Watercolor - Pansy Study

Pansy Study

8x7in watercolor on Yupo paper NFS

Artist Note

I have been trying to figure out how to do '

the pansies on this slick Yupo paper. 

For those of you who do not know what it is like,  

visualize a thin sheet of smooth,

white, flexible plastic. 

The stuff is great for abstract and 

non-representational art because 

the paint floats on the surface. 

The mingling of colors happens beautifully.

Flat areas are quite doable and 

 neat edges are formed where a puddle ends, 

but try to do a more impressionistic style 

of layering and it looks pretty messy 

right off the bat because

the darn paint lifts off when you don't want it to.

BUT 

that is also exactly the beauty of using it

...to be able to lift the paint cleanly off 

to get back to the white.

Here I slightly stained everywhere but 

the main white pansy first and lifted off 

smaller white areas - trying make sure 

that nothing 

competed with the focal pansy.

Anyone with any hints out there?

A Couple of Mums

A Couple of Mums

6x6  oil on gallery wrap canvas  $115. SOLD

Play on words here. In England, Mum is used
like Mom is here

Artists note.
I am doing a demo this afternoon for our local
art association and am
soooo nervous. I can go somewhere where people
do not know me and relax and enjoy myself, but
locally...failing locally...Oh boy!
I was doing a demo last year where I was fine until I
turned round and saw a huge crowd had gathered.
I proceeded with the demo... and I think 5 wipers
happened. Honest, no exaggeration at least 5.
Afterward people reassured me, when my dismay was
obvious, that they learned  so much from watching that
demo.
Oh sure...RIGHT!
But, here I am doing another one again,
 and another in March.
I question why I cannot say NO!

Watercolor Weekend -Trumpet Flowers

Trumpet Flowers

5x7in watercolor on acid free paper

DAY 16

These trumpet flowers are all over the place
at the moment.  I love the pods.

Artist Note

I attempted several interpretations of these flowers,
and I found I had to emphasize the cool against the
warm areas to come up with an image I liked.
I have always had difficulty with a red and green
color harmony and to make this one palatable to my
eyes, I had to nudge some lavenders and blues
in there.
Do any of you have a favorite way of
handling  painting red and green that you feel
comfortable in passing on?

Oleanders, Peaches and Handy Hint.

Oleanders and Peaches

7"x5" oil on canvas panel $100. SOLD

#5 in the 30 day challenge

I decided to throw in a formal still life or two during this
challenge.  This one is even smaller than usual.

Artist note

I have been asked how I manage to paint what
looks like a large painting composition,
but on a panel size so small.
Easy...I stand far enough back from my set-up
so that it is all actual size. (not as far back as you
would think)
I have a piece of glass from a photo frame
the same size as my canvas (in this case 5x7)
and I hold it up in front of me and move back from
my set-up until it fills the space the way I want it.
I then take a magic marker and
(as I am holding the glass with other hand) mark off
the main spots. I have found this works much better
for me than the regular viewfinder.
I lay the glass over the panel to check I like the design
and then I can either trace the marks or lift up and
nudge a few spots in as a guide if I want, but anymore
I find I only use it as a guide.

(I do tape the edges of the glass with scotch tape.)

The Rose Bouquet

The Rose Bouquet

7x5in  oil on canvas panel  $100. SOLD

A very impressionistic painting today.
Painted from a set up in the studio.

Thinking of all the devastation from
Hurricane Sandy and wondering how Mother Nature
can produce such beauty as this, and yet have the
destructive power to simply crush it all.
Sending prayers to all those who are suffering.
One feels so helpless.

If anyone buys this please know I will donate all the
money to the Salvation Army Sandy Hurricane Fund.

Petunia Profusion

Petunia Profusion.

6x8in oil on canvas panel  $125. SOLD

I painted this during class time today and it meant lots of
interrupted time. The artists needs come first so I was a happy
camper attending to both and the day flew by.

Artist Note.

The petunias I have been drawing, failed to rally so I picked
 fresh ones and included some with vibrant color.
I wanted to get my trusty mechanical pencil in the set-up.
I tried to show a bit of a  drawing too, but it was impossible with
the fracturing technique.

Tomorrow I am resuming making the video on the fracturing for the
DPW Artbyte. I have found the process rather difficult.
When I concentrate, I apparently forget to say what I am doing.
Duh!
If I make a video I do want it to be a good and helpful one...
 No pressure there - right?

Sharing voices I hear in my head!
Best foot forward, as my mother would say.
If you agree to do something, then make sure to do it right,  from my father.

Flower Study

Flower Study

6x6in oil on canvas panel  85.

We arrived at our friends house in Santa fe to find they had bought these lovely flowers for me to paint.
This was done very quickly as an exploration of the forms and I think Iwill do a more complete painting in a larger size for pure pleasure.

Artist Note.

I was trying something new. This panel was gessoed to make a brush textured panel.
I think the idea is for the texture to break up the edges.
I have seen it used quite successfully in landscape painting.
If you click on the image to enlarge it you will clearly see the ridges.

My Friend Came With Flowers

My Friend Came With Flowers

6x6in oil on canvas board   85.

Lucky Me! My friend Pam came to visit for a few days and brought me some lovely yellow and white Freesias.
My daughter calls this friend, The Food Goddess... because she works wonders in the kitchen. She is up in the house working her magic while I am finishing this off in my studio.   As I said, lucky me!