Holiday Cheer

 

Dukjin Park |acrylic on canvas | 4" by 6" | copyright Liz Macklin 2010

Winter Arts Festival at the Hendry House at Fort C.F. Smith Park

Arlington, Virginia

Friday, December 3rd, 6 to 8 pm; Saturday, December 4th, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday, December 5th, noon to 4 pm

Everyone is invited.

I have two paintings on display, including  this small acrylic — evening on the lake in Dukjin Park, Jeonju, South Korea.

Wings, Woodlands and Watercolor

Korean Garden (detail) | watercolor | 3.5" by 5.5" | copyright Liz Macklin 2010

Sunday afternoon at the park. Enjoy the  animals — owls, hawks, tortoises, snakes. Drop by to watch and talk or bring your sketchbook and your paints.

Students from HB Woodlawn school will host activities for kids and demonstrate a variety of art techniques.

I’ll be painting, and I’ll be eager to discuss  gardens, nature drawing, book design, popups and inspiration from the far east, especially Korean kimonos and embroidery.

Stop by and say hello!

Potomac Overlook Regional Park, — Marcey Road off Military Road, Arlington, Virginia

Sunday, June 6 — 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Jeonju

Entrance at Gyeonggijeon | watercolor | 30" by 38" | copyright Liz Macklin 2009

While traveling in Korea, I spent a day exploring the Hanok Village in Jeonju. It was an autumn afternoon and the sky and trees were the colors of painted silks. My daughter and I visited shops brimming with handmade papers, fabrics and ceramics. We wandered through the site of the historic hall at Gyeonggijeon. A scene at the gate inspired this watercolor.

This painting and others will be on display at the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. until November 30.

Designs in Silk

Blue Silk Batik | 6" by 12"

Silk. Soft, luxurious and rich with color. Who would have thought that it all began with a lowly worm? Not just any worm – a caterpillar bent on metamorphosis!

In October I visited Korea. I spent many spare moments scouting museums and local markets looking for beautiful handmade objects. In Jeonju, a town in North Jeolla province, my daughter, acting both as my guide and translator, led me straight to the wedding street! Along this side street shops sold both western and Korean wedding gowns. The traditional Korean garments stole my heart. Long robes in brilliant hues of magenta, yellow or blue hung in the shop windows. Each gown had a high waist tied with ribbons, and the most elaborate boasted a garden of embroidered flowers on bodices and sleeves.

Inspired by the designs, I searched for more information when I returned home. Online I browsed through Life in Korea’s site on Korean Traditional Embroidery.  In my local public library I found Silken Threads: A History of Embroidery in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, by Young Yang Chung, a reference book with exquisite color photos.  I discovered other examples of beautiful rugs, gowns and fabrics from many countries at the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.

To see more of what I’ve been working on, visit the Spring Art Festival at Fort Smith Park in Arlington, Virginia, from March 27th to April 3.