Palimsest: The Peabody Historical Society, historic interpretation

18x20" glass with paint, with foiled panel.

copyright clarke 2009

gloucester ma

Historic Interpretation: AA BB Chair Reel

Two views, same painting, under different light sources. "The face we love the best" (paraphrase Leonardo) becomes incorporated into the glass artwork, as the viewer can see their own reflection in the glass. The artwork constantly changes.

copyright clarke 2009 gloucester ma

clicking the title will bring one to Peabody Historical show that this work is for. My work will be in part 2 opening in August.

Blackie and Wilson

Algae Bloom. Time for a water change, the increased oxygen makes Blackie go dormant. When the weather is warmer, Blackie will go outside to live in a fish pond. We have had a good winter together.

The WIP (work in progress): The Wedding Reel

This is a detail showing the willow ware detail. the glass is backed with a gilded/painted panel. This is my interpretation in response to the collection of The Peabody Historical Society. This year they invited artists to create new work inspired by their historic collection. I have completed one study, and this painting, which is near completion. I have one more idea for the show, then off to the framers. My work will appear in the second have of the show (the first opens this weekend) with an opening in August, showing through September.

clicking the title above will take you to the site of the historicals current exhibitions

The WIP (work in progress): The Wedding Reel

this will show at The Peabody Historical Society & Museum, Peabody MA

August 15-October 18, 2009

The WIP (work in progress): an american portrait

study for new work that will show at the Peabody Historical Society August/Sept 2009.

Hake with study

another. Done.

copyright clarke 2009, gloucester ma

oil with gold leaf in reverse glass with panel backing

Done

the button spelled done. and you know what? i think this one is. It is "Female Sockeye" (fresh water (spawning) color on top, salt water color on bottom.

copyright: clarke 2009, gloucester ma

oil with metal leaf on reverse with panel backing.

St Anthony preached and the fish danced

panel 5 (salmon) is on the work table. that's silver leaf, aluminum leaf in the orange 'books' and the gelatin slurry (used to attach the leaf to the glass) in the aluminum pot. this panel is 'this far' (about a scooch) from finish.

i lift the glass, place the gild, look at the work, refine the leaf. this part of the work goes slowly. the fun part is coming up with the design. this takes a few days to do. then the tedious work of gilding, sanding, scraping, re-drawing, re-painting brings the work to conclusion. this part can take weeks, sometimes months to do.

the salmon was started a few months ago.

wip (work in progress): oncorhynchus nerka

that's my kitchen workspace above. below is the sockeye. aluminum and combination leaf on panel with oil and wax on reverse glass. detail below:

Frank, my life long mentor

Frank was my high school art teacher. He didn't teach me about drawing or painting (although he eventually did because we had a life long relationship) he met me from the very beginning as artist-to-artist. He knew I was an artist. He knew I would find the teachers I needed to learn drawing, painting, color. What he did for me was to show me there was a way to be an artist in this world, and be true to me "Debbie Clarke" as an artist. He counseled me to find ways to work to support my art through other venues. I gave Frank a show a few years back and we managed to cover his art career in my few short walls. No more words right now. In this photo I think the flowers have become Frank.

The wip (work in progress): panel 4 detail: Merluccius Bilinearis

Sharpie, oil and foil on reverse glass, 23k slow set gold leaf gild on front of glass panel. detail.

The WIP (work in progress): Hake panel 4 continues

I have added gold leaf to the front and gilded the panel behind the glass with aluminum leaf. refined the drawing, pretty near done.

The WIP (work in progress) panel 2 continues

In the big pic you can see my reflection in the mirrored sections.

The wip (work in progress)

This is panel 4 of hake (whiting)

24x36"

sharpie on reverse glass with chalk on panel backing

The yellow shapes are slow set gilder's oil. The tack is almost ready to accept the gold leaf. I need to hear the 'hard knock, with a slight hard tack' to get a lustrous almost mirrored sheen.

Business update: Debbie Clarke art coach! Completed one session, a second session purchased. This is sort of a pay as you go mentoring program beyond art 101.

The WIP (work in progress): Hake panels

above: panel 3, gold leaf and sharpie on reverse
glass with canvas backing


above : Panel 2: sharpie with silver leaf on reverse
glass backed with oil on canvas



above: panel 1, sharpie and oil on reverse
glass with combination leaf, backed with
oil on canvas

These are for a commission. The commissioner will get first pick of 3 or 4 or 5 or...I'm on a roll and I am working. These are 24x36" and I keep getting more ideas.

best to all,
deb.

Julia 2008

"Julia" a drawing
12x12" oil and combination leaf on canvas
copyright 2008
gloucester ma
debbie clarke

Sockeye (work in progress)

Sockeye Salmon, oil and foil on reverse glass

the big movements are down, now to refine the details of the frenzied run to spawn.

the glass is leaning against my refrigerator door. the glass is so hard to photo. like the bowl on the floor providing a sense of scale.

What a wonderful gift!

"Woman Adrift"

watercolor copyright Howard Kline 2008

Cambria CA

www.HowardKline.com

I love the feet!

Hello Chris! Hello Howard!

My friends Chris Barton and Howard Kline, formerly of Rockport MA, relocated to Cambria California at the turn of the millenium. I miss them. Howard was and is one of my art buddies. We have had an on-going art conversation for about 20+ years. We used to go to the Boston galleries and museums to see the work of new and old masters. I miss those visits, but we continue our conversations through emails and the web.

I just received a recent picture that I may use for reference in one of my 'folk i remember' drawings.

Howard's work can be found at
http://www.howardkline.com/. There is a link to his site under my 'other places' titled Cambria CA: Howard Kline art