Calm Waters

I'm finally getting back to participating in the Virtual Paintout monthly challenge.  My intention has been to paint at least one painting for this challenge each month but the time has gotten away from me and it's been several months since I've painted from Google street maps.

This month's location is Boston and the surrounding area.  I found this scene in Lynn, Mass.  I really liked that clump of trees and the calm water.  This painting was done entirely with a palette knife.

Calm Waters
Image size 6" x 6"
Oil

Short Circuit

Here's another abstract - not as dark as last week's in color or theme.  I'm really happy with how this turned out.  I love the colors and the mix of hard and soft edges as well as the areas of pristine, white paper.  The glow of that white paper, to me, is one of the most beautiful aspects of watercolor that just can't be achieved with any other medium.  Also, the way the watercolor paint reacts and separates on the wet paper is unique to this medium.  I love to experiment with other mediums but shall always return to watercolor.

Short Circuit
Image Size 13.5" x 19"
Watercolor

Strained

If I could take a picture of the inside of my head, it might look something like this.  Disorganization rules  in there.  It always surprises me when people think I am an organized person but after seeing this self portrait, they may change their minds. : )

It gets especially bad this time of year with all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  I never feel like I'm in control.  I envy the people that are able to fully enjoy the season because they have done their shopping early, have the presents wrapped and are able to relax and bake cookies knowing that everything is done.  Each year, I think I will do better but I seem to be getting worse.  My feeling of bah humbug gets worse every year too.  I'm writing this on Dec. 23rd (and pre-posting) in case you're thinking that I should be able to relax now that the holidays are over.

I plan to change in 2011.  I'm beginning to make my list of new year's resolutions and you can bet that being ready for the holidays will be first on my list!!!

Strained
Image Size 22" x 15"
Watercolor

Ready For Harvest

I had to have a silk painting fix.  I enjoy painting on silk so much and miss it if I go too long without doing it.  I love the graphic quality of it.  This is the second silk painting of grapes that I've done.  They are really fun to paint and they bring back happy memories of visits to the wine country.

Ready For Harvest
Image Size 10" x 16"
Silk dyes on silk

Icy Stream

Here's another "loose" painting.  I'm really enjoying this process.  There's something very exciting about getting a piece of paper wet and then dropping in paint and watching what happens.  This scene looks so cold to me.  I'm glad our winters here are relatively warm.

Icy Stream
Image size 15" x 22"
Watercolor

Summer in Alaska

I'm still working on painting loosely.  Maybe I'm starting to see things differently because "loose" is getting easier for me.  I know this is still pretty tight compared to most loose watercolor paintings but for me, it's pretty darn loose.  Actually, I'm missing working on my tight paintings.  Maybe switching between the two styles is the answer for me.

I've been told that it's important for an artist to have a distinctive 'style' so that their work is recognizable but I enjoy painting in so many different mediums and different ways that I wonder if I will ever settle on one style.  I guess time will tell the answer to that one.

Summer in Alaska
Image Size 15" x 22"
Watercolor

Stormy Lake Powell

We used to go to Lake Powell every summer and the stormy days were always my favorites.  I have so many photos from those days and have painted from a few of them but never one with the grey skies.  I did this painting with a palette knife.

Stormy Lake Powell
Image size 6" x 6"
Oil

Rocky Falls

This was a fun, loose painting.  Most of it was done wet into wet and then did a bit of detail once it dried.  I'm really happy with the colors and feeling of this painting.

Rocky Falls
Image size 22" x 15"
Watercolor
Unframed
$275.00

Quietude

How's this for loose?  I know it's not recognizable as one of my paintings but I swear I did paint it.  As I was painting is, I was frustrated and not enjoying myself but I am happy with the result.

Quietude
Image size 15" x 22"
Watercolor
Unframed
$275.00

Silk Angels

Back to silk painting.  Angel trumpet flowers (Brugmansia) are among my favorites.  They look almost alien in their size and shape.  I videotaped this painting as I worked on it.  I'm going to try to post the video below.

 I just posted it to youtube and it's a bit blurry.  It wasn't before I downloaded it but the file was probably too large and maybe it was posted as a smaller file and that made it blurry.  Who knows?  I certainly don't.  I think it's amazing that I've gotten it this far.  You wouldn't believe how many hours it's taken me to figure it out to this point.  I am very technologically challenged.  Thank goodness our son was home from college this weekend or the video would still be in the camera - not compatible with Mac.  Matt's my computer genius.  I know it would be nice to have music but sorry, not this time.  I'm tired of working on this and my head is spinning enough already.  It can only get easier from here, right?

I hope you can see this enough to get an idea of the process.  If you are interested in seeing me demonstrate silk painting in person, I will be the speaker at the Tustin Art League's monthly meeting next Wednesday, November 10th at 7:00.  If you will be joining us, could you send me an e-mail so we will have an idea of how many people are coming?  We are a very small art league and have limited space.  My e-mail is nancygoldman@cox.net  The meeting is located at 300 South C St., Tustin, CA.

Here is the video (I hope):



Silk Angels
Image Size 12" x 20"
Silk dyes on silk
Stretched but unframed
$225.00