artHound

getting ready . . .

May 12, 2014 in artwork, hanging around town, studio(s) | No comments

The cards are printed, the emails sent and the whirlwind preparations are underway!

It’s been nearly twenty years since I began hosting an open studio each spring, starting as one artist among many who participated in the Cleveland-based NOVA Open Studio Days. Following NOVA’s demise a group of Akron artists kept a local version of the event going, but only for a few years. Apparently my enthusiasm never waned – for many years, with only a couple exceptions, I’ve continued the spring open studio tradition on my own. Looks like the hounds are ready for visitors!

Downtown Akron Artwalk ~ May

May 4, 2014 in artwork, hanging around town, studio(s), summit artspace | No comments

Every year there are a few artwalks that find the galleries in Summit Artspace between shows. Although the first floor was dark Saturday evening, the third floor studios were open for visitors.

A peek into the window shows the opposite wall rearranged to accommodate the recently completed Monkshood group of prints, Aconitum.

The Downtown Artwalk is held on the first Saturday of each month. A visit to the Downtown Akron Partnership site will provide you with updated information on venues and artists. Stop in during the next artwalk on Saturday, June 7!

remembering Ina

April 26, 2014 in artwork, miscellany | No comments

Memories of Ina Federman will always be colorful ones. She had a strong personality, full of passion for family, for animals, for art and for life. I met Ina over twenty years ago at the Akron Arts Expo where she commissioned a mixed media painting depicting five birds and two cats, all of which shared her home. Over the years we became friends. As her menagerie changed she increased her portrait collection, first with drawings on the mat and later with additional paintings. Ina would be so pleased to know that Shane, her companion cat in assisted living, will continue to reside at the facility, charming residents and employees alike.

Ina Federman died on April 20, 2014.

The Monk, et al

April 23, 2014 in artwork | 1 comment

Finally there are five prints to complete the Aconitum (monkshood) group in the As Potent as a Charm series! The final prints are designed to flank the first three, although they all work just as well individually.

Aconitum, the bane of women and wolves, is reputed to be deadly to whales, tigers and leopards when used in poison darts; its scent alone is enough to fell a mouse. The situation is dire for the little mouse in the print, Mousebane, where the potential for herbal poisoning is the least of its worries.

Meanwhile, the monk now must consider unearthly entities to his left in the print, Beyond. Two more common names for the queen of poisons, derived from the appearance of the Aconitum flower, are suggested: a rocket (blue rocket) soars into the the night sky above the devilish gargoyle lurking in the shadows (devil’s helmet).

Browse previous posts for more information or visit As Potent as a Charm on my website.

Tags: Aconite, Aconitum, linocut, linoleum print, monkshood, poison, relief print

Happy Easter!

April 20, 2014 in artwork, miscellany | No comments

The Hare
woodcut

Tags: hare, relief print, spring, woodcut

aconitum, again

April 12, 2014 in artwork | No comments

Even though the initial three prints in the monkshood series, included in the Upstairs Downstairs exhibit earlier this year, worked fine as a triptych, I knew then that five was the magic number to complete the set of Aconitum inspired images. The ‘queen of poisons’ is probably best known as monkshood, but it also answers to leopard’s bane, devil’s helmet, blue rocket and mousebane (in addition to the previously depicted women’s bane and wolfsbane).

After many initial drawings of devils, the final sketch has him perched like a gargoyle, while the leopard eventually wound up on an overhead tree branch. Both drawings have been transferred to linoleum blocks and cutting has begun – printing can’t be far behind.

Tags: Aconite, Aconitum, block print, linocut, linoleum print, relief print

spring garden – Chinese lanterns

April 10, 2014 in artwork, garden, miscellany | No comments

With the possibility of cold temperatures and more snow, early April seems a bit too soon to do any serious garden clean-up, but when the weather permits it’s nice to get outdoors. The remaining pods of the Chinese, or Japanese, Lantern Plant, Physalis alkekengi, have taken on a lovely, lace-like appearance. The delicate look of the weathered lanterns in spring guarantees that they will continue to have at least a small presence in the garden, although their invasive tendencies can be difficult to contain.

Several years ago the fragile lanterns inspired a small series of pod prints, using both wood and linoleum blocks.

left to right: Lantern Plant, Peas + Pods, Framework

Tags: garden, linoleum print, relief print, woodcut

joancolbert.com . . . ready, set, go!

April 2, 2014 in artwork | No comments

A fresh, new look is sprouting!

The new site has been online and running for several weeks now, but whether it’s truly ready, set, go! is debatable. Maybe this should be titled, ready or not! Early in the process I came to the realization that being ‘finished’ is relative – and, with the potential for additions and improvements, completion would always be just out of reach. Nearly a month ago I had the hosting company make the switch from the static site to the new WordPress website. Although there are still a few menu categories to be added, plenty of images and copy to be uploaded, and some exciting new features planned, joancolbert.com is welcoming visitors.

My site uses a WordPress theme designed by artist, Kim Bruce. Her experience as a fine artist, working in encaustic sculpture, is evident in her website design. The simple, elegant layout provides an environment perfect for visual art. I chose Blue Nude (yes, it’s named for Matisse’s Blue Nude) from her theme collection at artbiz.ca. Being responsive, the updated joancolbert.com resizes to look its best on mobile devices, too. Take a look now and be sure to check back later for additional content!

screen shot – home page

screen shot – information page

Downtown Akron Artwalk

March 1, 2014 in artwork, hanging around town, summit artspace | No comments

Parking Faces
monotype

This winter the faces in the Summit Artspace parking lot have been peering over plowed snow banks. Designed by the late Kirk Mangus and painted by a group of student artists, the mural brightens the expanse of asphalt and concrete no matter the weather. This little mixed media monotype is hand colored with Prismacolor pencils.

Although the March Downtown Artwalk takes place between gallery shows, the third floor studios are open; parking at Summit Artspace is convenient and the trolley provides easy transportation to other venues.

artwork

getting ready . . .

Downtown Akron Artwalk ~ May

remembering Ina

The Monk, et al

Happy Easter!

aconitum, again

spring garden – Chinese lanterns

joancolbert.com . . . ready, set, go!

Downtown Akron Artwalk

looking up, part two

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