Lucy's Artworld

CD Cover Art

2012-02-02T23:41:00.001-08:00

Libby McQuitson, a singer/composer friend, wrote an original choral piece called "Nature's Repose" based on the writings of John Muir. I was one of the singers invited to sing on the recording of the piece. After the recording was completed, she asked if I would design the CD cover/insert for it. Participants, lyrics, and a short biography of John Muir are inside the insert.

The watercolor painting I did for the outside of the CD insert depicts John Muir walking into Yosemite Valley.

CDs may be ordered by contacting Libby McQuiston at libbstick@gmail.com.

Flights of Fancy

2012-01-30T20:51:00.000-08:00

I created a new digital art piece this winter. I used images from both my photos and my watercolor paintings, which was a first for me. A few of the same photo elements can also be seen in a previous digital piece, "Phantom Memories"

(http://lucyarnold.com/Phantom%20Memories.htm. My first effort in digital photo montage was "Memory Fantasia" http://lucyarnold.com/Memory%20Fantasia.htm.

This new piece, titled "Flights of Fancy in Medusa's Realm"

http://lucyarnold.com/Flights%20of%20Fancy%20in%20Medusa's%20Realm.htm,

is similar in that it appears to be a sort of fairy tale or myth without words. At least, that's what it felt like as I worked on it.

I needed to find a way to tie two of the main characters (Dragon and Angel) together. Then the idea of using a storm of butterflies hit me... I loved the idea that beautiful, delicate butterflies from an Angel's hand could defeat a powerful, threatening foe.

The decision to incorporate bits of artwork from my watercolor paintings took me in a new direction. The style is still realistic, but even more surreal. It was rather tricky getting the two types of imagery to mesh, however. I think it helped that there's also digital painting on the Dragon and Red Frog images.

It's really amazing how time-consuming it is to work digitally! Nothing is as simple as it appears, especially when trying to figure out by trial and error how to get the desired effects in Photoshop. There certainly must be more efficient ways to do many of the things I did. I hope to learn lots more before attempting another digital painting/montage.

I don't know quite what the story is that this piece describes, but I felt that all the disparate elements fit together into a narrative somehow. Anyone want to make up a story to go with the picture?

Bordered Butterfly card set 6

2012-01-24T22:23:00.000-08:00

Here are the cards of Bordered Butterfly set 6. The caterpillars are included with the identification on the back of these cards.

Bordered Butterfly card sets

2012-01-24T21:53:00.000-08:00

I've arranged most of the new bordered butterfly (and moth) cards into sets of four. Four cards just barely squeeze into a single clear sleeve, along with a slip of paper showing each design inside. Each set has four different designs, and each set is different from the others. There are six sets so far. I have some of these at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art gift shop for $10 each. They're available from me directly, of course. (I'm also putting together a virtual shop at Etsy.com called LucyArnoldArt. I have some prints and one set of cards there. More on this in a future blog.)

Above are the first five card sets. Set 6 includes the caterpillars along with the scientific identification on the back of the cards, and will be shown in the next blog.

New Butterfly Notecards

2012-01-05T12:19:00.000-08:00

I ceated a new line of butterfly and moth notecards to give as Christmas gifts this year. They all have decorative marbled borders to match. There are 29 different designs, so lots of variety with no repeats in each set I gave to family and friends.
These are notecards I can print, cut and package at home - just like my "Lucy's Letters" notecards. So, now that the holidays are over, I can make more of the cards to sell.

If anyone out there knows of a gift store that might be interested, they are $1.50 each wholesale.

New Art Books

2011-12-17T22:25:00.000-08:00

The third version of the art books is similarly titled. It's "A Little Book of Metamorphosis", subtitled "Five Caterpillars, Four Moths, One Butterfly". I found some gorgeous handmade marbled paper to use on the cover and to trim each page. This one can be viewed flat, with each caterpillar paired with its moth or butterfly on facing pages. However, it's mostly meant to be seen standing, with the pages radiating from the center. Tabs can be pulled up from each page for identification.

I'm now working on a new hanging version. Boy, these take forever to figure out and put together! I'm really having fun, though.

New Art Books

2011-12-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some new versions of art books using the moth, butterfly, and caterpillar images. They are all variations on "Little Book of Metamorphosis".
The first one, also shown in an earlier post, is a large hanging one meant to be seen on both sides. That one has the cumbersome title "Five Caterpillars, Four Moths, One Butterfly - A Hanging Book of Metamorphosis". The species names and caterpillars are all on the back sides of the moth/butterfly images.

Next came "Five Caterpillars, Four Moths, One Butterfly - A Folding Book of Metamorphosis". This one is in a natural colored case covered with fibrous handmade paper to resemble a cocoon. The book can open flat or unfold and stand accordion-style.
It is also two-sided, with all the caterpillars on one side. Identification tabs can be pulled up from each "page".

SaveNature.org

2011-11-15T15:48:00.001-08:00

SaveNature.org in San Francisco has an "Adopt an Acre" or "Adopt a Reef" donation program. You can donate money to help preserve rainforest, African desert, or coral reef habitats - 1/4 acre at a time. This makes a wonderful gift for anyone who cares about the environment and already has enough "stuff". A personalized deed is provided with each donated gift.

What does this have to do with me? Well, as a thank you to donors, SaveNature.org is giving one of my nature cards for each donation of $25. A nature gift card plus a box of cards (or chocolates) is the gift for a $50 donation. For $60, the donor receives a gift card and a small art print of my Hawaiian Fishes or Beautiful Beetles.

Check it out at www.savenature.org, or call 415-648-3392.

Holiday Concerts

2011-11-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

I'll be singing as a soloist and choral member in two different concerts coming up in early December. The first is the Marin Symphony's Holiday concert on December 3 at 7:30 pm and December 4 at 4:00 pm. The main piece we'll be performing is Vivaldi's Magnificat, and I'll be singing solo parts in the second movement of the piece. These concerts will be at the Church of St. Rafael in San Rafael. I'll also be part of a small ensemble for several other works in the program.

On Sunday, December 11, I'll be singing the soprano II solos and choral parts in Bach's Magnificat at the First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo at 10 am. Martha Wall will be conducting, and this will be her big finale as music director of that church.

The solo I'll be singing (plus a gorgeous trio with the two other women soloists) is especially challenging, since it is both high and has quite a bit of coloratura work in it. At any rate, I'm certainly having to practice at home a lot to prepare.

Recording Project

2011-10-30T21:30:00.001-07:00

A singer friend, Libby McQuiston, has composed an a cappella piece for a small chorus. It is in honor of John Muir and his writings, and will be recorded for the National Park at the John Muir House in Martinez. I will be singing alto in the small ensemble. I've never done anything like this before. Should be really fun!

framed individual moths & butterfly

2011-08-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have framed five of the moth/butterfly watercolors that I painted for "The Little Book of Metamorphosis" - which is still just a possibility for a handmade book, not a finished item.

These five look quite nice all framed identically in maple wood with soft white matting. I have them hung in a vertical row in my kitchen right now, but look forward to putting them in an exhibit together at some point.

Beetles accepted

2011-08-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

I found out this morning that my submission to the Marin Community Foundation exhibit was accepted! Beautiful Beetles will hang with 11 other pieces of art (each from a different artist) representing the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibit, titled COLLECTIVES, will consist of 12 pieces from each of 12 Marin art organizations. Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (Marin MOCA) has selected Beautiful Beetles as one of their 12.

The exhibit, from September 12 - January 3, will be located at the Marin Community Foundation: 5 Hamilton Landing, Suite 200, Novato, CA 94949.

There will be a reception on Thursday, October 20 from 4-6 pm.

Four Moths, One Butterfly, and their Caterpillars

2011-08-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

"Four Moths, One Butterfly and their Caterpillars" is what I'm calling my newest project using the moth, butterfly and caterpillar images I've had in mind for a Little Book of Metamorphosis. This new piece might be considered an artist book, since it can fold up into a flat square. Really, it's more of a wall hanging of images without framing or glass.

Here are the steps involved:

First, I made color prints of four moths and a butterfly, then mounted them on 9.5x11 mat board squares. The moth/butterfly images have three colors of handmade torn paper around them: marigold, paprika, and natural. These torn papers are all glued on top of one another to create an interesting series of borders to the images.

Next, I glued three long pieces of translucent, natural colored ribbon down the backs of the boards. There's about 1 inch of ribbon showing between each board, so that they will hang vertically, separated by one inch.

Pale grey paper was then glued on the back of the boards, on top of the ribbons.

Lacy, natural colored handmade paper was glued onto the grey paper.

Color prints of five caterpillars, along with the common and scientific names, were glued onto the lacy paper.

I tore very thin (1/4") strips of the marigold paper and glued it around each caterpillar image to create a single color border. The lacy natural paper behind becomes the wide border. No paprika used on this side.

Finally, the ends of the 3 ribbons were sewed into loops at the top and bottom of the entire group, then trimmed off. This allows me to put a stick through for both hanging the piece and giving it a top and bottom "frame".

The front side is meant to be the moths & butterfly, while their caterpillars and identification are on the back of the hanging. It can be hung with either side showing, however.

Oddly enough, this project took MUCH longer than just framing the originals!

Juried Exhibitions

2011-08-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

I found out today that both "Reflections" and "Phantom Memories" were accepted into the Poetry of Place show at Marin Society of Artists. I probably won't make it to the reception, since it's the same day as my concert this Sunday. However, the show will be up from August 14 - September 4, 2011.

The CA Watercolor Society's 42 Annual National Show will be hosted by Marin Society of Artists this year for the first time. (Their usual venue for the past few years has been the Officer's Club in the SF Presidio, which is unavailable this summer.) I'm thrilled to have "Basilisk, Orchids, Frogs" in that exhibit. The show will be open to the public from September 8 - October 9, with an Artists Reception on Sunday, September 18 from 1-4 pm.

Reflections

2011-08-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite photos from the choral trip is of leaves reflecting in the turquoise waters of the Pletvice Lakes in Croatia. I had to do some digital work in Photoshop to get rid of an obstruction in one corner, but most of the image is exactly like the actual place. The lovely colors are not altered at all. This one, titled Reflections, is also printed on 11x17 paper and ready to frame for the "Poetry of Place" juried show at Marin Society of Artists.

Back from Choral Singing Tour

2011-07-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a choral tour in Croatia and Slovenia. Wonderful experience with a great group of singing friends! It was the Allan Petker Chorale, and included 20 singers plus about 10 non-singing spouses & relatives. We sang 5 concerts in several churches and a community hall, plus some unofficial singing just for ourselves in the cathedral in the island on Lake Bled as well as in the tiny chapel on a cliff overlooking the same lake. It was amazing.

I don't usually like to take photos, but I did bring a new, very small Nikon along this time. Once I finished winnowing through 450 or so shots, I selected various elements that seemed interesting to use in a collage. This has kept me busy for the week since my return. I finally decided to call it "Phantom Memories".

The full size of this digital piece is 11x17. I just had a print made, and will frame it to enter into a juried show titled "Poetry of Place" at Marin Society of Artists.

I've posted an album of about 100 of my favorite shots from this trip in my Facebook photos.

Award for Fishes

2011-06-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

All the fishes in "Hawaiian Fishes All the Way Down" are very excited. They were just awarded an Honorable Mention in the "All Creatures" juried show at Marin Society of Artists. This is the first time the painting has been on exhibit. A reception will be held on Sunday, June 11, from 2-4 pm. The Marin Society of Artists Gallery is located in the Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, CA 94957.

415-454-9561

Kauai

2011-06-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

The list of sea creatures I was able to identify during our recent trip to Kauai contains 84 species. However, many of the male/female and juvenile/adult versions of the fish look so dissimilar that they appear to be completely unrelated, so perhaps they should count as separate identifications! One example is the male and female Bird Wrasses pictured in my watercolor above.

There were also some wonderful birds, including Red-Footed Boobies, Tropic Birds, Laysan Albatross, and Great Frigatebirds. Lovely Red-Crested Cardinals, Northern Cardinals and Doves visited us on our deck in Princeville. We also saw a few of the native Hawaiian Geese, and innumerable Myna Birds and feral Chickens. Actually, the chickens were everywhere! They were scattered from coops destroyed during hurricanes several years ago, and they've pretty much taken over the island. Roosters strut around in their finery and crow at all hours. Chicks of all sizes scurry after their mothers. They even hopped in and out of our car when we had a door open in the Ke'e Beach parking lot!

My favorite part of any trip to Hawaii is the snorkeling. This time we stayed in two different locations, so we were able to go diving at the Poipu beaches in the south as well as Tunnels and Ke'e Beaches in the north. Whenever I go diving, I write down every fish I can remember when I get out. After the first dive, I just add any new creatures to the list to avoid repetition. If I don't already know what it is, I search through books until I find it. Since I had recently completed the painting of Hawaiian Fishes, it was much easier to identify many more fish this trip. All the research I did for the painting paid off!

Caterpillar book, Step 6

2011-06-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

The latest installment for of the caterpillar and moth for "The Little Book of Metamorphosis" is now completed. The caterpillar of Citheronia regalis is known as the Hickory Horned Devil. It is the largest caterpillar in North America, reaching about 5 inches long. The mature form of Citheronia regalis is the Regal or Walnut Moth. It is also quite large, with a wingspan of up to 6 inches.

Kauai

2011-05-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from the moth and caterpillar paintings. Just returned from a week in Kauai, and I plan to write up a list of all the sea creatures I saw while snorkeling. Every single time I went in the water, I found new things to add to my list. John P. Hoover's "Hawaii's Fishes" was my main reference book to aid in identification.

We saw lots of wonderful fish, and swam with sea turtles at several beaches. Monk seals also were around, though we kept our distance from them. From the Kiloauea Lighthouse we could see several pods of Spinner Dolphins frolicking in the ocean below. We also saw Red-footed Booby, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Great Frigatebird, Laysan Albatross, both Red and White-tailed Tropicbirds, and the Hawaiian Goose.

The most amazing fish I saw was a Parrotfish that was so incredibly colorful, it hardly seemed possible. It really was every bit as vibrant as the watercolor painting I did of one several years ago. I used to think my colors were exaggerated, but the fellow I saw on this trip proved otherwise!

Caterpillar Book, step 5

2011-04-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

This next moth is my favorite so far. It's Acherontia atropos, the Death's Head Hawkmoth. Actually, the Death's Head Hawkmoth refers to any one of these three species of moth: A. atropos, A. styx and A. lachesis in the genus Acherontia. According to Wikipedia, they have several unusual attributes. First, they can squeak loudly and flash their abdomen when disturbed or irritated. (Who would want to irritate a Death's Head moth?) Second, they actually raid beehives for honey! Somehow, they manage to mimic the bees' scent in order to be "invisible" and move about in the hive undetected. Quite a trick!

Presentation at Valley of the Moon Art Association

2011-04-22T23:01:00.000-07:00

I was invited to be the artist presenter at the Valley of the Moon Art Association's monthly meeting for April.
They meet at the Sonoma Hills Retirement Center - a lovely place. Yesterday was the big day, and it seemed to go quite well. It was my very first PowerPoint presentation, so I was a bit nervous about whether or not everything would go smoothly. No problems occurred, luckily! The screen went up OK, there was a plug nearby, the projector and laptop all worked without a hitch. The best part, however, was how receptive and enthusiastic the VMAA artists were. They made it very comfortable for me, and we talked about both my abstract and natural history bodies of work for about an hour. All in all, it was a very rewarding experience. As an added bonus, I now have a PowerPoint slide show of about 40 paintings all set for another time.

To end the presentation, I showed the small original paintings of moths and butterflies I've completed so far for the caterpillar book in progress. I've now completed the Death's Head Hawkmoth, so I'll post that as soon as I get a chance to photograph it. I'm thinking that the finished art book may be titled "The Little Book of Metamorphosis". What do you think?

Caterpillar Book, step 4

2011-04-12T13:46:00.001-07:00

The fourth caterpillar/moth installment is done!

This one is the Whitelined Sphinx Moth, Hyles linneata. This species is also known as a Hummingbird Moth, and is easily mistaken for a hummingbird. The very handsome moth results from a mostly green caterpillar.

Caterpillar Book, step 3

2011-04-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

The third caterpillar/butterfly combination is Marpesia petreus, the Ruddy Daggerwing. I find the small similarities between the caterpillar and butterfly forms of the species fascinating.

Caterpillar book, step 2

2011-04-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

The next moth that I've painted is the Euchaetes egle, or Milkweed Tussock Moth. It is a very simple, humble looking thing. The wings are very plain, and only the body shows any bright coloration. Its caterpillar, on the other hand, is remarkable. It bears a strong resemblance to a very small, shaggy, multicolored dog! The caterpillar obtains toxins from its food source, the milkweed plant. The moth retains some of these toxins, but also emits ultrasonic clicks to deter predatory bats. One theory is that the sound imitates a different, much more toxic moth. Ultrasonic sound is also important in attracting mates, as these moths don't emit pheromones.

New Project

2011-03-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am thinking of creating another handmade art book. My idea is to have it structured like "Dualities", the book I made for the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art fundraiser. (See post from Wednesday, February 23, 2011.) Like "Dualities", it can be opened page by page or opened out like an accordion. When fully opened, it can stand by itself and be seen in its entirety.

This time, instead of abstract paintings, I plan to show caterpillars and the moths or butterflies that they become. I'm thinking of "Little Book of Metamorphosis" as a possible title.

I have a collection of previously painted caterpillars that I did for the large watercolor painting, "Butterflies, Moths, Caterpillars". Using Photoshop, I can isolate and reproduce the ones I want to include. I'll need to do new watercolor paintings of the moths and butterflies to go with them, though, so that's what I've started working on.

My first installment is a watercolor of the moth Arconicta funeralis, also known as the Funerary Dagger Moth. It comes from the Paddle Caterpillary, which is aptly named.

You can see the original large painting above, as well as the isolated caterpillar and the brand new moth painting.

Spring Concert

2011-03-26T21:31:00.001-07:00

The Symphony Chamber Chorus is having its own spring concert very soon. As soon as we finished performing the opera choruses with the full symphony, we went back to rehearsing all the choral pieces for our upcoming spring concert, "Chansons de Printemps". It will feature a wide variety of choral pieces, including Brahm's Gypsy Songs. (I'll be singing a solo and a quartet in that group.)

A really terrific youth aCappella group, Till Dawn, will share the concert with us.

The performance will be on Sunday, April 17 at 4 pm.

Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

1180 Lynwood Drive, Novato, CA.

Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Concert

2011-03-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything about my singing activities so far - but thought I'd start adding that aspect of my creative life. So... I'm a mezzo-soprano, and I do both choral and solo work.

I am a member of the Marin Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus. We are performing several well-known opera choruses with the Symphony tonight, March 13, and Tuesday, March 15. The performances are at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael.

Beasts and Beauties

2011-03-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

The Artists' Reception at Gallery One is this Saturday from 5-8 pm! It is a two person exhibit. My part is "Beasts and Beauties", and includes over 15 paintings. The other featured artist is Bernard Healey, who is showing sea and landscapes.

I'm very excited about my first big show at this gallery, especially since I found out that three of my paintings have already sold since the exhibit opened on February 28. Gives me high hopes for the Reception...

Gallery One is at 209 Western Avenue in Petaluma, CA.

First Place

2011-03-02T00:18:00.000-08:00

Wow! I'm thrilled that "Friends of the Eel River" just won the First Place Award in the Marin Society of Artists juried show, Dance, Music, Flowers. Guess I'll be going to the reception on Sunday afternoon. If anyone wants to meet me there, it will be from 2-4 pm on Sunday, March 6 at the MSA Gallery at the Art and Garden Center in Ross, CA.

Dualities

2011-02-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art will be having a big fundraiser featuring altered books. Artists were invited to donate work in which they made or altered books in some way. I chose to create a new, handmade art book. It is titled "Dualities", and opens from either side to reveal abstract paintings which fold out, accordion style. If opened from the blue cover, each page can be turned sequentially (each is a section of the cool color abstract painting) or it can be unfolded to reveal the entire piece. When you close the book, the last page is the cover for the warm color side. This can then be opened in the same manner.

The warm and cool colored abstract paintings are just a metaphor for dualities in general, which can be found on so many different levels. Color is the most useful tool I have in expressing complex philosophical ideas that may be hard to put into words. I always consider the balance of complementary and analogous colors in my paintings, so this two-sided piece seemed like a natural art book for me to create.

At first, I was planning to do something to alter an old used book. Nothing came to me, however. Finally, the idea of making my own art book based on color abstractions floated into my head just before I fell asleep one night. The details of making the accordion, two sided painting with two covers coalesced on subsequent nights. When it came to putting the physical object together after the paintings were both completed, I realized it would be more difficult than I had thought. I finally got all figured out - but the actual construction took much longer than the paintings themselves.

Sorry about the format of the first paragraph. I can't find a way to change it! Ugh.

Hawaiian Fish ID chart

2011-02-19T22:55:00.002-08:00

The identification chart is complete! Some of the fish are only partially visible, and even the tiniest spaces between fish were chosen from specific species. A couple of these aren't identified, though, since they are too small to see anything other than a bit of color.

I made a few different versions. The top chart shows only the common names. The second ID chart includes the scientific names.

Hawaiian Fish

2011-02-17T15:13:00.000-08:00

The watercolor painting of Hawaiian fish is completed. I'm currently working on the identification chart for it. I'll take it to be photographed as a 4x5 transparency, which is then scanned at a very high resolution for the possibility of future giclee prints. This errand, however, will have to wait until our current wet weather is over. (I once had a watercolor damaged when a single raindrop made it into the plastic covering on the way to the photographer's studio.)

I'm not quite sure what the title will be. Perhaps "Hawaiian Fish All the Way Down", since there is no negative space between fish. They are all overlapping, so all the viewer sees is fish.

It was quite a challenge to create the design for this painting. Perhaps that is obvious just from looking at it.

New Painting Underway

2011-01-05T19:54:00.004-08:00

I've finally begun the initial stages of a new painting. The watercolor paper has been soaked, stretched and taped to a board. Sketches are underway.

The subject matter? Hawaiian fish. I decided to limit my selection to tropical fish of Hawaii, just to have some constraints and a coherent group. There are still so many to choose from!

I'm now working on sketches, trying to come up with an arrangement of overlapping fish. I want to keep the viewer's eye moving within the piece, so there are lots of diagonal curves. I always have to keep in mind how the different colors will play against one another so that each individual fish can be see. Dark, light, bright and deep colors all need to be well balanced throughout. It's a good mental exercise to try and visualize it all in my head as I choose various fish and work on the sketch. I know that any time an eye appears, it will become a focal point. There will probably be five or so fish eyes visible when I'm done, and they will be in different areas of the painting. I never use a single focal point in the middle of a piece. I prefer to make lots of different areas interesting so that more and more details and views can be discovered as one looks at the painting again and again.

upcoming and current shows

2010-12-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

I just found out today that "Basilisk, Orchids, Frogs" was accepted into the 26th Annual Juried Show at Gallery Route One in Point Reyes, CA. "Beautiful Beetles" and "Connections" have been accepted in previous years, but I do not always get into this show. The juror this time was Rene de Guzman.

There will be an opening reception on Sunday, Jan 23, 3-5pm. I'll send out an email notification, and I do hope lots of friends can come.

Another thing I'm excited about is that I will be in a two person exhibit at Gallery One in Petaluma, CA from February 28 - April3, 2011. I'll also be the featured artist in the Craft Gallery of Marin Society of Artists in April, 2011.

Currently, I am exhibiting beaded jewelry in juried shows at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA) and the Marin Arts Council Gallery; miniature shoes and beaded jewelry in Marin Society of Artists' Small Treasures show; watercolors in the Marin General Hospital exhibit; a painting in the current Gallery One juried show; paintings and prints in a MarinMOCA satellite exhibit at the Squadron Building in Hamilton Field, Novato, CA. I also have paintings, jewelry and cards at my local Curves in Novato. More cards and jewelry are in the Craft Gallery of Marin Society of Artists and the Gift Shop of MarinMOCA.

Trying to keep track of exactly where each item is, what the drop off and pick up dates are, etc. is quite challenging. I hope I never lose the "Art On Location" chart on my computer!

New Cards

2010-12-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

I just received 500 "Basilisk, Orchids, Frogs" greeting cards from my online printer, PrintPlace. They look terrific! It's a risk getting them printed without a hard copy proof, but I've had very good luck with this company. Also, it's hard to find a good, affordable printer that uses heavy stock that's glossy on only one side, and PrintPlace does it.

The first order for the Basilisk cards goes to the Discovery Corner at the Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley. (They carry a few other of my cards as well.) It would be fun to go visit sometime.

Now to think of who might like a boxed set for Christmas...

Artful Food

2010-11-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA) fundraiser details are now available.

The event is Friday, December 3, 2010 from 5-8 pm.
Artful Food - a Feast for the Senses
Featuring:
Elizabethan Foods
Local Wines
Shakespearean Poetry
Silent Auction of Artworks inspired by Elizabethan Dishes

Tickets, $50, must be reserved by November 15, 2010.
Phone: 415-506-0137
www.marinmoca.org

MarinMOCA is located at the Novato Arts Center at Hamilton Field, 500 Palm Drive, Novato, CA 94949.

The MarinMOCA 2011 Calendar features all 24 Elizabethan food-inspired artworks, and is available in a very limited edition. You can reserve yours by emailing the Museum's Director, Heather, at heather@marinmoca.org.

My painting, Feast Food, is in the calendar. The original watercolor painting is part of the silent auction and is currently on display at the Museum. Bidding is open now and will continue through December 5. Opening bid is $400 for Beef Purses. Call MarinMOCA to place a bid by phone, or go in person to see it and add your bid.

Framed Basilisk

2010-08-19T22:17:00.000-07:00

Basilisk, Orchids, Frogs is now framed, and I'm really pleased with the light colored, but deeply textured wood frame I found. Suits it very well.

Feast Food

2010-08-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

I've been busy working on a new watercolor painting ever since the Basilisk was taken to be framed. This new work, titled "Feast Food", is a painting inspired by a Renaissance period recipe. It will be used in a fund-raiser by the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA) in December.

24 artists were invited to create works of art inspired by one of 12 different recipes for the MarinMOCA fundraiser.

Images of the finished pieces were used in MarinMOCA's first calendar. Each month features the work of two artists inspired by the same recipe. A small photo of the actual dish is included, along with the recipe. The calendar made very nice Christmas gifts!

"Basilisk, Orchids, Frogs" completed

2010-07-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at the final painting. It's being framed this weekend! I'll be checking into appropriate juried art shows to enter it in for the coming months.

Next, I'll prepare the image for printing as a greeting card with the ID chart on the back.

ID Chart

2010-07-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the completed ID chart for "Basilisk, Orchids, Frogs".
Only the animals are included, as I had no identification for my orchid photos. I used some common names as well as all the scientific names. Most of the frogs are poison dart frogs, and I skipped their common names, as I found they were too varied.

I'll let you know when this image is printed as cards or full sized giclee prints, but it's available now as a small 8x8 print.

Finished Portrait

2010-06-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

The final touches have been added to the basilisk and frogs, and I wanted to give you a closer look at the basilisk lizard's portrait. I was especially pleased that his regal profile and arresting eye are quite close to how I remember them in the live specimen at the Academy of Sciences.

Meanwhile, the painting is now at the photographer's studio. I am having a 4x5 transparency made, which will allow a full sized giclee print to be produced in the future. I'll also have a low resolution scan done of the transparency, which will be all that I require for producing greeting cards and 8x10 prints. A much higher resolution scan will be made if a full sized giclee print edition is made. Since that scan by itself is about $100, I'll wait till it's needed.

I'll post a better picture of the completed painting once I get back the digital scan to work with in Photoshop.

A scientific ID chart (for the lizard and frogs) will be the next step, as that will be on the back of the greeting cards and available with the original and prints.

Basilisk - front & center

2010-06-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it's very near completion. There is a suggestion of scales now, especially on the basilisk's head. A bit more shading was added, as well as the details of the eye. The only thing left to do is to take some time off, then look at it again to see if there's anything I want to add.

The basilisk definitely shows up as the focal point as planned. (His eye is the real focal point.)
When I was working on the frogs, it occurred to me that they were so busy and colorful that the basilisk might not be able to compete. However, his comparative size and bright blue-green skin makes him stand out from the crowd surrounding him.

Basilisk continues

2010-06-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

At this stage, I'm adding more shading as well as some definition of skin folds.

Basilisk takes shape

2010-06-09T20:55:00.001-07:00

Here is the basilisk after about three layers of watercolor have been applied, allowing each to dry before the next is begun.

Main Character

2010-06-09T20:02:00.001-07:00

The basilisk is finally getting some attention. He is the main character and focal point of the painting, and it is both a challenge and a joy to be working on him at last.

It's not easy being green...

2010-06-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

The frogs have received almost all the details they are going to get, except for last minute touch-ups.

The large vine now has a fairly light coating of moss here and there, giving it an overall green hue. For this, I worked wet in wet with several different greens and browns. The tricky part was using a tiny brush to wet the vine areas of the paper between and around each frog before applying any color.

I may do more on the vine later, but it's finally time to start on the basilisk in the center!

Slight Change in Plans

2010-06-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

I do plan ahead of time how to proceed with this type of painting, with so many realistic elements. However, the execution is an evolving journey, and sometimes I have to change course a bit. In this case, I have gone ahead and started in with the frogs' details, including the blacks. I know I'll have to go back in to add more color and texture to the main, large vine later. That will be a challenge, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I just didn't think I would be able to properly judge how dark or detailed to go with the vine until I could see the frogs just about finished.

The center of the painting - the main character and focal point - is the basilisk. I'm predicting that he will be the final element to be painted, but perhaps I'll change my mind about that, too!

Vines take form

2010-05-31T08:44:00.001-07:00

The small, twisted vines have been painted with some shading, but in a very limited value range. I'm using only wet-in-wet technique here, to avoid too much sharp detail. I don't want the vines to be the focus at all, but they have to have some depth as they move around each other. So, there will be more shading but no sharp contrast in values.

Here you can see that the main, large vine has also been started. The left and upper portions have had one wash, while the lower and right sides have had two.

I don't want all the browns in the painting to look too much the same, so the large vine is a combination of raw umber plus purple. This doesn't jump out, and the hue ties in a bit with the orchids. The small vines are a touch warmer, since I used very light raw sienna and raw umber for them.

There will be more layers on the vines before they're done. I'm thinking of scumbling some areas and streaks with greens to give an impression of moss here and there. There will probably be more washes of the browns as well, until the overall color and value range seems right. It's a bit hard to judge how dark to go without any of the blacks that will be in the frogs... I'll just have to make sure the frogs pop forward when I do add those details to them.

Frogs almost there

2010-05-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Every frog has now been painted except for any black areas and final details. So...this morning I finally lightly inked in all the vines.
Every bit of remaining pencil sketch has now been carefully erased. Next up will be working the light colors into the vines, trying not to step on any frogs' toes!

Frogs continue

2010-05-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

I am continuing with the frogs very slowly, since it really is the most fun of all, and it seems to go more quickly than any other stage of the whole process. So I'm painting them bit by bit, sometimes taking a day or two off. I'll continue posting photos as I go along, but it won't be every day's progress.

You will notice that most of the frogs are incomplete. This is because many of them are patterned with black, and I don't want to use that pigment before painting the lighter colors for the vines behind the frogs. It could easily bleed into other areas if a bit of water touches it. Actually, the same is true of the strong red or blue pigments, but I'm taking my chances with those.

Frogs gain color

2010-05-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the frogs for a few days now. These frogs were all chosen for their amazing colors, patterns, and in the case of the horned tree frog, its unusual structure. I'll definitely have to leave the negative space between the orchids and frogs plain white to allow the eye to rest. And the branches or vines on which the frogs reside will need to be subtle as well so that they don't compete with all the other elements of the picture.

Orchids - day 3

2010-05-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

The orchids are pretty much done now, and I look forward to beginning on the frogs next!
I may go back and touch up a few details in the orchids when the rest of the painting reaches a comparable level of development. These are such outrageous flowers.

Orchids - day 2

2010-05-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

I am continuing to work on just the orchids. Here they are on Day 2 of adding watercolor.

First touch of color

2010-05-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Even though parts of the picture are still just sketched in, I've begun applying the first layers of watercolor to the orchids. The basilisk, orchids, and frogs are all now inked, but I'm leaving the branches and vines for last. The first thing I'm using color for are the shadows in the orchids, which are mostly variations of lavenders and greens. Local color will be added later, along with all the intense, colorful spots and streaks. When the orchids are completed except for the final details, I'll move on to the frogs.

New painting: stages

2010-05-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

I've decided to lightly ink in all the drawings of frogs, orchids, basilisk and vines. When that step is completed, I can go back and erase all traces of the pencil sketch before starting in on the actual watercolor. This is really getting close to the most fun part, and it goes more and more quickly each time I sit down to work. Turns out that the vines are the most difficult part to finalize. I'm looking forward to starting in with color...

Preliminary drawings for next painting

2010-04-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

I've started sketching on the actual watercolor paper, and found that more thought is needed. The basilisk is well under way, but I find that the corners of the picture area are too distant. They need to be filled with something that won't distract from the main subjects, but allows the frogs to be a bit closer in toward the center. I believe that vines might do the trick. They can form a sinuous, undulating border around the painting's edge, and can do some twisting and turning in the corners. The frogs can be positioned on the vine, which gives them a base, too. The 4 corner frogs will be a bit closer in, since the vines can be arranged to take up more room in the corners. I'll do the orchids last, when I see exactly how much space needs to be filled between the basilisk in the center and the frogs on vines around the outside.

I'm changing the details of which frogs to use and where they will go once again. I always do the final designing on the watercolor paper itself, no matter how many preliminary sketches I do.

Academy of Sciences visit

2010-04-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

I visited the Academy of Sciences today to see the new "Extreme Mammals" exhibit with my dad and niece, Amber. It was quite well done, and I learned a great deal about a great many mammals I had never heard of - mostly extinct. Fascinating!

While there, I tried to get some reference shots of the basilisk. This proved difficult, as the reflections of the glass could not be avoided. I did manage to get a fairly usable one of the Madagascar tomato frog, who is usually hidden away. Also, my very favorite resident of the Rain Forest exhibit - the paradise tanager - was right out in the open today. As a matter of fact, there were four of them together on a branch! They have to be seen to be believed, and these photos certainly don't capture all their colors.

Research for painting

2010-04-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

I've begun researching frogs. Actually, I've now put together 12 pages of photo collages to use as reference material. Whenever possible, I include scientific names with the pictures to make it easier to make an ID chart later.

The orchids are already in my files, as I'm only using selections from my own photos. These, however, are not identified. I guess the painting will have an ID chart only for the animals.

I've started sketching lay-outs on large newsprint. I've developed a list of frogs I want to include, as well as where each one will go. Same with the orchids.

The four corner frogs will be a Tomato Frog, a Rainbow Burrowing Frog, a Horned Tree Frog, and a White's (Dumpy) Tree Frog. Midway between these, at top, bottom, left and right, will be a Red-eyed Tree Frog, a Blue-webbed Gliding Frog, Pristimantis Rain Frog, and Varied Clown Tree Frog. I'll fill in between these fellows with a large collection of different poison dart frogs.

Next, I started doing practice sketches of frogs in different positions. More details of their anatomy and proportions become clear as I work. After sketching about 28 frogs, I'm starting on the orchids.

Tomorrow I'll try to get photos of the basilisk while I'm seeing the new "Extreme Mammals" exhibit at the Cal Academy with my dad and niece. I'll work on sketches of him this weekend.

I decided to only use poison dart frogs that I can identify, so I now have that list ready.

New work in gestation

2010-04-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

Finally, I can feel the emergence of a new painting taking form in my imagination. It has been gestating for awhile, and the elements have now become more specific in my mind. The main character will be a Plumed Basilisk, and I plan to get some good reference photos of the gorgeous specimen at the Academy of Sciences this Friday. That particular lizard really struck me the very first time I saw him. I think he will star in this next watercolor.

Another creature that I love at the Academy is the Tomato Frog from Madagascar. He has made me think of painting a selection of frogs at some point. I also have lots of lovely orchids I photographed at the Orchid Expo in San Francisco this year...

So, this is what I am thinking: A Basilisk is in the very center. He will be surrounded by a ring of orchids, each one different. A bit of air will surround the orchids, and then come the Frogs! Frogs will form a sort of outer border, but will be at least as important as the orchids. A large frog will sit in each corner, and smaller frogs will fill in between them, all anchored by a twining vine.

I plan to record the progress of this piece, for my own records, here in this blog.

The major first hurdle was deciding what the main elements would be: basilisk, orchids, frogs.
Second, I slowly imagined how they could be arranged together in a painting, as described above.

Once I stretched the watercolor paper, I knew this project would actually begin...

CD Release

2010-03-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Karen Sellinger, has just completed her first CD of classical guitar. Fantastic!
I had the honor of doing all the design and artwork for the CD case, insert, and the disk itself. The CD is titled "Interpretations", and may be purchased by contacting Karen at liebsell@gmail.com.

New Cards

2010-03-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

I spent several days playing with the full digital file of "Friends of the Eel River" (watercolor painting) in Photoshop in order to create greeting cards. The full image has so much detail that I wanted to make two smaller versions using about half the flora and fauna in each. It took quite a bit of moving things around, plus erasing all the background between objects. Finally got two that I'm happy with. They are not yet on my website, but should be available soon. The new ones are "Eel River Friends group 1" and "Eel River Friends group 2".

Autumn Crepe Myrtle

2010-02-10T23:13:00.000-08:00

I finally got back to the watercolor painting that I began this fall. Christmas holidays and family visits kept me busy, and then I got rather distracted making the new miniature shoes...

Now all the autumn leaves are gone and the first flowers of spring are beginning to blossom - which happens in February here. No more projects to keep me away, so I went back in the studio to put in the final touches. The very last detail was filling the negative spaces with robin's egg blue. The view of incredibly colorful leaves against a blue sky was what inspired me to do this painting in the first place. It certainly will brighten up a room when it's framed!

Ruby Royale

2010-01-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

Last but not least, I've finally added a new interpretation of the Ruby Slipper to the Miniature Shoe collection. This one doesn't look at all like the one Judy Garland wore in the movie, or like my first one, which is now sold. "Ruby Royale" is much more sculptural, and the ruby color is a very deep, rich color with no visible glitter in it. The depth of color is a result of about 5 layers of various shimmery red enamels.

Slinky

2010-01-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

I've created a few new polymer clay miniature shoes, since my collection has become somewhat depleted over the past few years. Online sales are lovely, but I miss some of my old favorites. Besides, it has been too long since I last made any imaginary Land of Oz shoes, and it's really fun!

The first new one is a fantasy of greens called "Emerald City Special". I can picture the Enchantress who might wear this number as she strolls the bustling high fashion district of Emerald City.

Next is "Munchkin Mayor", which is an elfish shoe of sky blue lined in gold.

"Amethyst Elegance" is in a similar elfish style, but somewhat lower and heftier. It is a very rich, dark eggplant royal purple with a lighter lining.

Last, but not least of the new shoes is "Slinky". It is a very svelt shoe in oxblood red, rising on a poison green snake heel with a smaller green snake coiled, ready to strike, as an ornament on the front. The heel snake sports shiny bead eyes, and peeks around the shoe.

An older shoe is going to be photographed and added to my Minaiture Shoe webpage as well. This one sort of looks like Mr. Toad's wild ride, and it's called "Roadster Rollerskate". It sports thick white laces and blue balloon tires.

Creating these miniature shoes is escapism and art at the same time. It's like reading a really fun fantasy novel. I'll get around to finishing my autumn leaves watercolor painting eventually!

Beading Magazine article

2010-01-10T20:03:00.000-08:00

The latest edition of Step by Step Beads features one of my beaded bracelet designs on pg. 20: "Silky Sensation". This is the third beading article of mine to appear in this publication, but the Jan-Feb 2010 edition is its final one. Its sister magazine, Beadwork, will take over. http://www.stepbystepbeads.com/sbsbeads/

Autumn Color

2009-12-10T22:28:00.000-08:00

This autumn has been quite colorful. The leaf display of vibrant fall colors is different every year, and this year is better than last year. I try to get a good look at the Japanese maples in our yard every day, as they constantly change - and will be gone soon.

Some young crepe myrtle trees were planted across the street a few years ago, and I went to over to admire them up close the other day. Inspiration for a new painting struck as I viewed the glowing warm colors against the robin's egg blue sky. I took quite a few photos for reference, and then prepared a sheet of watercolor paper.

The leaves are lightly drawn, and I've started adding some color washes. It will all be wet in wet, but exactly how much I allow an area to dry before touching it with another color makes all the difference. Those small, inconspicuous crepe myrtle leaves look like huge magnolia leaves in the painting. I am taking lots of time between painting sessions, as it's time to prepare for Christmas these days. It's wonderful to have a painting in progress to turn to whenever I feel like it!

New Work

2009-11-24T19:34:00.000-08:00

Time to start a new painting. As usual, I spent several days or weeks waiting for inspiration. Luckily, the fall colors have started to appear. We don't have the glorious display here in California that the East Coast enjoys, but I have an eye out for every possible colorful tree. There are a few crepe myrtles across the street which were looking quite intriguing with the sunlight coming through them. The leaves have turned yellow, light green, and crimson. Not bad, at least up close. I took my camera and tried to capture a few close ups of colorful leaf clusters against a bright robin's egg blue sky. After some adjustments in photoshop, I've put together a composition that might work. First thing will be to get a sketch done on my newly soaked and stretched sheet of watercolor paper. After that, there will be a few days of refinements. Finally, I see a watercolor painting in my near future.

Friends of the River

2009-11-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

The new painting is done, and it has a new title. It's now just "Friends of the River". This is a bit less unwieldy than "Flora and Fauna of the Eel River Watershed". More stream-lined. (Get the pun?) Besides, the whole thing was inspired by Nadananda, founder of Friends of the Eel River. The scientific identification chart is ready to go, too.

I may play around with scanning a new watercolor painting of sky and clouds and add it to my digital file in Photoshop, but the original will stay the way it is now. I also look forward to separating out portions of the painting to use for different purposes. Now that it's been photographed and I have a very high-resolution scan, lots of things are possible.

Opening Reception photos

2009-10-18T22:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to a Picasa web photo album from the opening night reception for "Butterflies, Bugs, & Beyond". It was a wonderful party!
http://picasaweb.google.com/lucyaharnold

Flora and Fauna

2009-10-13T17:07:00.001-07:00

I believe the final brush stroke is now on the paper for "Flora and Fauna of the Eel River Watershed" painting. Whew! To complete this project, I need to get together a complete list of each species I depicted and make up a clear ID list. Then, I'll create a reference picture with corresponding numbers. As soon as the current rain storms let up, I'll get the painting to my photographer for a 4x5 transparency and hi res scan. I'm not sure yet quite how this painting will be used, but I do plan on sharing any profits with the Friends of the Eel river conservation group. I'm thinking that first we will frame the original, then make giclee prints, then later perhaps do cards, jigsaw puzzle, T-shirts, and a coloring poster.

Opening Reception

2009-10-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

The opening reception for my solo art show, "Butterflies, Bugs and Beyond" was fabulous! My oldest friend, Karen Sellinger, provided wonderful live classical guitar music. My sister, Jennifer, provided delicious dessert treats and numerous gorgeous bouquets. Guests arrived before it started and stayed until the art committee of the library had cleaned up the last platter and folded up the tables. It was a great party, and everyone seemed very enthusiastic about the artwork. It was especially fun to have guests from several different areas of my life: family, friends, music and art. The art committee of the Belvedere-Tiburon Library were extremely helpful. They had arranged for an interview and photo with a reporter from the Ark Newspaper, and they did all the clean up after the reception... thank goodness. The paintings will remain up until Halloween.

It's not easy being green

2009-10-03T22:09:00.000-07:00

Well, the new painting is coming along well. I'm in the final phase: the greenery. (All the flowers, bugs, butterflies, birds, amphibians, and mammals are painted.) Now, many folks might think that green is just blue plus yellow - or green straight out of a paint tube. But no. Greens come in endless varieties, and it's important that they don't all look the same in a painting. Some are cooler, or warmer, and there are many different blues and yellows to use. Often, a bit of purple or red gets mixed in. It is an interesting puzzle to find enough different greens for all the plants in this piece, yet have them all tie together. Then there is the value range to consider. How light? How dark? How much variation is needed in a single leaf? In the whole plant? Where is the light source? And on and on. There's no end to the questions that come to mind as one paints.

Technical Difficulties

2009-09-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

I took digital photos of my new piece when it was just ink lines on watercolor paper, as I would like to be able to reproduce it as a poster to color. Well, this sounds easy and straight-forward. Wrong. I'll bet there are plenty of artists out there who know the tricks to use to make this work in Photoshop, but I'm not one of them. Each time I try to do this, I run into the same problems. Pencil- and even ink- lines are not as solid as you might think. And white watercolor paper, which has texture, is by no means white. Worse yet, the "white" background is made up of tiny blotches of many colors, so I can't just grab it all with the magic wand. I've tried so many things, but it always comes down to using several different techniques, then drawing digitally to fill in bits of lines that disappear in the process. I know I'll have to spend hours and hours touching up those tiny lines before I'm satisfied with the end product. Think I'll save that for after I'm done with the painting!

Some Photoshop tools I use to end up with black lines on a white background:
desaturation
contrast
curves (with eyedropper for light and dark)
magic wand

PS I know it would be easier if the digital photo was taken by a professional with the correct lighting. I'll have that done with the final painting, but too late for just the line drawing. Doing it myself, I can't get really even, overall lighting. This is part of the problem.

Eel River Watershed painting

2009-09-18T23:47:00.000-07:00

I'm currently working on a watercolor painting of flora and fauna of the Eel River watershed. This piece was inspired by the founder of Friends of the Eel River. Once it's finished and used to create prints, cards, T-shirts, puzzles, or any other products, I will donate a share of all sales to her wonderful organization. They do great work. I'm having a terrific time with it, too. I chose some of my favorite northern CA species of wildflowers, butterflies, frogs, etc. to include. Today I painted something I never thought I would have a reason to paint - a banana slug! (My alma mater's mascot.) The piece is even going to include one of my very least favorite creatures: a lamprey. It is a resident of the river, however, and may be the reason the river is named "Eel". I was really amazed to find there was a way to incorporate this wonderfully vile character that almost makes him look appealing. At least, he fits very nicely into the design, along with a salmon and sturgeon.
I'm finished with several weeks' worth of preparation and drawings. Now is the fun part - doing the actual painting.

2009-09-16T21:36:00.001-07:00

Butterflies, Bugs, & Beyond. Solo art show by Lucy Arnold. Exhibit Oct 6-30. Reception: Oct 6 from 6-8 pm. Belvedere-Tiburon Library. 1501 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon, CA. 415-789-2665
www.lucyarnold.com

Butterflies, Bugs, & Beyond

2009-09-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

I will be showing about 15 paintings and giclee prints in a solo exhibit in October. It's a great venue, and I am excited to be able to show so many of my new pieces at once. There will be a lovely reception, and my friend Karen Sellinger will be playing classical guitar. Here's all the relevant info:

Butterflies, Bugs & Beyond: Paintings & Prints by Lucy Arnold
Exhibit: October 6-30
Reception: Oct 6 from 6-8 pm
Location: Belvedere-Tiburon Library
1501 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon, CA 94920
415-789-2665

Contact me for more information: lucy@lucyarnold.com

Latest Art

2008-03-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

I completed one last natural history watercolor painting just before the close of 2007. I had been thinking of doing some undersea creatures, and the leafy seadragon was such an amazing and interesting one that it captivated my imagination. So, after extensive research for photographic images of the rare beast, I was able to begin. The finished painting is now beautifully framed, and giclee prints are already produced.

March 2, 2008

2008-03-02T23:16:00.000-08:00

Now that spring is almost here, I thought it would be fun to keep a natural history diary of what Mike and I see on our hikes. Don't remember exact dates, so I'll just start with today.

Indian Valley:

first vetch
first douglas iris
first suncups
first butterflies (mourning cloak)
first bees
blue dicks
shooting stars
hound's tooth
tooth wart
poppies
tons of new poison oak

A couple of days ago, we saw a baby rattler, several hawks, tons of large frogs mating in the Indian Valley campus ponds, as well as piles of spaghetti-like strings of frog eggs in the water.

New Art for a New Blogger

2007-04-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at entering the world of blogging. As member of Worldwide Women Artists, I thought I'd give it a try.

I just finished a new series of watercolor paintings that I'm very excited about, and would like to share them. They combine my love of science, drawing, color, design, and whimsy. They are all in a square format, as opposed to rectangular. This helps give a subliminal impression of a mandala, which is what I intended. Each of the four paintings are of real insect species. The first is all wildly amazing Amazon insects surrounded by rainforest butterflies. The second is a variety of tropical butterflies and moths surrounded by a border of improbable (but real) caterpillars. The third is all moths, and the fourth is all beetles. I loved doing them! Now I have to think about where to exhibit them and write a new artist statement to accompany them.

By the way, have any of you other watercolorists come up with a good, archival tape to use to stretch watercolor paper to a backing board? I'm afraid the regular paper tape may discolor the edges over time.

http://www.lucyarnold.com