A Touch of Blue

This is another ATC (2.5 x 3.5 in) done for the WetCanvas exchange I'm doing. I was intrigued by this blue flower...a clematis maybe?

Scenic Cove

This is a half-sheet painting done from a photo reference I took in Maine last summer. It has been sitting in my living room for quite a while while I keep playing with it. I think I need to stop now.

Winter Ride

This was done right after I came home from my workshop with Eric Wiegardt. I was still thinking about painting snow the way he did. The people were from some photos I took during the snowstorms here this winter. The painting is 11 x 15.

Waterlily Pour

This was done with the same process like the camellia below. I had fun with the negative painting around the lily pads. If I had the room, I'd like to try one in a larger size. This is only about 7 x 10. It's so difficult to not drip paint on everything in the area while you tilt and tip and pour paint.

Camellia Pour

This past week I decided to join in with a group of artists doing pours on WetCanvas. I had tried pours last year, but wasn't too happy with the results. I think I learned a lot from those. This took lots of layers of paint and LOTS of masking. I'm really happy with the way this came out. It's always a surprise to pull off the masking and see what is there. Negative painting came in handy too.

Opening Sunflower

This is another ATC (2.5 x 3.5) done for my exchange on WetCanvas. I liked the image of the sunflower when I took the photo, not quite opened. It was so different from any sunflower painting I had seen.

Hibiscus I & Hibiscus II

I decided to post these as a pair. Both were sent out in my ATC exchange. It was fun to do those curly leaves on a small card. I think I would have a hard time doing this larger, but may give it a shot.

Magnolia I

I love when the magnolia trees are in bloom, so I had to do at least one magnolia blossom for my ATC exchange. This is 2.5 x 3.5 and was done from one of my reference photos taken last spring.

Windmill

This was painted from a reference photo from AlainJ for the Weekend Drawing Event on WetCanvas. It is 7 x 10 and done in watercolors and ink. Those blades on the windmill were a real challenge for me.

Carolina Pier

This was a postcard sized (4 x6) ink and watercolor that I painted from my hotel room at the SpringMaid Resort where the watercolor workshop was held. Why did I paint this beautiful scene from the room? It was raining outside and I decided I needed to get my fingers moving before the workshops started.

Art Award

This blog award was given to me by Holly Lombardo http://www.paintedpaperbyholly.blogspot.com/ , one of the super artists listed on my "Links." I've admired her watercolors and acrylics for quite a while, and last summer I had luck to finally meet her while she was vacationing with her family in Maine. Many thanks, Holly for your support and encouragement. In return I am to nominate 7 other artists whose work I admire and then tell you 7 things I like.



It is difficult to select only seven friends whose work I enjoy and who I admire. I would like to nominate these artists (in no particular order). Please do not feel obligated to participate, but you have my admiration anyway! I know that some of you have received similar awards in the past and that participating in this takes a bit of time which seems to be in short supply for most of us.

1 . Michelle Himes (my sister) who's wonderful watercolors inspired me to begin watercolor painting, She is a good art partner, plein air partner, and workshop partner whenever I want one, and a great sister too. http://www.mhwatercolornotes.blogspot.com/


2 . Jeanne Grant who participates in so many projects where she shares her wonderful art. I met her through WetCanvas and we have shared many scavenger hunts, exchanges, and projects together. She inspires me to get involved in projects and exchanges. http://www.jeannegrant.blogspot.com/

3. Robyn Sinclair who lives in Tuscany (Sigh!) and does gorgeous work in watercolor, oils, pen & ink, and recently prints. She has the courage to try new mediums even if the language difference between her and her instructor is difficult at times. http://www.havedogswilltravel.blogspot.com/

4 . Ai Nukoolkit who lives in Thailand. Her love of color shows through in her lovely watercolors, acrylics, and inks. Even with a husband and small child she finds a way to participate on many projects. http://www.aiarts.blogspot.com/

5. Lin Frye who does wonderful watercolors and no matter what her day has been like at work, still posts something daily! I so admire her dedication to painting and blogging as well as enjoying her lovely work. http://www.viewfromtheoak.blogspot.com/

6. Anita Davies who is from the United Kingdom. Anita amazes me with the number of art projects she has been involved in and the number of wonderful art journals she has created. She has recently taught and spoke about journaling to encourage other artists. http://www.artbyanita.blogspot.com/

7. Jo Castillo is a wonderful pastel painter from Texas. She loves plein air painting and believes in the importance of art friends and support. She often spends time with other artists and participates in artisic charitable fundraisers. http://www.jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/

Now for the 7 things I love. Again in no particular order.

1. FAMILY & FRIENDS- THE BACKBONE OF LIFE!

2. SKETCHING & PAINTING- FOOD FOR THE SOUL!

3. THE BEACH- RELAXING, INVIGORATING, AND INSPIRING!

4. THE FEEL OF THE SUN ON MY BODY- ENERGY AND COMFORT!

5. CHOCOLATE - COULD THERE BE LIFE WITHOUT IT?

6. TRAVELING - SEEING AND SHARING THE WORLD!

7. MUSIC- A BIG PART OF THE HEART OF LIFE!

Eric Wiegard Workshop - Day 5 - "Snowy Walk"

The focus for the final day of Eric Wiegard's workshop was to have an area of dominance in your painting. He wanted us to use less detail and value as we went away from the dominant area. He did a snow scene, and since I didn't have any snow photos with me, I borrowed one of his and one from my sister, Michelle, and combined parts of them. My final painting for the workshop was "Snowy Walk."

I know I learned a lot from Eric. I may not be brave enough to paint on full sheets (22 x 30in) again, but a lot of what he showed us could fit into any paintings. Thanks Eric, for a great workshop! Also, many thanks to the other students (including my sister) at Springmaid Beach where the workshop was held, for all your friendship and inspiration that week!

Eric Wiegard Workshop - Day 4 - "Key West Cottage"

On the fourth day Eric did a street scene with flowers and figures. He encouraged us to make a commitment ot our value shifts and to try to leave some connecting light shapes. I used a photo I had taken in Key West in November for my painting "Key West Cottage." I also planned ahead to do the windows so that each was different. He suggests having them look like different shaped puzzle pieces. I was happy with the strong values I got in this one.

Eric Wiegard Workshop - Day 3 - Venice Street Scene

Here is a continuation of Eric's workshop. He did a street scene with buildings and figures on damp paper the third day. He stressed that it is more important to get the values and shapes in a group of figures than including all the details. I used one of my photos from Italy to paint "Venice Street Scene." His comment to me was to paint the windows more like puzzle pieces than as even rectangles. I tried to vary some of the windows on the right by softening the edges, and tried to vary them more in the building on the left. I was really happy with the color blending on the buildings on the right. His mixing process really lets the different colors show through.

Eric Wiegard Workshop - Day 2 - "Maine Cove"

Here is a continuation of the workshop with Eric Wiegard. The second day's lesson was on not overmixing the paints on the palette, and connecting shapes similar in value. Eric would touch his brush to 3, 4, or 5 colors and them do a figure 8 on the palette to just barely mix the colors. That way there would be a variety of colors in each stroke. He did a value sketch of a marine scene and then did a full sized painting. Having been around boats his whole life, he knows what all the parts are and what they look like. Even with a photo I'm sitting there trying to figure out what certain parts are and what they're connected to. lol I did this painting from one of my own photos of Maine.

Eric Wiegardt Workshop - Day 1 - "Carolina Barn"

Last week my sister and I took a workshop wiht Eric Wiegardt. We worked loosely and boldly (I hope!) with large brushes on full sheet (22 x 30 inches) paper which was a new experience for me. The class was great and I hope I learned some things that I can incorporate into my own work.

The first day Eric started with a pencil value sketch of a landscape using only 3 values. He followed that with a single color painting and then a full color painting. He stressed value shifts and when painting to have the lighter washes run through or into the darker values. He also told us to focus on saving our lights. I painted "Carolina Barn" from photos I had taken recently while driving through North Carolina. (Many thanks to Lin Frey for steering me to some great barn roads!)

Sunrise at Myrtle Beach

I've been down in Myrtle Beach, SC at a watercolor workshop for a while. I haven't taken photos of the paintings I did at the workshop yet, but this is a postcard I painted of the sunrise one morning while we were there. I was rooming with my sister and I didn't want to wake her up while I did this, so I painted it in near darkness. The only light I had was what was coming through the window while I painted. I think I captured the sunrise fairly well.

Tea Time

This is 5 x 7 and was done as one of the items for the Scavenger Hunts I do on WetCanvas. I turned it into an actual painting.

Yellow Poppy

This is another ATC (2.5 x 3.5 in) flower for my exchange. I love poppies and plan to do a red one too. I had fun doing this one!

Santa Barbara Mission

This is 7 x 10 and was done for the WDE from a reference photo by "Lake of Trees." I thank her for the beautiful inspiration the photo provided. I changed the original reference a bit by having my palm trees lean into the painting instead of leaning out.

Hydrangeas I

This is an ATC (2.5 x 3.5) that is part of the series of florals that I'm doing for an exchange. I used ink and watercolor crayons in this. Hydrangeas are a challenge because of all the little flowers clustered on each branch. I thought the wc crayons might make it a bit easier, but I think the smallness of the card made using them a bit harder. I may try another hydrangea in just watercolor.

Lather Up

This was painted for the WDE on WetCanvas from a photo reference by artastic. Thanks, Bonnie, for a great nostalgic still-life. This is about 5 x 7 done in watercolors.

Foxgloves I

This is another flower for my exchange. These are such interesting flowers with the unusual patterns inside the flower itself and how they sort of grow in clusters. I had to search to find the name of this one.

Iris I

A second ATC that I did for the "25 of ?" exchange has arrived at it's destination, so I can post it here. This is 2.5 x 3.5 inches and was done from a photo I had taken at an iris garden that I visited in NJ. Since this is "Iris I" you can be sure there will be at least another iris painting (if not more).

Bowl of Cherries

This painting is about 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 and was done for the Weekend Drawing Event on Wet Canvas. I can't claim credit for the photo which was supplied by Ruth (madmum) from Wet Canvas. I did this one directly on a blank Strathmore Greeting Card. so at some point I will send it to someone.

Coneflower I

I recently signed up for another exchange on WetCanvas. This time my theme is going to be "Flowers." I take lots of photos of flowers, but I'm usually not happy with the way I paint them in a large size. So I'm going to practice them small and hope they eventually grow into larger paintings. This is ATC sized (2.5 x 3.5) and is done in watercolors. It has arrived at it's new home, so it is safe to post it here.

Red Barn in Autumn

This was done for the Weekend Drawing Event on WetCanvas last weekend from a photo supplied by "upnorthtim". Thanks Tim for this wonderful red barn. I changed the original photo, moving the barn from the right to the left side, and also added a path leading into the painting. It was done with ink and watercolor.

Snowy Branches III

This ATC (2.5 x 3.5) was done for the WetCanvas exchange. I ran out to take photos after our last snowstorm. I loved the pinecone with the snow on it and the branches. I was very happy with the way this one came out and will probably try it on a larger scale too.

Sunflowers Together At Last!

I was asked by a friend to post all three of these together so that they can be seen in a group. So here they are!

Making Jam

I painted this 7 x 10 for the Weekend Drawing Event on WetCanvas from a photo reference from Desiree. (Thank you!) I had a good time working with the deep colors and the highlights on those jars.

Sunflower III

This is my favorite of the three sunflowers I did for the exchange. The second one is below this, and the first one is back in the older posts. Maybe practicing on the other two helped, and maybe I should have done a few more while I was into it. This is also 2.5 x 3.5.

Sunflower II

This ATC (2.5 x 3.5) was done for the WetCanvas project I've been doing. I used one of my own reference photos. I was happy with the way this came out. I enjoy painting these small cards and have signed up for a new project in this size.

Self-Portrait #3

Please don't groan...I had to post this one because I think it's so much better than the last two. I am learning from one to the other. I used regular watercolor brushes for this instead of my waterbrush, so I was able to get more texture in my hair. I also pulled out a book I had on painting watercolor portraits and too notes. There was a lot of helpful information.

Farmers' Market III

This 2.5 x 3.5 ATC was done for my exchange on wet canvas. I love the variety of colors you can see in tomatoes! I would love to have some of these right now. This was done from a photo I took of at a local farmers' market this summer.

Self Portrait #2

Don't worry...I won't post every sp! I think the facial features are a bit better in this one, but I think my eyes are still up too high. This is a learning process...

Self-Portrait

I'm bravely doing a month of portraits and self-portraits with a group on WetCanvas. I give portraits a try once in a while, but really need to practice more. Most of the ones I've done so far are sketches in pencil, but I did try this one in watercolor. I looks pretty much like me, and I'm pretty happy with the way it came out. It does leave room for improvement.

21st World Wide Sketchcrawl

I participated in the 21st World Wide Sketchcrawl on Sat., Jan. 10. I did several of them before with my sister, but went solo for this one. I began with a sketch of my coffee while I pondered where to go to sketch. I decided on sketching in the next town, Sayville, which has a bit of everything...lovely houses, cute shops, marinas, etc. It was cold and snow flurries were falling, so I sat in my car to do most of these. Included are a shop called "Past & Present," the obligatory Starbucks, a weathered boat shack down by the water, Sal's Pizzeria where I had lunch, a downtown street corner, and some people at the local library. All were done with my micron pen and watercolors. I was out sketching for about 5 hours and I think I got a fair amount done. Enjoy!

Three in a Row

This watercolor is about 3 x 6 and was done as part of one of the scavenger hunts I did for WetCanvas.

Fruit Delights

This ATC was done for my exchange. This was a bit of breakfast while we were in Key West. I always love fruit colors and textures, so a mix was perfect for one of my little cards (2.5 in x 3.5 in). It took a while to paint but I was alternating sipping coffee and sipping champagne, so it was fine with me.

While I was in Key West I did two ATCs of tropical flowers that were sent to participants in the WetCanvas exchange I've been doing. Flowers are not what I paint very often, but I like the challenge of doing them once in a while.