paper and oranges

This is the last entry for "journal week", maybe

next week will be figure studies...who knows.

I should come up with some sort of challenge for

myself...do a sketch a day of vegetables, or fruit

or some sort of other series. Hmmm, I'll think about

this for a while, but still need to get my computer

sorted out.

Red Shoes

Espadrilles in the sand...does this scream

vacation? My computer is still having some

issues, so I'll keep this brief in the hopes that

this post goes through.

stripes on stripes

Computer on the fritz...quick post...

study of stripes and a study of complimentary

colors...hope to have everything fixed soon...

Dance of glances

This was a quick study sitting on a bench

in downtown, observing this lady in her

orange spotted shirt reading the paper and

obviously enjoying her paper cup of coffee.

It is hard to be inconspicuous when you want

to draw someone...a quick look then look away,

another quick look, then down at your paper.

Quite the dance of glances.

journal week

I'm posting a little early this week...Sunday

p.m., because I won't have time tomorrow.

This is going to be journal sneak-a-peek week.

Every entry will be a page from one of my various

visual journals. Hope you sketch alot as well and

keep notes and sketches of your vacations, daily

events or just some doodles. It's fun and acts as

practice, which we don't seem to do enough of.

Keep those artistic muscles limber!

White feathers

"Leghorn" 15" x 11" Private Collection

I'll round out the week with another rooster

painting. A while ago I did a white poppy and

got some comments about white flowers, which

are not easy to paint...well the same goes for white

roosters! It's amazing how much the background

comes in to play and in order to define the white

feathers you actually have to use some color.

It always boils down to color again..my favorite thing!

Free Range

"Free Range" 15" x 11"

Okay, so I've been told several different

names for the rooster's "spikes", which ofcourse

by my own admission was wrong, but I think got

the "point" across. Talons and spurs have been

sent my way as the correct terms for these items

on a rooster's legs. Thanks for the clarification.

Still, I don't want to come in close contact with any

spurs, talons or spikes...ouch!

Rooster super models

"Double Trouble" 22" x 15"

This painting was "constructed" using two

different photos of roosters...one I took on

vacation of the retreating one and the other

was taken by a friend. Roosters are quite large

and when they see you coming with a camera they

can get shy or chase you down for invading their

privacy! And with those sharp beaks and spikes

on their legs, watch out! Spikes is probably not the

correct anatomical term, I shall investigate further...

head and arms

My computer is being "uber" slow this morning,

so I'll keep this post "uber" small. Just like this

head and arms study. Last night was the last figure

session until September...so to be continued next month.

dream and paint BIG

"Glads and Pears" 22" x 15"

I have been experimenting with a slightly

different color palette these last few days.

I probably won't stick to it, because we always

tend to go back to our favorites. It's always nice

to try something new and expand your horizons.

That's how great things are discovered! Don't know

how you can compare an interesting color combination

in watercolors to something great, but hey I say dream

big. Paint big and use those little tubes full of color.

That's what it's all about!

Pansies Posing

"Picture perfect pansies" 22" x 15"

These pansy faces are on display at the

Bennington Center for the Arts for their

Impressions of New England Show. The Art

Center has gone through some new changes,

including more gallery space and workshop

spaces. It is such an impressive place. If you

have never been it is worth checking out. They

host many exciting shows and also have a summer

theatre. Well that's the travel agent in me speaking...

Yesterday it was the chef..off to the studio to be an artist!

Artist or Chef

"Sunbursts" 15" x 22"

Sunflowers have been on the brain lately, with so many

farmstands just bulging with them. Now is the time for these

regal, golden crowned beauties. Along with the sweet

corn, which also stands tall in the fields. I guess if I wasn't an

artist I'd like to be a chef. Maybe I should paint my food more

often! Another blogger mentioned the perfect diet for artists

the other day...paint your dinner before you sit down to eat

it. Either we'd learn to paint really fast or shrink down from starvation!

Coldwater Creek catalog surprise

"Red and Redder" original painting 10" x 22" private collection

Thanks to the keen eye of a friend perusing the newest

Coldwater Creek catalog...a fun thing was brought to my

attention yesterday. I signed a licensing contract last April

for 4 different images to be reproduced on canvas. This

company then in turn redistributes those prints to various

other outlets and the Coldwater Creek catalog happens to be

on that list. So click on the link to be taken to their website.

Who knows where my work will show up next? Keep your eyes

out when you are at Target or the Christmas Tree shops!

Gladiola Bunch

"Gladiola Bunch" 22" x 15"

This was the demonstration painting from

Friday morning's class. The glads are out in

full force now and they have such tall, spiky

beautiful shapes. Plus the variety of colors

they come in is great. One of the local supermarkets

offers a huge bunch for only 5 dollars! That's

worth buying some inspiration for.

picture of painters

"Floral watercolorists galore"

This is the very talented group of ladies who

participated in my Woodstock watercolor workshop.

We had two great days of painting and hard work!

It was alot of fun and thanks to all who signed up

and painted up a storm. Stay tuned for future

workshops...tomorrow I will post my demo from

the first day.

Olympic Quinacridone Gold

"Summer Heralds" 22" x 15" private collection

I have really enjoyed painting irises this summer

and some of the paintings will probably pop up in

the fall shows, which are coming right up! I can't

believe the first week of August is over. With the

Olympics coming up, the next two weeks should

fly by as well. Go for your own gold when you are

painting...Quinacridone Gold that is! Wonderful,

bright and fresh color.

painting weather

A small Lily painting (7.5" x 7.5") with many layers

of washes. I'm getting ready for my workshop starting

this Friday...so no post that day, but hopefully with some

pictures to share next week. I have to gather up my fabrics,

vases, fruit, misc. other props and load up the car to get

ready to go. The weather (like most of this summer) is going

to be rainy/cloudy, so the perfect time to be inside and painting.

There's nothing worse than sitting inside on a beautiful day and

staring out the window wishing you were out there. Brings back

memories of the first few weeks of school, when the weather was

still nice, but you were "stuck" inside!

Red radishes

This bunch of radishes reminds me of the abundance

of vegetables that are available at all the different farmer's

markets across the area. I love stopping by to see what is

fresh and beautiful. There have been these baby artichokes,

summer squashes, tomatoes and everything in between.

Plenty of painting inspiration to be found! Happy Summer!

Garden View

"Inn at Shelburne Farms view"

This painting was done during Tom Lynch's watercolor workshop

at Shelburne Farms. I had several comments on my previous post

as to how I liked his class. I thought it was alot of fun and he is a very

gracious instructor. I had seen many of his PBS shows and even

rubbed elbows with him at a national trade show for the arts industry.

So being able to take a class with him was great. He has come up

here once a year to teach at the Vermont Art Event and finally this

year I had a chance to sign up for a class with him. I think it is

good to take classes and expand your horizons, you will always come

away with renewed inspiration, excitement, knowledge and techniques.

Painting outside

"Something to say" 15" x 22"

Today I'm off to Shelburne Farms to take a day long

workshop with Tom Lynch. Click his name to go to his

website. He used to have a PBS series on how to paint

with watercolor and is pretty well known in the art industry.

Should be a fun day...the weather is holding and I have a

cooler full of water to keep myself hydrated. Sunscreen

and bugspray and the day should be good. Hope you are

getting out there and painting.