Seattle to Bainbridge - a ferry ride

I escaped to Seattle and Sequim, Washington for a few days last week. I was filming for another online class with Carla and Steve Sonheim. It will be part of a Summer Camp class - I think there will be eight different instructors, including yours truly. I will be teaching a class about painting light and shadow (with a monster finger puppet.) Stay tuned - more info coming soon!

I really thought that I would get a brief reprieve from the desert heat while in Washington. However, Seattle set a record for heat one of the days I was there - 95 degrees! It was a little bit cooler in Sequim, though. I even wore a sweater! And socks!

There was also a magical ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island on a clear, sunny day. It looked like this:

The last photograph was taken while on the Hood Canal bridge. My dad and I and a bunch of other cars had to wait for the sailboat you see on the right hand side in this photo.

I also had the opportunity to check out the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. It's been open only one year. Featuring the work of artists in the Pacific Northwest, it is worth a visit. Fred Lisaius has some of his work on display there right now. He is another of the talented artists teaching classes online through Carla Sonheim.  I got a chance to meet him at Carla and Steve's studio in Seattle. I also got a chance to meet Niya Sisk, another artist who will be part of the online Summer Camp coming up soon!

"Midlife Crisis." Collage, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches.

In other studio news, I will be the featured artist at Jenny Q's Grateful Desert this Saturday, July 11th during the Second Saturday Artwalk in downtown Joshua Tree. The Artwalk is from 5 to 8 pm. I will be there, along with some of my desert animal paintings and reproductions! Stop in and say "hello" if you are out and about. Grateful Desert is located next to Natural Sisters in downtown Joshua Tree. The other galleries and shops will also have special artist events, including the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist in Residency program at JTAG.

Quail

I have been seeing more fast-moving quail families lately. I can hear a male quail calling from the top of a yucca as I type this, but I can't see him. (I know you're there, Mister!) I thought I would share a few of the better photos I have taken. I wish I had better photos of the family with the really tiny ones. They are so amazing - you can't believe something with legs that short can move so FAST!!! A wonder.

Do you see the cottontail rabbit in the shadow? Well, every now and then that rabbit would chase the quail. I have no idea why - just to see them scatter?

I have recently updated my website with some of the new work. I would love it if you have a chance to take a look and tell me what you think. Can you navigate with ease? Do you have a favorite new painting?

Temperatures are creeping up - 93 today.

I think cool thoughts and paint with cool colors and that works just fine.

"Drifters." Oil on canvas, 20 x 20 inches. 

 I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! I do appreciate your comments and emails. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments.

Moving Ahead

"Moving Ahead." Security envelope, ink, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches.© Karine Swenson 2013 

This is the time of year when I begin to look at my goals. I write goals every year, as a way to continue to grow and improve as an artist and as a human being. I like to review what I did in the past year, and begin to think about the new year, as it rapidly approaches.

If I complete five more paintings, before the end of December, I will have painted one hundred paintings this year!!!!
I also have a nearly full sketchbook, which was another thing I had really wanted to improve on this year.
"Draw more - fill one sketchbook." was how my goal was written. Pretty amazing, when you think about it. As far as being a better human being, one of my goals was "listen more, talk less." I think I may have to have this one burned onto my forehead. There's always next year, right?

How about you? Do you write goals? Do you find it helpful?

In thinking about next year, one of the topics I have been thinking about is this blog. I don't write as much as I used to. I am worried I have lost any readers through neglect!!! I have actually been thinking I may put an end to this blog, at least in its present form. If anyone is still reading, please feel free to chime in, here. I need to make a big decision! Should I:
a) quit my blog, once and for all?
or
b) begin with renewed vigor and exciting topics next year?

I have had this blog for six years. I have written five hundred and sixty two posts! (563, counting this one) That's a lot! Almost ninety people have subscribed to this blog (thank you, whoever you are!) But I find that I am spending more time in the studio these days, and less time with this blog. I have to wonder if it is finally time to do something else. Write a book? Write articles for other publications? Just paint??? ??? I don't know. I will be interested to hear what you, my readers, have to say about this dilemma.

"Spring Quail." Origami paper, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2013

In other news, I am going to have a booth with my desert animal art this weekend in 29 Palms. From 10 to 4 pm on Saturday and 10 to 3 pm on Sunday (weather permitting) I will be outside on the "lawn" next to the 29 Palms Inn with many other wonderful artists. There is also an opening reception Friday night from 5 to 8 pm at the 29 Palms Art Gallery for the juried show. This is the first year for this event, and I am excited to be a part of it! For more information, click here.

Gambel's Quail

The desert is heating up, and with the higher temps, more and more animals come to take refuge in our yard. The house casts a shadow in the afternoon, and I put water out for all of the thirsty creatures. Sometimes, the dog gets a little too excited about the visitors, barking and scaring them away, but sometimes he is in doggie dreamland, and misses out on the visits. It is when he misses out that I can get some photos.

I have a great, short video of a jackrabbit nibbling on our Palo Verde Tree, but I am having some technical difficulties uploading it (it's sideways right now, and I don't know how to fix that.) If I can figure out how to post it, I will share it with you.

Until then, you will have to settle for some of my new quail paintings:

"Baby Steps." Collage, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2013 Karine Swenson

"On the Move." Collage, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©Karine Swenson

"Take a Bow." Collage, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©Karine Swenson

Quail paintings

This will be very quick, since I am busy getting everything just so for this weekend's open studio. I did get to visit other artist's studios last weekend. I think I visited about twelve other artists. I had so much fun, and I got to meet some new faces. It is inspiring to see what others are creating. I am so glad I took the time to drive around and visit.

More new work:

"One Step at a Time." Collage, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©Karine Swenson

"Paused." Collage, acrylic and oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©Karine Swenson2012

I hope you are all doing okay and enjoying fall! I will try to actually write something next week, when the Hwy 62 Art Tours are over.