Blonde

As promised the other portrait of myself...many moons ago...it's definitely richer in color than the other one I posted a little while ago. The open mouth was hard to do, but I think it worked out okay. I also like the bright shock of hair on the left side...catching the light. I'll continue to practice..it's a fun challenge.

Watch out for blogs!

Donna Zagotta listed some blogs to watch in 2011...and mine is on the list! I was super excited and surprised. That's some good company to be in...lots of other artists whose work I totally admire! Here is the link to see the other blogs on the list..hope you'll check them out! The still life above is 15"x11" and features that black and white napkin I'm so fond of!

blue abstract

I love reading all the comments that everyone leaves on my blog...I'm also wowed about the fact that all our blogs are interconnected and we find eachother through all the different linked blogs, favorites and blogs we follow! How fun...Thanks for checking in with me...another abstract for you today...trying to push my colors.

long, long time ago

This is actually me as a youngster...I'm working on another one and that one is a little stronger...I'll show you soon. BRRRR cold here in the Northeast...so nothing to do except hunker down and paint...or download new pictures of your artwork off your camera and edit them for future postings...yeah, yeah that's the ticket!

Staging references

Perusing old photographs to come up with portraits is what I've been up to....It's hard to find pictures that are not "posed" and the subjects are not in full smile mode...That is one of my goals this year...to take reference pictures that are less staged and folks aren't looking directly into the camera!

facial recognition

I'm playing with portraits...it's tricky...unlike flowers, eyes, noses and mouths need to be in their proper places...you can fudge a bit with blossoms and greenery...not so with a person's defining characteristics! Unless you wish to paint like Picasso and re-assemble facial layouts! I'm going to start a new blogging schedule and post Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays...this will force me out from behind the computer and spend more time in the studio! I hope you'll still follow along.

Field of Sun

A full sheet painting...22'"x30"...always takes more paint and more time than you think! Fun to do, though! This field of sunflowers is about 40 minutes from my house and these lovelies get sold at the farmer's market every Saturday when they are in season...because I saw them there...I decided to take the trip to see them in person and photograph them for future paintings.

Portrait painting

This is a quick study I did of my aunt from a photograph I took last spring. The Vermont Watercolor Society is sponsoring a portrait/figure workshop by Ted Nuttall in Landgrove, Vermont this July 18-22. If you are interested in joining us..please send me an email for registration information. The location can't be beat and the Landgrove Inn is really great! I'm hoping my schedule will permit me to participate!

Sly look

It's snowing here...but not as much as in other parts of Vermont and New England...So I thought I'd brighten your day with a colorfully collared rooster. Snow days are painting days...cozied up in the studio with flakes swirling all around...what could be better?..Oh maybe doing the same on a beach somewhere, yeah that's right!

Chairs and water

Here is another peek inside one of my sketchbooks...the New Year is a great time to start a new project, crack the binding on a new journal and tackle those blank page within..daunting task, but just think...there are always "new" journals to be had...make yours "used". Play, paint and practice.

Sheer poppy

Okay I promised flowers again this week...so here is a white poppy. These are small 7x7 paintings...I keep going back to that size, because a full sheet of wc paper will give you quite a few of this size. I have a stack of these around the studio and anytime I don't feel (or dare) to tackle a big piece of paper...I resort to the small ones.

Confetti

I'll round out the week with another abstract...because I've been getting quite a few comments and emails...so I assume you are enjoying them. I'd like to explore them a little more and dig a little deeper, but back to some flowers and roosters soon!

Abstract play-time

This little one (7"x7") is done just to warm up in the studio...I slosh some color around and see what happens. Nice little test pieces. I do these on the same paper as I would a finished painting...that way you can see how the pigments react to eachother...I'm sure you all have scraps around that could benefit from a little "sloshing"

Great blue yonder

Okay I'm on an abstract kick...I'm trying to play with colors and explore different combinations. I tend to dip into the same "favorite" colors over and over..so this is a way to push those boundaries a bit and loosen up!

Floral shapes

Another abstract piece...It's a good way to jumpstart your creative day. It's a non commited painting approach that lets you test color combinations and to see how certain pigments interact. Use lots of water, scrape back, apply wet into wet pigment, lift using tissues, use watersoluble pencils etc..etc.. be bold! Experiment.

Shine on

A pop of color to start off the year with my first post. This is a 4" x 6" small painting done on a little Fabriano block of 140 lb. watercolor paper. I just got some new supplies on the second to last day of 2010...just in time to start off my new year with some new "stuff"...I'll experiment with Hot Pressed paper and a heavier weight paper! It's exciting...