Visit to the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum

"Through the Shoals" American/Caribbean Flamingoes, painting © Beatrice Bork

ORADELL NJ— A trip to the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum was on my list of things to do this year ever since I found out that my painting "Through the Shoals" was among the works on tour with the Society of Animal Artists' "55th Art and the Animal" Exhibit. I also had another nice surprise when I found out that my work was selected to be part of the promotion for the show at the Blauvelt.

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

Still

"Still" watercolor © Beatrice Bork

I'm pleased to present a new painting of a Caribbean/American Flamingo. (Either Caribbean or American is acceptable, latin: Phoenicopterus ruber).  Keeping with the significance of the flamingo as a symbolic image to me personally, the title is "Still". 

Flamingos 4

"Through the Shoals" watercolor, 11 x 28" © Beatrice Bork

At this point of the painting I am very close to being finished, I will put this on an easel and continue to look at it for awhile, to see what else might be needed to be done in order to for me to feel it is complete.

The title has been something I have been pondering since I began the project, every painting is personal and I like to title them accordingly. After considering several options, "Through the Shoals" seemed to be the title most reflective of my thoughts. It not only portrays the birds feeding through the shallows, but also my journey through these last several months of breast cancer treatments.

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

Flamingos. 2

Once I had the general idea in the sketch of what I was looking to accomplish, I then went further into detail. I pulled all my photos, and researched my subject matter—which in this case included skeletal images so I could better understand the beak/face and posture. I began by working on the individual birds, then started compiling them. Once I compiled them there were several more drawings done to get everything as I wanted them to me. The image seen here is the last of these drawings, and the one I will use as the basis for my painting.

 

Pencil drawing, Flamingos © Beatrice Bork, 2013

Flamingos. 1

My journey back to health for the last half year had put my painting on hold for a while, but I have continuously been sketching and reflecting, and ideas for future paintings are plentiful. While I still have treatments to complete, I am now feeling pretty good — like a horse in a starting-gate ready to burst back onto the track.

So, what is to be the creation that gets me back? I've settled on an image that I had sketched several times since all this began. Flamingos. Maybe the pinkish ribbon-like necks influenced me. I had seen them on one of my trips to Trinidad, they are of course striking birds and this seemed to be the right time and connection for me.

I want this piece to not only accurately depict the birds of course, but also have my own personal experience be reflected. They wade through the mangrove swamps and tidal flats in groups with there heads down going through the shallows and muck to sustain life. They are gregarious and looking at a group you see a tangle of necks and legs… and yet they' re in harmony getting through another day.

I'm now finalizing my pre-painting renditions and hope to begin the piece in the next week or so. Below are initial charcoal renderings, these are used to work out positioning and composition. The next phase of drawings work out more of the details and accuracy. Updates to come.

Initial charcoal rendering (stage 1) for flamingos © Beatrice Bork, Feb. 2013 

Initial charcoal rendering (stage 2) for flamingos © Beatrice Bork, Feb. 2013