still life

'After Party' 24x24" graphite on paper; Kathleen Faulkner

I came upon this cloth remnant lying on the beach.

It had a history

I wondered where it had been,

what it had seen, 

it's original function.

An artifact of the 21st century

In the deep

'Twilight Zone' 28x24" colored pencil on panel

That other world

dark and dreamy, mysterious

a comfort for its inhabitants

Humans swim. We float. 

Do you ever wonder what is swimming beneath you

and looking up at you

as you float along

on top of all that mystery?

Changing Seasons

'Skeleton Crew' 18x18" oil pastel, Kathleen Faulkner

It is the Autumnal Equinox.

There is a chill in the air, leaves are turning color

 I notice the light has changed.

I like this season best

even though it

leads to the struggle of winter. 

Most living things get ready to sleep it away

and we are left 

with only a skeleton crew 

to take care of business.

end of a dry spell

     Photo: Kathleen Faulkner     

I usually create art from my mind, sometimes photos.

While walking on the beach,

I came upon this material 

all wrapped into the rocks.

Looking at it,

I knew immediately

that I wanted to create something 

from it.

A challenge!

Will I use pencil or ink?

It's going to be Large.

the fix

'WildWood' 28x42" oil pastel on panel; Kathleen Faulkner

I like to walk early in the morning.

It is quiet, no people.

I enter this divergent community 

that I feel more comfortable in 

than my own.

As I walk,

I breathe in the tree medicine 

while the bird songs

permeate the air.

It makes the day so much better.

soft green

'The Wilds' 12x12" oil pastel on panel;

Kathleen Faulkner

I spent a lot of time in the woods as a kid.

I always imagined the moss as a blanket 

that I could use if I were ever lost.

I still think that

when I see the large, green,

beautiful

carpet of living

earth.

 

musings

'Sticks' 9x12" ink, colored pencil on paper;

Kathleen Faulkner

I live close to forests.

Moving around in them 

is like eating healthy food.

I makes me feel good.

WIP 3@6x6" ink, colored pencil;

Kathleen Faulkner

Tidelands

'This Moment Becomes a Memory'
18x18" oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

 

Here comes the tide rushing in,

the second of the day.

This landscape changes 

constantly, 

clouds and water

moving.

I never tire of watching the action.

Each glimpse is

different.

breathe deep

 
**

Have you noticed the distinct 

smell of a forest?

Many of the terpenes and terpenoids 

emitted by conifers

give off a lovely scent and 

are 

good for our health.

But, aside from the scents of the forest:

A study done by Yale University had 200

people identify 80 aromas

and these are the twenty most recognizable smells.

Some smell good, some, not so much.

coffee

peanut butter

Vicks VapoRub

chocolate

wintergreen oil

baby powder

cigarette butts

mothballs

dry cat food

beer

ivory bar soap

juicy fruit gum

orange

cinnamon

lemon

tuna

banana

crayons

cheese

bleach

Source: Crayola

**'A Path of Least Resistance' 18x24" oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

Here we are

 

                        

These different worlds:

The Salish sea, the rivers

The fields

The forests

The mountains

Each live in a unique reality

Each is a world rich and bursting with life

It's all here 

in this 

Paradise.

'High Life' 18x24" oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner                     

Field of Dreams

               'Floooded Field' 18x24" oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

This field that grows our food

is flooded after a storm

It is an annual occurrence.

I am grateful for these fields.

They keep development away

thanks, in part, 

to 

Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland. 

something new

Claire demonstrating a general 

underpainting technique

I took an underpainting class this weekend with 

Claire Johnson 

at the 

Museum of Northwest Art. 

I am self-taught in the oil painting department 

so I was looking forward to this workshop.

I was not disappointed.

some tools of the trade

Claire demonstrated two different techniques.

This second technique is handy 

for night scenes and glazing.

My two underpainting examples 

that I will finish up at home.

Thank you, Claire Johnson. 

I learned so much! 

If you want to know more, 

consider her class next time!

Time Travels

 
'Marine, West Coast' 24x30" oil on canvas; Kathleen Faulkner

Perry and Carlson Gallery is transitioning into Artist representation.

The grand opening of this event is April 6, 2024, 2-5pm. 

There will be a group show in one gallery 

and a solo in the main. 

I am so pleased to be the solo for this opening. 

'Time Travels'

This body of work is about my life in the Skagit. 

I have lived here now for over forty years. 

All the work that I do reflects this.

Family reunion

Extended Family, Family Portrait, Family Tree'
oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

 I am pleased to announce that I have artwork

 in the Museum of Northwest Art's 

group show,

Silva Cascadia: Under the Spell of the Forest

This exhibition runs from February 3rd - May 12, 2024

with the opening on Saturday, February 3rd at 1pm

Following is a panel discussion from 3-4 pm

'Minders' oli pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

Featured artists include:

Maria Cristalli, Linda Davidson, Kathleen Faulkner, 

Patty Haller, Laura Hamje, Hart James,

 Claire Johnson, Donna Leavitt, Karen Lene Rudd, 

Juliet Shen, Kimberly Trowbridge, and 

Suze Woolf.

I can hardly wait to see all the great forest artwork 

in this show!

also,

I will facilitate a free collaborative drawing event on March 9, 1:30 pm

and

MoNA exhibitions are always free!

'I am Madrona' oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

sticks, stones and other things

 

various objects found on walks

I am working on a series of brooches.

Some of these things will become icebergs.

They will join these:

'Berg',"4.25x1.5" sterling and reticulated silver,

plastic, acrylic; Kathleen Faulkner

'Growler' 1.75x2"sterling silver, plastic, acrylic;

Kathleen Faulkner

The sticks will join these:

'Stickpin, Again'  4.75" sterling silver, wood;  

Kathleen Faulkner

'Stickpin' 4" sterling silver, wood;

Kathleen Faulkner

Assorted stickpins, wood, sterling silver, 

madrone berry;

Kathleen Faulkner, photo by David Scherrer

Stickpin, too' 4x1" sterling silver, gouache, 

paper, mica; Kathleen Faulkner

'Stickpin' 3.5x1" sterling silver, 

gouache, paper, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

Who knows what the other objects will be.

How to build a Madrona Forest

I bought this roll of Strathmore paper years ago.

I decided to start a drawing and see where it would lead.

I began this in August. 

I work on it a little most days

and a lot now and then.

I'm working on a 10 yard roll, 42" tall.

This drawing is from my imagination. 

I draw as I go.

I was drawing on my bed. 

I had a piece of plywood under it. 

It was still an issue.

I mentioned this drawing to a friend who 

had a brilliant idea: work on the kitchen table 

with an oversized piece of plywood underneath.

.

I don't think of these things since I would have no way 

to get a large piece of wood home.

My friend brought one over.

It's hard to ask for help.

Friends are a godsend.

Kitchen table work space. 

A beautiful painting by Laura Hamje 

is keeping me company.

I worked on this section during the Holidays.

At some point, I will go back over 

the work done and refine it.

A new year and a new workspace.

I'm currently at around 7'

Moving along..

icing on the Christmas cake

The catalogue of the Art in Embassies Exhibition in 

Pristina, Kosovo, 

arrived just before Christmas.

These works will be on loan for two or three years

depending on the Ambassador's term.

I was thanked for serving my Country. 

I had never thought of it that way.

I'm feeling Patriotic.

Languages spoken in Kosovo

Christian is going full gallery

'Drift' 17x20" ink, oil pastel on paper;

Kathleen Faulkner

I am pleased to announce representation with the fabulous 

Perry + Carlson Gallery. 

A new space next to the main gallery 

will show represented artists throughout the year

leaving the main room for solo shows.

I will be in a group show with other 

newly represented artists opening on 

January 13, 2024.

Thank you, Perry + Carlson gallery!

coming up

'Suite of Trees I-VI, 6x6" each, colored pencil on panel,

$250 ea;

Kathleen Faulkner

These small drawings will be available

along with some jewelry 

at the Museum of Northwest Art store 

through the 2023 Holiday season.

The Arts Alive opening is happening this year on 

November 10th from 1 - 8pm 

and running through November 13th

I will have this piece in the Open Show

'Low Tide, Padilla Bay' 10x10" ink and oil on panel, 

$500; Kathleen Faulkner

Also,

some jewelry will be available at

the Beautiful

Scott Milo Gallery

in my hometown of Anacortes, WA!

'Windletter' earrings 2.5" sterling silver,

$200; Kathleen Faulkner

2024 will start off well!

I am included in a group show 

during the month of January

at the 

Wonderful Perry + Carlson Gallery in 

downtown Mt Vernon, WA

'Drift', ink, oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

Last but not least:

I am so pleased to announce my inclusion in

'Silva Cascadia: Under the Spell of the Forest',

a group show at my favorite museum, 

the Museum of Northwest Art

in LaConner, WA

This exhibition will run from 

February 3 through May 12, 2023

oblique intent

 

work in progress, 3.5x4+' and going, colored pencil;

Kathleen Faulkner

Many strange things happened during the pandemic.

I kept myself busy

drawing my friends wearing masks.

Something just for me.

Flash forward to the present.

Instead of an appropriate project, 

I'm drawing this huge thing 

that I won't be able to frame 

and no one will see

except 

YOU.

Another something just for me.

Hero of a sort

'Low Tide, Padilla Bay' 10x10" oil on panel;
Kathleen Faulkner

I have watched the ebb and flow of Padilla Bay for 32 years.

I once worked an oil spill there. At the time, I wondered if the bay would ever recover.

It did. It took years. 

In the end, Mother Nature cleaned things up. 

Padilla Bay is known for its immense eelgrass meadow.

Some scientists suggest these meadows sequester atmospheric carbon.

Up to 80% of fish species and marine invertebrates 

use eelgrass during some part of their life cycle.

It is a place of magic. It keeps me hopeful.

cure-all

'Wonder Drug" 24x30" oil pastel on panel; Kathleen Faulkner

I grew up in the city

but we spent a lot of time

in the wilderness.

I could wander off.

I always felt safe

and I always felt better afterwards.

These days, 

it's better to wander off

with a buddy.

 

It's a good spot

'The Sticks' 9x12" ink, colored pencil; Kathleen Faulkner

 

A friend said that there is not much 'wilderness' left. 

He felt that humans' management of forest lands

deems them no longer virgin and not truly wild.

I agree.

I walk in Washington Park

This area is regularly maintained

yet

highly beneficial to my good health.

I am grateful.

On Display

I am pleaaed to announce that three of my brooches are included in the 

10th Anniversary Exhibition, BIMA Spotlight

This exhibition runs from June 30 through September 24th, 2023

'Lip Srtvice' 4x3" sterling silver, drawing, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

'Berg' 2.25x4.75" reticulated silver, plastic shard, acrylic paint;

Kathleen Faulkner

'Good Schooling' 4x4" sterling silver, drawings, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

I am also pleased to announce that two of my neckpieces will be on 

display at the Bellevue Art Museum Store throughout 2023 in 

collaboration with Northwest Designer Craftartists

'Wish Rocks' sterling silver, drawings, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

'Botanical' sterling silver, drawings, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

My work can also be found online here

and at the wonderful Museum of Northwest Art Store in LaConner, WA