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What's happening at FernWood
Working on a new website, running around with the dog, enjoying the lovely fall weather....The only complaint is not enough hours in the day, but then that does come with the seasons, so no complaints...
View Articlea new FernWood website
I did it, updated the technology and the site. Iweb you served me well and lasted much longer than you were meant to :) Nice to be able to add galleries & slideshows, will experiment with other...
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my work featured in a 2016 calendar
The Horse Magazine has published this great calendar featuring illustrations I created for their "A Closer Look" series. It's both beautiful and practical, with insightful illustrations and timeless...
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It's Never Too Late!
It's never too late to give a painting gift certificate, could be the best gift ever and you don't even need to wrap it! I'm offering holiday gift certificates for small works paintings (6x6" or 5x7"...
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Holiday Commissions
These are small (7x5") commission paintings made for two great kids who ride at North Wind Farm. My goal is to capture the gesture and I did well with these two. They are both very good riders with...
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Planning for a new year
Every new year I like to make an appointment and "journal" calendar from favorite photos taken over the past 12 months. This year they're all from FernWood where I live. Besides the usual holidays,...
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What's in a name?
Art Journal, artists journal, sketchbook.... what's it all about? These terms have different connotations; "altered book" where both context and content are "artistic", diary with drawings, drawings...
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Hello Kitty
Lately my sketch book studies have been mostly individual small paintings. This one looks a lot like a sketch book page and the "paint daubs" filter in Photoshop, but it's acrylic on stretched...
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NoteSketch BookJournal
“there's still nothing better than pen and paper” “unfiltered” My notebook isn't precious; it's a workhorse. I prefer loose sheets of paper to [bound] notebooks.I take my journal everywhere.You...
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Documenting Change
In 2010 I self published a book about my artist residency in Gates of the Arctic National park. You can read the whole thing onlineHERE. We could see the evidence ofmelting permafrostfor ourselves...
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Natural Science Illustration
I attended the fledgeling natural science illustration graduate course at UC Santa Cruz way back in 1992. It was one of very few in the country and it continues to be a highly successful & sought...
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Preliminary Sketch
Sketching for illustration projects is a way to get ideas down to work on them within the constraints of the particular job. It's kind of like an idea factory, as you crank it up more ideas reveal...
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Composite Portrait to Honor a Champion
Here is the published painting (see sketch from previous blog post) honoring Kim Allen's "Supreme Champion" versatility award in the American Quarter Horse Journal (June). It was originally designed...
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Interview for Chronicle of the Horse
Whoohoo! I recently furnished illustrations for the classic horse magazine,The Chronicle of the Horse.I used to hover over it's pages when I was a horse crazy kid so it was a treat to work for them....
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Accepted!
I'm happy to report that these two paintings,Spirit BearandSalt Marsh, have been accepted into the 2016 Peninsula Art League open juried art show to be held at the beautiful Harbor History Museum in...
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Showtime (almost)!
New paintings going up at the Kimball Gallery coffee shop on Kimball Drive in Gig Harbor. I call the show Tidescapes, it will feature paintings inspired by the northwest coast. Beach combing to...
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Tidescapes Show is Up
Twenty paintings are hung and ready for your viewing pleasure on the Kimball Gallery guest artist wall. This coffee shop/eatery/art gallery comes highly recommended even when my work isn't featured...
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Supporting a Dream
I can't say that I really know Christine, but we have a connection. Sure, our paths cross in friends we both know and in a love for horses, but it's something more. She's living a dream that I can...
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Good News
Seven paintings from the Tidescapes show found new homes, thank you collectors! Yesterday rumor has it (from a reputable source) that my painting "Golden Hour" was awarded first prize in the Peninsula...
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The gift of remembrance
One of my favorite, if bittersweet, jobs is to paint small memorial portraits for clients of a local veterinary clinic) who have lost their animals. The clinic givesgift certificatesfor these small...
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'Tis the Season, give A Gift with Impact!
ASmall Works Gift Certificateis a small gift with a big impact! These post card sized paintings can help capture a memory, a special place or friend that you can revisit any time. They are an...
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Small Paintings Holiday Sale
On the December 10 - 11 weekend,9 AM to 5 PM, FernWood Studio will join 7 other artists at Donna Trent's Studio in Gig Harbor for a small works painting sale.Perfect timing to start your own or a lucky...
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Dreaming of mud & mosquitoes
If that dream's not for you, don't worry, I'll go out for you! Spring means looking forward to more outdoor activities. For a teaser, check out my slide show of a few images collected over 10 years...
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Artist in residence, Lake Clark National Park
Being accepted as the 2017 Lake Clark NP resident artist is the best possible job I can imagine. I know how lucky I am, which makes me very grateful and highly motivated to give back. One way to give...
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Please don't Blow up the Laboratory
Let’s be clear, it’s not just about the pretty picture…. it’s about the SCIENCE! Now is a fascinating time to be a scientist and conscious of it or not, we are all participating in the biggest...
View ArticleThanks for the Scholarship PAL!
A big “thank you” toPeninsula Art Leaguefor my recent scholarship award, it is greatly appreciated. I look forward to sharing the experience and imagery of this summers art residency in Lake Clark...
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Harbor WildWatch/Skansie Visitor Center hosts marine themed paintings
Come to the Harbor WildWatch interpretive Center in downtown Gig Harbor and check out their fabulous displays and my marine themed paintings. The visitor center just opened this March and has so much...
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Summer adventures, 2017
It's been a whirlwind of adventures the last month with back to back trips to Alaska's Lake Clark National Park for a Voices Of The Wilderness art residency and kayaking with my BABC buddies in Kuyquot...
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Silver Salmon Creek
My first day at Silver Salmon Creek was also a first day (this season) for ranger Danny Dresher who had recently been staffing the cabin at upper Twin Lake in the interior of the park. Danny had been...
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Don't go bear hunting without the zoom
So I’m gonna say it right now, I am not a photographer. Note serious photography gear vs. my new, somewhat zoomy point and shoot. I am a snap shooter not a sharp shooter. My photos are taken on the...
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Bruin in the meadow
The soft smudgy-ness of mist is hard for me to paint in acrylic but here's a first attempt, can you feel just a touch of the breeze? I learned that one way to tell a bears size from afar is to note how...
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THE SALMON ARE COMING!
THE SALMON ARE COMING! Have you seen them? Don’t miss out on our own local natural wonder, check out Donkey Creek and other local streams. Learn more with Harbor WildWatch. Around here the salmon don’t...
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Twin Lakes Illustration Project
It’s a busy time in the studio. I can’t show you much of the new work since it's commissions, but I’m making some good progress on the Lake Clark project. This is a poster size design (24x36"),...
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Lake Clark Project.... progress report
The park folks chose sketch #3 to develop further. Not all the paintings are finished but making progress! Layout adjustments for balance and text proofing will happen after all the paintings are...
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Last Minute Gift Needs?
A Gift Certificate for a small works painting is as unique and special as each person on your list.... plus it's affordable and easy to give.... what could be better than that?.... Oh yes, no wrapping...
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2018 Calendar
The Horse magazine published a 2018 calendar of my illustrations, I would post a link for you but apparently they've sold out. Collectors item now I guess.
View ArticleLake Clark National Park & Preserve
Here's a short video of images taken during my art residency in Lake Clark NP, late July, 2017. The last shot shows the poster I created for the park. What a great experience it's been to visit this...
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Art as Advocacy
This is the final version of the Lake Clark National Park residency project. I've given 2 well received slide show based talks to local groups about the Lake Clark experience and art in the service of...
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A bit about process
I've added some information to my website about how I go about creating a small format painting. From using a grid to transfer a digital "sketch" or actual drawing to the painting surface, to dealing...
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