly not fabulous, but it is fun to make, and that's what it's all about.

p u s s y w i l l o w s

it's just delightful to happen upon little gems in the garden this time of year. i started a french pussywillow , salix caprea, from a cutting, purchased from the northwest flower + garden show a few years ago, and now it is a full fledged tree. it really needs to be coppiced so i can harvest the pussy branches more easily from year to year. for basket making i have found that coppicing willows, red-twig dogwoods and eucalyptus make for nice long straight rods. eucalyptus is such a ferocious grower that coppicing keeps it to a manageable size and you can enjoy the juvenile foliage for flower arranging.

this peony is just a reminder of sun and bloom to come. the need for sun and flora this time of year in the pacific northwest is extreeeeme! i was happy to see my camelia sasanqua, witchhazel + winter jasmine blooming. thank goodness the days are getting longer!

past exhibits....

birds of a feather

gallery fraga 1/07-2/07


clarity of adornment
4 x 6"
gilded oil on panel




visual AIDS postcards from the edge


a benefit exhibition
Sikkema Jenkins & Co.
530 West 22nd Street, New York City 12/06

heal the world with trees
4 x 6"
fiberwork



bainbridge the beautiful

allegorical portable assemblages
gallery fraga 8/06

forest
323 x 323cm
mixed media




wangari maathai lecture reception

fiber arts tribute to dr. maathai + the green belt movement
benaroya symphony hall, seattle 3/06

green belt (detail)
10" x 12'
mixed media




as the crow flies

allegorical fiber illustrations
gallery fraga 1/06-2/06

julkarva
12 x 12"
mixed fibers




visual AIDS postcards from the edge

a benefit exhibition
robert miller gallery, new york city 10/05

crow feathers
4 x 6"
pencil on paper

circular needles

a series of knitting oil paintings
churchmouse yarns & teas, august 2005

summer 1
4 x 6"
oil on wood panel

the queen anne treewalk: green belt


a fiber arts installation
kinnear park, seattle
a tribute to wangari maathai

detail from "green belt"
10" x 15'
mixed fibers

the dictionary game

a series of pencil illustrations
a collaboration with paul morrissey

see complete "r" illustrations

art port townsend

a juried exhibit
northwind art center

fragrant march
9 x 12"
oil on canvas

national conference on coastal & estuarine habitat restoration

a juried exhibit
washington trade and convention center, seattle
bolinas
18 x 18"
oil on canvas

11, 12, 1, 2, 3

series of botanical oil paintings
bainbridge arts & crafts
featured artist of the month

12
5 x 7"
oil on panel

knitting with paint

solo exhibit of knitting paintings
churchmouse yarns & teas

branching structure
24 x 30"
oil on canvas

images of america

juried exhibit
bainbridge performing arts center

little derrymore
12 x 18"
oil on canvas

etc....

our resident pheasant family