New Blog and Websites

I know that I haven't been on this blog in a while...I finally got around to listing my new websites and information...someone else is now using my old website address, so I'm trying to get all of my info. updated so that I am no longer hooked up with that old address.

My new website: http://www.alivewithcolor.com/
my new art/photo shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AliveWithColor
my new jewelry shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BohemianIce
my new art blog: http://evabarkman.wordpress.com/
my new Christian art blog: http://alivewithchristart.blogspot.com/

Beautiful Rusty Iris

Besides art and photography, gardening is one of my favorite things to do. This is a recent photo of my rust and gold colored iris which is planted in my front garden. To me, the intricate beauty in the world around us is total proof that our great Lord exists. Nature is just one of the many blessings that He has given us that I totally treasure.

Orange Cat

Here's an old friend of mine, Orange Cat. I did this painting about a year and a half ago. I was going through some of my digitals today, making family photo prints for my family members, and I came across this old guy. I remember having fun doing this one. I really liked the way the cat turned out. I have to say that he's probably my best cat painting. I am halfway working on another one right now, in between doing the covered bridge and several other art projects that I have started. I can truthfully say that I am never bored! :-D

More Inspiration

A few posts ago I told you about some of the things that inspires me in my art. Well, here is another one....the waterways....it can be oceans, lakes, rivers.....I just love them. I love to watch the play of light on the water, the way the water reflects the colors in the sky, the things of nature around the water. For instance, the way the sun reflects on the rocks and the way that the wind blows the grass and trees, and even the little fish that you can see by the shoreline. All of these things, put together, inspires my art.

This photo is of the beach near us called Walnut Beach. It was taken at a moment when the light illuminated the water and shoreline to resemble glistening diamonds.

This photo, as is most of my photography, is available in a variety of sizes and on a variety of papers. Contact me with any questions. You can purchase an 8x10 by clicking on this link.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=362172

Ohio's Covered Bridges in Art

For many years, Ohio's covered bridges have been a part of the area's history and charm. Their distinctive individuality and construction have been a thing of beauty. There is a tour map that you can get that takes you to each of these bridges in Ashtabula County. This county is known for it's abundance of covered bridges.

It's not a surprise that you can find art done by area artists depicting these historical treasures.

Covered bridges do make an interesting subject.

This picture was taken by me about 2 years ago while taking a ride outside of Jefferson. I am using this picture as a guide in my newest mixed media painting.

I have a lot of work to do considering that there are several exhibits that are coming up in the next few months. This piece will probably be one that will be exhibited.

Would you like to teach an art workshop?

At a recent meeting of my area art group, I was given the 1st vice president position in charge of art programs. I am really looking forward to this job which starts in September. So, I'll be looking for any local artists who will want to donate there time to a one time workshop to teach about their art. Anyone interested in the northeastern Ohio area, please feel free to contact me.
This would be a good opportunity for an artist to show there work and teach about it. Good promotion and will look good on your resume.

Contact me @ neohioartist@yahoo.com

Inspirations

What inspires art? It's different for everybody. For me its the beauty in the spring flowers, the arrival of the new birds (their song is like a symphony), the first buzz of the hummingbirds and bees, the hurried scurry of the chipmunks, the things of nature. I also get inspired by the sound of the ships horn as they come into the harbor, the light mist that sits gently upon the lake, the multi-colored sunset glowing across the water.

Spring is my favorite season. It's when I feel alive. It's an emotional awakening from a dreary winter that lasted just a bit too long. Not that I don't find beauty in the glistening snowflakes and the illumination of light through the icicles hanging over my door. I just really needed spring to come around.

Nature inspires me. I am in awe of God's creation.

Sold!

"Rose" a mixed media work of mine, has sold at the Lake Shore Artists Annual Exhibit at the Ashtabula Arts Center in Ashtabula Ohio. Last Friday at the opening, I was delightfully surprised to find out that "Rose" won the first place in abstracts. Then on Saturday, it sold. What a blessing! My Lord is so great. I give all the glory to Him. He has blessed me with this talent. Without Him, I am nothing. I am so blessed in my life.

This has encouraged me after a several month dry spell. I know now that I am supposed to continue my art. An artist has doubts at times, but this has revived me.

Prints are always available of "Rose" in any size or on various papers. I can also embellish any of my digital art to any specifications.

Matting and framing is also available.

Erie Fisherman on Exhibit

"Erie Fisherman" is the photograph that I have in the Lake Shore Artists Annual Exhibit along with my "Rose" and "Morning Peace." My fisherman was also in the Focus 2007 exhibit this year.

My Award Winning Artwork

I attended the opening of the Lake Shore Artists Annual Exhibit last night and was pleasantly surprised to find that my "Rose" mixed media was awarded first place in the abstract category. I am doing the happy dance!

If you are in the area, please do stop by the Ashtabula Arts Center in Ashtabula Ohio to see the exhibit. It runs through the month of May. The exhibit is fabulous.....I am proud to be a member of this group of talented people. My fellow area artists have done a great job...their artwork is phenomenal.

Morning Peace

I love to do seascapes and nautical art. This is one of my favorites done a couple of years ago. It is on exhibit along with a couple of my other pieces at the Ashtabula Art Center in Ashtabula Ohio. The exhibit is of works done by the Lake Shore Artists. The opening is tonight Friday May 4th at 6pm. I am looking forward to going. I enjoy seeing the work of my fellow area artists.

Glowing Light

"Glowing Light" 11x14 gallery wrap canvas acrylic painting

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=345542

Gardening

What a nice morning to work outside in my garden. I finally took an hour and pruned and cleaned up a few of my flower beds. This picture is of a rose that I have in my front yard garden. I took this photo last year while the bush was in bloom.

I love to garden. I love the outdoors. I guess that is why I gravitate to things of nature in my photography and art. Working in my garden and taking pictures of the beauty that comes from the work that I put into my garden are two of my favorite things. Outside you can fill your senses with the awesomeness of God's creations. My senses are more alive outside....see the delicate complexity of nature....feel the texture of the soil and the breeze on your skin....smell the fragrant freshness of the floral perfumed air.....hear the symphony of the birds singing.

The spring is my favorite time of year and at this time I'd rather be outside than in.

Berries

These luscious beauties are berries that turn a bright red in the autumn. This bush is in my yard along my driveway between my neighbors and my yard. I don't know what kind of bush it is but the berries are something. I'm pretty sure that they are not edible. The color is so striking that I just had to capture it with my camera. It was after a rain and they were still dripping with rain water.

Daisy

This is the first day in days that I have posted to my blog. I haven't been feeling well and my creativity has been low. This health problem is an ongoing problem of pain that the doctors are not helping and it has finally taken a toll on my overall being. If anyone out there is experiencing the same symptoms, I would love to hear from you, because obviously the doctors are doing nothing to help. They claim it's fibromyalgia, costocondritis, and reflux....I think differently! Nothing is helping and the pain in my chest and throat is getting worse and more constant....everyday now! I am generally an upbeat and optomistic person, but this is wearing me down. I am trying to push myself to work, but it's not easy. I am making another attempt at using herbs ....stinging nettle and ginger.....anyone else have any suggestions.

Well onto my art for the day.....this is a photo of a daisy from my garden....they are beautiful....white on top and purple underneath. I will be adding this to the "Garden of Delights"....here are the links.....

http://www.squidoo.com/garden_of_digital_delights/

http://artandgoldgallery.com/garden_of_digital_delights/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/evabarkman-art/

Exhibit in Columbus

"Altered Garden" will be on exhibit April and May at MacWorthington Gallery in Columbus Ohio's Short North Art District. The artists reception will be held Saturday, April 21, 2007 6-8pm.

Green is my Garden

This is a mixed media painting that I finished about a month ago. I'm getting ready to put it on consignment in a shop in Columbus Ohio. It is 12x24 on deep edge canvas. It is done with acrylic paints, oil pastels, and a collaging technique.

Orchid Illusions

Orchid illusion is a photomanipulation of an orchid image. The glowing light effect is really striking. Click on this link for purchase information.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=375602

Rosewater

Digital photomanipulation of a picture of a rose where background appears waterlike.

Digital Art Kaleidoscope

This is one of my many digital art kaleidoscopes. I enjoy doing these. When I start out working on one of these, I never really know just how it's going to turn out until I'm totally done tweaking it. Just making a small adjustment in the computer program, can give you a totally different look.

You can purchase this digital art at this link:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=375588