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Thursday, November 15, 2018

Enough

"Tree Line Interrupted"
12x16 Watercolor
Price: $180 framed, email me to purchase at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com
enough
to sit here quietly

to feel
cool northeasterly breeze
warm sunshine on hands

to hear
crickets constantly chirp
clap of horse’s hooves on nearby road

to see
goldenrod sway in gentle wind
cooper’s hawk soar silently by

enough
to sit here quietly
breathe

Poem by Michael Czarnecki
"Memories"
16x12 Watercolor
SOLD!

"Road Home"
12x16 Watercolor
Price: $180 framed, email me to purchase at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com

Wheeler Hill was our last stop along this creative journey. I think the poem above is my favorite. It says it all.  
Tomorrow, Friday November 16, is the last day to see our exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center. I will be taking it down on Saturday. On Monday, November 19 I will hang a selection of paintings and poems from this exhibit at the Dormann Library in Bath, NY.  
Coming up, during Summer 2019, a selection of work from this project will be on exhibit at the Atrium Gallery, Corning Community College. Stay tuned for more details!

 
Click here to view the complete exhibit online: www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *


Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Ghosts in the Golf Course, Pinnacle State Park, Addison NY


"Burning Sky"
6x9
Oil on canvas
Price: $225. framed
email me to purchase: bbvanotterloo@gmail.com
are there ghost golfers
still walking old fairways
still swinging irons and woods
still lining up putts on greens
how many lost golf balls
still lying in overgrown rough
how many lost golf balls
sunk in mud at bottom of ponds
how many lost golf balls
sliced out of play into thick woods
now, peaceful quietness reigns here
as golf course slowly evolves away


Poem by Michael Czarnecki
"October Sky"
12x16
Watercolor
Price: $180. framed
email me to purchase: bbvanotterloo@gmail.com
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018

This is the last week to view the exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center. On Monday, November 19th I will hang a selection of paintings and poems from this exhibit at the Dormann Library in Bath, NY. 

Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series. 
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *


Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Spencer Crest Nature Center, Corning NY

"Memory of Light" 11x14 watercolor by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo

pond almost perfectly still
then
sudden breeze ripples surface
tree reflections
so clear a moment ago
now a blur, trees gone
stillness replaced with
wind-driven motion
a once placid scene
now agitated
where nothing is quite clear
moments later, breeze gone
tree reflections return
scene quite placid
once again

Poem by Michael Czarnecki
"October Path"
12x16
Watercolor
Price: $180 framed
email me to purchase: bbvanotterloo@gmail.com
"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018

 Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series. 
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *


Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Friday, November 9, 2018

Day After Labor Day on Keuka Lake

"Cumulus Clouds over Keuka Lake"
8"x10"
Oil on canvas
Price: $225. email me to purchase
left hanging in trees
yesterday’s birthday banners
now just memory
after Labor Day
though hot humid conditions
swimming beach empty
paddling slowly
two kayakers approach shore
ducks swim out of way
one could never tell
gazing at surface of lake
how deep underneath
from this vantage point
lakeside hills covered in trees
is this wine country
empty swimming dock
other than one lone black duck
occasional quack
yellow butterfly
lands, flies, lands, flies, lands, flies, lands
on dandelions

"Day After Labor Day, Keuaka Lake"
16"x20"
Watercolor on 300lb paper
Price: $300. email me to purchase

"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018

 Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series. 
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *


Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Mossy Bank Park, Bath NY

Destroying Angels, Mossy Bank Park
16"x20"
Watercolor on 300lb gallery wrapped paper
SOLD!
far below
Cohocton River
flows slowly by
cars, trucks
speed by on highway
four decades ago
I stood here
gazed at river
gazed at highway
time, too, flows by
speeds by


Poem by Michael Czarnecki

Mossy Bank Park in Bath, NY was the setting for session six on September 1. If haven't been there yet, you should go! They have great educational programs spring though fall. The park has lovely trails through shaded woods, and a great view out over the river valley.
This has been the year of rain, and there were plenty of mushrooms around - some edible, some deadly poisonous. Destroying Angels are deadly, don't eat them if you find them in the woods! They do have an other-worldly glow with their pure white translucent skin against the dark forest floor - good for painting, not for eating. Michael knows a lot about mushrooms, and even had a near death experience with them years ago. Ask him about it.

Follow this link to find out more about Mossy Bank Park: https://mossybankpark.com/



"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018

 Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series. 
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *


Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Monday, November 5, 2018

Finding our way

"Morning Fog, Evening Primrose"
16"x20"
Watercolor on 300lb gallery wrapped paper *

while brown Chemung flows by
Bridget’s colorful paint
flows on to canvas
__________________________________________

osprey flies by high over river
water brown from heavy rains
with such murkiness
can osprey see its way
to finding food for young

Poems by Michael Czarnecki

For session five we started out early near the river launch site on the Chemung River in Corning, NY. If you live in Corning, you're familiar with the fog that covers the river valley in the morning, usually lifting by late morning.
As I set up to paint the river, Michael pointed out the abundance of wildflowers growing on the unmowed sloop. I had to add these bright yellow Evening Primroses to my painting. I think they're a nice bright pop of color in an otherwise melancholy scene. Many of us here in the Southern Tier are hoping for brighter days soon. Don't forget to vote!



"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *
Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series.
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Back Alley Views



"Corning Alleyway, Market Street" 14x10 watercolor, SOLD!
back alley
back doors
of shops
of businesses
smokers’ alley
doors open
guys walk out
light up

***
small touch of New Orleans
hanging pots of flowers
other living greenery
enliven back alley
but only scattered places
not like French Quarter
plants, flowers festooning
residential, business buildings
on nearly every street
where’s street musicians
where’s riverside walkway
where’s horse drawn carriages
where’s urine smelling morning Bourbon Street
where’s homeless people sleeping on benches
only a small touch of New Orleans

Poems by Michael Czarnecki

Session Four took place on July 19, 2018. We met at the Farmer's Market and didn't have to walk far to find subjects to paint and write about.


"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *
Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series.
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Blackbird atop tombstone

"Hadley Graveyard" Canisteo River Valley *
6"x9" oil on canvas by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo
blackbird atop tombstone
perches a few minutes
then flies far away
tombstone still remains
___________________________________________
young artist stands under umbrella
dabs paint onto canvas
along side of road
scene she is painting:
old barn, dead standing tree
weathered tombstones
mid-summer, sun bright, air warm
winter, not all that far away
_________________________________________

old river flows through
narrow valley
lawn mower whirrs in distance
flies buzz around my head
a sudden breeze
sways branches of trees
occasional car speeds by
robin chirps, blue jay shrieks
soft gentle sounds, all
fitting this remote setting
suddenly, growing roar
like wind building in storm
but no, freight train rumbles by
after passing, loud whistle
as it approaches nearby crossing
this loud intrusion, no intrusion at all
fits perfectly in this bucolic setting
of narrow steep-hill-lined valley
___________________________________________ 
Poems by Michael Czarnecki


Session Three - the beautiful, remote Canisteo River Valley. First time there for me. Michael has forty-year-old memories of it, living above in the hills, 3 miles from the river.
Various scenes were possibilities for painting as we slowly drove along the River Road from Addison to Cameron. We had talked earlier on the ride about cemeteries. I've never been drawn to paint cemeteries, until that afternoon.


"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *


See all plein air paintings and poetry in this series on my website: www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Houghton Land Preserve, a gift to our community.


Trail Marker
"Trail Marker" 8x12 watercolor by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*
View from Here
"View from Here" 8x12 watercolor by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*
what is it that draws us
to field, to forest
to other than human
as I sit on old log
slowly rotting back to earth
sudden brisk wind shakes tops of trees
at same time, tree shadows
dance on leaf-strewn woodland floor
all the while, wood thrush’s sweet song
floats through shaded forest air

Poem by Michael Czarnecki

Houghton Land Preserve, Finger Lakes Land Trust, Corning, NY
"Located just a stone’s throw from downtown Corning, the Houghton Land Preserve features mature hardwood forests, 2 miles of hiking trails, and scenic meadows with sweeping views of the surrounding hills.
The preserve is a gift from Jamie and Maisie Houghton, who gave their 194-acre property to the Finger Lakes Land Trust in 2016 to create a new nature preserve.  Jamie is the retired Chairman of the Board of Corning Incorporated, a company founded by his great-great grandfather in 1851.  By donating their family land to the Land Trust, the Houghtons are continuing their deep commitment to the Corning community."
Learn more at: www.fllt.org/preserves/houghton-land-preserve/

Reception with the Artist and Poet tonight! 5-8 pm

171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
Please join us for a reception and Artist/Poet Talk, TONIGHT! Friday, October 26 5–8pm
Talk begins at 6pm, bring your questions!
This exhibit is will be on view through November 16, 2018
 
* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *


See all plein air paintings and poetry in this series on my website: www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Forgotten Beauty - Denison Park, Corning NY

"Cherry Trees" 8x12 watercolor by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*

Plein Air Painting & Poetry

Beginning in the spring of 2018, painter Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poet, Michael Czarnecki traveled together to 10 different locations around Steuben County to create works of art inspired by each location: Bridget painted plein air paintings, Michael wrote plein air poems. “En plein air” is a French phrase meaning “in the open air.” We hope our work inspires you to enjoy our beautiful area.
Visit the exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
October 22–November 16, 2018
Please join us for a reception and Artist/Poet Talk on Friday, October 26 5–8pm
Talk begins at 6pm

Location #1: Denison Park, Corning NY
On May 14, 2018 we met for our first session in Denison Park. The trees were in full bloom. I set up to paint under the ornamental cherry trees. Petals floated down and stuck in my wet paint.


"Under the Cherry Tress" 18x24 oil on linen by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*

Poems written on location by Michael Czarnecki

sentient stillness
could almost be a sculpture
turtle on old log

***

such transitoriness
these colorful ornamental trees
pink blossoms, white blossoms
in full bloom
fragrancing nearby air
already
here and there
a petal drifts to ground

"Study of Trees" 8x5 watercolor and ink by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo
*
 This little study started as a demo during our workshop in Denison Park.

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 
Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *



See all plein air paintings and poetry in this series on my website:
www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Monday, October 8, 2018

Plein Air Painting & Poetry

"Under the Cherry Trees" 20x24 oil on linen by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo, Poem by Michael Czarnecki
I've been getting ready to present the work created during our 6 month long project, Plein Air Painting & Poetry.
During this grant funded project Michael Czarnecki and I traveled together to 10 locations in Steuben County. We live in a beautiful part of the world, and there was plenty to inspire us. Along the way we talked about the similarites and differences between painting and poetry.
We can't wait to share it all with you!
Plein Air Painting & Poetry, Steuben County will be on exhibit from October 22 - November 16, 2018 at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning NY.
You are invited to a Reception and Artist/Poet Talk on Friday October 26, 5-8pm, during Corning's Urban Arts Crawl. We will begin our talk at 6pm. Michael will read his poetry and I will talk about my paintings. Please bring your questions!

You can see some pictures from our journey on our facebook project page:
Plein Air and Poetry: Steuben County
Plein air painting under the cherry trees in Denison Park, Corning NY

Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Sketching Along the Way - Yosemite National Park

Morning Light, Yosemite Valley
Whenever I travel I always make room for my sketchbook and painting supplies. Here's a peek into my sketchbook from my recent trip to Yosemite National Park. The light in this awe-inspiring place was amazing! This first sketch shown above was started at about 8 am, as the light was cresting over the granite mountains into Yosemite Valley.
I'm really liking Strathmore's hard cover watercolor sketchbooks, you can find them at our local Michaels Store. I still use my Winsor & Newton travel watercolor set from college. It's held up really well, and when I run out of a color, I just squeeze more into the well from tube paints. My favorite brush for traveling is a 1/4 inch dagger brush from Princeton Art & Brush Company. If you've taken a class with me, you've heard be talk about this brush.
There's something about capturing the feeling of a place that makes the challenges of sketching in the great outdoors worth it.
If you love to sketch too, consider meeting up with our friendly Urban Sketchers Corning Group. The group meets every weekend and anyone is welcome to join us. Check out more, including upcoming meet-ups, here on their Facebook page: Urban Sketchers Corning

My set-up: sketchbook, folding watercolor set that fits brushes, pencil box, plastic container for water, paper towels.
 
Giant Redwood Tree in Mariposa Grove, pen and watercolor.
Quick pen sketch of a Ponderosa Pine Cone
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, pencil and watercolor. 
Aspen Leaf, pencil and watercolor
Merced River, near Happy Isles, Yosemite. Pen and watercolor
I'd love to hear about your sketching adventures and any sketching tips or questions in the comments below.
Happy Sketching!
Bridget

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Pollinators, 171 Summer Mosaics

Pollinators Series at 171 Cedar Arts Center
I've been working on a series of 50 6x6 oil paintings for this year's Summer Mosaics Exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, NY. The Mosaics show includes 31 talented artists who created 50 works of art each in a variety of mediums. Go see the show now through July 22. Artwork will start disappearing from the gallery during Thursday's reception. For more information, and tickets to the two receptions click here: summer-mosaic-tickets-available-here

View all 50 Pollinator Paintings here in my website: bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com/pollinators-2018

If one catches your eye, email me to inquire if it is still available:
bbvanotterloo@gmail.com

50 Pollinators by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo

Monday, June 18, 2018

Summer Exhibits and Events

Still Life with Hydrangeas - watercolor 

World of Watercolors - Artist in Focus 

June 130, 2018


Franklin Street Gallery
209 N. Franklin Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
607-535-2571 | gallery@arcofschuyler.org

Hologram Moth - prints available 

Elusives: The Natural World We Seldom See - Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

May 17June 25, 2018
Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, NY

Finger Lakes Rieslings Palette 

Palettes of Keuka

July 1September 1, 2018
The Palettes of Keuka Art Display in Hammondsport, NY is a two month long display of painted palettes in and around the village of Hammondsport, culminating in the auction of the palettes on September 1, 2018. Pictured to the right is my palette for this year, "Finger Lakes Rieslings" 40×28 oil and aluminum leaf. For more info visit: www.fingerlakes.org/events/palettes-keuka-art-display-hammondsport
Palettes of Keuka

May Day Lilacs 

Ithaca Artists Market
with the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

July 27, 12:00 pm7:00 pm
The Annual Ithaca Artist Maket is a juried show and sale of fine art. 88 booths filled with fine art, food, wine and music! We will be at booth #20. Stop by to learn more about the Guild's Finger Lakes Chapter. I'll have printed cards, unframed watercolors, and small oil paintings for sale.
Ithaca Farmer's Market Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd St, Ithaca, NY.

Iris Symphony 

In the Garden

July 629, 2018
Meet the Artist Open House - Saturday, July 7, 11am to 4pm
North Star Gallery, 743 Snyder Hill Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

Contact: 607-323-7684 or info@northstargallery.com

Bee on Bee Balm 

171 Summer Mosaics: Pollinators

July 19July 22, 2018
Private Preview, July 19, 5:50 – 7:30 pm. Mosaic Reception, July 20, 7:00 – 9:00 pm.
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Arts Center
155 Cedar Street, Corning NY 14830. 607-936-4647

Seneca Sunset - watercolor 

Plein Air Painting and Poetry Project

Summer and Fall 2018
Collaborative Project with Poet, Michael Czarnecki. Funded by 2018 NYSCA Decentralization Individual Artist Grant. ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.
Follow our Facebook group for Free Workshops and Exhibits with Poetry Readings and Artist Talks: Plein Air Painting and Poetry, Steuben County at 171 Cedar Arts Center and Southeast Steuben County Library:

Plein Air Painting and Poetry Exhibit

October 22November 16, 2018
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and Poetry by Michael Czarnecki. Reception and Artist Talk on October 26, 5:00 – 8:00pm.
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Arts Center
155 Cedar Street, Corning NY 14830. 607-936-4647


I hope to see you at one of these events this summer!

Bridget

www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com/exhibits


Friday, June 1, 2018

June Artist in Focus - Franklin Street Gallery

"African Weavers" 20x16 watercolor
For the month of June I have a collection of watercolor paintings and small oil paintings on display at the Franklin Street Gallery in Watkins Glen, NY.

Stop by the opening reception tonight, Friday June 1, 5:00–8:00pm to say hi and chat about art. Bring your questions!

Along with the Artist in Focus exhibit, I will be teaching a Botanical Drawing and Watercolor Workshop at the Franklin Street Gallery on June 10, 1:00–3:00pm. Call the gallery at 607-535-2571 to register.

"Still Life with Hydrangeas" 18x24 watercolor


Sunday, April 22, 2018

Arts in Bloom - Open Studio Weekend

Arts in Bloom
Welcome to my studio!
Come visit me next weekend during our annual Arts in Bloom, Arts Trail in Steuben County.

Arts in Bloom
6th Annual Steuben County Arts Trail

Saturday, April 28
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday, April 29
Noon - 5:00 pm

Visit me in my studio:
10 Jackson Circle, Corning, NY
  • See my newest paintings
  • Unframed watercolors
  • Watercolor cards
  • More Moon paintings
If you can't make it to my studio, you can always order online: BBvO Studio on Etsy

For a list of other artists and venues visit: artsinbloom.net
Currently my studio looks like a mess. I have a lot of work to do this week! Anyone want to be a volunteer studio assistant? (Kidding . . . not kidding :)
See you in the studio next weekend!
Bridget

Monday, April 2, 2018

Tulip Fever

Tulip Fever, 18x13 oil by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo
It's the time of year when we all have spring fever, and I have tulip fever. Tulips are one of my favorite flowers to paint. I began this painting about a month ago from tulips growing from their bulbs in a beautiful glass vase, purchased at our local Wegmans. I've been posting the progress of this painting on my Instagram and Facebook pages, and now I thought I'd share the step by step process here in on my blog. I've heard back from many of you that you enjoy my process posts.

The visual idea behind Tulip Fever was to create an oil painting that looked like a classical botanical watercolor painting on vellum. I'll explain more in the process section below.

Tulip Fever will be framed and ready for a new home in time for the Arts in Bloom, Open Studio Weekend, an annual Arts Trail event in Steuben County. You can learn more about the trail here: artsinbloom.net

I hope to see you in person during this fun weekend. I'll have new paintings for sale, unframed watercolors, cards, and more moon paintings for you to take home!

Tulip Fever Process

Beginning Drawing
I love drawing. I usually begin a detailed botanical painting with a graphite drawing. Drawing allows me to work out the composition with gestural lines and erase mistakes easily. This painting was done on Multimedia Artboard—it's an absorbent surface made from paper soaked in resin. My late mentor, Tom Buechner, introduced me to it 15 years ago and it's still one of my favorite materials to work with.

When I'm happy with the drawing, I spray it with fixative, wait a day or so for it to dry, then begin the first layers of color in oil.
First layers of paint.
The first layers of paint on the multimedia board are mixed with a lot of Liquin. Liquin is a great painting medium. It thins down the paint without dissolving it like turpentine can do. These first layers are similar to the look of watercolor paint, with thin transparent colors. 

Tulips get color!
Brighter colors are layered on with a smaller brush. The initial light yellow layer shows through on the petals. After the flowers were painted, I started in on the greens of the leaves.
Leaves come to life.
Life got busy around the middle of the month, my tulips faded away, and I had to put my painting on hold. So, I scraped up the colors mixed on my palette, wrapped them in plastic and put them in my freezer. Oil paints will keep in the freezer for about a week or two. After that they begin to dry out. I don't know about you, but I hate wasting paint

Colors go on ice.

For the background of this painting I wanted to see if I could get the oil paint to look like vellum. Vellum is a semi-transparent parchment that was originally made from animal skins. I really like the look of this surface in traditional botanical and scientific illustrations. My animal loving-heart hates the idea of painting on animal skin, but my Artist heart loves the look of it.

I created this look with several thin layers of liquin and paint. The first layer was a mix of yellow ochre and lots of liquin. The second layer was titanium white and naples yellow with a touch of ultramarine blue. Lastly, I glazed the edges with more yellow ochre and liquin. I'm happy with the final look of the background. What do you think?
Dried bulbs for reference.
I finished the rest of the painting using the bulbs that I had saved and dried out. I'm going to try to plant them in my garden and see if they bloom again. I also used photo references to finish the final details in the overall painting.
Finishing touches
Tulip Fever, 18x13 oil by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo
Tulip Fever will be varnished, framed, and available for sale in time for the Arts in Bloom Open Studio Weekend. You're invited to see it in person and visit me in my studio on Saturday, April 28, 10am–7pm, and Sunday, April 29, 12 5pm. For more information click here: Arts in Bloom

I referred to many different art materials in this post. If you have any questions about them, feel free to message me. If you're in the area, take one of my painting classes at 171 Cedar Arts Center, or one of my Studio Workshops.

Happy painting!
Bridget

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