New Cherry Blossom Painting

Just finished another wine label painting for Finn Hill Winery. This is a Kwanzan Cherry. Just amazing how many petals each blossom has, and each one so delicate and almost transparent. During these dark, cold days, it has been a wonderful pleasure to deeply contemplate the loveliness of spring blossoms!

Did I mention that Finn Hill Winery has a new retail store in Woodinville? I wish Rob and Karen much success! You can find all the details on their website at:
http://www.finnhillwinery.com/news_events/

Methow Valley Sunrise

Methow Valley Sunrise, 11" x 17"  SOLD

I just finished this painting I was working on at Gallery Wine last week. This is a view from above Winthrop, Washington looking across Hwy 20 and the Methow River Valley. Our family has visited this area several times a year for probably twenty years now. The place has a beauty and character all its own. In the winter, the cross-country skiing is fabulous! It is a wonderful welcome winter escape from soggy, dark Seattle to the beautiful sunshine and snowy bright light of the Methow Valley!

I believe this is my first real winter landscape painting ever. Usually, winter scenes are a bit desolate for me, but in this scene, I love how the rising sun dusts everything with it's colorful glow. I'm also very interested in incorporating more atmosphere in my paintings and I love this misty valley. I hope you enjoy the painting!

Lilypond Reflections

Friday, November 11 is the opening reception for the EAFA 36th Annual Open Juried Exhibition! I am very excited to have my painting Lilypond Reflections juried into this show! (To see my original blog entry about this painting click here.) The reception will be from 6:00-8:00 this Friday evening. The show is at the EAFA Gallery in the Seattle Design Center through January 6, 2012. For directions please click here. Stop by and see the artwork at the EAFA show and the many other excellent art galleries in the same building!

Teaching Art

A couple weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to teach art to two classes of 6th graders at Horace Mann Elementary. This is the tenth year I have been teaching art to the kids as a volunteer art docent, and yet their creativity and enthusiasm still take me by surprise! Every child is still an artist because no one has managed to talk him out of it yet!

The project was a pretty common one. The kids each selected a beautiful fall leaf to draw and paint. We talked about how you can arrange things in art - about composition and symmetry and cropping a subject to make it more interesting. They each arranged a composition with their leaves, drew the leaf on watercolor paper, and then painted it with real professional-grade Daniel Smith watercolors.

I couldn't resist giving them the same watercolor paints that I use. I think I was in high school before I got a chance to use real watercolors. What a difference they make! I'm pretty sure this was the first time any of them had ever used anything other than cheap sets of kiddie watercolors. The kids were in love with the rich saturated watercolors and how they moved around the wet paper! It was wonderful to watch how very much the kids enjoyed really studying the leaf, its shape, its beautiful colors, its amazing symmetry. Is it possible that these technology-driven information-age video-game kids could really enjoy a single leaf so much?

Several days later, I noticed one of the kids carrying a beautiful leaf home from school. When I mentioned his leaf, he said he was taking it home "to paint it". It completely made my day.

The reason for teaching art is not so much to teach kids how to draw or paint, it's to change how they see the world around them. Once you start looking at leaves, really looking at them, they are all more interesting, more beautiful. Learning how to slow down and really observe and enjoy the world is something really important to teach our children. Doing art is great way to start!

Notecards

Thank you so much to all of you who purchased my art notecards at Gallery Wine last week!

They sold out pretty quickly and many of you who wanted cards didn't get any. I've made a bunch more packs of art notecards, including a set of the black and white sumi-style chickadee and Japanese maple paintings. (See pictures.) They are in packs of four cards for $10.  I think the black and white ones will make especially nice Christmas cards or special thank-you cards for after the holidays.

If you would like to order any cards, please email me at cmeyerjames@yahoo.com!
Gallery Wine also has both sets of cards available in their store in Kirkland.

Thanks again so much for all your wonderful support!

Thank You!

I just wanted to thank everyone who came out in the wind and the rain and attended yesterday evening's featured artist and champagne tasting event at Gallery Wine and Art in Kirkland! Gosh what a lot of people came! I am so honored and blessed to have so many wonderful friends supporting and encouraging me! Thank you all so very much!

Original Art Bookmarks

Sample of the bookmarks to be given away at Gallery Wine Nov. 2

For years, I've had this box of watercolor paintings that I hide. Many of them are plein aire paintings that never really came together. Some of them were great, except for the one part that totally ruined everything. These paintings were just never going to see the light of day.

But now, they've been given a new lease on life! I've cut the good parts out of the paintings and turned them into bookmarks! It's been great fun finding little gems in each of those exiled paintings and turning them into something new and beautiful.

Tomorrow, Nov. 2, I'll be at Gallery Wine and Art on Market Street in Kirkland from 6:00-8:00pm. If you stop by, I'll give you one of these lovely bookmarks absolutely free! Please come by and see my new work, taste some champagne, and take home your free one-of-a-kind original watercolor bookmark!

Featured Artist: Wednesday, Nov 2 at Gallery Wine

Marcke Lhyle, owner of Gallery Wine, in his shop
in Kirkland with a couple of my paintings behind him.

There was a terrific article this week on Gallery Wine in the Kirkland Patch. I've had my work available at Gallery Wine since August.

Check out this link to read the article:

http://kirkland.patch.com/articles/gallery-wine-is-not-just-another-wine-shop

Gallery Wine does fun wine tasting events each Wednesday evening.
On Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 6-8pm, I'll be their featured artist. I'll be painting on site. I'll have my black and white sumi-style paintings available (see my blog posts from Sept. 30 and Oct. 7) at very affordable prices and some prints of my painting of Snoqualmie Falls. If you're looking for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, this is a great place to visit!

Everyone who comes in from 6-8pm on November 2nd and says hello will get a free hand-painted bookmark from me! So, please stop by, taste some wine and take a look at the art. It should be a great evening!

Sunflowers



A Pair of Sunflowers, 17" x 13"

I've been working on some new illustrations for wine labels for Finn Hill Winery. These sunflowers were painted for a Sauvignon Blanc label. They remind me a bit of the wonderful winery owners, Rob and Karen. :)

Finn Hill Winery is in the process of moving into a retail space in Woodinville! Here's an article in the Kirkland Patch that talks about Finn Hill Winery's move. So very exciting!

Japanese Maples in the Snow

    
Here are some more of my simple black and white sumi-style watercolors.
There is something so surprisingly quiet about these monochromatic paintings.
I can never get enough of those branches.
So complex, yet so simply elegant.
   

Japanese Maple in the Snow #1 13.5" x 9.5"

     

Japanese Maple in the Snow #2 13.5" x 9.5"

Sumi Style

I've always been fascinated with sumi painting and the concept of making each brushstroke as expressive as possible. This week I tried something with watercolor that looks a little like sumi painting. I used Daniel Smith lunar black watercolor, a very interesting granular pigment, and worked on some smaller, monochromatic pieces. I love the elegant grays. It was wonderful to just focus on line and value.

Right outside my studio window is a bird feeder that is a popular hangout for the neighborhood chickadees.The chickadees are always so cheerful and friendly. They even try to get my attention when the feeder is empty! The magnolia near the bird feeder has really interesting branches. In the winter the flower buds are very visible and stand upright like little candle flames in the dark winter.

I would love to know what you all think of these. I'm thinking maybe I'll use the one of these as my Christmas card this year. Which one is your favorite? Please add a comment and vote for which one of these three you like best!


Chickadee #1,  7" x 13"



Chickadee #2, 7" x 13"

Chickadee #3, 7" x 13"

Painting Again!



My kids are back in school and I am THRILLED to be painting again! 

The kids and I had plenty of fun adventures this summer. On one of these outings, I followed the advice of one of my gardening friends and took the kids to Russell Watergardens in Redmond.  What a cool place! It looks like nothing from the outside, but the display gardens and koi ponds there are magical!

I must admit, since then, I have developed a terrible koi pond envy. Luckily, I've discovered that by painting a scene, it becomes mine - just like the world Harold creates with his magic purple crayon! In the winter, I paint spring. When the mountains are snowed in and inaccessible, I paint the hikes I love to do. ...And now I've made myself a koi pond complete with the loveliest of waterlilies in perpetual bloom! What an excellent thing to be an artist!


Lilypond Reflections, 13" x 26"

Art Walk Tonight! Stop by Gallery Wine & Art in Kirkland to see my paintings!

 

Tonight, August 12, is the Kirkland Art Walk from 6:00-9:00. The weatherman promises the sun will be out by then, so it should be a wonderful summer evening. Be sure and stop by Gallery Wine and Art to sample some lovely wines and see some of my art as well! They are in downtown Kirkland right next door to the Kirkland Arts Center on the corner of 7th and Market. If you miss the event tonight, stop in anytime! http://www.gallerywineart.com

It's Finally Summer!



Photo: Currants in my garden

Ok. I confess. In the two and a half weeks since my kids have been out of school, I've been goofing off instead of painting. It's such a wonderful time of year. The temperatures here have been perfect - 70 degrees F and sunny. Seattle in the summertime is heavenly! Our family did a lovely hike to Lake Dorothy and we've been biking along the Sammamish River Trail. Every day, I love to just wander through my garden, pull a few weeds, smell the English roses, and pick a handful of tart red currants or juicy strawberries...

This weekend my daughter, Liz and I enjoyed the Bainbridge in Bloom Garden Tour. The big adventure was to travel from our house in Redmond all the way to Bainbridge Island and back without a car. We had fun with city buses and ferries and shuttle buses. It was so good for me to slow down and wait a bit, and just enjoy the ride.

Regarding my watercolors, I am very pleased to announce that I will have three paintings on display and for sale in the Overlake Hospital South Tower beginning July 18. This display is part of the ongoing EAFA "Healing Arts" exhibit. My watercolors will be hung in the lovely 4th floor lounge. Paintings included will be "Portrait of a Peony", "Sweet Summer's Song" and "The Bridge to Far Away".

I hope you are getting outside and enjoying the summer, too!

The Captain

I did a little painting during the past week for my Dad. In addition to Father's Day this past weekend, he had his 70th birthday a few weeks ago.

The Captain, 11"h x 17"w

Although it's not really a portrait, I think my painting captures his strong character wonderfully. My parents have this lovely little cabin on a small lake in Wisconsin. This painting captures my Dad as the captain of his ship presiding over his lake. Hope you like the painting Dad!

Edmonds Arts Festival This Weekend, June 17-19

I'm so pleased to have had a painting accepted into this year's Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Show! My painting, The Bridge to Far Away will be there this coming weekend. I hope you get a chance to attend! http://edmondsartsfestival.com/

The Bridge to Far Away, 18' x 24", SOLD

The Bridge to Far Away is a view of the Japanese Garden in a beautiful estate in England called Tatton Park. We visited there several years ago on a typical misty English day. The weather suited the mood of the place perfectly. From this viewpoint, the little teahouse looks like the perfect quiet retreat, far from the business and noise of daily life.

Can you spot the frog? In paintings where the scale is appropriate, I like to hide a little frog or two. No, I don't collect frogs or even think they are especially cute. Because they breathe through their skin, frogs, like other amphibians, are so very sensitive to their enviroment. They have trouble surviving the smallest change in moisture, temperature, or the slightest bit of toxic material. The presence of frogs indicates that the environment is healthy and in balance. Watch for the frogs in my other paintings. In my watercolors, life is in balance and the earth's power is at full strength. ...And the frogs are very happy.

Museum of Northwest Art Auction, June 18

I'm very excited to have one of my paintings included in the Museum of Northwest Art Auction in La Conner, WA for the fourth year in a row! This is a terrific event in such a beautiful place - great food, plenty of people who love art, and over 300 pieces of art available.


The auction is next Saturday evening, June 18. For more information go to:
http://www.museumofnwart.org/auction-site/dates-and-events

Just for fun, you can preview the whole auction catalog and see all the art online at:
http://www.museumofnwart.org/auction-site/auction-items

My painting, Comet Falls is included. This painting shows the dramatic 400 foot drop of Comet Falls in Mt. Rainier National Park. That's my family hiking in the foreground. It was fun to try to represent the amazing scale of the place, the power of all that water, the texture in the rocks, and the irridescent mist coming off the waterfall.

Hope to see you at the auction!

Comet Falls
Framed size: 27.25h x 19.5w

Cherry Blossoms



Cherry Blossom Ballerinas   17" x 10"



Just completed this one. Every year, when the cherry tree in my garden blooms, I just want to stop time so I can admire the flowers forever. Each blossom is such a lovely, delicate work of art. We had several hail storms this spring that absolutely destroyed the delicate blossoms. I painted this so I could have the chance to admire the cherry blossoms a bit longer.

Dancing Branches

Welcome to my new blog! If you are interested in what I'm painting now and where my paintings are showing, this should be just the thing!

This is a painting I completed last week. The second Japanese maple I've painted. I want to do more Japanese maples. I love their sculptural structure. They all look like people to me. Like dancers waving their arms.

I've had some really interesting reactions to this painting. Some people say the tree is graceful and peaceful. Others see the painting as more menacing or mysterious. What do you think?

Thanks so much for your interest in my work! I look forward to your comments!

First Post

Isn't blogging fun!?!
Watch for pictures of my latest work. I have plenty of news to share as well!