Watercolor gems

And just when you thought I was lost forever . . .

Shazam!

This is a painting in a series I have started call Gifts from the Mother. There is a woman in our town who makes the most beautiful jewelry, and I am painting some of her pieces in various natural settings. Great fun, and wonderful colors. And the next ones will have far fewer rocks, believe me!

Gifts From the Mother I

15x18 watercolor on Arches

My first little show and sale

Click picture to get a closer look

I was invited to attend a Women's Only ... well it wasn't a craft sale, nor was it an art sale...I was one of only two with original art work...the others sold things like Grandma's Attic, Epicure, and home decor stuff.

At any rate, it was awesome. This is the first time I've had a bunch of my art all together in one place, and got the opportunity to talk about my stuff. I sold some paintings, found people interested in taking my classes, and generally had a great evening. My sister in law was a tremendous help...picking up all my paintings from here and there...loading and unloading...and having a plan for how to set it all up.

So, I have entered the realm of actively selling my art. It is exciting, and I can't wait to do more!

Here's to self-promotion!!

Red leaves on gray watercolor on Arches 15x22"

Click to enlarge

We have had the most spectacular fall that anyone can remember. It is October and we have yet to see snow...a thing unheard of...and it has been unseasonably warm. The leaves have had a long time to show their colors, but now they are mostly on the ground. Still, it has been wonderful, and we are all grateful for the show. This bush in my front yard puts on a particularly beautiful display, going from green to gold to scarlet, with every combination inbetween. Lovely. I have tried to capture some of that beauty...but can we ever really improve on nature? I have yet to manage...but I am pleased with the way it turned out. I have another that I will post later this week.

Enjoy!

Watercolors by me

Fall Tree watercolor 8x20
Click to enlarge





















Dried Flowers watercolor 12x12"
Click to enlarge



















Dried Flowers watercolor 12x12"
Click to enlarge

Another watercolor tree for your viewing pleasure. And two paintings of a lovely dried flower arrangement that my Mom has. The delicate stems and petals attracted me to this set up. I just left the vase, which is a mason jar, as a few pencil lines.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!

Watercolor poplar with yellow leaves

Fall Tree - watercolor 15x22
Click for a better look

I just finished painting this for my friend Doro. Hope she likes it.
Seems like it was just May...and here it is almost the middle of August!! Don't know how that happened.
Soon the kids will be back in school. And I will get to teach more drawing and watercolor classes. Yay! For all of my readers in Dawson Creek, who read but never comment...check out the schedule for classes starting in September at The Naked Canvas. I think my drawing class starts on September 13. Don't wait too long...Barb will cancel it if nobody signs up by the Friday before!!! Get on it now.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous summer!!

An Introduction and a Watercolor Mandala

Firstly, I would like to introduce my sister's new business and blog. It is called Footprint Management Systems, and she and her partner Judy are involved in the business of "greening". Yep, greening. They teach businesses, societies, what/whomever, how to hold green meetings, events, and whatnot. Cool huh? I'm ever so proud of her, and hope that you will take the time to head over to the blog and say hi. I just set it up yesterday, but they are hoping to get some good conversations going, share what they know, and just generally raise people's awareness. Feel free to link to their blog, and tell your friends! The link to their blog is in my list to the right. The website is still in the works. Stay tuned! (Yeah, how many times have I said that here?! LMAO)

Okay. As for me, here is my latest endeavor. It is a watercolor manadala, and I am pleased so far with how it is turning out. I am not sure if I am going to add more to the outside of the ring of rocks, or just fill in the middle. We'll see how it progresses. Please feel free to leave your thoughts.


Mandala watercolor on Fabriano 18"x18" Click ithe image to get a better view!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Hey...yeah...I'm still here...

Some lovely little scraps I painted in my front yard. Click to make 'em bigger if ya want.

So I am such a liar, hey? Tomorrow. I meant to post...and then...Well...sometimes tomorrow takes a long time to get here.

Not much news...been busy, busy, busy at work. So much to learn. Designing a website, laying out a book (!), marketing, just stuff, stuff, stuff!!! Great fun.

Just wanted to let ya know I'm still here!!!

Watercolor class in May

So, remember last month sometime, when I taught my first watercolor class?

I finally got the pictures from my framer lady, Audrey. These are the finished paintings that my ladies did. I think they are lovely, and am so proud!

Click on them to expand

Stay tuned tomorrow when I will post a new painting...and pictures from our little street fair on Saturday.

Happy painting!

Lazy Summer Afternoon

Went out to my brother's acreage on Sunday. It's actually only 10 miles or so down the road from me...but I'm in town, and they're not. Lovely. Quiet. You can hear the birds singing, instead of the trucks with their loud exhaust systems, and louder stereo systems. Very nice.



They just got some Alpacas. Not sure why...someone was giving them away, and they said, "Sure. Why not!" So they got 'em. Very odd and cute things they are. The baby's name is Fern. Can't remember the rest. But that baby sure is cute!! And she's the most beautiful reddish brown color.



This is a Tree Face, on a tree in their front yard. Kinda neat hey? The tree is a little bit discolored around the face, 'cause my nephew and his friends shot it with their paintball guns, and then had to scrub it off. Boys will be boys. Shame about that. lol

Of course, I had to get some more tree shots for my tree paintings. Can't just paint the same ol' trees over and over. And a shot of our beautiful blue summer sky. Pretty nice.

And the really fun thing! Baby robins. As I popped my head over the nest, the mouths opened wiiiiiide. But I wasn't quick enough with my camera. Still pretty sweet though. After a few viewings by adults and kids, the robins decided that was enough, and started dive bombing anyone who came near. Of course, it was the boys. Being boys.

And that was my Sunday afternoon. I did try a couple little paintings, but I'm not much good at the en plein aire thing...so I'm not even gonna post them. These pics are much more enjoyable...trust me.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!!

Keepin' the brushes wet

Just a few little 5x7s to keep the brushes wet. Not my usual subjects, but they were fun to paint.
Thanks to everyone for all the 'congrats' and 'good luck' messages.
My new job is going beautifully. And I am feeling inspired once again.
Summer has arrived - as evidenced by my sunburned face! My son had a soccer game yesterday, and between him and his dad they had the times aaaaalllll wrong, so we were there and hour and a half early. Way too much sun for my very white, winterized skin!! Ah well, they won the game, so all is not lost.





Another beautiful day today...maybe I'll get outside and paint.

Happy summer!!

Spring! And...the cure for what ails me

Spring has finally sprung here in the north country. The leaves are sprouting, little flowers are bursting forth, and of course I have a fabulous crop of dandelions in my back yard. (Note to self: mow the lawn!)

As for the painting...well...unfinished pieces litter my studio/living room, unattempted ideas float around in my head...and my brushes sit idle...poor things.

But I think I have found the solution. You ever have one of those jobs that just sucks the life out of you, but it is such a well paying job that you feel that leaving would be a really stupid idea? Well, I have one of those jobs. I'm a graphic artist at the local newspaper. It used to be a great job, but...new owners, new management, and it all went out the window. My job pays really well, plus has paid sick days, paid holidays, great benifit package, very secure...all the perks. And so...
I start my new job tomorrow.
http://www.peacephotographics.com
Check it out! Don Pettit and Kit Fast are the local photo geniuses in town. The other woman who works there is also an artist, and a really great and fun person. I will get to learn an entirely new graphics program - InDesign - and learn photography, and work on computers that were actually made in this decade, and all kinds of other wonderful things!
The pay starts at quite a bit less than I made at the newspaper, but I figure the lack of stress, learning new things, and working with great people will more than make up for that. (I hope my landlord feels the same way LMFAO!) PLUS! I will get to make art prints and cards for the cost of paper and ink!

And so...onward and upward. Here's hoping I have a lot more creative energy to put into my art, now that my stress load has lessened greatly.

Here are a couple of the unfinished paintings I have staring at me at the moment. The pears and plums are okay, but the plums are already overworked, and they aren't even done yet.
And the trail of petals...well, I'm sure I had a plan for it...but I seem to have forgotten what it was.

Pears and Plums unfinished watercolor 15x20"

Trail of Broken Hearts unfinished watercolor 12x31"

So that's what I've been doin' these days. Far too much fretting, and not nearly enough painting!

Drop me a line...kinda lonely up here...

Looking back in watercolor

Since I no longer have a camera that works, I am going to throw a few older pieces on here, just to keep things moving. This is a real mish mash of stuff...most have been posted on Wet Canvas at some point. Some I like, some I might revisit...some will just continue to hang out in the 'maybe next time' pile.
I taught my first watercolor class on Saturday. It was fantastically fun, only 4 students, and we all have a great time!
I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a kid. I even went to college to be a teacher. But I soon realized that I was not cut out for teaching in our school system. So I taught my kids. My daughter was reading before she hit kindergarten, and she would come home and we would teach everything she learned at school to her little brother. I have tutored a bit, and I enjoy that. But this art teaching is a kick!! I could really get used to doing this. I've been asked to teach drawing classes at the art gallery this summer. And there is some interest in a portrait drawing class. So I think I'll have plenty of opportunity to enjoy my other love in life. It will sure help pay for my painting addiction!
Oh yeah, I also sold two paintings this weekend! Very nice. They are in the the group below.
I should have some pics from my first class tomorrow. In the meantime, here are a few blasts from the past...

On Second Thought...I'll Just Wait watercolor (Wet Canvas image...I think) sold

Fall Leaves watercolor 8x15" (approx.) sold

Rock Slide watercolor 15x22" sold

Up On The Roof watercolor 15x11" (I think) (Wet Canvas image)

My Suzuki watercolor 22x15"

And that's a wrap!

Happy painting!

LOOK WHAT I GOT IN THE MAIL TODAY

I am so thrilled I can hardly stand myself! Carol Carter posted this on her blog a couple of weeks ago...and I knew the moment I saw it I just had to have it! And now I do!!!!!
It is a beautiful painting...just fills me with joy. Thank you, Carol!
It's called Morph, and it's 15x11.5" of pure bliss.

No new pics today. Still don't have a camera. But, I think I'll just sit and look at this painting all evening. I'm sure to have sweet dreams.

Have a good one.

Watercolor Trees - And it may be spring!

Hey all...how's it going? Ya miss me? Yeah.
Well, it was March. It's supposed to be spring in March...but it took a long time coming. And since I spent all winter complaining about the weather, I thought that I would take a break from it. And, well, I didn't have much else to say!
But March is over...and I think it may just be spring at last. I still have 2 feet of snow on my lawn, but it is receding day by day.
Also, my camera died. Just decided one day to stop working, no warning at all...not even a kiss good bye. Very sad really.
And, I was letting my job suck the happiness out of life. Ridiculous. Still working on that one.
And, I entered my first art competition...and have spent far too much time fretting about it. Silly, right? I know. I'm done now...once I realized that it wasn't going to have any bearing whatsoever on the outcome, I decided to relax. I find out on Saturday.
But I have been painting...

Edge of the Woods watercolor 22 x 54 "

This one took awhile. But it was fun watching it take shape. Don't know if anyone will want to buy a painting this big of tree trunks...but I really like it. Click to expand!
What else...hhhmmm...not much really. My life is spectacularily dull. Ya'll wanna come over and visit!? LMAO

Anyway...drop me a line. Tell me a story. Have a nice day!

Watercolor Painting - Trees - Demo Part 2

Okay kids...welcome to part two of my watercolor demo - Painting trees. My way.

Step 4 - When I have the shadow area of the tree the right shape, I make a thin wash of a yellow - you can use a cool or warm...whichever suits the color scheme you've chosen - and I wash it over the white part of the tree, dabbing with a paper towel here and there to keep some white, and not have it a completely even wash. I carry the wash over the edge of the shaded part too, but not over the whole thing. Gets too muddy.



Step 4 - light yellow wash

Next, I mix up a really dark dark using Fr. Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna and maybe some of the red...really nice and dark. I use this to define the knots and things. I like a lot of contrast in my trees, but you may want to do it lighter...it's your tree after all. Just dab it on using lines, dots and smudges until you like how it looks. Remember to make sure that there is variety in spaces between the dark areas, and variety in the shapes. It's easy to forget, and do the same shape over and over again. I usually have to go back and change things to keep the variety.
Put some dark lines and dots on the light side of the tree too, making sure they follow the curve of the tree trunk.

After I add the darks, I go in with some pure color...Cad Orange and Aliz Crimson. I put quite a few dots and lines of it around the darkest parts...it's about the same color as that fungusy stuff you see on trees...and it looks fantastic next to the dark blue!

Then I hop around with a brush of Aliz Crimson, putting dots and lines here and there until I like it. I also go in with some pure Fr. Ultramarine, and some more purple, adding it where it's needed.

The last thing I do is, using a very small brush and some purple, make little dots along the area where the shadow turns to light. From a distance this helps the gradation from shadow to light look a little more gradual. I put in dots of different colors just to make it interesting close up too.

And that's about it! You can fiddle with these until the hairs fall outta your brush, always finding another spot to put in more color...but really...it's done!

I hope you find this of interest...and of some help. If you have any questions, please ask. I've likely forgotten something...and if I don't know the answer...I'll make something up!! Aw...just kiddin'...

Please leave me a comment telling me what you think of this demo. It will be very helpful to me for teaching my watercolor classes. I want to do a good job. Thanks!

Happy Painting!

Watercolor Painting - Trees - Demo Part 1

Rhonda Carpenter asked me the other day about the process I use to paint these trees, so I thought I would do a little demo, to practise up for teaching my first watercolor class in April.

The process is quite simple really. Not overly difficult to plan or execute.
The first thing I do is decide on a color scheme. I usually use one blue pigment as the base for each color - in this case Fr. Ultramarine. You can choose a cool or warm theme, a more reddish or greenish color scheme, or use more realistic color (but that takes all the fun out of it).
I mix the blue with Burnt Sienna to make a nice light grey color, that shifts and settles on the paper in such a way that not all areas are a uniform grey, but varying shades of blue and grey, with spots where the Burnt Sienna shows too. Very nice. I use this first color to define the shaded area of the tree, and the areas where branches come out, and the scarred parts of the tree. I just scrumble it on, trying to follow the curve of the trunk to give it definition, leaving lots of white space for future color.

Step 1 - First layer of color.
Crop of Step 1.

After this layer dries, I use the same mix, add a little water, pull in some more blue, and add a red - Permanent Aliz Crimson, Windsor Red...whatever fits your color scheme - to make a nice purplish color. Using this mix, I fill in some of the spaces between the base color. I just scrumble the paint on again, overlapping in some areas, leaving white spaces. I do this until it 'looks right'...shaded areas work, color follows the curve of the tree trunk. Let this layer dry.

Step 2 - Second layer of paint

Step 3 - Third color layer, adding darks.

For the third layer I use the same mix, adding more water and pulling in more blue and Burnt Sienna, but making the mixture lean much more to the blue side, and darker than the first layer. I dab this color on in the darker areas - where branches emerge, where there are scars on the bark, etc. Just look at a tree...you'll know when you've got it right.
When this layer is dry, I step back and look at the painting, seeing where it needs adjustments - more dark, more shadow, more even color, a variety of dark and light areas.

Stay tuned for the next steps!!

PS I bought myself some W&N Kolinsky brushes...I love them!!!

Sketching Class

I taught my first sketching class today! There were only 3 ladies in it this week...some couldn't make it today...but I think that was good for my first class. It was a wonderful experience...can't wait for next week. Here are some pics my daughter took...there were a lot of blurry ones...I think she was drunk...very sad. lol






The women were relatively new to drawing, so I started right from the beginning...obviously...
One of the things that I stress to anyone who asks me 'how to draw', is that drawing is seeing. That's the most important thing. We practised capturing shapes - cubes and circles (a bowl)...and it was interesting to see where the difficulty was for each person. Some can get their brains around the cube thing, and for others it's quite a painful process. So we worked on that for quite a while. It was nice to have a small group so I could give everyone lots of attention. I love teaching. It is immensely satisfying.
I spent this class just helping them to learn to see, and to capture the form of an object. Next class we will do some blind contour drawing to teach them to keep their eyes on the subject, not their paper. That's another thing in drawing that I find important - your eyes should spend more time on the subject than on the paper. If you look too much at what you are drawing, you start to lose sight of the actual object, and start to draw what you think it should look like.

And now I have to go and get beautiful...I'm going to a party tonight. It's been ages since I went out and mingled. I'll probably be home and in bed by 11:00. Ah well...a girl has to get out sometimes.

Happy Painting!!!

Watercolor Painting - Winter Sky III

Winter Sky III watercolor on Arches 21x30

Crop of Winter Sky III

Hi all.

I absolutely love painting these poplar trees. Sorry, to all you birch lovers, but these are poplars, not birches. The weather has finally warmed up - freakishly warm actually, not that I'm complaining! - so I hope to get out to take some more pics. Need some new trees to paint.

The color was incredibely hard to adjust on these...I think because there are so many different hues and weird mixes... each time I got one right, another was wrong. So I decided to just STOP, and here they are. One cropped for that fascinating close up view.

In trying to make the colors work together and create a unified whole, I remembered Myrna's 'mothercolor', and mixed the colors making sure that each contained a bit of the 'mothercolor'...in this case, W&N Indian Red.

I also tried to keep in mind Edgar Whitney's rule about variety - variety in shape (white spaces), in direction (branches), value (which doesn't show up too well, but it's there), in size (branches), and texture (smooth vs rough). I may not have accomplished all that as well as I could, but at least I kept it in mind while painting, which is a big step forward on my part.

Has anyone read his book Complete Guide to Watercolor Painting? It's fantastic, and I just love the way he expresses himself. I love his passion, and he's definitely not shy about giving his opinions about art, and artists, and what he thinks they should be. Brilliant stuff.

Okay. That's about it. Not much goin' on. Work is...well...it pays the bills. I have about 12 precut mats to fill up. So I'm gonna get painting...

Tell me a story. You know I love the company.

Watercolor Painting - Poplar Trees

Winter Sky II watercolor on Fabriano (forgot to measure but it's about 14"x24") sold

Crop of Winter Sky II

So...because I was so frustrated with the whole wet in wet thing...I painted something else entirely. I have excellent problem solving skills!

I painted more of my trees. My framer lady, Audrey, was going through her inventory, doing a little early spring cleaning (REALLY early), and gave me a whole pile of precut mats. Lots of them. Big ones too. She is so very good to me!
I like this one...it's like looking out the window.

I've included a closeup shot...for those interested in getting a closer look.

Somehow these don't look like they are the same color. The second one is the most accurate.

As for the weather...well...Saturday morning it was -42C (which is the same in F oddly enough). Sunday morning it was -30C....and Monday morning it was +2C. What the hell?! It's been lovely all week, aside from the wind...right now it's +2C (about +36F or so). Absolute bliss. I have the windows open, letting some fresh air into the house to sweep out the cabin fever bugs.

What else...hhhmmm...Oh yeah! Next weekend I get to start teaching a beginning sketching class. 3 hours on Saturday afternoon for the next 4 Saturday's. I'm really looking forward to it. I like teaching. I was going to be a teacher when I grew up...but I changed my mind...about the growing up part. I also get to do 2 all day watercolor classes...one in March and 1 in April. Fun!

Drop me a line...it makes my day.

Graphite Sketches

Anyway. Did some more sketching last night. I realized that the shadows on the wall behind the pears was kinda cool. So I sketched them too. I like this one. So I think tonight I will paint it. I think the shadows are kinda neat, and I like the way the line on the tablecloth is about parallel with the shadow on the wall. We shall see.


The plums and pear one is okay, but I think I got caught up in the cloth, and didn't pay attention to making the plums not look quite so wonky. But I like this one too. The white cloth against the dark plums is quite striking.

So tonight I will begin my wet in wet adventure. Sandly Maudlin posted a fantastic little tutorial on her site today...all about this technique. Good timing...great lesson. Check it out!

Not much else to say. Kinda glum...need sunshine. February is a cranky month.

Tell me a story. I like the company.

Drawings - Remembering What I Forgot

I forgot how much I enjoy drawing, just for the sake of drawing! I have been concentrating so much on learning to paint over the last two years (started Feb 2006, not 2005), that I haven't drawn anything that wasn't going to be painted.
I started trying to do some sketches of the fruit still life pics I took, and just kept on drawing. I also remembered that I don't actually know how to sketch. I want to practise just sketching the subject, not drawing every detail. But I think I'll just enjoy drawing for a bit...worry about the sketching later.
So I did a drawing of a pear with two juicy plums. And then I did a drawing of my daughter from a pic of her that I just love...braces and all. Ain't she cute!?!? So that was last night's work. No painting! It's been a while since I've done that. Also, I got so wrapped up in the drawings that I forgot to smoke! Of course, I remembered later, and made up for lost time.
I also remembered that I have a cool book that concentrates on Wet in Wet painting. The Tao of Watercolor by Jeanne Carbnetti. It's a little cosmic, but I think it's gonna help me get the hang of this technique.

Go ahead and click on the pics to see them bigger.

That's about it. The temperature has risen some...only -24C...just in time for the snow storm.
But my house is nice and cozy, and I think I'll draw some...pears.

Drop me a line, tell me what you think about...stuff...

Graphite Sketch - February. Already!?

Another month has passed. I learned many things in January. I think the most important thing I learned was..."Think before you Paint". Seems simple, but I know I don't do it enough. Or at least, I don't think about all the things I should. Value studies, color studies, planning composition...all get forgotten and I just jump in flinging.
So! February will be Learning to Think month.
Myrna's challenge this month is a little less structured than last month. I am to pick a subject, choose a technique to work on, pick one design element to work on, and add one more design element per painting to emphasize.
So I have purchased some lovely fruit, taken about 3 dozen pictures of it. And that is my subject for the month.
I am going to work on the same technique as Myrna - Wet in Wet. I use it in small areas, but would like to learn what it can really do in a painting. Many of the artists I admire use it to great advantage, so I'm going to give it a shot.
The design element I am going to work on is value. I don't pay nearly enough attention to value in my paintings. I never do value studies, and I do not really know how to plan the values so they enhance a painting. So that's what I'll be working on this month - The Values of Wet Fruit!

Here is the first picture I'll be painting from, along with the first sketch. I assume that as I work on seeing the varying values in a picture, I'll eventually better understand how to use them in my paintings. Any tips and critiques you can give are more than welcome!



I have some lovely pictures of these pears, plus some with wonderful dark purple plums, and a mango. But, I'll just start with the pears, and see how it goes.
Not much else going on around here. Had a house full of kids this weekend (nieces and nephews). They are great kids, and I love them all to pieces, but boy oh boy, I do enjoy the quiet when they go home!! Lovely.

Okay. Off to do some 'sketches' of fruit. See where it takes me.

Drop me a line...tell me a story!

Watercolor Painting - Sticks & Stones VI

Sticks & Stones VI 7x10" watercolor on Arches

The elements in this challenge were - Checkerboard composition (duh...okay, a little obvious...and I put the flowers on the wrong squares) Direction being the dominant element, and lemon yellow as the mothercolor, which doesn't show up worth a damn because when I get the yellow looking yellow, the purple blue color becomes some other uncolor...so you'll have to trust me that the squares that aren't purple are actually yellow.

Well, this is the last in the Sticks & Stones series, as Myrna's January challenge is rapidly coming to an end. It has been fun working with these elements (okay, one is missing here). I've learned so much...especially "THINK BEFORE YOU PAINT". Amazing really...and then there is the "Think While You're Painting" concept...now why didn't I think of that?!

I might take a couple of these and work them up in a bigger format. Which ones do you think would look good? Tell me your faves. If ya want.

Anyway...the weather is beautiful, wish you were here. It's warmed up to a balmy -28C! A person can actually go outside without worrying about instant frost bite. Really lovely. (I hope the sarcasm shows up better than the yellow).

And now...my show is over...(how many nights in a row can a person (not mentioning any names) watch the same movie before they are considered really pathetic? Just curious.)...and it's time to start a new painting. hhhmmm...what to paint, what to paint...

Drop me a line...I like the company.

Edit: PS...For those of you south of the border in Farenheit land...I just checked the temp and it's -30C which is about -22F. Just so's ya know.

Watercolor Painting - Sticks & Stones V

Sticks & Stones V watercolor on Arches

This is number 4 in Myrna Wacknov's challenge. The composition is cruciform (can you tell?), the dominant element is supposed to be shape (there are shapes there, see 'em?), and the 'mothercolor' is blue violet (yup, that's blue violet). I guess there is only one more challenge left for January. Almost done. I hope she does more in February. It's nice to have the inspiration when I'm at a loss, or frustrated with whatever else I am working on.

It is -36C here. Just mean and nasty cold. It warmed right up to -28 today, but it is dropping, dropping, dropping...I actually burned my hand on a metal door handle this morning. Good thing I didn't try to lick it! Ha. God I hate it here. Hate it, hate it, hate it. Okay...moving on.

I got a new toy!! It's an iPod Touch. I'm not really one to run out and buy all the new electronic gizmos that erupt on the market daily...I only bought a lap top because I like to lay on the floor or couch when I'm on the computer. But the iPod Touch. Oh my. I'm totally in love. It has 8GB (apparently that's quite a bit). It holds music, pictures, and videos. It can access the internet if you're near a wireless router, it has a day planner, calculator and address book. It doesn't do dishes, unfortunately, but it does down load music from iTunes. So all is not lost.

My slightly pathetic justification for this outrageous expenditure is that it is an excellent portable art portfolio. And it really is! The screen is about 2"x3", and is crisp and clear. You can even zoom in to see details. I can put pictures of my paintings on it, and show them off to anyone I want!! It really is the coolest thing. So...Merry Christmas to me!!!

So while the temperature drops to "Hell is Freezing Over" depths, I am busy stuffing all of my songs and pictures on my new toy, watching "The Holiday" for the millionth time (yes, pathetic, I know), and trying to remember that it will be summer again...sometime. God I hate it here.

So drop my a line, tell me a story...just please don't tell me how warm it is where you are. Thanks so much.

Watercolor Painting - Poplar Trees

Winter Sky watercolor 22x30" sold

The bottom two images are crops

Oh glorious Friday! Is it my imagination or did this week last about a month!? Hm...well it's over now...two days of free, free, freedom!

So I think I finished this watercolor painting of poplar trees. There are definitely parts of it I love to pieces, and some parts that sort of missed the mark. I could quite happily lop off a good portion of the tree on the right. Too many straight branches...just doesn't work for me. And of course the color is off...that blue is very blue in real life...but not quite that blue. So, overall I am pleased, and sufficiently ready to set it aside and move on to the next.

I have been reading quite a bit about how to make ones blog more attractive to the search engines. Empty Easel (see link on the right) has some great information on the subject...as well as some other places I visited that I forget the name of. Some of the things mentioned are to use key words in posts, and be repetitive; bold and italicize words; use popular names, such as artists, websites, and clubs, groups or societies (which is why I am going to join some!).

Linking to other sites, and having them link you is another helper. And there is some other more teknikal stuff I have no idea how to do, but will get someone else to help me with.

These things are not going to be miracles, but in time they are supposed to help increase visitors. Oh, yeah, and getting PayPal too.

So these are some things that I am working on. I have a small fear of appearing presumptuous, and acting like I'm "all that"...but that's just too bad. A smart guy I know told me that it's smart to work on marketing your work early on in your 'career'...so that's what I'm doing. (Thanks Ron.)

Still working on Myrna's challenge...cruciform composition, and shape as the dominant element. I'm not really sure what that means, LMAO!! but I'm working on it. I mean, shape...it pretty much naturally occurs when you draw something...so how do I make it dominant? hhhmmm...off to the book shelf...

Drop me a line and tell me a story....

Watercolor Painting - Sticks & Stones IV

Sticks & Stones IV 7x10" watercolor on Arches 140lb CP

Well I am definitely in the grips of the winter blues, but have been fighting bravely against it...lots of chocolate, painting, music....and of course, the meds. Winter will end, and it will be warm again....

In the meantime...here is the third for Myrna's challenge:

Triangular composition (she says she threw that one in just for fun...twisted) ; Texture; and Quin Gold. I think I covered all the bases. It was hard to get the color right...there should be more dark in the flower, but then the background gets too dark. Ah well, you get the idea...just imagine some darks.

I love Quin Gold...it can be just about any color on the orange-yellow section of the color wheel you need...and mixes so interestingly with other colors. I cheated a bit on the texture part...used plastic wrap - never tried it before; it turned out okay I think. Of course, my children think I'm brilliant. Bless their little biased hearts...

Off to bed...drop me a line and let me know what you think...about...stuff.

Poplar Trees - Watercolor

It is hard to tell in the pics, but I have done quite a bit of work on this. Next I will be adding in all the small twigs, and the knots and scars on the trees trunks.

I have ordered my first roll of watercolor paper! I'm quite excited to start a new painting on it. I want to do these trees big. And I want to do a tall narrow one. And I want to do a wide narrow one. Oh so many paintings to be painted. So little space in my livingroom.

Not much else to say. At least nothing pleasant. Off to paint now.

Inspiration, Watercolor, and Step I

I finally found a cork board to put over my painting desk. I've wanted one for ages, and...yeah, I found it at Walmart...

So I'm putting up little bits of this and that, a reminder of the Artists magazine art competition, paintings...then my daughter made me the sign that says "Do What You Want, it doesn't matter"...hhhmmm...good advice from a barely 14 year old? I'll take it!

I've been working on a full sheet painting...thought I'd put the first stage pic on, just to keep something happening on the ol' blog. It is at the third color stage...I don't really have a set plan regarding color...I just keep adding them until it looks right.

I'm really enjoying this technique...it is like a meditation. And I love the look of it. From a distance all the colors just blend together, but up close it is this wonderful mosiac of little bits of color. I'm sure there must be a name for this style of painting...anyone know? As with all personal discoveries, it's easy to forget that is has already been discovered by someone else, and they might have some pointers on how to do it better, or easier...or whatever. So anybody that has some input...jump right in anytime. I'm eager to learn.

I think I am going to have to order a roll of paper soon, 'cause I want to do this one big!

I'll put it on the list...

Let me know what you think about stuff!

Watercolor Painting - Sticks & Stones III.5

Sticks & Stones III.5 watercolor on Arches 7x10"

Did the Roman's have decimals? Huh...never thought of that before...

Well, I decided to try Myrna's challenge again...get that radial thing happening. And I think I got radial...but I also got boring. Ah well, live and learn. Like my floating rock? LMFAO!!!

There is a blog call View On Canadian Art...anyone been there? It is interesting...but I gotta say...there's a LOT of art out there that I just don't get. Somewhere back in June or July it shows the 5 finalists, and the winner of the RBC Art competion for EMERGING Canadian artists. Now this is a big competition...winner gets $25,000, second and third get $15,000. And what I'd like to know is...where the hell are they emerging from, 'cause it must a pretty scary place! I've read many times that 'the subject and technique don't matter as much as excellent composition and good use of design elements.' I think that's a crock of shit. What ever happened to beauty?!?! Not one of those paintings are beautiful. And the one that won? There's nothing there!! Who the hell is making these decisions about what entails good art?!?! 'Cause I'd like to give them a good smack on the back of the head.
Beauty, people, BEAUTY!! And yes beauty is different for everyone, I know..but come ON! When art becomes synonymous with 'weird, obscure and irritating', things have gone terribly awry. I know that I have a lot to learn about art...and I have yet to paint a masterpiece...but it's pretty discouraging to see the kind of art that 'they' are rewarding. Makes me want to take my daughter's acrylics and fling them on a canvas and enter some art competitions.

Nah, just kiddin'!

Okay...that was fun! Feelin' better now. Drop me a line!

Watercolor Painting - Sticks & Stones III

Sticks & Stones III 7x10" Arches block

So this is the next painting for Myrna Wacknov's groovy cool challenge.

The 'mother color' was to be yellow-orange...got it. The design element was to be Value. Well this looks like a value study in two colors...got it...sorta. And the composition was to be 'radial'. Hmmm...well I consider the squares within squares to be radial...though I could be wrong. Plus, there are the petals of the flowers, and the crossed stems. So...yeah...radial.

I haven't done anything else tonight because my FURNACEISN'TWORKINGANDIT'SFUCKINGFREEZINGINHERE!!!! Not a good thing to happen in this neck of the woods (Northern Canada). Can barely type...I think hypothermia is setting in...sleeeeeepppyyy. Nah, just kiddin'...I called my ex-husband and he's on his way (he's a gas guy). How handy is that?! He better hurry though...it's -20C outside...that's like...what...-6F? Bloody cold.

Hey! Does anyone know how to make it so my paintings show up in a search? When I do a search in google images, the only images I see are ones that I have commented on on other blogs! Let me know what ya know!

Off to visit other blogs...too cold to paint!

Watercolor Painting - Sticks & Stones II

Sticks & Stones II 7x10" watercolor on Arches block

I had decided I would do a series of paintings with these three objects...to explore different designs and techniques...composition, color, different elements of design...and then lo and behold, there is Myrna Wacknov with her monthly challenges using these very things! Will the fun never end... I'll do these 'challenge' paintings in a 7x10 format, and decide which ones I will paint larger.

So here is number two in the 'series', and number one in the challenge...don't really know if I did it right, but it was kinda fun. This is supposed to be a vertical composition (I think I got that), using a base color (a mother color, she calls it) for unity (my new fave red-orange: Quin Gold & Aliz Crimson), but I don't know if I got across the design element of Texture here...the spikey dried petals, dried leaf, thorns on the branch, and negatively painted petals in the border. But it was fun...and it's done...on to the next!!

Watercolor Painting - Sticks & Stones I

Sticks & Stones I - watercolor on 7x10" Arches block.

Well, I'm just a paintin' fool these days...or maybe just...well, never mind...at least I'm painting!

I'm happy. And my son got a new TV today, his old one for his Xbox died...so he's happy. It's all just happiness and sunshine around here...lots of chocolate left over from festivities...Oh will the joy never end!

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it is exactly that I want to paint, that I like to paint. I have looked at all sorts of paintings, photographs, movies...thinking thinking. I appreciate and enjoy so many styles of painting, and so many different subjects...still life, landscape, seascape, portraits...so many things!

What I have finally realized is that just because I like something, doesn't mean I want to paint it. I love pictures of old buildings, stone things, wood things, flowers, leaves...but I don't have an interest at the moment in painting these things. What I want to paint is a super zoomed in small part of the picture...one flower, one leaf, part of the tree...just a part of the whole...make it big, and make it mine. What a relief!

So now that I've figured out that deceptively simple riddle, I am free to continue on experimenting with this wild and wet watercolor journey. Life is good.

Mosaic Poplar

Well this is great! I'm feeling inspired again! I'm really enjoying this funky new technique I learned...(too bad I can't get a good pic...again...the background is just white).
And the blues are not quite as blue as they appear here. Can't wait to get my new equipment. A scanner will be ever so handy.
Anyhoo...off to paint...drop me a line...

Firsts - Watercolor Doodles

Well. A new year already...I had no resolutions last year...just trying to keep my head above the waves. I managed that...so the year was a success!

But this year...well, I have a couple things that I would like to accomplish...so I'll just leave myself a little note here, and come back next year to see how I did.
1. Exercise! Something, anything...I spend way too much time sittin' on my butt.

2. Get all my papers in order, so I can get a Permanent Resident card, so I can get a Passport, so I can TRAVEL!!!!!

3. Enter an art competition.

4. Start my own art print business.

Okay. Now that's out of the way...

I have already done a few 'firsts' this year.

1. I cleaned my paint palletes!!

2. I cleaned my room! (It's really big...and hey! There's carpet)

3. I doodled!! And I did color strips of the colors I have.

I never doodle...but I had all this nice clean paint on my palette, and thought I might just might make some test strips...and then one doodle led to another...and THEN...I painted a cool thing. Totally out of line with what I have been painting. And I just love it.

It's the tree trunk, with all the little patches of color. (Damn, I forgot to rotate it...supposed to be vertical...oh well). Pretty cool. I did the leaf in a similar way, but without as much variation in color. It was outrageously fun, and I am finally feeling inspired.

I have spent a lot of time cruising through all the fantastic blogspots, (yes, too much time)...but I have found such great things to see, study, and think about! So its a healthy sort of addiction...sort of...

Then I read Bruce MacEvoy's journal on his website. Fantastic. Everyone should read it at the beginning of the year. Brilliant.

Then...SHAZAM...I'm inspired.

Of course, I still spend way too much time cruising...but you know how it is with new toys.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all, may all good and wonderful things come knocking at your doors. Thanks for all the inspiration, and thanks for visiting my humble blog...makes my day.

Ok. I'm done.

Found

I have a large and entirely useless collection of 'found things'...I think they're interesting and can generally remember where I found them and when. I have bits of Lego found while walking down the street...a very large (very dead) moth that must have traveled here on the front of someones motorhome, as we don't grow 'em that big here...a green marble and a small glass bottle that I found at an old homestead site...various rusty nuts and bolts...well, you get the idea. This information is generally of absolutely no interest to most people I know. Their loss...

And...(and this has nothing to do with the previous paragraph)...since I started painting two years ago I have only ever painted on Arches 140lb CP paper...so I thought I would try something different...new year, new stuff and all that. Fredrix watercolor canvas. Kinda nasty at first...slicker than snot (as my grandpa used to say)...took a while to figure how to make the paint stay where it was put. But I persevered...and managed to create a painting...of...found stuff! Ah you see? It all comes around eventually...

I like the way the background turned out. This painting is 8x11".

Commission Watercolor Paintings

2 half sheet Zen paintings - SOLD

These are two paintings I did for a coworker. She wanted a long horizontal format, and likes my leaves and rock paintings. So...Voila! The background is actually the white of the paper...bad lighting...who took these shitty pictures?!?!?! Oh...

Both paintings are 11x30" watercolor on Arches 140 lb CP paper.

And yeah...it's Christmas eve...so Merry Ho Ho Ho to y'all! (Bah humbug)

I've Been Tagged

Michelle Himes has tagged me...which means that I am obliged to share 5 things about myself that others don't know. Which shouldn't be difficult, since none of you actually know me!!

1. I was born in Redwood City California. We came to Canada when I was 4.
2. I love the Harry Potter movies and books!
3. I have been divorced longer than I was married.
4. I collect old poetry books. I have a Tennyson collected works from 1903...it's beautiful.
5. I have a silver ring in my nose, and a silver heart in my bellybutton.

There. So now...who to tag, who to tag...I'll be back later with a list of taggees!

A Medley of Paintings, Old And New

Good Intentions watercolor on Arches sold

My Gift watercolor on Arches - NFS

Spring Zen watercolor on Arches

Fall Leaves watercolor on Arches

Clay Pots watercolor on Arches

Okay...Top pic...titled "Good Intentions"...as in the road to hell is paved with...
I painted this last year. It's still kickin' around somewhere...at my mom's maybe.

" My Gift - this very bear claw necklace was created by my son...aged about 9 at the time...and secretly placed into my purse...only to be discovered by myself at the grocery till..."Do you like it Mom?" he asks me with shining eyes..."Oh yes, my dear...it's the best present I've ever gotten!" Yeah...kinda ew...and haven't yet found an occassion to wear it...perhaps someday.

"Spring Zen"...just a little sketch of the softness of spring.

Some more fall leaves from my backyard...

And a half sheet of pottery that I painted a couple of months ago...jury is still out on this one. There are definitely parts I really like...and some that are quite hideous...what do ya think?

Any questions?

Talk to me...

Watercolor Paintings

Fall Zen watercolor on Arches

Red Books watercolor on Arches 11x15" - SOLD

Books watercolor on Arches

Yes sirree! More books and leaves! And crazy with the splatter!

A Few More Older Paintings, While I Regroup

My Favorite Books watercolor on Arches

Cherry Pie watercolor on Arches 11x15"

Fall Zen watercolor on Arches

Iris Leaves watercolor on Arches 11x30" - NFS

Meditation watercolor on Arches 11x15"

Here are a few more paintings I have done in the last months.
Leaves and stones, titled "Meditation"...another favorite subject. I have an idea for a large, mandala type painting like this...just thoughts...
"Cherry Pie" ...a happy accident...dropped a big ol' brush of Aliz on the paper...Voila! Cherry juice!
Another Autumn Zen painting "Iris Leaves"...loved how the red leaves had fallen into the iris leaves, and curled around them. And an untitled leaf painting...my backyard is a wealth of beautiful paintings
And my favorite childrens' books...Beatrix Potter, A.A. Milne's 'Now We Are Six', and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
I have a few other book paintings that I will share. I love books. I wish I could eat them...but I just read them and paint them. I even have children...aged 12 & 13...who READ BOOKS!! Exciting, or what!! Yeah...will wonders ever cease.
Let me know your thoughts...not all of them of course...just a select few...

Some Recent Watercolor Paintings

From Where I Sit watercolor on Arches 15x22"

Fall Zen watercolor on Arches 11x30"

Here are couple more recent works.

The top one is...obviously...a barn. Aren't all watercolorists supposed to paint a barn at some point? Well...here's my barn. I kinda like my barn. I really like my fence...I guess I just like this painting. It's 15"x22".
The second one is one of the Autumn Zen paintings (can't remember which number), and is 11"x30". I have another similar one...but with all red leaves...but I seem to have misplaced the pic...darned computer gremlins...

Both are professionally matted and framed...and if you would like to purchase these, or see more samples of my work...well leave me a message...haven't figured out all ins and outs of the site yet...but stay tuned! I'm sure I'll get it straightened out...eventually...


Talk to me...

More Introductions

Couples watercolor on Arches CP Sold

Winter Zen watercolor on Arches - SOLD

Winter Zen watercolor on Arches CP

Coke Door watercolor on Arches - SOLD

Hmmmm....the pictures come in the opposite order from which they were uploaded...good to know.

This is a sample of the kind of subjects I like to paint. The leaves and stones are all part of what I like to call my Winter Zen series. They are relaxing and simple to paint...I usually do one after completing a painting that has been very involved and complex. Of course, when I paint them in the fall they are Autumn Zen and usually include some colorful leaves...and in the spring...well, you get the idea.

The pear painting is called Couples. I guess it speaks for itself...pairs of pears. The lack of shadows bothers some...but I like it...like Magritte's "This is not a pipe"...it amuses me.

The Coke Door was painted for our local gallery fundraising auction. I like to paint old doors...they have character...stories to tell. I love the texture and colors...and the rust is cool too.

To all who enter here...enjoy! And let me know what you think...about whatever.

Introducing My Watercolors

When Will I Be Loved watercolor - SOLD

I have just created my first blog! Very exciting.

I'm very new to blogging...and relatively new to watercolor. I am a self taught painter, and am enjoying the process thoroughly. I hope to meet some like-minded artists here, and share knowledge, art and...I dunno...recipes?

This first piece is called "When Will I Be Loved?"
I painted it last weekend, matted it yesterday, and sold it about half an hour later. Life is good.