As I am writing this, we are enduring the cold winter blasts from up north! We know spring is not far off, because my latest art project is related to that. The Florida Women’s Art Association exhibit for this month is “Viva Carnival”. The theme is based on the winter celebrations held all over the world. The use of bold, bright and enchanting visuals was suggested. We could interpret the feeling anyway we wanted to!
“Carnivalesque Kokopelli” by Evy Okerstrom,
Watercolor, Pen & Ink,
14″ x 16″, $500.
I began not knowing how this was going to come together. Needing bright colors, I took a piece of watercolor paper and did a wet wash of the primary colors. Starting with yellow, then red which made orange, last blue. Thinking of spring I thought of flowers, and bought a readymade bouquet of flowers. I made sure the colors were going to compliment my wash colors. On the dry paper I drew the flowers over the watercolor wash. I used pen and ink to make them stand out, but what paint would make them pop? I used my watercolor gouache. Because the paint is opaque the color stood out and made them look realistic. With that done, I thought what is missing to make this joyful and celebratory for spring. The answer was in a small pottery bowl from NM. On the outside was an image of Kokopelli, the Navajo spirit of agriculture and a butterfly. He is playing his flute to bring spring and plants alive. So, I added the figure of Kokopelli and the butterfly that represents rebirth and hope across cultures. The background is the NM landscape as it emerges from winter.
This painting, “Carnivalesque Kokopelli” will be at the Art Spotlight, 67 W. Granada, Ormond Beach, FL; February 1 – 27, 2023.
New Classes at the Hub on Canal: February 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd;
Thursday, 12:30 to 3:30 pm. Contact me if interested.
“Paperweights by Design”
Card by Evy Okerstrom
My thought of the day: Talk Art, with Evy Okerstrom, Saturday, January 7, 2023. Here are some photographs and artwork done by the people attending. Talk Art is a free one hour informal conversation with the artist. I spoke about my classes and artwork.
Evy at Talk Art, January 7, 2023.
Audience Participant
Audience Participant
Audience Participant