Painting on exhibit at Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum

"Through the Shoals" Watercolor © Beatrice Bork

ORADELL NJ— November 15 marks the start of the first leg of the Society of Animal Artists 55th Annual Art and the Animal exhibit tour at the beautiful Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum. I was pleased to see that my "Through the Shoals" flamingo image was used as part of the promotion of this prestigious presentation of some of the best animal artists in the world. The exhibit runs until January 3, 2016.

More on the exhibit:  http://www.blauveltartmuseum.com/exhibitions.html

My schedule of events can be found on my website: www.BeatriceBork.artspan.com

"Seeker"

"Seeker" Watercolor/Gouache Painting © Beatrice Bork

TRINIDAD— I have traveled to Trinidad and Tobago islands frequently and have a mountain of inspiration accumulated that may last forever. "Seeker" is a Purple Honeycreeper (Male) on his way deeper into the lush neotropical rainforest, and is currently on display at Artists' Gallery through the end of the month.

Last Weekend of "Watermarks"

"House Hunter" © Beatrice Bork

LAMBERTVILLE NJ— It's hard for me to believe, but "Watermarks" at Artists' Gallery  is in its last weekend already! The show has been well received and quite a few paintings have found new homes. We will be having a "Coffee and Conversation" closing celebration on Sunday Oct. 4th, 2-4pm, all are welcome to stop by!

Another new painting I've featured in the show is "House Hunter", a carolina wren seeking out a new home, and has landed on a particularly interesting tree with possible potential? I enjoy our local birds as much as any birds I've seen in my travels. Wrens are cute, loud—in a melodious way, and quick. 

I've chosen a frame that echoes the tones in the painting and the bird. It has a nice contemporary feel with a rustic finish that I find suits the painting well. Conservation framing with UV protective museum glass.

"I'll Fly Away"

"I'll Fly Away"
Black-capped Chickadee
Limited Edition Giclée Print (20)
Signed and Numbered
©Beatrice Bork

One reason birds inspire me is my fascination with flight, to be able to just fly away when trouble is near, represents freedom to me. This piece was done after successful treatments for breast cancer—it would have been nice to fly away from everything occasionally during that time, but I must say it did give me a new, more positive perspective on life and that is what I wanted to portray in this piece. The original painting was done in watercolor and gouache.

Go to my website to see more work, or to purchase click here.

The Fall Schedule

Fall brings a busy time of year for me and I'm involved in a few shows.

"Eye to Eye III" Cooper's Hawk © Beatrice Bork

Currently through October 5
"Flight/Patterns" 
featuring: Beatrice Bork
and Jennifer Cadoff , at
Artists' Gallery in historic Lambertville, NJ.
Please join us for a coffee & conversation closing event, Sunday, Oct. 5 from 2 to 4pm.

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"Surveyor" Sharp-shinned Hawk © Beatrice Bork

"Abbott Marshlands — More Than Meets the Eye" 

September 20–November 16, 2014. At Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie in Cadwalader Park. This group exhibit celebrates the Legacy of the Abbott Marshlands. This show includes 2 of my paintings, "Silent Flight" barn owl and "Surveyor" sharp-shinned hawk. Click here for more info. about Ellarslie

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"Red Flyer" Northern Cardinal © Beatrice Bork

"Past, Present and Future" A weekend group Art Show  to benefit the preservation of historic Doylestown Cemetery. At Rolling Green Farm, Rt 202 & Aquetong Rd, Solebury, PA, October 4 and 5, with an opening reception on Oct. 3, 5-8pm. I will have several original pieces available, including; "Stalk Walk", "Red Flyer", "Lovie Dovie" and "Vantage Point" as well as a few framed limited edition giclée prints. 

Coming up in December

"In Plain Sight" © Beatrice Bork

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving! I'm grateful for many things, family, friends, my pet, better health… and thankful to be able to have a career as an animal artist! I spend my time exploring, observing and soaking in the wonders around me, and then reliving these experiences through drawing and painting.

I also enjoy the excitement of an art exhibit, creating and selecting paintings, the planning and hanging, and then meeting new people as well as catching up with acquaintances I've met along the way.  Next up is the "AG 18/18/18" the annual holiday exhibit at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ. This is one of two group exhibits AG has throughout the year. It showcases all 18 artists in 18 styles at 18 Bridge St. AND this year is the 18th anniversary!

In Plain Sight is a newer watercolor painting of a screech owl that I plan on showing at the "AG 18/18/18" show.  I hope you can join the gallery at the opening celebration on Dec. 7, 4–7pm. (The exhibit runs until Feb. 2.)

I'll Fly Away

"I'll Fly Away" Black-capped Chickadee, watercolor © Beatrice Bork

Above is a recently finished painting that I'm planning on displaying for the first time at "The Feathered and the Field" Exhibit at D&R Greenway's, Marie L. Matthews Gallery (Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ). It is a wonderful exhibit space, and looking forward to getting more details that I'll share on future blogs. 

The show dates are August 5–October 5, with an opening reception and sunset watch on Thursday August 15, 5:30-7:30.

Flamingos. 5

Painting in progress, on the "drawing board" with my resource photos. © Beatrice Bork 2013

Flamingos. 4

The painting is progressing well. I layered the whole piece with some subtle color to give me a starting point, letting me know me where everything is (the pencil outlines can be confusing if the piece is very complicated)—from there, I started building section by section.  When working with watercolor it is important to have everything planned and placed well before starting, because it is very difficult (if not impossible) to change your mind once the piece is begun.

Below is a section of the right side of the piece that I've built up. I will keep layering the rest of the piece to this level, then continue to work on it more as a whole until I'm satisfied. (Each piece is different and the process is dictated by its composition, image etc.)

Process of Flamingos watercolor painting © Beatrice Bork 2013

June 8, 2012

"The Attendant" Watercolor © Beatrice Bork

The Habitat Inhabitants exhibit at Artists' Gallery is now completed. I was quite pleased with our exhibit and the response to the work! Thank you all! Just to remind everyone that I have constant representation of my work at Artists' Gallery.

The Attendant depicts a scene of resting steer and their "attendant" the cattle egret in the foreground. It's a great relationship, as the cattle grazes they stir-up the insects which the egrets happily consume. It's one of the reasons the cattle egret's population is doing so well! This painting was featured on the July 1, 2010 cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

June 3, 2012... the closing

"Habitat Inhabitants" closes this weekend, and we're capping it off with a "Coffee and Conversation." This will be a more relaxed event with some sweets, coffee, and another chance to meet the artists (Michael Schweigart and me). All are welcome, June 3,  2-5pm at Artists' Gallery, 18 Bridge St., Lambertville, NJ.

Up and Running, May 2012

"Observation Post" © Beatrice Bork

The featured "Habitat Inhabitants" is up, the opening reception is over, and the exhibit is now in its 2nd week. So far it's been a great show! I enjoy seeing how both Michael Schweigart and my paintings "co-exist" in the feature room's space.

The exhibit runs thru June 3rd.

Artists' Gallery

18 Bridge St

Lambertville, NJ

Open Fri/Sat/Sun 11am – 6pm

Signing a painting

Close-up on a recent signature—

"Coast Guard" Osprey
watercolor © Beatrice Bork

The topic of signing a painting comes up occasionally and the reasoning of how people sign paintings can be a personal reflection of the artist as much as the art itself. A signature, initials, symbols only on the back or nothing at all.

The first painting I had some recognition with was done in high school, and was exhibited at the NJ State Museum in Trenton through Teen Arts (which was a great program—it gave me a sense of validation of being a “real” artist). I had signed that painting with a “regular” signature, my full name spelled out in careful cursive script. I don't know exactly when that changed, but shortly after I adapted the signature I still use today. It is something I feel more “identity” with—two overlapping “B”s with my last name spelled out. I have several reasons for this signature. First it’s nod to my father who signs his art with a “G” overlapping a “B.  I like the sentimentality and connection it has for me. Plus, it is clean and simple and recognizable. I am not comfortable with a large signature, and am sometimes even asked where it is—which to me is a good thing. I don’t personally like a signature that distracts from an image I’ve worked so hard to create. I don’t try to hide it, and once you see it is clear, but I try not to be that obvious. It’s even better when I’ve been told that my paintings are recognized as mine even before the signature, which is even more of an affirmation.