SHOW UPDATE

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have 3 shows coming up before the end of 2008.
1. Best of the Northwest, November14, 15, 16
It will be at the Exhibition Hall, Seattle Center

2. Studio Sale Saturday, December 6 2 - 8pm
Sunday, December 7 12 - 5pm
And by appointment through Dec. 22

3. Pratt Fine Arts Center Holiday show and sale
Opening Night Friday, December 5th
Sale runs December 6 - 7 10am - 7pm
also December 11 - 14 10am - 7pm
I sincerely hope to see you at one of these events. Please note, while I will attend the Pratt opening, I will be at my studio show that weekend. Barbara

Setting the Dream

"Setting the Dream" acrylic on canvas 12 x 12 sold

Eternal Sunset

Eternal Sunshine - acrylic on canvas - 24 x 24 x 3 - $1575

From the Coastal Impressions series
Remember our time at the beach
Exploring endless trails and
Watching the sunset together?
I loved how time stood still
It was as if we lived in ancient times and
Centuries from now all at once.
The sun bathes the earth in
A symphony of color
That memory’s ours forever.
Barbara Ferrier

The Vineyard

"The Vineyard" acrylic on aqua canvas 24x36 $1725

The Vineyard Series:
Dad and I crushed ripe grapes with a baseball bat
Out in the garage. We were making wine.
The aroma of crushed grapes was everywhere
Dad loved his hobby and it took on a life of its own.
His friends liked making and drinking wine too.
They bought a farm in Sunnyside, Washington to
Grow their own wine grapes.
We’d drive from Seattle through steep, rocky passes by Mount Rainier, to the dry side of the mountains. We’d pick juicy peaches, pears and cherries. We’d always stop at the
Best Mexican restaurant ever just off the road.
The vineyards and farmland were beautiful.
And seemed to go on forever
Barbara Ferrier

Inspirations

Last week I took my family backpacking down the coast of Washington State - beginning about 12 miles south of the NW tip. The place is called Cape Alava and is the westerly most point of Washington State. What a huge inspiration!!!!! Between the natural beauty, the wildlife and the petroglyphs, it was hard to ask for more (except maybe a lighter back pack!) It wasn't a huge trip hiking wise, only about 12 miles over a few days. But it was very rich experience-wise.

I worked at an archaeological dig on the Ozette Indian Reservation, just north of Cape Alava, in 1980. An Indian village was buried by a mud slide 500 years ago. The mud made an oxygen tight seal. Fragile things, like cedar bark baskets were found, filled with clams on benches inside houses. It was almost Pompeii like in its complete preservation. I worked mostly as a tour guide at that site (because the other archaeologists didn't like giving tours and I loved it.)

A few days ago I met a man while walking on the Ozette beach. He had photographs taken in 1875 of the village built to replace the buried one. No doubt the photographer was traveling with fur traders. There were images of the canoe put in and the people who lived there.

The fresh trail inspirations will soon be paintings. Enjoy!

Peacock Falls

Peacock Falls - 24 x 18 - Acrylic on Canvas $875

About this Blog

Unlike my website, this blog includes several approaches to painting all in one long stream. For example, my daily paintings are very spontaneous for the most part. I think of them as painted 'sketches.' My larger, more detailed paintings are also here, but included far less frequently.

As you read through this blog, you'll find that there are a lot of references to early experiences that shaped my approach and outlook. They're not chronological by any means. At my website, www.barbaraferrier.com you'll find my Bio is far more chronological. Some of the early experiences - like the desire to improve, and artists who inspired me - never go away - but the list of those I admire increases constantly. In the meantime I have some landscapes to (hopefully) post by Friday!!!

Barbara's Definition of Art

Balancing intuition, ingenuity and skill to make an impact on the audience is perhaps my ultimate definition of art. Each art trade has its tools. When these 3 components come together with the right balance it feels like 'skiing in the fresh powder.' Even if you have a spectacular wipe out from time to time, which is part of the process, it's just a matter of fine tuning to pick it back up.

When defining 'art' I refer to my experiences in film and stage, as well as my experiences painting. For example the character development of an actor, or timing and story telling for a film director are their art.

Painting, like film, has the opportunity to open up whole new worlds that the mind can enter. That is the part of the field that I value the most.

Fusion Art

I lived in a farming village in the Katmandu Valley of Nepal and made a film about art in that country while painting a series of landscape paintings. Nepal is a country the size of Tennessee with 550 separate languages. From the jungles in the south to Mt. Everest in the north, it’s not an easy place to get around. Nepal had no western influences until the late 60's. (I was there just 10 years later, in 1979, before running water or reliable electricity.) Traditional arts (on the streets and in the temples) had to transcend language and cultures to influence a very diverse group of people. This explains why some of the traditional artwork is so powerful.

I was most attracted to and influenced by the Nepalese use of color. I believe the strong color captures and helps to convey an emotional truth and transport the viewer. For me color is an essential part of visual language.

My paintings are really a ‘fusion art,’ the visual counterpart to today’s modern fusion music. It’s not really ‘outsider art’ because I’m not self taught. I have a fine art degree in painting and in film making. But the influences that changed my life and made my artwork such a fusion started with my trip to Nepal and the decision to study art through cultural anthropology. After that I traveled extensively and worked on an archeology site on the coast of Washington state and spent years in New Mexico.

How it all Began

I began painting in response to an accident that paralyzed my left hand (for several months). That was years ago!! I had been seriously studying acting and film making, and had the instant realization that my training was intended to be transferred to canvas. It wasn't even a decision - no debate. The accident was perfectly timed as I was on my way to college. I didn’t ‘know’ how to draw or paint. I had stopped trying like most kids around 3rd grade.

I sat down with with 'Yes' Album covers - whose artwork on the cover and accompanying posters were created by artist Roger Dean. I enjoying the process and was very easy on myself. I felt it was my purpose to 'figure it out.'

I took a class at college from a gentleman who changed my life. His name was Carl Hertel. He taught at the Claremont Colleges. He never taught 'how to.' He simply asked really hard questions and waited patiently. I think he believed we knew more than we gave ourself credit for. As he became the expectant student who could not answer his questions for us, we all thrived and embraced his challenge. While he was teaching us some pretty complex brain science - optical illusions, visual perception - he helped us make a habit of noticing small details. Meanwhile he seemed to be raising the self-esteem of our whole class. I know the other students were equally amazed at how he so gently nudged us to learn more than we knew we could.

About 5 years ago he came back to the college to speak. He was in his 80's and as wise as ever. (Former) students flew in from around the country. It felt like no time had passed at all. I give Carl a great deal of credit for continuing to inspire me today and will always be thankful to him.

The Other Road

The Other Road acrylic on canvas 12x12x3 $465

Eastern Fields

Eastern Fields - 24 x 36 - acrylic on canvas - SOLD

The Canyon

The Canyon acrylic on canvas 24x30 $1775
From the Inland Escapes series

High above the forest floor
In a clearing eagles soar,
Riding updrafts off the cliffs
Playing, diving catching lifts.
Waterfalls tumble to lakes below
Releasing a constant energy flow.
Beneath the full mood of midday
Lay age old cliffs and hideaways.
Carvings from a time before
Reveal ancient lives, beliefs and lore.
A wondrous trail that feels of love
Leads to higher plains above.
Barbara Ferrier

Best of the Northwest Art Show

Cascading Ascent

Cascading Ascent - 18 x 24 - acrylic on canvas - $950

While I'm doing a show this week (hence the few days without a post), I thought I'd share another from my series of women in sports. I hope you enjoy. Wouldn't it be great to be here right now? I know I'd enjoy the views and work out.

Alki Beach Studio, Seattle

Years ago I shared a studio with several artists. It was a public studio located at Alki beach, a Seattle waterfront park. Some artists would paint from live models while others worked on existing projects. Our models usually stumbled upon the studio while walking at the beach. They would come to pose wearing wonderful clothing and hats. One gentleman artist, Willard, used to constantly exclaim "You just have to nail it from the start! That's the best way to paint a painting." He'd struggle away while the woman next to him, who spent years as a professional portrait painter, simply nailed it every time - It was a very fun dynamic to watch the two of them. To this day I still hear Willard, half enthusiastically and half out of frustration, yelling "You just have to nail it from the start!

I completely agree with him. One of the benefits I find in doing the small daily paintings is that I can be loose and experimental so if I don't nail it, it's easy to move on. But of course 'nailing it from the start' is always the best approach - because those are the ones we all live for - collectors and artists alike. Thanks Willard!!

Summer Dream

Summer Dream - acrylic on canvas - 12 x 12 x 3 - $395

Although it's a beautiful winter and we're not done skiing - it feels just right to dream about Summer. Please enjoy!!

Eventide - 12 x 12

Eventide - 12x12 - acrylic on canvas - $350

Rainbow Shore by Barbara Ferrier

Rainbow Shore - acrylic on canvas - 24 x 24 x 3 - $1575

As someone who loves the shoreline, water in general, etc. this painting was a lot of fun to paint. I've been making these 'square box paintings' for a while (a full description of these deep stretch canvases is laid out below). But the canvasses keep getting bigger and bigger. I started with 8" square, moved to 12" and now this one is 24" square. I'm looking at 30" square one right now and it will be fun also. What's especially fun about these paintings is that the image is painted around the edge to the wall. This adds a new dimension to your room. No frame is necessary.

Jasmine

Jasmine at Dawn 18 x 24 Acrylic on panel; SOLD

I was searching for another image when I came upon this folder. So I thought I'd put this one in the record of some of the work I was doing a few years ago. Enjoy, and by the way feel free to comment on my 'portrait' style.

Island in the Fog

Island in the Fog 10 x 10 x 3 SOLD

Zandar Peaks

Zandar Peaks 16 x 16 Acrylic on Canvas $485

Secret Falls

Secret Falls Acrylic on Canvas 12 x 24 $575

Barbara's Blog

Desert Glow

Desert Glow Acrylic on Canvas 12x24 $575

Forest Steps

Forest Steps Acrylic on Canvas 24x30; $1475

After sketching, planning and laying out this piece, I went in to fine tune the painting with fresh and spontaneous work.

Whisper of the Vines

Whisper of the Vines 10x10x3 $385

This is from my Square Box series. That is what I call paintings that are painted on exceptionally deep canvases, approximately 3 inches deep. The painting extends around the corner and all the way to the wall. These paintings make a large presence in a small space because of the wrapped painting. I use a varnish on these paintings to protect them because they aren't framed.

Endless Trail 12 x 12 x 3

Endless Trail, Acrylic on Canvas 12x12x3. $465
Part of the square box series with Deep stretched canvas stretcher bars. The image wraps all the way around on five surfaces.

Barbara Ferrier Paints

"Twilight Crossing" Acrylic on Canvas 18 x 24 $950

Welcome to my paintings, which I hope will feel like mini vacations for you to look at! My goal is to create several paintings each week and have plenty of work available for people to live with. You may hold me to this commitment! I am quite inspired by the painting a day movement. Most such paintings are quite small - around 8 inches square. Larger paintings make a wonderful presence also - but they can take me many days. So I am firmly committed to making both approaches work.

I have three subjects that are dear to my heart and I often jump from one to the next to keep my brain fresh (so I don't overwork my work). I love to paint landscapes, people, and what I call 'square box' paintings. I've spent a lot of time recently painting pieces that wrap around deeply stretched canvas bars (the edges are 3" deep). It's a very fun way to create a presence in a room because the paintings almost feel sculptural. It's not a subject matter but it does inspire a certain style of landscape that is different from my other paintings.