Melissa Washburn

First Painting in a While

washburnart — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:55:10 +0000

I’ve been working on little illustration-y things, and LOTS of design stuff, so this morning was the first time in a while I’ve actually put brush to canvas. I got some work done on the fall nest painting. I would like to finish this piece and at least one more before my next show, which is scheduled for September 2012.

Popcorn!

washburnart — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:46:29 +0000

Since everyone else insists on embarrassing me publicly, I thought I’d announce it here too. My poster was selected for the 34th Annual Popcorn Festival in Valparaiso. I am actually really proud of the design I created (and had a lot of fun drawing lots of popcorn to use in the final design). I am looking forward to translating this into a t-shirt and button design as well. Thanks Valpo Community Festivals and Events!

This Week in My Studio

washburnart — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:27:53 +0000

Here is the underpainting for my first work on canvas of 2012, and probably the last in the large-scale nest series (for a while, anyway).

And I also worked on some little doodles this weekend, vaguely botanical in nature, which will be converted to digital elements and used in the series of bird illustrations I’m FINALLY getting back to.

So, just bits and pieces this week, nothing finished or whole, but I still wanted to share.

Fishy Fishy, Fishy Fish…

washburnart — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 02:42:37 +0000

I don’t really have a whole lot to say about this, other than I got the wild idea to draw a trout. Gouache and colored pencil on paper. I think I’ll likely end up cutting it out and collaging to a newsprint background as I did with the dove (and plan to do with my other doves). Turns out fish are really fun to draw because of all the neat translucent blendy colors. Who knew? And I’m sure that the avid outdoorsmen (and women) out there will be able to point out various inaccuracies in my fish, as it is based on several different reference photos of what are probably slightly different species of trout. We’ll just call this a Melissa Trout and leave it alone for now.

Happy Friday!

washburnart — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:54:13 +0000

Finally, a day to myself to spend in the studio. Or part of a day, at least. After last week’s crit, I was persuaded to cut out my precious dead dove drawings from their blah backgrounds, and am currently trying to configure them in a new home, all nestled together. I have high hopes for this piece, and think it may provide some direction for a planned series (yes, more birds. Don’t hold your breath waiting for me to move on.)

And, I think I’m just about finished with the Arizona landscape piece. I love the weirdly abstract forms of the rocks, the colors, and the scale of them. While this piece is not 100% faithful to the original photo, that wasn’t my intent. My concern was more in enjoying the forms and in conveying the visual and emotional impact of being in such a vast place. Hopefully there’s more desert pieces where this came from.

Under Construction

washburnart — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:01:47 +0000

As you can see, we’re undergoing a bit of a facelift here. Sorry for any inconvenience, and hopefully we’ll be pretty again real soon. My server was hacked and there was all kinds of badness going on behind the scenes. That’s all been fixed now, so we’re safe, if not yet beautiful. Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you again soon.

No Birds Yet

washburnart — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:26:57 +0000

Continuing to make only what I darn well please in 2012, I am working on a landscape from a photo I took on our hike up Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona around Christmas.

So there.

[Acrylic and conte on paper, 22 x 30"]

Another Mourning Dove

washburnart — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:53:04 +0000

I started a second drawing/watercolor from my mourning dove photos today. I think I started getting too fussy with this one, and I’m hoping to be brave enough to experiment with these a little. I want to explore everything from keeping them very bare and simple to doing lots of layering and tiny details.

Mourning Dove

washburnart — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:30:57 +0000

While I was in Arizona at Christmastime, I found a couple of dead mourning doves while out for a walk. I decided to take some closeup photos since it was a rare opportunity to observe color, feather texture and shape, etc. so closely. I started a gouache and pencil drawing today. I’ve decided to step away from larger paintings for the moment, and instead spend more time drawing, experimenting, and working on my illustration style. I’m pleased with this so far, and am trying to let go of worrying about what comes next, ruining the piece, what the end result needs to be, etc.

Blackbirds (Work in Progress)

washburnart — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:48:25 +0000

Blackbird awakens the mind with awareness as changes of perceptions are unfolding. He stirs psychic abilities and brings to consciousness latent healing gifts and creativity. Blackbird shows how to move with determination, focus and tenacity and how to use your power to its fullest potential. At this time there is a magic of the unseen worlds coming forth that is paired with the balance of grounding within the earth as you walk your path. Redwing Blackbird will guide in a new awakening that will give life and using vitality and power toward your endeavors. Pay attention to the song, so you may sing your own. Redwing Blackbird teaches listening to your intuition that will aid in understanding Mother Nature and the connection to all things. He demonstrates strength to move forward mentally and spiritually. Are you listening carefully to the world around you? It is time to apply your internal fortitude? Pay attention and listen carefully. (From http://www.starstuffs.com/animal_totems/dictionary_of_birds.html)

Redwing blackbirds remind me of summers at my grandparents house. They lived outside of town in sort of a flat, meadowy area and I’d always hear them singing in the field behind the yard while I was playing in the pool. So to this day the trill of the redwing blackbird brings back a peculiar sense of place for me. The background of this piece needs a lot of development yet, and I”m struggling a little with the contrast of the birds on the figure, but as individual drawings I was very happy with them.