Solitude - 30 Day Challenge

Solitude

7x5in gouache on paper  NFS

This the first for the 30 Day Challenge.

I have not decided if this is finished or not.

It was a very quick sketch 

Artist Note.

I did not join the last two Challenges

because of my previous Challenge experience.

My fault entirely.

It was pressure I placed on myself 

to do all thirty...on time!

I found my quality suffered and the creativity 

which was there at the start, quickly diminished.

So why do this one then?

Because I had encouraged some other 

guild members to do it,

assuring them it does not matter if

they do not complete one a day, 

and feel I should 

 at least accompany them on their journey.

So this time, if life gets in the way and I miss

a day, it's okay...

I will not march myself into the tower of London!

The Challenge has become so large that 

there is no way I can get to see all the artists.

Not enough time.

Thats a shame because I hate to miss out on 

 seeing someone's work I may like. 

I think I read  there were over 

600 artists from 17 countries.

I encourage you to click on the link to see

all the paintings. (You have to scroll down.)

30 day Challenge

Good luck and lots of enjoyment to all participating.

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?

Art Supplies - and an interesting discovery.

Art Supplies

8x6"  watercolor NFS

Day 10 in the 30 day challenge

Objects around my painting area.

Artist Note.
I am still experimenting with my watercolor technique
and yesterday, while I was wondering what to paint,
I remembered what Bernard Dunstan
emphasizes in his little gem of a book,
Starting to Paint Still Life.
Beside setting up a regular still life he recommends
you look for the" accidental groups which just happen
everywhere around us."
This still life was right in front of me.

I happen to like the book  (all of his books, actually)

and have had it for years. It is small - 6x8 -and not an 

entertaining book with colorful images, but it provides a 

solid explanation of his personal teaching style with mostly 

black and white reproductions .
Works for me.

Interesting discovery.
When I am commenting on other blogs and I have to enter
the hated, 'prove you are not a robot' to be able to 'Publish'
I find it a real pain in the neck because it takes so much 
extra time. I had previously discovered when numbers were 
asked for, that ANY two numbers would do the job, 
and now I know why...drum roll...
you do not have to enter numbers at all 
ONLY THE LETTERS. Honest. Trust me.
I wish the word had been passed around before now.
Maybe you already knew it, but I didn't. If it helps 
even one other artist not to have to squint to read the 
numbers then I will be happy.
Even better would be if everyone did not have 
"comment moderation" at all!  In a perfect world.

Watercolor Weekend - floral still life

Floral Still Life #1

9x7in watercolor on acid free paper NFS

A bouquet of flowers in one of my favorite vases.

Artist Note.

Still getting comfortable with using fracturing in my
watercolors. This time I tried more of a full set-up
instead of the vignette format. I went a little bit larger
to make it easier. I enjoyed doing it and like parts
of this one very much and the areas I do not like I have
a good idea what I would not do again, and that is
always a victory.

In my last post I asked for advice on painting pale
colored flowers in the interior shade. Outside shade
would have been much easier because the blue sky
would have added a beautiful touch of cool shades.
I really thank those who emailed me and those who helped
in the comment area. I listened and did some (many) sketches
in watercolor using the advice suggested.
When I started 
to blog I never realized how important it would become.
I am pushing myself to continue to learn, explore and grow
all because of the support and encouragement from the 
community of fellow bloggers.
What a wonderful and special gift . I feel blessed.

The study below happened because of the advice from:
Hilda, Libby, Bruce, Blanche and Carol on my blog and
also more thanks to Sue, Rita, Penny, Dave and Paul
by email. They all basically said to darken the background
and have light hitting for contrast. This one does not capture
the beauty I remember with no strong light for contrast, but
it was impossible for me to achieve that so this is a sketch
that came the closest.
Now to try it in oil.

Farmers Market #12

Farmers Market #12

7x5in watercolor  - still in process.


During this market series I found a fascination with
plain old garlic.

Artist Note.
In my last post I mentioned I had become fascinated with
the garlic and that led to a weekend of nothing but
drawing and painting garlic.
Above is the one I tried using the fracturing technique
I developed. I obviously pushed the colors, but that is
the fun of trying different ways of exploration. I have to live
with it for a while to see if I will place it for sale.
The fracturing is still pretty new to me in watercolor
and keeping paintings I sense something works...or doesn't,
helps me on the next one.
I completed another one in a very traditional method
which I also like and I will be posting that.

Below shows my sketches and another watercolor
in process.

Farmers Market #8

Farmers Market #8
Watermelons!

8x6in  oil on canvas panel  $125. SOLD

My hubby absolutely  loves watermelons. Our fridge
is never without one during the summer. He was not with
us at the farmers market and does not know about this
painting. I know he will love it.

Artist Note.
Below is the photo source for this painting. You can see
I changed the angle because I was all excited about the
cut watermelon on top. The man has another one in his hand
cutting taste samples. I found him to be a little bland in brown
so I went through my reference material...see sketchbook below,
and found a sketch of the guy in the painting. I loved his striped t-shirt.
It was a bit of fun deciding to place him with the striped watermelons.

A page from my moleskin book showing the guy in striped t-shirt
mixed in with other figures. These are only an inch or so high.
I like the preggie lady! I can remember holding my back like that.

Lilac Bouquet

Lilac Bouquet

6x6in  oil on canvas panel   $100.

Beautiful lilacs delivered by a traveling friend.
All she requested was to watch me paint them.

Memorial Day tomorrow.
Honoring the fallen Military is a genuine privilege . At 3:PM we will
take a moment to remember... with gratitude.
One of our sons was in the military here in the USA and the pride is still felt.

Growing up in England I remember we had a similar day called
Remembrance Day...or Poppy Day, and we all wore a red silk poppy.
It was in November. I copied the info below
During the First World War, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. In many parts of the world, people observe a two-minute of silence at 11am on 11 November. 

Rose for the Fundraiser

Rose and Brass

6x6in oil on canvas  starting bid  will be $50.

SOLD for $129 - thank you.

Daily Paintworks is holding an auction for the Oklahoma Tornado Victims .
If you are interested in this good cause then please follow the link.
If you do not like this one then please take a look at the many, many other works of art
being donated. Thank you.