New book available on scratchboard art!

Diana Lee is a true master in the techniques of scratchboard art and I am excited to let you know about the release of her new book on Scratchboard art, which can be purchased here.

It is great to finally have a quality book to recommend for those interested in learning scratchboard art techniques or simply learning more than they already do. The clear images, easy to understand text, and many close ups make it easy to follow and understand the techniques. This book gives great examples and explanations of a wide range of subject matter (still life, portraits and animals) both in color and in black and white. The book also has a section on color theory and the author does an excellent job explaining it in a concise but easy to understand manner.

Unlike MANY art books that I have purchased that are loaded with 'pretty pictures' but don't really explain how the artist achieved the end results, this book shows you how the author works from start to finish. Truly if you are someone interested in either starting in scratchboard art or simply expanding your horizons in the medium this is a 'must have' title for the art library!

Sales and Update

"The Night Watchman" has been completed in time and submitted to "Women Artist of the West" exhibition.  If it gets juried in it will be headed to Texas in November.

"The Night Watchman" - 12" x 12" - Scratchboard Art

I am also excited to tell you that Luminescent was one of the most popular works and also SOLD at the opening of the The Wild Animal Sanctuary show.  A percentage of the sales proceeds going to "The Wild Animal Sanctuary" in Keensburg, CO.  This facility has almost 300 rescue animals (mostly large carnivores).  I was able to find out that this tiger, who was just a cub back in 2006 when I took my reference photos there, is named Simon and is now one of their most popular tigers (sort of a 'spokes tiger' for the sanctuary).  He and his sisters Simone and Sophie were born at the sanctuary when their mother was rescued already pregnant.  The entire show featuring animals from teh sanctuary (lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and more) will be on exhibit at Mary Williams Fine Art Gallery in Boulder, CO through Aug. 25.  Please stop by and take a look at the great show!

"Luminescent" - 24" x 24" - SOLD - Scratchboard Art

Deadlines

I seem to be constantly working on a deadline recently... once of the very good thing about making sales... I need new work for shows!!  It definitely increases my productivity :)

I was recently reading a prospectus for a show that I will be entering and this year they have a size limit of 12"x16" and works must have been completed in the past two years... EEK!  Most of my work is at least 14"x18" and many are bigger.  SO.... "Dreaming Big" (lion cub a few postings below) fits the bill at only 8"x8", and I have a pencil work from 2010 called "A Kind Eye" that is right at 12"x16"... but what else to send??  Well why not create something new?  So what if entries are due in one week?!?

I have had this reference, courtesy of a scratchboard friend Irfan Ahmed, that has been in my files for a little while.  With the recent sale of "Intrigue" at the Greeley Stampede Western Art Show (plus the sale of "On The Wind" and "Tassels") it seemed that another one of my all time favorite creatures, a Great Gray Owl, was a good choice.  I think the title will be "The Night Watchman".  The board has a bit of shine going on, so hard to get a really good photo yet.  Size is 12"x12".

First installment - only part of the board,
but the left side will be left mostly dark

Good progress on it.  This is the full board.

I finished up "Spring Loaded" today :)



"Spring Loaded" - 20"x30" - Scratchboard Art Mountain Lion

Lion Cub

I went ahead and finished this guy up tonight.   

PS I decided to go with the title of "Dreaming Big".

"Dreaming Big" - Lion Cub - 8"x8" - Scratchboard

ISSA Exhibition 2012

Last weekend was the International Society of Scratchboard Artists (ISSA) 1st Annual Exhibition Opening.  We had about 25 artist from all over the world attend the show, including Patrick Hedges from Australia, Lorna Hannett from British Columbia, and Louise Collier from Newfoundland (as well as artists from all over the USA)!!  The show was very well received and the opening at ARThouse Gallery in Glen Ellen, CA was very nice.  On Sunday and Monday we held demos with master scratchboard artists demonstrating their techniques.  The scratchboard community is by far the most giving and generous artist community you well ever find.  Everyone openly shares techniques, feedback and help.  In addition they are all crazy ( I am the only normal one in the whole lot ;) with tremendous sense of humor!  The laughter almost never dies down.  Without a doubt it was a great time!

I was honored with an Award of Excellence for "Blue and Gold".  The Master Scratchboard Artist Category was judged by artist Dorothy Pierce, PhD.  I am honored to receive this award as it was a very nice show.

Here is a picture of much of the group taken after the demos on Monday.  We forgot to take a group picture on Saturday at the opening, but there were a few more artists at the opening too.

I was one of the artist that did a demo on Monday.  My demo was fur and eyes, and then a bit of a discussion on marketing your artwork.  I used this lion cub for my demo.  My reference for this cutey was from South Africa last summer.  This cub was in a captive program that raises breeding animals.  Her and a brother were 3 months old and we actually got to go in and play with them.  They thought my long hair was a fabulous toy.  It was definitely a cool experience.  This board is 8"x8" in size.  No title yet.

I also am working on a 20"x30" board which I am calling "Spring Loaded".  I am hoping to have it done by July 24 to enter it in a competition if it turns out well :)