2009
North Lake Unitarian "Traditions" Show
November 20 - December 31, 2009
We had 17 pieces for the Traditions show at Northlake Unitarian Church in Kirkland, WA. Thank you to all who participated!
Stewart Alcorn's Fish Scales Workshop
Saturday November 14 2009
was well attended and was accompanied by an extremely informative handout. We enjoyed working from fish, shark, and ray specimens. Stewart's presentation covered the placement of various types of fish on the evolutionary tree, and included relevant biology, as a prelude to his well thought out method of placing scales.
Our 30th Anniversary Party which followed the workshop was a nice opportunity to catch up with old friends.
Parallel Line Shading Workshop with Margaret Davidson
August 22, 2009
Parallel line shading is a subtle and beautiful technique that has traditionally been done with either pencil or pen and ink. This technique can be done loosely or with great precision; either way the finished look is light, clean, and alive, with all the ins and outs of the form clearly and beautifully depicted.
Those attending the Evergreen College Conference Planning Meeting on August 8, 2009, at Olympia, WA were favorably impressed with the location and the facilities.
Afternoon Gathering at Phyllis Wood's House
August 8, 2009
One of the founding members of GNSI-NW invited local members to spend an afternoon at her beach house in the southern end of the beautiful Hood Canal region with natural woods, nearby river, and beach. We shared stories, sketch books, and had a good time!
We need not hesitate to take our painting and drawing materials wherever we go. Marian Jones, president of PNBA shared a wealth of ideas for miniaturizing a travel journal kit at a workshop for GNSI on Saturday, July 11 at Green Lake Library. She gave us tips on modifying tools to do double duty, and how to substitute smaller and less expensive versions of brushes. Utilizing her ideas, it is possible to employ texturing techniques such a spattering and friskets, even on a backpacking trip. Marian provided participants with a handout of references, tools, techniques and many ideas for personalizing your record of your travels, making a memorable journal to keep or share.
Also:
This summer’s 2009 GNSI conference in Fort Kent, Maine was a delightful adventure. Fort Kent is a small college town in the “crown of Maine,” all the way at the northern border of the state, surrounded by acres of woodlands, potato fields, and marshy wetlands graced with moose and beaver. Our hosts at the University of Maine, Fort Kent were marvelous: the on-campus housing and food were excellent; Dr. Stephen Hansen’s keynote speech about wolves and moose made a lively and squirm-inducing foray into the life cycle of winter ticks; and the president of the college even came out to see the rollicking antics of our fundraising auction.
Of course, it’s the insight and camaraderie of our fellow illustrators that always makes these events so inspiring. There was a great lineup of digital presenters at this conference, with techniques ranging from elegantly straightforward to highly intricate. I’m more and more curious to try doing pen & ink-style linework and stippling on the computer! Some of the digital talks and workshops even tackled animation programs for illustrators like Flash and After Effects. And of course the traditional media program was also inspiring, exploring not only the classic media such as colored pencil, gouache, and silverpoint, but also the playful realms of cut-paper sculpture and gyotaku fish-printing.
I can’t imagine a more fun group to have explored Maine with than the members of GNSI. Folks were constantly pointing out birds, sharing roadkill stories, offering to email their Photoshop stipple brushes, peering at lichens, cracking jokes, and inspiring each other to no end with their amazing skills and talents. I’m looking forward to continuing the adventure next summer at the conference in Raleigh, North Carolina—hope to see you there, too!
--Katura Reynolds
Illustrator's Dragonfly Workshop
June 6, 2009
GNSI NW hosted a workshop on dragonflies at the Slater Museum, at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma
Washington. Odonate expert Dennis Paulson presented a fascinating slide lecture on the anatomy, behavior and life cycle of these large and colorful insects. Following thelecture, 19 participants closely examined and illustrated specimens, while Dennis assisted with explanations ofthe finer anatomical details and habits of these fascinating insects. Dennis was formerly the director at the Slater Museum, itself a quality resource for artists. He is the author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West; Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide; and Alaska: The Ecotravellers Wildlife Guide, among other books.
November 20 - December 31, 2009
We had 17 pieces for the Traditions show at Northlake Unitarian Church in Kirkland, WA. Thank you to all who participated!
Stewart Alcorn's Fish Scales Workshop
Saturday November 14 2009
was well attended and was accompanied by an extremely informative handout. We enjoyed working from fish, shark, and ray specimens. Stewart's presentation covered the placement of various types of fish on the evolutionary tree, and included relevant biology, as a prelude to his well thought out method of placing scales.
Our 30th Anniversary Party which followed the workshop was a nice opportunity to catch up with old friends.
Parallel Line Shading Workshop with Margaret Davidson
August 22, 2009
Parallel line shading is a subtle and beautiful technique that has traditionally been done with either pencil or pen and ink. This technique can be done loosely or with great precision; either way the finished look is light, clean, and alive, with all the ins and outs of the form clearly and beautifully depicted.
Those attending the Evergreen College Conference Planning Meeting on August 8, 2009, at Olympia, WA were favorably impressed with the location and the facilities.
Afternoon Gathering at Phyllis Wood's House
August 8, 2009
One of the founding members of GNSI-NW invited local members to spend an afternoon at her beach house in the southern end of the beautiful Hood Canal region with natural woods, nearby river, and beach. We shared stories, sketch books, and had a good time!
We need not hesitate to take our painting and drawing materials wherever we go. Marian Jones, president of PNBA shared a wealth of ideas for miniaturizing a travel journal kit at a workshop for GNSI on Saturday, July 11 at Green Lake Library. She gave us tips on modifying tools to do double duty, and how to substitute smaller and less expensive versions of brushes. Utilizing her ideas, it is possible to employ texturing techniques such a spattering and friskets, even on a backpacking trip. Marian provided participants with a handout of references, tools, techniques and many ideas for personalizing your record of your travels, making a memorable journal to keep or share.
Also:
This summer’s 2009 GNSI conference in Fort Kent, Maine was a delightful adventure. Fort Kent is a small college town in the “crown of Maine,” all the way at the northern border of the state, surrounded by acres of woodlands, potato fields, and marshy wetlands graced with moose and beaver. Our hosts at the University of Maine, Fort Kent were marvelous: the on-campus housing and food were excellent; Dr. Stephen Hansen’s keynote speech about wolves and moose made a lively and squirm-inducing foray into the life cycle of winter ticks; and the president of the college even came out to see the rollicking antics of our fundraising auction.
Of course, it’s the insight and camaraderie of our fellow illustrators that always makes these events so inspiring. There was a great lineup of digital presenters at this conference, with techniques ranging from elegantly straightforward to highly intricate. I’m more and more curious to try doing pen & ink-style linework and stippling on the computer! Some of the digital talks and workshops even tackled animation programs for illustrators like Flash and After Effects. And of course the traditional media program was also inspiring, exploring not only the classic media such as colored pencil, gouache, and silverpoint, but also the playful realms of cut-paper sculpture and gyotaku fish-printing.
I can’t imagine a more fun group to have explored Maine with than the members of GNSI. Folks were constantly pointing out birds, sharing roadkill stories, offering to email their Photoshop stipple brushes, peering at lichens, cracking jokes, and inspiring each other to no end with their amazing skills and talents. I’m looking forward to continuing the adventure next summer at the conference in Raleigh, North Carolina—hope to see you there, too!
--Katura Reynolds
Illustrator's Dragonfly Workshop
June 6, 2009
GNSI NW hosted a workshop on dragonflies at the Slater Museum, at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma
Washington. Odonate expert Dennis Paulson presented a fascinating slide lecture on the anatomy, behavior and life cycle of these large and colorful insects. Following thelecture, 19 participants closely examined and illustrated specimens, while Dennis assisted with explanations ofthe finer anatomical details and habits of these fascinating insects. Dennis was formerly the director at the Slater Museum, itself a quality resource for artists. He is the author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West; Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide; and Alaska: The Ecotravellers Wildlife Guide, among other books.