Blue Shutters - France.

Blue Shutters

8x6in oil on linen panel  $130. SOLD

This is the same french house as in my last post.

 Ivy covers the walls in this area 

and the table with the plants has an old,

 but more elegant chair than I would ever have outside.

(I love the french flair!)

Obviously someone sits there while potting the plants.

Talk about having a green thumb.

Door In France With Canaries

 Door in France With Canaries

8x6in oil on linen panel  $130. SOLD

This reminded me of growing up in England when my mother 

would hang the bird cages outside during nice weather.

This house has beautiful shuttered windows which

I am looking forward to painting.

Artist Note.

My thanks for all the thoughtful replies to my question 

regarding blogs versus facebook.

It appears we all agree that a blog has a depth of

interest and communication which is different to Facebook.

Both are good - just different.

Another Peony Painting #3

Peony #3
8x8in oil on canvas board  $175. SOLD


I am really enjoying painting the peonies.
It is the season...I see so many artists painting them.

Artist Note.
I did the total underpainting with the fan brush using the technique
shown HERE
Of course, I used different colors but everything was laid in
in the same way. I even started the peonies and leaves
with the chisel motion. Then I came in with my fracturing technique.
See HERE  - using most of the side edge  of the fan brush to finish
the forms. I have used three different techniques to explore
the peony with and have enjoyed them all.
Next, a drawing!

Thank you for all the great comments.
I will be sure to get round to all your blogs. I genuinely love seeing
what everyone does. I have found the difference between Facebook
and blogs is the depth of information. Facebook is quick and easy but
some of the ones I get the most out of are the blogs.
 Does anyone else agree?

Peonies in Oil

Peonies and Cherries

8x6in oil on canvas board  $150. SOLD

Peony season is almost over here, but what a 

gorgeous flower it is.

Artist Note.

After doing the previous peony painting in watercolor

I had to follow it up with an oil painting while the

colors were still fresh in my mind. 

I really like this one!

_

Watercolor Weekend - Peonies

Peonies

12x9in watercolor on Yupo paper

Trying something larger and different on the Yupo. 

Artist Note.

Still busy, busy...BUT

I saw these peonies in a garden while walking with a friend and 

went and knocked on the door. When the gentleman understood why 

I wanted one to paint, he got a cutter and persuaded me to take a few.

Naturally I had to paint them pretty quickly, and already the 

pink ones are really droopy. 

I am deciding if I should go further with this making it 

more dramatic with some pattern.  

I really enjoy trying 

different approaches with Yupo.  I can wipe out any 

part I want to and start fresh. Very liberating. I also find Yupo

a completely different and difficult surface to work on. 

Only using it twice a week at weekends means it is 

going to take a long time to learn what I can do with it.

Watercolor Weekend - Adobe and Garden

Adobe and Garden

7x9in watercolor on Yupo paper

Artist Note

Still playing around with watercolor on the Yupo paper.

It was painted plein air and dried very quickly.

Using the fracturing technique added some excitement 

for me, as unexpected areas of paint reacted in different ways.

I "puddled" the paint in places and liked the fine line

it left at the edges. 

Maybe this summer I can

spend a bit more time experimenting with painting

on the Yupo. I like the idea of mounting it to a board

so it can be framed without using glass.

Another Way To Use The Fan Brush - + video

10x8in oil on canvas  

Demo using the underpainting shown on video link below.

Establish the major areas of the underpainting colors 
by  using the fan brush in a side zig-zag movement shown on the video
It makes a wonderful base on which to build your painting on.

 Click on Video on fan brush #2

Watercolor Detail and Fan Brush Video

Artist Note.

On yesterday's post I showed a video on how I use the fan brush

for foliage. The link I provided did not work so I am 

showing it again today.

Thank you to Lauren Nelson for sending me a corrected link.

I have never even met Lauren, but she has generously 

helped me with computer issues before.

Yesterday's post was on using oil paints but I have been asked 

if the same technique

works with watercolor or acrylic paints.

 Absolutely!

Above is a foreground base on which to 

develop texture or grasses.

I used watercolor and fan brush in same technique

as on the video  Naturally, the difference between the video 

and using watercolor would be starting lighter

and gradually adding the darker colors.

close-up of foreground - oil
I start with my transparent darks first...using the brush like a chisel
See short video below after reading.
Then I add the opaque colors using the same technique.
If you try it, then remember to leave some
of the darker areas showing. After the demo, I noticed many
of the artists were not using their arm or holding their brush
at end of the handle - they were controlling too
much by holding their bush in the middle, and being very careful.
Unfortunately, this results in a very uniform stroke.
So listen to the sound of the brush against the canvas
in the video and you can tell I whack at it.
I have found it gives a more natural appearance to build on.
Practice on a piece of canvas and remember you can
wash it off and keep starting again.  You will end up with a
canvas you can still use with a wonderful neutral base.
Take notes of the different effects you like so you can
repeat them
link to video HERE

Cloudy Day plus Fan Brush Demo

Cloudy Day

8x6in  oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note
The following is for those who enjoy a looser and more
impressionistic way of painting.
I have found that the fan brush is often overlooked
for the many helpful ways it can be used in painting.
First, here is a sample of my brushes.
A mixture of bristle, mongoose and synthetic.
All have a purpose.

The foreground of this painting was painted totally with the one brush
shown below

 It is bristle and has been allowed to separate by not totally cleaning
the base area and letting it dry in shape shown.
The top part is still beautifully springy - not stiff.

close-up of foreground
I start with my transparent darks first...using the brush like a chisel
See short video below after reading.
Then I add the opaque colors using the same technique.
If you try it, then remember to leave some
of the darker areas showing. After the demo, I noticed many
of the artists were not using their arm or holding their brush
at end of the handle - they were controlling too
much by holding their bush in the middle, and being very careful.
Unfortunately, this results in a very uniform stroke.
So listen to the sound of the brush against the canvas
in the video and you can tell I whack at it.
I have found it gives a more natural appearance to build on.
Practice on a piece of canvas and remember you can
wash it off and keep starting again.  You will end up with a
canvas you can still use with a wonderful neutral base.
Take notes of the different effects you like so you can
repeat them

link to video here using the Fan Brush #1 maybe not working - see new link

or try this link

Happy Mother's Day... and to those without children,
I bet you have a pet(s) you are a wonderful mother to.

GRAND VIEW

Grand View

6x8in oil on canvas panel  $125.
Purchase here

Not my typical work, but one I enjoyed painting
- inspired by memories of wonderful family trips.

Artist Note.
Busy, busy time. This is the last month
teaching at the Artists Guild before summer break
I have been organizing the
9th annual exhibit of member's work.
I follow this up by offering two workshops in June and then
time for Julie to paint, paint, paint!

This month's focus at the Guild is showing the myriad of ways
to use a fan brush.
I will be showing some of them on my blog.
Neat stuff!

Now - I am off to check out all of your wonderful posts.