Oregon Flowers

This was just a little 20 minute watercolor sketch I did in my Moleskine while we were at our daughter's house in Oregon. I picked the flowers from her garden and arranged them in a small vase. I've started to collect art supplies at her house so that I can paint while am there and not have to bring things with me every time. We are always so busy sight seeing when we are there that I often don't take time to paint but it's good to squeeze some painting time in if I can. We are still getting organized for our move back to Florida so painting time is scarce these days.

Shades of Gray

Manhattan Bridge

I chose this picture to paint for the Virtual Paint Out several weeks ago and when I looked at it I couldn't figure out why I chose such a gray subject. I'm the girl who likes color, and lots of it and here I am doing an exercise in grey. Even the sky and car were grey. The only things colorful were the orange barrels lining the road. I guess I was intrigued by the grandness of a bridge gate with the colonnade flanking the sides and the arch with the figures on each side. It reminds me of the grand aches you see in Europe that are in memory of great victories and heros. Perhaps this arch is a monument as well, who knows?

On another note; I'm am in the midst of packing and preparing to move back to our winter home in Florida. I may get in one more post before we leave. Otherwise, I'll be back soon.

Postmarked

Postmarked 7x15

I had to try to do an abstract with collage like I did in the workshop from a few weeks ago. I thought if I did a couple more on my own the concepts might just be stuck in my brain a little tighter. This one I think I got pretty well, there is good layering of color and texture so that you can see through the layers. There is repetition and variety of shapes and colors; and balance. For me the hardest part is getting the colors in acrylics that I want. It seems like I have to mix and mix to try to get the shades and intensities right and then if I don't mix enough I have to try to do it all over again and match it. I know I had a color learning curve with watercolors but I don't think it was a daunting as acrylics. Once I learn which "out of the tube" colors mix with others in pleasing harmonies I may have less frustration. For me it's something I have to learn hands on, and probably repeatedly, before it's automatic. I love the challenge of something new and different.

Sunflower Bouquet

Sunflower Bouquet 9 x 11 watercolor

Last week I purchased a beautiful sunflower bouquet. After admiring it for several days I thought I'd better paint it before the wilt sets in. I love painting sunflowers and I strive to keep the colors fresh and not to get in there and overwork. Isn't is amazing what hard work it is not to overwork? I could sit and diddle with a painting like this for hours. It takes discipline, or maybe a needed trip to the bathroom to stop. I can still see things in the painting that I could change or add, but I'm going to stop. The bouquet had little roses, and small gladiolas along with lots of leafy things to fill in so it really could have been a week long painting but the sunflowers were the stars.

Love Letters

Love Letters, 15x7, Mixed Media

This was the second painting that I did in the workshop. The colors didn't photograph well, it's more of a brown tone than gray. The gold script is stamped on and enhanced with embossing powder. The letters for LOVE are some stick on cork letters that I found in a hobby store. I painted them gold. In the collage area are some of the papers that we made the first day of the workshop. It's a challenge to work abstractly, even though you have to make the same design decisions when you work realistically.

Collage workshop

Abstract With Banner 15X15 Acrylic on paper with collage.

Last week I participated in a workshop on abstract collage with Minnesota artist, Karen Knutson (http://www.karenknutson.com). There were 10 of us in her home from Monday through Thursday working on our designs and going through the process of layering acrylic to achieve depth and texture. This process was a steep learning curve for me but I was happy with the final results. In her process one starts with a composition and then works sort of backwards to get to what you want. You paint dark where you want light and light where you want dark. It's a brain cramp in the beginning! As the layers progress you finally get to the point where your dark and light areas are matching up with your initial plan. From there you begin using collage and paint to lead the eye towards the center of interest. This painting is my first attempt at doing this.

We spent much of our time the first day learning how to make our own collage papers, by painting on bakery tissues, using powdered carbon on watercolor paper, making our own stamps from mat board, and spraying bleeding tissue. It was very hands on and a lot of fun. These items were used in our work the following days.

More fun, less pressure.

Abstract, 15x22

This is one of the first abstracts I attempted several years ago in a class. I just took some of my favorite colors and made a random pattern on wet paper and let them run around and mingle. I placed different papers on the wet paint to make texture and some places remained white. After it was dry I painted the geometric shapes and lines with negative and positive painting. I've always enjoyed looking at this piece I think because the colors just make me happy. Also it was painted with great freedom and without pressure to "make a great painting". It was just fun. I need to do more of that, more fun and less pressure.

Leaning Rooster

I like everything about my rooster except that he looks like he may topple over backwards. There is a lesson here...always check your drawing from a distance BEFORE you start painting. I got so excited about getting the paint on that I forgot to do this. Never the less, I especially like the way the wet paint moved and made feather shapes in the rooster. He's a handsome fellow and he knows it. Now if he would just stand up straight! He's worth doing again.

A Virtual Paint Out

Prince Edward Island, Canada, 10X7, Watercolor Sticks and Intense Pencils

It's a new month and a new place to virtually go at Virtual Paint Out; http://virtualpaintout.blogspot

This month it is Prince Edward Island. When I started traveling around the island with google earth I was so surprised at how flat it was. I don't know why I expected it to be more hilly and verdant. But anyway, I found this nice little landscape with a meandering stream. I decided to paint it in my class on Tuesday and when I looked in my bag I found a 12 piece set of watercolor sticks and the same number of Inktense Pencils but no palette! What a way to force yourself to a limited palette! I used mostly the sticks and only did a little detail with the pencils. It's made me think that the sticks would be perfect travel companions, compact, not messy, and not a security problem. (I think I need more than 12, though).

Little Originals for Cards

Sometimes, for a warm up or just a quick painting session I'll paint some small flowers without using any reference. These are fun and rewarding and can be glued to card stock for an original card. They are about 4 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches depending on how much I crop them. I was cleaning out a nearly empty tube of paint and didn't want to waste all that paint on my brush so all my flowers were bright primary red which I allowed to explode on the wet paper. When that was dry I did negative painting around the flowers with the blues and greens and made the petal shapes.

Artichoke stalemate

Last week I started to put in geometric shapes as a background for my artichokes and now I'm at a stalemate with the painting. I think other painters experience this from time to time, I hope I'm not alone. Also, being limited in time with lots of family activities the past couple of weeks has made it difficult to even think of what to do next. Things should settle down so that I can study it and decide how I should proceed. In the meantime, I relaxed and painted some little flower paintings for birthday cards.Those I will post in the next couple of days.

Artichokes, part 3

I worked some more on my artichoke painting in class on Tuesday. It's coming along slowly. My plan is to work the back ground with some abstract linear elements so that the artichokes don't look like they're floating in space. After three posts on these artichokes it's going to be very frustrating if it doesn't turnout like I hope it does. I'm hopeful for something "enterable" but if it doesn't work out, I have enjoyed the journey so far and I will likely paint this subject more than once.

Poppies

Poppies, 9x9

This little painting was started awhile ago. First it was just a background needing a subject. I thought I would paint it as a diamond but I think it looks better straight, besides, I found it was impossible to photograph and crop a diamond shape. I sort of like the windswept feel of the blossoms. I worked on it in between working on the artichoke painting. So much of watercolor is waiting for paint to dry thoroughly before you go on to the next step. It's good to have another painting handy.

Fresh Tomatoes and Corn

First of the Summer 5x7

We all look forward to this fresh treat every summer; the fresh, home-grown corn and tomatoes. The ears of corn were small but oh so sweet, just out of the field. I think the tomatoes must have had a greenhouse start but they tasted like the real thing. I intended to time myself and do this as a 20 minute challenge but I couldn't resist adding the shadows after my 20 minutes was up. I will just have to try it again the next time we bring home these delicious treats from the market.

Artichokes, part 2

ARTICHOKES-2

After looking at the photo of my last post I decided I needed a few more artichoke shapes in my painting. So I added the one in the upper right corner and also two more in the left lower corner. The last one is barely visible as a negative shape right now. I wanted to establish what my darkest dark was going to be so now it's sticking out like a sore thumb but it will fit in as I add more dark areas to the painting. (It's good to have a positive attitude about these things even if I am suppressing the urge to go to the sink and wash it out.) I'm starting to get excited about this painting now, and I hope I have time to work on it this week. The house is empty this week except for my husband and me for a couple of days so I have no excuse.

A New Beginning-Artichokes

Purple Artichokes 15X22

I've been wanting to paint these fabulous purple artichokes since I took the picture of them at an Oregon farmers market last fall. This may be one of those paintings that I will work on over the summer, building the composition and the colors as I go along. Right now it's very low key, values not more than a five in a one to ten scale. I guess I'm playing it safe, as I usually do, sort of timid to let the values get out of control. On the other hand, I love to build the colors up and watch the painting emerge out of the pale washes.

Undersea Turtles

I'll bet you thought I'd never finish and post this painting. I think it's done, at least as much as I'm going to do. Until it's actually framed you never know. I've even been known to take things out of the frame and "adjust" something. What it really needed was to be darkened under the turtles so I went for it. I find it hard to get really dark in watercolor, it's easier to be wishy-washy and not bold. So, I'd really value what some of you followers think, if you have time to make a comment. Thanks.






Undersea Turtles 15X22

Lighthouse

This is the lighthouse at Diamond Head in Hawaii. That was the challenge for the Virtual Paint Out this month. I've been painting water scenes for the paint out so I needed to find another subject and came across the lighthouse. It was a nice change from the other kind of painting I've been doing today. The "roll the paint on the walls" kind of painting. It was for a friend that needed help so there we were, an all day paint out, just not the fun kind. After that it was refreshing to think about sunny Hawaii, especially since this was the 8th straight rainy day in Minnesota. Now I have a little 5X7 piece of Hawaiian paradise for those rainy days ahead.

Up and Running in Minnesota

I'm finally settled enough in our summer digs to paint and read and write blogs. Yay! I worked from a photo that I took of a tiny bouquet that was on an outdoor table. I loved the shape of the cast shadow of all the little leaves and flowers that were in with a single iris in a tiny pitcher. I was hoping that I could get it done in 20 minutes so that I could put it on Twenty Minute Challenge blog, but it took me 50 minutes to get all the shadows and ruffles done to my satisfaction. It surely is good to be painting again, I feel like I've been without a brush for too long. I did manage to paint one landscape while at a friend's house on our trip up north but that was it. Now if I can just keep it going, does it help to set a goal? I'll try at least four paintings/blogs a week.

Blue Iris

I have one more attempt at an iris. I find them to be difficult flowers to paint, but I'm getting the hang of it. This one I painted without drawing it first but I think it is better to do the drawing before painting. Sometimes I want to get out the paints and just do it and it's not always the best idea. On the other hand it does have the advantage of spontaneity. I love the way Janet Rogers just paints a flower with no drawing. I have a lovely rose painting she did as a demo at a workshop. I look at it an sigh. I wonder how many she had to do to get that good.

We will be in transition from south to north for the next week. I hope to be blogging again soon.