Demonstration

Transferring the image to the block

I had a terrific time demonstrating relief printmaking to Ed King's painting class at the Fredericksburg campus of Germanna Community College. The students asked interesting questions and were attentive to the enthusiastic ramblings of an old lady. I think I might get to go back to demonstrate for some of his other classes--I hope so.

If you'd have told me even ten years ago that I would be standing (or sitting, as the case may be) in front of twenty people, talking and cutting a block print at the same time, I'd have said, "No way!" It's lovely to get old and wrinkly and begin to care less what people think. I've discovered the cure for the fear of talking in front of large groups! My job here is done.

Thanks for the pictures, Ed.

Chester

 I'm painting on one in a set of three auditorium chairs taken from an old school nearby which was turned into condos. Three local artists were commissioned by the owner to paint one chair each in the set. He plans to donate the set to his nephew's school's yearly fund raiser to be auctioned off. The chairs consist of a heavy wooden seat and arms with a sturdy metal frame made to be bolted into the wall and floor.

The first artist who worked on the chairs kindly primed the entire set. You can see that the center chair has yet to be painted. When she finished the chair on the far left, she delivered the set to me. I painted "my" chair a very black purple and then drew on it with a white pastel chalk.

I hemmed and hawed about my design, but settled on my first idea to paint a figure sitting in the chair.

I took these pictures with my phone, and the colors are not very accurate. The purples should be more towards the red than blue.

This has been so much fun. Most of what is left to do is to wipe off the original chalk drawing and seal the chair.

Then it is up to me to deliver the set to the final artist to work her magic on it. I hope I get to see pictures of the whole thing when it is finished. 

Grape POPs

Grape POP 1, acrylic, 8 x 24, Elizabeth W. Seaver

Grape POP 2, acrylic, 8 x 24, Elizabeth W. Seaver

Well, this shows how eccentric my cropping was with these two! I have never shown this pair of paintings on the blog before. I painted them specifically for a show about food last spring. They do not really go with the rest of my work, except that I painted the following bird on a bike to tie the two ideas together:

Drucilla, Don't Lick and Ride, acrylic, 24 x 24

Elizabeth W. Seaver

Good advice, don't you think? I hope she doesn't rip her cute tights when she hits that big, bad rock...

Into Icing

Into Icing, acrylic on linen, 22 x 28

Elizabeth W. Seaver

Happy Birthday to my baby sister who has reached a milestone birthday. She was the cutest baby and little girl I've ever seen, was co-mother to my boys, has been my closest friend for more years than I want to reveal and will always be the "cool" auntie and the "good" daughter. I love you, Sis!

Bitsy Picks Her Own

Bitsy Picks Her Own, acrylic/collage, 16 x 20

Elizabeth W. Seaver

Bitsy is entertaining tonight. She uses only fresh local produce for her soirées, and everyone knows that the freshest produce is the stuff you pick yourself.

 

I didn't get an invite. Did you?

Dapper Dan

Dapper Dan, acrylic with a wee bit of collage (can you find it?)

16 x 20, by Elizabeth W. Seaver

Dan is off on his red bicycle to woo his sweetie with wine and flowers.

Gerald

Gerald, on a Busman's Holiday

collage/acrylic, 6 x 6

Elizabeth W. Seaver

It seems silly for Gerald to spend his day off fishing from a rock when he supports his family diving for fish six days a week. But all week long he flies over people casting their lines into the water, pulling out fat fish. At first, they stand still for a very long time, then with no warning, go into action--sort of like watching golf or baseball. After an epic struggle, a fish emerges from the water. He loves to watch the successful warrior do his/her victory dance. 

His wife, Georgiana, knew he wanted fishing gear and had gotten it for him last Christmas. Oh, you didn't know gulls celebrated Christmas? Where did you think all those trees on the beach came from?