Colorful Yukon-inspired Art by Senior Adult Club

Would you like to create art in the Canadian Yukon?

This week the artists from the Senior Adult Club in my 10-week artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg learned about the colorful and charming yet sophisticated art of Canadian artist Ted Harrison. They also learned about 1-3 month art residency opportunities at Ted's beloved cabin at Crag Lake in the Yukon.

Inspired by his colorful work the class then got busy creating their own oil pastels on black paper using photo references of the Yukon as guides. The outcomes are beautiful!

The artist residency is an Arts in Education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Jump Street, and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

Mural Creation at Children's Home

For three weeks this summer I engaged with an inspiring group of teenage girls at the Children's Home of York -- Girls Center to create a wall mural. The colorful mural will bring vitality, color and voice to an otherwise bland, blank wall in their cafeteria nook.

The completed mural, "Growthtopia", at the Children's Home of York

Theme from Poster Art
A theme of "growth and change" was selected after reviewing artwork created by residents of the home this past Spring. Butterflies, flowers and quotes were common images in that art.

A sample of poster art created by previous residents at the Girls Center.

A sample of poster art created by previous residents at the Girls Center.

A sample of poster art created by previous residents at the Girls Center.

Proposal
I created a rough mock-up of the mural concept and submitted it to leadership.

Rough mock-up of the mural concept.

The Process
The girls embraced the idea. Through daily intuitive art exercises and drawing prompts the words, flowers and butterflies took shape.

Using Nova Color Paints, words were painted in a pearlescent tone-on-tone turquoise against the sky. Now, as a viewer look closely, words are translucent yet shimmer brightly as light bounces off each letter. The girls voices speak.

Flowers and butterflies in all shapes, sizes and color dance across the mural.

The girls took ownership of the process and project. The results are bright, vivid, thoughtful and hopeful. It is evident even in the cover illustration for the mural dedication program.

Every butterfly, word and flower makes me smile. As one quote on the mural states, "If your legs get tired run with your heart."

The Mural Name
They titled their mural "Growthtopia".

Artist Residency
For the project I was a teaching artist in an artist residency through the PA Council of the Arts's Arts In Education program and the Cultural Alliance of York.

Plein Air in the Poconos

Last week, a small group of painters from the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painter's participated in an overnight "paint out" at Graystone Preserve in the Poconos. The preserve is located near Hickory Run State Park in eastern Pennsylvania.

The incredible views were mesmerizing and so were the gorgeous colors of the changing Fall foliage. It made it difficult to pick a scene to paint plein air. However, rain quickly narrowed down a painting spot - the big porch of our rented cabin. 

Here's the painting that came out of my hands onto canvas:

The "almost" Final:

In-progress:

The Inspiration:

So many other possible scenes to paint back in my studio:

From what I learned, the property was purchased in the early 1900's by the Trojan Powder Company to test dynamite manufactured for the military. The company no longer exists, but the heirs continue to operate the property as Graystone Preserve. 

Graystone Preserve is a members-only organization. Lucky for us, a fellow painter is a member. She has amazing childhood memories of traversing the 4,000 acre property with her grandfather, an employee of the powder company. 

Christmas Tree Farm -- Illustrations for a Children's Magazine

Here are sketches and final illustrations for the December issue of Sparkle magazine -- a children's magazine reaching young girls ages 6 - 10.

The illustrations will run on the far left and far right of a full-page spread, with the story printed in-between the artwork. Illustrations are under-painted in gouache with pastel Prismacolor pencils and ArtStix.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

A Turkey Illustration for a Children's Magazine

Creating children's illustrations for Sparkle magazine is always a lot of fun! Here is a final illustration for the November issue, under-painting in gouache with pastel pencils:

The Process:

 The Thumbnail Sketch:

The Rough:

Figuring out the Gesture:

Under-painting:

And, almost done!

I always lose my seat...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!