Falling Colors

"Falling Colors"

Image Size 6" x 4"

Acrylic and watercolor

I was out of town for a week so I didn't have much time to paint.  I would like to see this as a large painting but that is for another time.  That wonderful texture comes from coating the surface with fiber paste.  It is an acrylic medium made by 'Golden Paint Company'.  I put it on mat board but it is flexible and can be used on paper, board, canvas or probably almost any surface you can imagine.  It is very absorbent and, as you can see, has a wonderful texture. 

These are my happy "I'm ready for spring" colors.  My deciduous trees are leafing out and my fruit trees have wonderful smelling blossoms on them.  I love this time of year!

The Red Hat #1

The Red Hat #1

Image Size 7.5" x 11"

Watercolor

I think I've found a new series.  I've had several photos of my friend Beverly in this red hat for many years and as with last week's painting of my daughter, I was too intimidated to try painting her.  This really doesn't look like her, but I'm still happy with this painting.  I'm really enjoying painting portraits much more than I thought I would.  Maybe I've found a new calling....

This was done on 200# Waterford paper which I really like.  It has a soft surface and that little bit of extra weight really makes a difference.  I didn't know I had any left so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this little piece.  I painted most of this on saturated paper and finished the details once it dried.

Make A Wish

"Make A Wish"

Image size 7.5" x 11"

Watercolor

I had my daughter pose for this quite a while ago, but have been too scared to paint the painting.  This is a study of what will be a large painting (hopefully soon).  I am always hesitant to paint people, but actually enjoyed this project.

My original idea was not to have her holding a cupcake, but since tomorrow is her birthday, I thought it was an appropriate object to place in her hand.  I really made a mess of her hair and I'm afraid she will cringe when she sees this, but I promise to do a better job on the real painting.  She has beautiful curly hair which she usually straightens so I'm happy that it's curly for my reference photo.

For the big painting, I will probably use warmer colors.  The overall feeling of this is a bit too cool for me.

Anyway, happy 29th birthday my dear, sweet, baby girl!!!

Guacamole

"Guacamole"

Image size 18" x 12"

Watercolor

I thought the ingredients for one of my favorite foods would make a fun painting.  I stuck a stick through the tomato, avocado and onion to stack them and created my still life composition.  I hope I'm not leaving out any major ingredients.  Of course you have to add salt and pepper to taste but I didn't feel like I wanted them in my painting.

It feels good to be back to my watercolors.  The paintings from the last few weeks have been a good warm up and with this week's painting, I feel more in the old groove.  I did most of this painting on saturated paper.  I'm still experimenting with this technique and don't think that it's easy for me yet but I am enjoying the process.

Dragonfruit

"Dragonfruit"

Image size 7" x 12"

Watercolor

One of my wonderful artist friends, Nancy Grubb, sent a picture of this dragonfruit to me.  We are both painting it which is such a fun idea.  She already finished hers and I must say that I like hers better, but it is fun to have two artists painting the same subject and seeing how each approaches the subject.

I painted this on a piece of Arches 140# hot press paper.  I saturated it and worked on the wet paper until I did the finishing details.  Working on the saturated hot press was a bit different than working on the saturated cold press, and I do like the cold press better, but this was still a nice surface on which to paint.