Whazzup

Here's another favorite subject that's been long neglected...the feathered friend. He's not all together too sure about why I was taking his picture...but this is why...to create a piece of art! (8"x8")

Color Burst

It's been entirely too long since I posted a good old fashioned floral watercolor...Maybe it's because I've been exploring other subjects...but it's nice to paint blossoms again...this is "Bursting Forth", 15"x22". Sort of an explosion of colors, like fireworks on the Fourth.

Paint, rinse, repeat

Some of you might recognize this musician from an earlier post...I tried to capture him several times on paper. It's good practice to paint something more than once or work in a series...that way you can change your approach, colors, technique etc..hopefully each time you learn something new! (15"x11")

Variety is the spice...

This is a 12"x12" piece done on the Fluid watercolor paper....I had an email about Fabriano paper and if it was good quality and worth the money...to me it is and yes it's good quality, but not as bullet proof as Arches.. so if you want to try something new and different certainly give the wide variety of papers out there a try, but if you've found your "forever" paper...then stay with the tried and true...

Paper sizes

Trying out my new Fabriano block in 12"x16"..size is always an issue...we can get caught up in the standard quarter, half and full sheets...but it's nice to break out and work in squares, long rectangles etc.. it's great to see that the paper manufacturers are mixing it up a bit too...Arches has new block sizes and then those Fluid paper blocks I mentioned last week.

Experimentation

Testing papers, testing pigments and testing restraint! Trying not to overwork and definitely leaving white and revisiting Arches 300 lb CP paper, which is a more difficult paper for me to work with, since I'm used to the "softer" Fabriano paper.

sketchbooks

I just took stock of all the blank sketchbooks in my studio...they look nice all lined up, but they certainly would look better full of colorful sketches and paintings...at least there is one with the "breakfast" sketch in it from the Mexico trip!

"Early morning"

A new little painting trying to capture a colorful Italian town and the early morning task of putting out the garbage! I'm playing with the new Fluid watercolor paper...this is the 8"x8" block...the paper's claim to fame is that it is gummed on two sides as compared to the traditional blocks that are gummed on all four. So far I've enjoyed it.

practice makes....

The figure sessions resume sometime again this summer...but having consistently gone these last few years has really helped to improve my approach to painting the figure. I guess it's like anything else...practice makes...I hesitate to say perfect...but at least much, much better!

painting days

Yesterday was the second of my two workshops in a gorgeous peony garden and gorgeous it was! Sunny, warm days, buds popping, rich colors and that tell tale fragrance of those beautiful blooms...what a great couple days...painting outside has its own set of challenges, but the process is unique and rewarding!

Show news

I am pleased to announce that my painting "Sunwashed"(12"x16") was juried by Stephen Quiller to be included in the 30th Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors. The show will be at the Arts Center in Old Forge, New York from August 12 to October 2.

Kick Start

Back to a sketchbook image...I need to dust off the covers of my sketchbooks and get back to business! My discipline has been a little lacking in that department...I wish I could blame gardening or repainting the house, but that's not the case...but this weekend kick starts the season for me when I teach a few workshops in a beautiful peony garden...