Bend has GREAT First Fridays!!!

First Friday Art Walk in Bend, Oregon is a big party. But in addition to the social happenings, there is some really good art to see! Here is what I would do.....

4pm- TUMALO ART CO.
Start in Bend's Old Mill District. The Tumalo Art Company starts Art Walk at 4pm. Parking is easy! In July, Annie Ferder's incredible watercolors are in a display called "East Meets West." See tumaloartco.com.  Also featured at this gallery are High Desert Art League members, Helen Brown and David Kinker and many other unique and talented artists. See highdesertartleague.com.

LUBBESMEYER STUDIO
Then I would go upstairs to Lisa and Lori's fabric art studio to see and talk to these two amazing identical twins and see what they are up to. It's always something interesting!

ATELIER 6000
Before heading downtown, I have to make a stop at A6. There you can see original prints by OSU faculty member Yuji Hiratsuka, and a juried exhibit of bike-inspired prints by local artists.

6pm- FRANKLIN CROSSING
This is where the Watercolor Society of Oregon's travelling show is on display. Billye Turner presents the show downtown at the Franklin Crossing building on Franklin and Bond streets. The WSO has two shows per year with 80 of the best watercolor paintings in the state. Twenty of those are chosen to travel to different Oregon galleries for six months. We are lucky to have this in Bend this month. Don't miss it. Featured in this show is local artist Chris Keylock-Williams with an award of distinction.

RED CHAIR GALLERY 

Then walk over to this co-op gallery on Oregon and Bond to see the encaustic paintings of HDAL member Janice Rhodes! She'll have new works this month as the featured artist. Also showing their work there are HDAL members Jacqueline Newbold, Joren Traveller, Shelly Wierzba, 

Now I'd be hungry for dinner, so I'd have to decide which wonderful restaurant to go to in Bend. This is not a restaurant guide, so I'll skip to after dinner.....

SOTHEBY'S is a real estate office on Wall Street in downtown Bend. There, Vivian Olsen and Barbara Slater are showing their new work, mostly animals, both domestic and wild.

So much to do and see! There are more galleries and exhibits in Bend than I have mentioned. And the exhibits are generally up all month, so if you miss this Friday, you can catch the art later. I hope to see you all at one or another of these wonderful exhibits!

Plein Air Painting Competition Brings Cash to the Table

Awards Structure Announced for the Smith Rock Paint Out

The organizers behind the second annual Smith Rock PaintOut have announced a change to this year’s event that should get some artist’s attention. Cash usually does that.

The Paint Out is a plein air painting competition open to all artists working in 2-D. At the end of the paint out, the artwork is submitted to the jury who judges the work and selects pieces to be exhibited in an exhibition at Redmond’s Roberts Fields/Redmond MunicipalAirport terminal.  Through partnerships and a grant secured by the High Desert Art League and Smith RockState Park, the event will now feature cash awards for the top three artists. The artist receiving Best of Show will receive $300; second place will garner $200; and third will be awarded $100. A Ranger’s Choice Award will be presented by Smith Rock State Park and Cascade A&E will award an A&E Choice Award, respectively each of these winners will receive a gift certificate from Sage Custom Framing & Gallery and Pacific Art and Framing.

The public is encouraged to visit for the day or even just an hour-or-two, to experience this unique opportunity. The Smith Rock Paint out is June 21^st, 2014 from 8:00am to 3:00pm at Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne, Oregon.  Artists are encouraged to preregister online for this free event at www.smithrockpaintout.com.  The artwork selected by the jury will be on exhibit and for sale at Redmond, Oregon’s beautiful Roberts Field/Redmond Municipal Airport terminal. The show will run Tuesday, June 24 to Monday, August 17 2014. For more information on the event and Smith Rock State Park visit www.smithrockpaintout.com.

Helen Brown • Watercolor Batik • Getting on with it!

In my last blogpost (Nov. 3^rd), I showed the supplies and set up needed for batiking with watercolor. Now I’ll show you how I proceed with the actual painting. I’m working on some small works for the Tumalo Art Company’s holiday show. This is a little painting of a Barrows Goldeneye. It’s only about 4” x 6”, but the process is the same for large pieces.

First I draw on the smooth side of the rice paper with a black ballpoint pen. Just make sure the ink in the pen is not water soluble or it will smudge. Then I paint a very light wash of different colors, not being concerned about staying with my lines at all. This photo shows the next step after my first light wash has dried. I paint with molten wax onto the areas I want to remain almost white. Here I waxed the mark on his face, some of his body and some horizontal lines in the water. Notice the black construction paper I keep handy to slip under the wax paper so I can see where I'm painting the wax.

The wax hardens almost instantly so I don’t have to wait to continue to the next step: PAINTING! Because I have protected areas with the wax, I do not have to paint very carefully around the light spots. You can see in the photo below where the blue paint is being resisted by the wax. 

At this point in each layer, you must allow the paper to dry completely. I usually tape it from my painting table as in the photo below.

Continue waxing each consecutive area of light, and then painting in the darks until you are satisfied that the painting is finished. Allow to dry one last time before covering the entire surface with the wax, using a larger brush. REMEMBER that the wax will ruin your paintbrushes, so use inexpensive ones.

In my next post, I’ll show how to get rid of all the wax, and how to mount your painting for framing.

Where can you see examples of my work using this method?

• Tumalo Art Company in Bend's Old Mill District

• Broken Top Clubhouse has an exhibit of the High Desert Art League until November 20.

• COCC's Rotunda Gallery in the library has a High Desert Art League show until December 6.

• My website: Hbrownart.com

Helen Brown • Watercolor Batik - preparing to paint

This month, I have been assigned to blog on the High Desert Art League blogspot site. I thought I’d share about my painting process for watercolor batiking. Starting with supplies:

• Here’s the paper I use:

It is rice paper. Any kind of rice paper will work, but I like Ginwashi Rice paper. It has little stick-like flecks in it. The paper is amazingly strong for how fragile it looks! As you can see by the photo, you can see through it.

• I buy regular old paraffin at the grocery store and melt it in my little crock pot (see photo). I bought this crockpot at Goodwill for $5. I use regular wax paper and IMPORTANT: I only use inexpensive brushes with the wax. Between the heat and the wax, the brush is ruined in a couple of paintings.

• Then I set up my paper like this photo below. I tape a piece of white paper to my board (unless the board is already white). On top of that, I tape a piece of wax paper. I then work with my rice paper on top of that. If I can’t see where I’ve put the wax, I slip a piece of black construction paper under the wax paper because the wax will show up better over the black.

Now I am ready to draw on the rice paper and begin my painting!

Watch this site for my next steps...

To see some of my finished work, go to the Tumalo Art Company in Bend, Oregon's Old Mill District, three stores down from REI.  I am one of the featured artists there during the month of November (2013).

Helen's website

Helen Brown, November Featured Artist

I will be the featured artist In November at the Tumalo Art Co. in the Old Mill District. The show is called “Sisterhood” because I am showing with my sister Mary Burgess from Lake Oswego, Oregon and with twins Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer.

This is one of the Bend scenes I will have in the show. It is a watercolor using my batik style on rice paper.  I will describe this technique in a future High Desert Art League blog.

The reception is Friday, November 1, from 5pm - 9pm.

"Tower Theatre" Watercolor Painting by Helen Brown 

Art and Jazz at Broken Top Club!

Central Oregon "I Am Oregon" winner Patricia Clark!

Congratulations to our Central Oregon "I Am Oregon" winner Patricia Clark!

The Meyer Memorial Trust is creating a network of community-minded people to connect them and support them through capacity building. I am Oregon is the first step in building this network. Learn more about the impetus behind I am Oregon and Oregon Unlimited at http://www.mmt.org/blog/who-oregon-iamoregon.org. Hundreds of unsung heroes were nominated through the I Am Oregon campaign—1,235 of your neighbors, friends and community minded individuals who are creating change in communities across the state. 

Along the way I Am Oregon regional finalists were honored and votes were cast for the outstanding civic leaders who will represent Our region at the 2013 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Washington DC in June. These reps will then bring insight back to share with your community through Oregon Unlimited. 

Pat is a member of the High Desert Art League and at the center of the arts community in Central Oregon. Moving to Bend in 2005, she founded Atelier 6000, a fully professional printmaking studio and collaborative space for artists at every level. Through networking with other community leaders, Pat is engaging in the future of Bend's art scene and how it can expand to include more and more of the population.

Smith Rock Paint Out

The High Desert Art League and Smith Rock State Park have come together to create an event celebrating the creativity of the human spirit and the spectacular beauty of Central Oregon's Smith Rock! On June 22, 2013, come experience amazing scenery, geography, and wildlife of Smith Rock State Park. Join us for the Smith Rock paint Out and participate as an artist of simply see it through the artist’s eye as artists create works of beauty as you watch!

Known for it's world-famous rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is also host to many miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, the meandering Crooked River and views of the volcanic peaks of Oregon’s Cascade Range. Come experience spectacular scenery, geography, and wildlife.  Bring a picnic and explore the park, enjoy free family art activities and artist demonstrations. Along your trip through the canyon, you might see golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter and beaver. A wonderful setting for artists, photographers and nature lovers of all kinds. 

Bring the family and get creative with the Art Station's free family art activities, watch artist demonstrations, listen to a Park Ranger talk on the history, geology and wildlife of the park. Watch and visit with artists as they create and see which works are awarded the Rangers Choice Awards and which move on to the juried exhibition at Redmond's Roberts Field following the event, June 25th through August 18th, 2013.

Artists working in 2-D media (that can be created from start to finish in the park in the allotted time) are invited to participate in this unique plein-air opportunity. The price is right (FREE) and it is a snap to register. Registration and participation information can be found on our website at http://www.smithrockpaintout.com/artist-registration-2/.

Teamwork and great partners make events like this work. We are grateful to have these great organizations and businesses come together making the Smith Rock Paint Out a wonderful cultural family event. Thank you to The Art Station and Arts Central, Roberts Field – Redmond Municipal Airport, Cascade A&E and Redmond Commission for Art in Public Places.

June 22, 2013 - Schedule:

8:00 am – 8:45 am: Registration
8:45 am  – 9:00 am: Welcome and Artist’s Orientation
9:00 am – 1:30 pm: Plein-Air Paint Out
9:00 am – 11:00 am: Family Art Activities
9:00 am – 11:00 am: Artist Demonstrations
11:00 am – Ranger Presentation
2:30 pm – Awards and Closing Remarks

Smith Rock State Park is located at 9241 NE Crooked River Dr. near Terrebonne, Oregon.

For more information:
http://www.smithrockpaintout.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SmithRockPaintOut
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=36

It's First Friday: High Desert Art League Events!

It's Friday, April 5th. Get out and enjoy Bend, Oregon's First Friday with members of the High Desert Art League.

Helen Brown and David Kinker are exhibiting in the "Art About the Earth" show at the Tumalo Art Co. in Bend's Old Mill District, 450 SW Powerhouse Dr., #407, 541-385-9144, www.tumaloartco.com. The exhibit is a group show by gallery artists using all painting mediums, glass, photography, sculpture and ceramics the gallery will celebrate all things earthly...flora and fauna, animals and elements. First Friday reception is 5:00 to 9:00pm.

Pat Clark of Atelier 6000  hosts "Hidden Agendas" through May. National, international, regional and local artists are represented in the very first presentation of an exhibition devoted to the Artists’ Book. The handcrafted book may tell a story or expose hidden layers; reveal emotions or make you laugh as artists explore a wide interpretation of the theme Hidden Agendas. Who would have thought that books could be used for something other than, well, reading? Turn a page on the notion of ‘the book’ and look at it as a vehicle for art. Atelier 6000 is located at 389 SW Scalehouse Ct., Suite 120, 541-330-8759, www.atelier6000.com.

Pam Jersey Bird is a featured artist at North Sole located at 800 Wall Street. Pam's work originates in observation, yet she paints from imagination. As an intuitive painter she wants to take her work beyond realistic portrayal, from what is perceived to what is experienced. She loves working in this gestural style with many layers, painting very fast laying down marks and strokes. She then begins layering over with more glaze, letting lower layers peek through giving a sense of depth. Be sure to include this as a must see on your art walk!

A showing of animal paintings and sculptures by Vivian Olsen and Joren Traveller can be seen at Alleda Real Estate (25 Minnesota Ave., Bend). Two local wildlife artists present Wild and Tame, a combination of paintings and sculptures depicting a variety of media and animal subjects in an exhibit devoted to the animals they love. Both artists are members of the High Desert Art League.

Desperado Contemporary & Nostalgic Western Store at 330 SW Powerhouse in Bend features High Desert Art League member Barbara Slater who is inspired by the “out west” way of life and cowboy culture with a touch of city glitz. Painting oils with energy and spirit, this artist’s pigmentation is rich and succulent, while her brushwork is bold and responsive. Barbara continues her studies with different genres, painting still-lifes, florals, landscapes and animals. Animals are her present focus with images of vibrant roosters, horses, cows and other barnyard residents. Painting these rural inhabitants with love and respect, Barbara gives each animal an attitude and personality. www.barbaraslater.com.

For more information on the High Desert Art League visit http://www.highdesertartleague.com/http://www.highdesertartleague.com/ or join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/highdesertartleague.

Traveller Joins Red Chair Gallery

We are proud to announce that Joren Traveller has been accepted into the Red Chair Gallery as a 3 D artist specializing in Bronze and Ceramic Sculpture. Red Chair Gallery is located in the Old Town Historic District of Bend, Oregon, on the corner of Oregon Avenue and Bond Street offering the finest in art and contemporary craft.

Joren Traveller attended classes at Otis Art Institute before graduating from Cal Poly with a degree in Microbiology and Animal science. At the same time she became an accomplished equestrian, eventually competing in the Olympic 3-Day Event Selection Trials. Although working, teaching and showing took up much of her time, Joren missed her art. After moving to Central Oregon she again began sketching and sculpting. Captivated by form and texture she works in clay and wax to produce beguiling bronze sculptures that express the character and personality she sees in each individual creature.

Joren is an avid naturalist and enjoys traveling throughout the Northwest and Southwest gathering ideas for her paintings and sculptures. She works in paint and pastel to create scenery of places visited and of wildlife observed as well as charismatic domestic animals. You may view more of Joren's work on her website, http://www.jorentraveller.com.

Red Chair Gallery (http://redchairgallerybend.com/) is located at 103 NW Oregon Avenue in Bend and is open 7 days a week 10 am until 6 pm Monday thru Saturday and 12 pm thru 4 pm on Sunday. The gallery phone number is 541-306-3176.