December 2023 - |
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Table of Contents |
Seasonal Magic |
It's an interesting time of year, isn't it? Fall, my favorite season, just seems to fly by and soon we are decorating for Christmas. I love the holidays of the past few months, but I wish we had more time with them. They march too quickly and too steadily from one to the next (at least hear in the US with our special feast Thanksgiving). I'm sure the travel in October didn't help; you leave your neighborhood one way and it looks completely different when you return. October is a gorgeous time to travel, everything is bronze and copper, with hints of vibrant reds and greens, and streaming golden light. The tourists are clearing out, and the sun isn't scorching. We drove to Mesa Verde this year; last year we went wandering around Utah in our rv. I might have a special piece or two planned from this trip for later... This month, my work is available at two special holiday fine art markets: the Arvada Center, and the Foothills Art Center in Golden. Both of these sales support non-profit arts centers and help bring performances and exhibitions to communities on the front range. Many of the participating artists are well-known in the local art scene and are creating truly unique work. What better place to find seasonal magic? |
Although I usually make my drawings for paper sculptures tight, when working with elements like grass and fur I can be a lot looser in my prep work. This drawing of the snowy field was very fun to create, and it made me want to take it further into a completed graphite drawing. I would love to have kept picking gestures and seed heads out with my kneaded eraser and working textures back into it. I don't have a name for this one yet, even though it's been waiting in my head for years to be manifested in the world. This piece is inspired almost completely by the washi paper with its areas of transparent grass. It's a lovely paper that looks delicate but has a crisp and sturdy feel, and the design is perfect for a snowy field and a winter rabbit. |
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I've given my giclees a facelift! I'm loving that the torn edge brings such a wonderful physicality to the print, elevating it above a flat reproduction and giving it an artistic presence in its own right. They can be mounted at your framer as a float, showcasing the dimensionality of the organic edge, or matted traditionally for a classic clean look. If you already have one of my giclee prints and would like me to add this edge treatment to it, get in touch! If you can get the giclee to my studio, and it still has enough trim (it takes off about half an inch), I'm happy to offer this upgrade complimentary for all my collectors. |
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Oh! and in case you're wondering what a stack of about 200 hand-trimmed cards looks like... My little Epson printer has been busy working hard for this holiday season! |
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Upcoming Events |
Arvada Center
Fine Art Market November 30th - December 17th
Thursday, November 30th
Arvada Center
for the Arts and Humanities Shop thousands of giftable items like jewelry, ceramics, ornaments, paintings, cards, and more from over 100 Colorado artists! Your purchases directly support the artists and the Arvada Center Galleries. |
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Foothills Art Center
48th Holiday Art Market December 1st - December 29th
Thursday, November 30th Foothills Art Center Stop by and shop over 3,000 unique items made by Colorado artists. Featuring high-quality artisan crafts and fine art - including pottery, jewelry, glass, wood, leather, wearables, edibles, and ornaments - which could ostensibly take care of everyone on your list. The market is also one of the few that stay open for a few days after Christmas - the perfect time to find a gift for yourself! |
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Parting Lines |
While on a walk through my neighborhood, I came upon a pile of down feathers from a flicker woodpecker. I was struck by the contrast of stripes and spots, grey and black and bright orange, and the story of how they came to be there. These inkwashes are another pair of daily sketches courtesy of my Sketchbox subscription. I'm in love with the brushes they sent - a dagger and a liner, two shapes I've never had the opportunity to try. They both make the most beautiful marks and the dagger is amazingly versatile. The inks layer and mix and layer vibrantly and I'm really enjoying the inspiration. |
Tiffany Miller Russell www.wildlifeinpaper.com |
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