Roman Head Woodblock

Here is the current wood block that I have been working on. It is carved and inked with black relief ink ready to be printed. The wood is a white pine. I like the slightly sculptural quality of the wood block.

I carved another block to render a background color and have produced a few color proofs. I'm not totally satisfied yet, but I'm making progress.

I intend to utilize this image for the Print Zero Studios Print Exchange that is coming up in July 2010. Artists will submit editions of 15 prints, then we shuffle them all up and each contributing artists receive 13 different prints from the other participating artists in return. Print Zero Studios retains 2 of the prints for their collection and usually organizes a traveling exhibit of the work.

Youth With Head Ribbon

This sketch of a Roman bronze is from a statue that dates back to the beginning of the first century A.D. The bronze is a copy of an earlier Greek original from the 5th century B.C.that was thought to be a funerary statue.

I am currently interested in studying statues from antiquity and creating a series of prints based on these drawings. It's a means of exploring some of the early examples of Western art and the idealized human form depicted in these artworks.

I'm fascinated by the way woodblock prints lend themselves to the depiction of flat shapes, which can be be manipulated to achieve the illusion of form and dimension. Printmaking is always a way for me to expand my repertoire of mark making and give a particular character to the subjects that I depict.

I have already started carving a block based on this image which will be the first woodblock print in the series, and may decide to do some drypoint prints as well. I will post an image of the woodblock soon.

Landscapes real and imagined

A new woodblock print, carved into poplar and then printed on Japanese paper. It is inspired by the landscape of the Pacific Northwest where I live. The size is roughly 6 x 10 inches. I have been playing with the idea of adding more layers and some color, but I like the simplicity and rustic quality of this image. It reflects the nature of the cabin and the landscape.

When I look at this image I wonder who lives in this cabin and whether it depicts a time long ago, or just a secluded nook somewhere today. I'm not sure if the tiny black strokes depict grass and plants that are growing or trees that were cut down in some industrious endeavor that has altered the landscape.

Sketches after Whistler

Here are a couple of sketches that I completed the other day. One is after "Portrait of the Painter's Mother" by James McNeill Whistler, and the other is after the "Portrait of Theodore Duret."

Whistler's painting of his mother is considered a masterpiece and extremely well known. I find the limited color palette of the original quite beautiful in its subtle hues. I'm fascinated with the way that the dark clothing of the mother, the base of the wall and the curtain all blend into one large block of form, becoming very flat despite the detailed nature of the painting. I have attempted to capture some of the subtle details of pattern observed in the curtains reminiscent of a motif featuring Japanese cherry blossoms. The framed picture on the wall is painted with little detail, but appears to be one of Whistler's earlier etchings.

Theodore Duret as I have learned was a traveller, collector of art, crooked art dealer and man about town, or boulevardier. His father was a wealthy businessman who owned a brandy business in Cognac.

Small Works in The Seattle P-I

by Adriana Grant, Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Collectively, 'Small Works' leaves a sizable impression

Visit Some Space gallery and you'll find a smattering of great art. All of it, this month, is small. In the second annual "Small Works" exhibit, which opened Thursday, no artwork exceeds 12 inches on a side.

A trippy, intricately patterned, magenta, tie-dyed canvas, "Masquerade" by Robert Hardgrave, is 1 square foot. Similar work (only much larger) was shown at Lawrimore Project early this year. Another 12-by-12-inch painting is covered...

see full article

Cloud Drawings @ Etsy

Cloud Drawing #4
Graphite and white china marker on paper
Image size 9.5 x 7.5 inches
Inventory # 08-J-04

For your convenience you may now browse some of my cloud drawings available for purchase in my online etsy.com shop. These drawings are matted with acid free archival white mats in standard size formats for easy framing. You may wish to bookmark my shop because I will be adding new works regularly as they become available. Check it out! www.noahoverby.etsy.com.

Sneak Peak (continued)

Stark
Acrylic and collage on canvas
10 x 8 inches
Inventory # 08-J-07

This painting makes a small, but bold statement. It is executed in black and white while the cloud in the center is cut paper from a drypoint print exhibiting a subtle, scribbly texture.

This piece will be part of the Small Works 2008 exhibit.

Sneak Peak (continued)

Trickle
Acrylic on canvas
10 x 8 inchesInventory # 08-J-08

This painting is elegant in its simplicity. The background is a subtle pale blue, while the cloud image is painted in an iridescent gold. The appearance of the gold paint changes depending on the angle of the light.

This will be part of the Small Works 2008 exhibit.

Sneak Peak

Goldilocks
Acrylic and collage on canvas
10 x 8 inches
inventory # 08-J-05

Here is a sneak preview of one of the paintings I will be exhibiting in The Small Works exhibit at Some Space Gallery.

This piece is mostly collage on canvas. The gold cloud image was cut with an x-acto from this beautiful reflective gold paper that I found. The droplet forms are cut paper from an old etching that I did back during my undergraduate days at The University of Washington. I guess being a pack rat has it's advantages. Once I had everything glued down to the canvas I sealed it with acrylic medium so it has a slightly glossy surface.

Small Works 2008

Here is a list of the participating artists for the Small Works 2008 exhibit at Some Space. This will be one not to be missed.

Opening: First Thursday November 5th, 2008 from 6:00-9:00pm
Show runs through Dec 27th, 2008
more info at SomeSpaceGallery.com

Small Works Exhibit @ Some Space Gallery

The Small Works exhibit, a group show featuring, as you may have guessed, small artworks will open in two weeks at Some Space Gallery. I'm suggesting you mark your calendar and show up at the opening for the First Thursday Art Walk on November 5th, 2008. If you are late and all the little jewels of artistic excellence are gone you won't have me to blame.

If you would like to receive an email about this event and other equally exciting future functions I recommend you subscribe to my newsletter by entering your email address in the signup box in the right hand column of my blog.

Cloud Drawing #3

Cloud Drawing #3
Graphite and white china marker on paper
Image size 9.5 x 7.5 inches
Inventory # 08-J-03

New Cloud Drawing

Cloud Drawing #2
Graphite and china marker on paper
Image size 9.5 x 7.5 inches
Inventory # 08-J-02

Here is another new cloud drawing. These are fun to do. I've been inspired by decorative Japanese painting and the simple repetitive patterns I find in those works. I like the playful mood in this piece and the ambiguity of the space.

Fall is here

Cloud Drawing #1
Graphite and china marker on paper
Image size 9.5 x 7.5 inches
Inventory # 08-J-01

I love fall. It's such a cozy time of year. It makes me want to be inside working in the studio. I love the muted colors of the landscape and drab, moist weather with splashes of colorful fall leaves.

University of Washington Print Sale

Printmaking Association
at the University of Washington
Current students and alumni of the Printmaking program
at The University of Washington School of Art
offer their original prints for sale.

Tues, Wed, Thur Feb 26, 27 & 28th
Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Lobby of The Art Building
on The UW Campus

featuring original monoprints, lithographs, etchings and serigraphs,
woodcuts, collagraphs, drypoints and relief prints.

All proceeds go to the student artists and the Printmaking Association

accepting cash and checks only.

Contact: Larry Sommers
School of Art- University of Washington
(206) 543-0633

Fine Art Views by Clint Watson

In my last post I talked a bit about Alyson Stanfield and her business ArtBizCoach.com. I have found artbizcoach.com a helpful resource for information on promoting and marketing my work and for developing the written document that most artists dread writing more than any: The Artist Statement. I also refer to Ms. Stanfield's Visual Artist Kit for information on properly formating my resume, bio, slidelists and other similar documents.

Another very valuable resource I would like to mention is Mr. Clint Watson's Fine Art Views. Fine Art Views is a free electronic newsletter published almost every day that provides "Straight Talk about Art, Marketing, Inspiration, and Fine Living For Artists, Collectors and Galleries." I find Mr. Watson's newsletters to be often informing and sometimes downright revolutionary. They offer practical ideas that if you put into place will garner results, and in the process will raise your general marketing and promotion IQ. I would highly recommend any artist wishing to seriously market and promote their work to subscribe to the newsletter. It's worth much more than the price: FREE! Check it out at www.fineartviews.com.

Feature in Art Marketing Action Newsletter

Alyson Stanfield is a former museum curator as well as the founder and principal of ArtBizCoach.com. Alyson offers consultation services, books, and online classes for artists on how to promote their art and handle the business side of being an artist. Alsyon publishes a free weekly newsletter for artists and recently featured my painting titled "Gather" in her newsletter. The current issue is online at http://www.artbizcoach.com/articles/. Check it out!

Float, Flitter, Fade reviewed in The Seattle Weekly

Adriana Grant reviews "Float, Flitter, Fade: New Works by Noah Overby" in her aticle "Cloud Cover" featured in the Dec 12 Seattle Weekly. Read the full article here.

The Seattle P-I deems Float, Flitter, Fade a "Best Bet"

Gather

Acrylic and collage on canvas
36 x 48 inches
$900