Watercolors

Go Figure

2012-01-27T09:58:00.002-05:00

The figure sessions have started again this winter and I'm trying to go every week...I think it has helped me tremendously...just the sheer consistency of going and "doing". Practice, practice and practice some more. I just wish we had a Dr. Sketchy's here in town...there is a place 2 hours south and/or north of here hosting those... maybe sometime in the future.

masking fluid

2012-01-25T09:36:00.002-05:00

This is a quick painting I did last fall...I used masking fluid for the white spots on the mushrooms...I don't usually use masking fluid..but here it was fun..I spritzed it on using a tooth brush and flicked some off a regular round brush. After I removed it I added some color to subdue the bright white spots.

record a trip

2012-01-23T09:10:00.002-05:00

Aaaaah memories of last year's travels. I try to keep a travel journal whenever I head out the homestead door and make myself fill it up front to back...that way I have a goal and can't return home with empty pages! If towards the end of the trip I have more pages left than days remaining...I ramp up the sketches, notes and record everything furiously...

Four-up

2012-01-20T09:32:00.002-05:00

This is a series within a series! I did a little scene with four individual paintings on the same piece of paper. This was fun to do since you can scoot across the different images and use similar pigments..or for another challenge it would be great to do four of the same scene but use totally opposite and unique color combos. Hmmm..might have to try that next time. (did you spot the little cardinal in the tree?)

Series painting

2012-01-18T10:45:00.003-05:00

Another winter scene...this one is extremely neutral with a slightly upturned perspective. I was on a birches roll a while back and this week you are seeing the results. Painting in a series can be good practice..it allows you to explore the subject and adjust, explore new color combos, create different textures, use new tools and more in each consecutive painting you create.

Winter Birches

2012-01-16T08:45:00.002-05:00

This week I'll post winter birches...the colors are more subdued than the cardinals and really describe a hushed cold outdoor scene. It doesn't look like this here...this winter has been severely lacking in snow. Too bad for the ski areas! and for outdoor winter plein air painters! (which is not me...brrrr!)

Pop your color

2012-01-13T10:49:00.003-05:00

This concludes "cardinal week"...it's been a colorful one. I like to use Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson and some form of either purple or even Burnt Sienna or Payne's Gray for the darker tones. You can even float some Orange or Opera on top of your Red washes to make the colors pop!

Cardinal 2

2012-01-11T10:44:00.002-05:00

The second of the cardinal series...these paintings are small...only about 7.5"x10". I had taken a full sheet of watercolor paper and folded it in half/half/half/half and ended up with these sizes. My regular 140 lb paper folds well and doesn't need to be cut...it also give a rough edge when you rip it down the seam, which I like.

Cardinal 1

2012-01-09T10:27:00.002-05:00

This week is cardinal week...I'll post two more watercolors I did last month. We have a cardinal pair flying around our yard and have had cardinals for several years..they are such a wonderful pop of color in winter. We don't have snow (yet), but I imagined snow on the ground for these pieces and splattered white watercolor over top to simulate falling snow.

Keeping an eye

2012-01-05T09:44:00.003-05:00

I've received quite a few comments recently both via email and directly on my blog posts...and I want to thank all of you for taking the time to write such nice things...I read them all and don't really respond individually, but will acknowledge you all right here today! It is a real pleasure to get feedback and know that you are out there keeping an eye on my work! This young lady is titled "Bright curls" (15"x15").

"The Storyteller"

2012-01-03T10:20:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! We are already 3 days in and I wish I could say that I vowed to sketch every day, paint a certain way this year or a number of other artistic resolutions...but that isn't the case. I do however want to do all those things and more, but will take things as they come and strive to improve, expand and absorb new techniques, new materials and new art adventures! (15"x22")

Ho Ho Ho

2011-12-20T09:54:00.002-05:00

We all recognize this jolly gentleman...He hasn't stopped by our house yet...but I've seen him around town.. at the mall, on the street, even running in a local charity fun run...He's a busy guy. Hope your holidays are merry and bright!

"The Glance"

2011-12-16T10:06:00.002-05:00

This young lady had such a strong cast shadow that I just had to try and paint her...even the subtle shift of values reads as a dark and a light under and on her chin and her cheek. That's one thing I learned this year.. among other things...but a lighter touch with the pigments can be just as effective as a strong hand.

Lady in red

2011-12-13T10:19:00.002-05:00

I'll get back to my card sets sometime soon...but thought I'd post some of my newest work. This stately, well dressed, elegant lady looked stunning with her fancy sunglasses and jaunty red hat...I'm glad I had a chance to paint her and use all the red pigments on my palette! 15"x11"

More card sets

2011-12-08T07:15:00.005-05:00

More cards for you to peruse...I had fun with the four seasons of Vermont Farms (above) and had a collection of wine bottle images that I did for a poster for a local Fine Wine and Food festival. And the roosters are always a favorite of mine to paint. As I said in the previous post there are 8 cards total (2 of each image) and they are photographs of my paintings put on a deckled edge, blank notecard (5"x7"). They are $21.95 per pack plus $3.05 S/H for a total of $25.00

A Fine Vintage

Roosters

Card Sets

2011-12-06T09:51:00.013-05:00

Today I'm posting some of my card sets which are for sale at two or three Vermont locations, but not anywhere else...so I thought why not here? I'll post some others in the coming days like rooster card sets, Sunflowers, Peonies, poppies, Irises and more...so stay tuned. If you'd like one of these sets just click on the Buy it Now button and I'll send them to you! The cards are blank with a deckled edge and are packaged in a clear plastic box. There are two each of the four images you see for a total of eight cards.
They are $21.95 per set plus $3.05 S/H for a total of $25.00 each.

Tulips

Glass birds

2011-12-02T08:55:00.004-05:00

This post goes along with my last one about my work being licensed...these two images are on "stained glass" and are about 6"x8". I was so excited to get these samples in the mail..the reproduction and quality is really outstanding. It is so much fun to have my work represented on such an array of different products. The company that manufactures these is called Truth in Glass and hopefully they'll show up in a store near you!

2012 Calendar

2011-11-30T10:15:00.007-05:00

This calendar is out there in the retail market somewhere right now, which is very exciting...I happened to find this one at Homegoods! I wish I knew which stores were carrying this calendar...I come to an agreement with my licensing agent for the use of my images for a particular product and that's where it ends...so if you find these items in and around your neighborhood, let me know so I can tell folks where they can buy this calendar! This is the backside....sorry for the crooked picture..

out of the dark

2011-11-28T11:31:00.003-05:00

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend...Back to blogging. This was done from a vintage photograph of my grandfather. I had a great time with the "wetness" of the watercolor washes and the very light touch of pigment. Dark doesn't always have to be dark...like his jacket was in the original picture.

Magic brushes

2011-11-22T09:03:00.002-05:00

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving week..I'll pick up again next week with my blog...so I'll leave you with this image (15"x22") of a little girl painted from a vintage photograph...this was one of those paintings that painted itself...well we all know that doesn't happen...we don't have magic brushes like the brooms in Fantasia, but sometimes there is another force at work that just puts paint in the right places! Wish they could all be like that!

eyes vs. ears

2011-11-18T08:52:00.002-05:00

The eyes of a painted portrait are so important...they make or break the resemblance to the person. I don't think anyone would look at a portrait and think the ear is a bit off...but then again...you never know.

peony varieties

2011-11-16T09:30:00.002-05:00

Painting peonies...it's what I do every June...They are so pretty and I love their round buds and spiked leaves. It's incredible how many varieties there are..different colors, shapes, sizes etc...

unusual pigment placement

2011-11-14T08:03:00.002-05:00

It is not easy to put blue in someone's face...but I do mix in Cerulean with Raw Sienna and Cad Red...here his cheek and lip reflect that choice....now it's all I can see since I mentioned it..but the green in his hair is fun as well...so many pigments...might as well sling them around a bit in unpredictable places :)

Gondolas

2011-11-10T09:23:00.003-05:00

Venetian Gondolas...it's like painting cows in Vermont! Had fun with this one..not an easy subject, but a good exercise nonetheless. For those of you who emailed and commented on my last post..it is the interior of the fortified monastery of Abbey Lerins on Ile Saint-Honorat, France. I'll attempt that painting again.

what is it...

2011-11-08T10:17:00.003-05:00

This piece is 8"x8" done from a photo that I've wanted to paint for years now...this was a first attempt, done with just two colors...burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. I was trying for several values. I don't know if you can tell what it is supposed to be...