Preparing

I have been busy drawing and painting in preparation for my upcoming show at beautiful Berry College in less than two months.  

I have started a number of new drawings and hope to finish as many as I can for the exhibition.

Three new drawings tacked on studio wall.

 Another drawing I am working on of underground burrows.

Detail of the tubing that is growing out of the tree stumps in a recent drawing.

 Another detail of a nursing mother coyote surrounded by burning sticks.

Great news! I have been asked to submit writing and work for an upcoming book by Ashley Rooney titled 100 Midwest Artists.  It should be in publication late 2011.

Fawn

A recent drawing that may or may not be completed.  

Materials used:

Graphite, Watercolor, Acrylic, Glue, Glitter on rag paper.

9X11inches

Critique Group

Since moving to Bloomington I have been graciously welcomed into a critique group of fabulous local artists.  We are working on a drawing project together.  Here are a few images from our first critique of the project.

Process

I have a few projects underway.  I am working on a large drawing for a group show proposal with a collection of Bloomington artists.  The photo shows how I often begin, testing images and placement on tracing paper.  After I solidify the composition and content, I transfer the drawing to paper.

A small multi media painting in process.  I saw a recently hit fawn on the highway a few weeks back.  I have not been able to get it out of my head.  The fawn reminds me of the innocence and beauty of the forest and the narratives that are contained within.  

When to Stop

I always wonder when is it time to stop working on a drawing. Other than an exhibition date approaching or extreme boredom with the image, I always want to add more.  Since recently returning to the studio I have been treating my drawings if they are precious.  I hesitate to work on them or try new things. I hate feeling that way, it is as if my hands are tied behind my back. 

I already overworked this drawing last week with too much spray paint. I still hesitate to add more, even though I considered it wasted. 

When is more really more and when is more too much? 

This continues to run through my mind.  I will walk away from this drawing for a day or two until I feel more confident in my choices. 

Back to Work

My summer has been filled with a lot of traveling and newborn care.  Since my little one arrived in June I have been spending as much time with my family as possible.  Now he is a little older I am working in the studio when he sleeps and big sister is at preschool. 

Here are a few small studies,  testing some new media and reminding my fingers how to draw.

I will post photos of the drawings when they are done and I have started some larger works.   I am hoping for some quiet time in my future to prepare for upcoming exhibitions.  

Until then, I will enjoy this small, sweet, child.

Swope Opening

On Saturday I attended the opening of the Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition.  It was fun to visit Terre Haute for the first time.  The old downtown was beautiful especially the Swope Art Museum and the Indiana Theater. 

There were many people at the opening from around Indiana.  I enjoyed seeing old and new friends.  The artwork was very diverse and the show was very well done.  I really enjoyed walking through the rest of the museum and looking at the permanent collection and the amazing architecture.

The exhibition will run from July 10- September 4, 2010.

66th Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition, Swope Art Museum

I am very excited to have one of my drawings included in the Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition this year at the Swope Art Museum.  I will be attending the opening reception to receive the Alliance of the Swope Award of Honor for my drawing, Strangled.  I can't wait to visit Terre Haute for the first time and meet old and new friends at the celebratory party. 

66th Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition

July 10- September 4, 2010

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 10, 2010

4:00-6:00 PM

Swope Art Museum

Award Ceremony at 4:00 PM

Delusions Installation Views

Delusions: Abbigail Knowlton Israelsen recently closed at the Waldron Arts Center's Flashlight Gallery.  It was a great opportunity to show some drawings in a very unique space.  I had a lot of support from the community and am eager to push my work further.

Water Baby

My recently finished drawing is called Water Baby in reference to my inspiration, The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby.  I found this story in one of my old fairy tale books and thought it was inspiring.  At one point in the fairy tale the Water Baby watches a creature metamorphous into a new being when silky dragonflies break through a hole in his back.  The Water Baby is very jealous and wishes he too could change into something so beautiful. 

While working on this drawing I also was reminded of the nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence, where four and twenty blackbirds were baked in a pie.   

Photographs of the entire drawing will be on my website soon. Or please come to Delusions at The Waldron Arts Center opening May 7, 2010 to see it in person.

Geode Lake and Strangled

Two drawing finished.  Details of Strangled and Geode Lake are shown above. If you would like to see the full images please visit my website. 

More to come.

Three In Progress

I have been working on three large drawings for some time.  I was hoping to have them wrapped up  but I had to spend quite a few days in the hospital with pnuemonia putting me back a few weeks.  I have been taking some time off of studio work to recover. 

This shows the early development of the drawings.  I compose them on tracing paper and then transfer the image to rag paper once the composition settled.

I have been working on these drawings together hoping that they would show some sort of unity in thought and process.  They are all related through the narrative. 

 

They are works in progess, but coming along.  They are brighter than I usually work and make me a little uncomfortable.  I like to push the drawings into unknown territory because at least I know I am pressing myself.  Whether they turn out is another story, but the uncertainty is good.

Beginnings

I finished these three drawings for the exhibition in Minnesota. I was hoping to make more drawings and create an installation. May work more on them later, but they are done for now. I just need to frame them and ship them today! Beginnings 1: graphite, acrylic, watercolor, watercolor pencils, spray paint on rag paper.

Beginnings 3: graphite, watercolor, watercolor pencils, spray paint on rag paper.

Beginnings 2: graphite, watercolor, watercolor pencils, spray paint on rag paper.

I will be receiving some new metal flat files tomorrow. They are greatly needed to organize my drawings and to protect them from little creatures that sneak in from the forest.

Working Again

After weeks and months of feeling ill due to my pregnancy, I am back working again. I am so happy to be making drawings and trying some new techniques.
Emily, a friend of mine from grad school, invited me to participate in an exhibition The Other F Word at the University of Minnesota Morris. I have started work on two new drawings hoping to complete and send them to Minnesota within two weeks. These photos of the drawings are in process and very rough.

Graphite, gold spray paint, and watercolor on rag paper.

My proposal for a solo show at the Waldron Art Center was accepted! In the next few months I will be preparing for Delusions: Abbigail Knowlton Israelsen at the Flashlight Gallery of the Waldron Art Center in Bloomington, Indiana. The show opens in the beginning of May and will keep my mind off of my growing belly and keep my hands very busy.