Burrows

 I found a book from my childhood last time I visited my parents house.  Inspired by some of the illustrations in the book of underground burrows, I began drawing a subterranean world.

 Surrounded within a cold, bleak forest facilitated the invention of a warm place in the dirt.

The burrow drawing in process using graphite, watercolor, and spray paint on rag paper.

Fawn

A recent drawing that may or may not be completed.  

Materials used:

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

9X11inches

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.  

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.

Little Drawing

Here is a small little drawing that I have been working on for a few days. It is near completion, but I have to think about it a little bit more.

Yarn Tricks install for Collected at the Anton Art Center

Some of our pieces from the collaborative Yarn Tricks will be included in the Anton Art Center's show Collected. The opening reception will be May 15, 6-9 PM. Julie is hanging some of the last pieces for Story 4. Big thanks to Julie, Sarah, and Alison for helping us pull it all together.

New Drawing

Collecting Objects: The Timeline Project

#481004, The Horn Forest of my Timeline Project for the Art House Co-op.
Materials used: graphite and watercolor.

At the Art House Co-op in Atlanta, Georgia; my timeline project will be displayed in an opening on January 23, 2009.

Library

8.5 X 11" graphite, watercolor, and digital print
The first of a series for a timeline project.

Wolves

This drawing I worked on today. I think it may need a little more tinkering. I wanted to take a break from my Drawing for ARDS project to clear my head. Media used: graphite and lazertran collage on digital print.

Drawing goes where it wants to...

This drawing I began last night for one of my donors for Drawing for ARDS. I started out with the intentions of drawing something that matched the words that she had sent me. However, the drawing just kept going in an alternate direction. I don't like to stop myself when a project is going someplace unexpected, so I just continued. Perhaps she will like the drawing, or maybe she won't. It didn't turn out how I expected, but I like it.
Materials used: watercolor pencils, graphite on rag paper.

Rain

I started this drawing today. I was intending to draw a rain storm into the room, but it turned out a bit more aggressive.

Water in the Living Room

This drawing I have been working on today in between walks outside and building towers with my daughter. It is still in progress, but I need to stop before it gets too much and come back to it with fresh eyes.

Detail of drawing

click images to enlarge