One man's trash

I am thinking about projects for the new year. 

Garbage is everywhere.

My thought is to try to convey something beautiful that, on closer look,
reveals something not so pretty. 

Some artists build sculptures from trash.
Others, paintings.
For this project, I will be drawing garbage.

Here is some plastic garbage that I spotted along a road.
I'm hoping for a good drawing from this.

I found this used tissue paper by my garbage can.
It had escaped the landfill.
I want a better background for this future drawing. 

The reflection on my wall of some found plastic
is inspiring me to do a drawing of it.

'Remnant' 24x24" drawing; Kathleen Faulkner

 

I spotted this fabric among the rocks at Deception Pass. 

It had been there a while. 

Technically, it was garbage, 

but it was beautiful in an odd way.

hope springs eternal

'May you live in interesting times.'

Well, ok.

2024 has been an interesting year. 

I could write a page or two on the blows, hardships, pain and agony

but, instead,

I will focus on the positives:

My first Museum Show, the Highlight of my year!

'Silva Cascadia, Under the Spell of the Forest'

Myself with some of my work in this show

The intreptation of the Forest by twelve women artists

        Artists l to r: Donna Leavitt, Maria Cristalli, Claire Johnson, Karen Lorene, Kathleen Faulkner, Suze Woolf, Juliet Shen, Laura Hamje, Patty Haller, Linda Davidson; not pictured: Kimberly Trowbridge, Hart James                

I also began a relationship with Perry & Carlson Gallery

this year. I had my first solo there in April. 

Perry & Carlson Gallery in Mt Vernon, WA

Gallerist, Christian Carlson and myself at my solo April, 2024

See some of the work here

My jade plant 

bloomed for the first time in over 50 years. 

I took that as a good sign.

Then this

 

It is hard to be discouraged when my plants are blooming.

Remnant' 24x24" graphite on paper; Kathleen Faulkner

I recently joined Earth Creative 

I feel a real kinship with this group and

I want to focus my work more on environmental issues in the future.

We must choose our battles. 

We will have an exhibition at Perry & Carlson Gallery

in May, 2025

Meet the artists here.

photo of some plastic garbage in the bushes, a future drawing

This year was a challenge but good things have come from it. 

Next year may be even more challenging

but I have hope that

we can ride out the storm.

For myself, 

 doing artwork helps keep me grounded

If we take care of each other

and work together as a community, 

 I believe we will come out better in the end.

So,

Here's to an inspired year ahead!

Cheers!

*Sea Pie

'Poser' 12x12" oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

 

That place at Washington Park...

It is a curve in the road. 

Over to the side,

the stairs head downward

rocky beach to the left

flat rocks to the right.

If you are lucky,

you may spot a few 

Oystercatchers 

hanging out on those 

flat rocks.

*Sea Pie,  shortened for Sea Magpie, is the original name of Oystercatcher. 

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..