Monday, June 13, 2011

Graptoveria - Watercolor

I'm not really sure what this plant is named but  I do know that it is a succulent.  : )  In my succulents book, the graptoveria looked similar to this and was described as having the variety of colors in one plant that this one does.  That's what drew me to it.  The combination of colors almost make it look iridescent.
This is a large painting and I think I will enter it in the Watercolor West competition coming up.

Speaking of competitions, today I got the news that my painting Fish and Flotsam has been accepted into the San Diego Watercolor Society's International Exhibit.  I am so thrilled!  This is a prestigious exhibit and I feel honored to have one of my paintings included.  This is the time of year that many of the big shows deadlines come around.  There are two other international watercolor shows (Watercolor West and National Watercolor Society) and a couple of local shows, all with deadlines within the next month. Now I'm wishing I had worked more in watercolor the past few months.  Since my paintings have been all over the place (every medium imaginable), now I'm feeling the crunch.  Sometimes I am more focused when my time is limited so we'll see what happens.

Graptoveria
Image Size 22" x 30"
Watercolor
Framed

18 comments:

  1. This new painting is stunning, Nancy, the size is awesome! Not surprised that you were accepted into the San Diego Watercolor Society exhibit, and I bet you get into the others. I do know what you mean though, about being side tracked with other mediums but I am positive that all of the work you have done in the other mediums can only make you that much better with watercolor.

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  2. This is absolutely stunning and you've so captured that irridescense in the leaves. I just know you will do well with these upcoming shows, Nancy. Your work is beautiful and I've been following for quite awhile so I know that for a fact! Good luck!

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  3. The colors in this are fantastic. Love it. Are you going to take Leslie and Dreamer's workshop again?

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  4. Thanks Robin. I really like working large although after seeing the Joseph Raffael (look him up, he's amazing) exhibit, 22" x 30" seems tiny. You are probably right that working with the other mediums has probably improved my watercolor paintings. If nothing else, it has made me less tense and worried about the outcome of my watercolor paintings. And it had made me appreciate the medium even more. I really think it is the most beautiful medium and the most fun to paint.

    Thank you Sherry. Trying to capture the colors was really fun.

    Thanks Jerry. I just checked Leslie's blog and that workshop is full - so I guess not. Are you coming out for that?

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  5. Hi Nancy, this turned out beautiful! and I love succulents! Good luck on this one for the International show - hope it gets selected!
    How do you get to know the info about the shows? I would be interested in submitting oils, since thats all I do mostly. Also I am still interested in the silk framing stuff that I had asked you before but did not have time for it so far. Now that the summer vacations are starting for my kids, I will be able to find the time.
    -Prerana Kulkarni

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  6. delicious lookiing! I love these plants too. Beautiful painting.

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  7. Nancy, I don't need to look up Raffael, my mother has one of his florals, I think it's 6 feet by 3 feet, humongous orchids.

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  8. Beautiful painting Nancy! The colors and light are so stunning. Congratulations on the show too!

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  9. Thank you Prerana. Two of the shows that I will be entering are watercolors only. The OC fair is the third and the deadline is already past. The final one is the Orange Open which is put on by the Orange Art Association. The deadline for that one is June 24th. It is a great show. It's my favorite local show. There is always tons of beautiful art. Go to www.orangeartassociation.org to get the information. If you have any problems, let me know and I can help.
    I've been concentrating on painting wearable art with the silks (scarves) so right now I don't have anything to frame the way I want to teach you. I'm sure that I will be painting one that I will stretch and frame sometime this summer so we will try to get together and I will teach you.

    Thank you Hillary. That means a lot, coming from you. I miss you, my mentor!

    Wow Robin, what a lucky duck your mom is! We had an exhibit of his paintings at a local university a couple of months ago and it was by far the best art exhibit I've ever seen. I had visited his website several times over the years and though I knew they were large paintings, until I saw them in person, I really didn't understand how overwhelming they would be.

    Thanks Theresa. I think this is the first painting I have ever done where I don't hate the shadows.

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  10. Oh my goodness, Nancy!! That turned out amazingly good! It's definitely show-worthy!! I love the background and the shadows are beautiful.

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  11. Thanks Cheryl. It looks very different than it did on Saturday, huh?

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  12. This is a beautiful painting for sure Nancy. I love the iridescent colors and the white outline around each petal. Very nicely done. And too the weekly deadline you have is a good motivator. I might like to try that if you don't mind my borrowing your idea. Not sure i would be quite so disciplined though. :) :) Thanks too for coming by my blog. Your visit and comments are greatly appreciated,always. Blessings. ross

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  13. Thanks Ross. I'd love to see you do a weekly painting. I really enjoy each time you post something new. Your paintings are so fresh and happy. Keep em coming.

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  14. Congratulation on getting into the show. It is well deserved.

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  15. You perfectly captured the color and texture of these thick succulent leaves. I'm not sure what it's called either, but it looks just like THIS!

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  16. Thanks Gwen. Since I first posted this, I've found out that it is a graptoveria and the type is 'Fred Ives'.

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