happy new year

'Real Life'  24x36" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

last day of 2014

tomorrow can be the start of a new beginning.  

life is what you make it.

luck be a lady

'Another View'  24x36" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner 

One day, while driving near Edison, I noticed the fishermen.  Their trucks parked along the road and, there they were, all lined up along the river bank sporting hip boots, camo, fishing poles.  I watched a couple walking back to their trucks carrying their catch of large, beautiful salmon.

Later I stopped at that spot to look over on the north side which is hard to see from the road.  The fishermen had gone.  It was quiet and beautiful and, as I looked, I saw two very large salmon jumping and waving their tails at me.

I love a happy ending.


May your new year be full of happy endings.




Beethoven's "Ode to Joy"

invitation

Various necklaces, sterling silver;
Kathleen Faulkner

You are cordially invited to the Annual Holiday Party and Ornament Giveaway at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle,  December 3rd, 2014, from 5 to 8pm.

Come and share a glass of cheer, celebrate the season and view amazing jewelry. 

The gallery artists have made handmade ornaments that will be given away that evening with the winning names drawn out of a hat.  

It is always great fun.

Please RSVP to be included in the Ornament Giveaway.

Cheers!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain

a helping hand

'Safety First' 20" milagro necklace, sterling silver,
paper, gouache, ink, graphite, mica; Kathleen Faulkner

We never know what lies ahead.

Some say that we create our own reality.

Whatever is true, it can't hurt to have a helping hand.

Ex-Votos from Mexico, Girard Collection, Museum of International
Folk Art (DCA) Santa Fe, NM A.1981.42.694V.1 Photo by Paul Smutko.

Next

'Into the Woods II'  24x18" oil pastel;
Kathleen Faulkner

I'm headed into the western woods.  My next show is at Simon Mace Gallery in Port Townsend, WA, entry to the largest temperate rainforest in the Continental US, home to good friends and a generally great place to have a good time. 

It has been a fortunate year for me.  I've discovered that saying yes has many benefits. 

'Into the Woods'  54.5x37.5" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

running on empty

'On the Way to Discovery Bay'  54.5x37.5" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Back to back shows..  

I'm tired but it's worth every minute. 

If one must have an addictive personality, it's good to be addicted

 to something worthwhile.

Journey

'Journey' 18x24" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Friends Make Us Fuller

Friends make us fuller. When friends leave, their light stays behind. It is like the blue sea that supports the white breakers that come and go. No matter how far I go I long to return and be with friends. It is never the same fire I left, but beneath it are the ashes of all our meetings that have gone before.

~Robert Sund

mud pies

'Indian Slough' 16x20" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Slough

noun

1.

an area of soft, muddy ground; swamp or 

swamp like region.

2.

a hole full of mire, as in a road.

3.

Also, slew, slue. Northern U.S. and Canadian. a marshy or reedy pool, pond, inlet, backwater, 

or the like.

4.

a condition of degradation, despair, 

or helplessness.*

*Webster:  number 4 doesn't work for me.  I'll change that to 'a condition of glorious mud teeming with life; the thought of which can give one comfort and hope.'

Dance

'drift, flit, quiver, shiver'  9x9" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

The Edison Eye proudly presents

'DANCE'

July 19 - August 3, 2014

Opening Reception July 19, 5pm - 8pm

Gallery hours:  friday through sunday

noon - 5pm  

or by appointment:  360-766-6276

edisoneye@wavecable.com

100 works of art by 100 artists

Come share with us the exhilaration and joy of dance.

short story

'Glimpse''  33x28"  oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

You never know what you'll find down by the water. 

One day I decided to walk down along the channel past the old rotted dock.  I had so much on my mind.   

When I finally stopped and raised my head I caught a glimpse of a moment.. 

and then it was gone.

the whole equals more

'Birds of a Feather'  11x15" linocut;  Kathleen Faulkner

Skagit Women Print
"The purpose of this project is to generate a suite of prints created by these women responding to the experience of living and creating here. In Skagit Valley, it is easy to be seduced by the incredible beauty, and overlook the intrusions of how human habitation has manipulated that beauty to suit our needs. In a part wild, part artificial landscape, the temptation is to put blinders on and only see the blue heron in flight, while ignoring the diked and dammed river. We love Skagit Valley, both the wild and the man made. This suite of prints will explore those contradictions and complex pressures through the eyes of women who live here."   Natalie Niblack

August of last year found Natalie Niblack conspiring with Jules Faye to produce a collaborative suite of prints by women artists living in Skagit Valley.  At that time,  the artists were invited to participate in this project.
Meetings were held at the beautiful Harmony Fields in the midst of the Magic Skagit.  Such a beautiful destination added to the enjoyment and inspiration of it all.
We were instructed to create an edition of 25 prints.  18 of these to be distributed among the participants so, in the end, we'd each head home with our own suite of prints.  Number one of the edition would be framed for shows.  The remaining 6 suites would be for sale.  Since we all worked independently we didn't see the other work until the last meeting.

They say that the whole equals more than the sum of it's parts. This is especially true in that each and every print is strong and can hold it's own.  We worked well as a group and the artwork created shows that.  It's going to be a great show!

The work will be on view at Anchor Art Space in Anacortes, Washington from July 11th through August 10th, 2014 and Shoreline Community College Art Gallery in Shoreline, Washington from January 5th through January 30th, 2015.  

The participants include:  Natalie Niblack, Jules Faye, Kris Molesworth, Heidi Epstein, Kathryn Glowen, Jean Behnke, Twila Tate, Theo Jonnson, Ann Reid,  Eve Deisher,  Jane Alynn, Jessica Gigot, Ellen Michael, Nicolette Harrington, Sue Roberts, Kristin Theiss, Stella Spring and myself. 

Natalie Nyblack and Ann Reid laying their editions;
photo: Kathleen Faulkner

Nicolette Harrington and Kristen Theis
laying their prints.  Natalie, Theo Jonnson
and Eve Deisher observing;
photo: Kathleen Faulkner

from left to right:  Theo, Kristen, Natalie, Nicolette, Eve and Jean
Behnke;   photo: Kathleen Faulkner

Skagit Women Artists
left to right:  Kathryn Glowen, Jane Alynn, Stella Spring, Sue Roberts,
Heidi Epstein, Kris Molesworth, Theo Jonnson, Nicolette Harrington,
Jules Faye, Jean Behnke, Natalie Niblack, Eve Deisher, Anne Reid,
Kristen Theiss, Jessica Gigot,  Ellen Michael and Twila Tate;
photo:  Kathleen Faulkner

it's the little things

'Edison Field' 36x24" oil pastel on board;
Kathleen Faulkner

I overcommitted this year.  How does one say no to such wonderful opportunities? 

Walking around the valley clears my head.  Those little breaks..   help me when I return home to work.  

There is a lot to do but I will keep at it.  I always feel good when I've completed work that has been a challenge.  I'm already feeling good about it all.

The first project is done.  I find myself walking around in circles with a smile on my face.

land of wild

'Fallow Field' 18x24" oil pastel on board;   Kathleen Faulkner

The field is at the end of the road;  beyond that, the Skagit river.
I've only been to this field a few times.
Once it was covered in river water.   Another time the water between the rows had frozen.
This last time it was a soft, slight green.
The field has a wildness about it despite having been altered by man.   It is something hard to explain.
Once I smelled the Salish sea there.

Some places have that wild energy yet live so close to home: all along the edges of Fir Island, the slough through Edison, the rotten dock at the north end of town.

Later I'll walk up to Cranberry Lake nestled in the midst of the Anacortes Forest Lands nestled in the midst of town.

half light

'The Gloaming'  18x24" oil pastel on board;  Kathleen Faulkner

The Plowboy

After the last red sunset glimmer,

Black on the line of a low hill rise,

Formed into moving shadows, I saw

A plowboy and two horses lined against the gray,

Plowing in the dusk the last furrow.

The turf had a gleam of brown,

And a smell of soil was in the air,

And, cool and moist, a haze of April.

I shall remember you long,

Plowboy and horses against the sky in shadow.

I shall remember you and the picture

You made for me,

Turning the turf in the dusk

And haze of an April gloaming.

Carl Sandburg

down in the valley

'Along Best Road' 24x36" oil pastel on panel;  Kathleen Faulkner

It is tulip season in the valley.  

Flocks of humans in cars come from everywhere to see the brilliant colors. 

This is when the locals stay home.  

The last time I saw these poplars was in March.  It was a cold northwest day;  the daffodils were just coming on.  

This is the image I'll probably have in my mind until May.

reflection

'Pathway'  29x32"  oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Robert passed in September, 2001.  It was a sad winter that year.  

I've always missed him most though, in April.   

April Has Turned Cold

April has turned cold.

The evening light fades through the clouds.

A string of geese calls me out

to sing a farewell, and

I wish them luck as they go from Ish River,

away out over the ocean,

long, long sweeps of rippling wings

bound for Siberia.

Their wild song they take with them, 

and leave some behind.

They leave enough so

I don't have to leave home any more.

Robert Sund

poem from SHACK MEDICINE

the hopeful season

'Another Marsh Picture'  16x34" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Spring has arrived

and with it the sounds of love

All hail the spring!

http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/p.regilla.sounds.html

good things come to those who wait

In October of 2011 I received an invitation to be included in the book originally titled '100 Northwest Artists'.  

It took a little longer than we all thought but now the project is complete and, in celebration, Karla Matzke is having a book signing during the opening and party at her beautiful gallery on Camano Island, Washington.  I am thrilled to be included in this book and show.

Mailer for the show by Karla Matzke

Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park

presents

25 of the "100 Northwest Artists" Art Show

Karla Matzke is the co-author of a beautifully illustrated book featuring 100 Northwest artist’s works and is available at the gallery.  

You are invited to the 

book signing at the  

Opening Party & Potluck

Saturday, March 1st, 4 to 9pm 

The show continues thru April 13th.

The book “100 Northwest Artists” and the twenty five artists showing, represent the artistic vibrancy of the Northwest region of the United States. The states of Oregon and Washington are rich with artists, having become vital art scenes in the past several decades. Using sculpture, glass, oil, clay, wood, and other contemporary mediums, as well as paint, these 21st century artists combine, redesign, and transform their materials into pieces of works that change the way we perceive both the regions of the Northwest and the world. This show is a wonderful resource for lovers of all art mediums.

Artists:

Sabah Al-Dhaher (Seattle), Liana Bennett (Bothell), Brian Berman (Bainbridge), Lance Carleton (Lake Stevens), Shirley Erickson (Bellingham), Kathleen Faulkner (Anacortes), Aaron Haba (Camano Island)

Karen Hackenberg (Port Townsend), Phillip Levine (Burien), James Madison (Tulalip), Karla Matzke (Camano Island), Lin Mcjunkin (Conway), Merrilee Moore (Seattle), Richard Nash (Oak Harbor), Peregrine O'Gormley (La Conner), Doug Randall (Portland), Debbi Rhodes (Camano Island), David Ridgway (Bellingham), Sue Roberts (Guemes Island), Ethan Stern (Seattle), Donna Watson (Camano Island), and Bill Wentworth (Poulsbo) 

Mailer for the show (back) by Karla Matzke

Book Cover

one view

'View to the East'  oil pastel  24x24";  Kathleen Faulkner 

The first time I saw the sign it was Christmas and it was lit up,  shining brightly in the window.  I saw it again recently, during the day, not turned on but still shining brightly.

Sign in the window at the Lucky Dumpster
in Edison, WA

corvus marinus

'A Gulp of Cormorants'  16x34" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

The cormorants are there.  We just don't notice.  

We tend toward the herons and hawks.  We love the owls and revere the raven.  Cormorants blend in with the seagulls.  Nothing special, just some black birds hanging around. 

There is an old rotting dock at the north end of town.  The cormorants are always there.  I sometimes go to that spot to think. Knowing they'll be there brings me comfort.

Louder than Words

'Stick' pin 3.5x1" sterling silver,
gouache, paper, mica;
Kathleen Faulkner

Remember the old adage: 

'Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me'.

True courage consists in doing what is right, despite the jeers and sneers of our companions.     

Christian Recorder, March 1862

'Volcano'  18-20' chain 2- 2.25" discs,
sterling silver, gouache, paper,  glass lenses;
Kathleen Faulkner



'Louder than Words'