Winter is here

Winter is here as are the holidays...just like that 2016 is almost over...wishing you all the best as you say goodbye to this year and welcome a new one...thanks for following my work! 

Holiday time

I've been a bit slow with my blog posts...but it seems the season of spreading yourself a bit too thin is upon us....plus throw in a good old cold and you've got the makings of a fun start to the festivities.... be that as it may...my cough is subsiding and the brush is gliding over some paper...so onward we go!

Cover girl

This came in the mail the other day...a cool new book published in England and it has one of my paintings on the cover! This has been in the works for quite some time....but now it's here! The rooster piece and another are also inside printed in a gallery section with other artists' work. (Click on the words new book above and it'll take you to Amazon)

Testing paper

I had received some new Stonehenge Aqua paper a while back and this was my test painting done on the CP surface. I liked the paper and the way it handled the paint...another nice paper to add to the studio inventory! 

Snowy scene

Two little winter birds...I titled this "Winter duo"... I now have this as a print available that I just dropped off along with numerous others and more cards and boxed cards to Frog Hollow State Craft center on Church Street in Burlington...winter prep continues in the studio and outside! 

Figure session

Sometimes they just fall off the brush and this was one of those experiences...they don't happen often, but oh how fun when they do...plus the bold red on top of her head makes me happy...

Happy Halloween!

Not my usual flora and fauna...but just for fun on this spooky Halloween day! Be safe all and have a good one!

"Pumpkin spiced watercolor"

'Tis the season for all things pumpkin...including this little watercolor that I painted in my sketchbook...layering pigment and loaded washes...building those intense values.

Fleurs

Sorry I haven't posted in a while...but here is today's colorful bouquet...may you have a bright day as well...

Plein air

This is a Plein air piece that I did in August of a great big red barn...will try my hand again this weekend when a bunch of VT watercolor society members will gather to paint together...what do you call a group of Plein air painters? There's the gaggle of geese...a murder of crows...a school of fish... Hmm.. Something to ponder...how about a palette of painters? A quiver of creators? An arsenal of artists? 

The muse

This is a detail of a slightly larger piece titled "Sunshine Daydream". It measures 11"x15" and is one of my first porcine paintings....trying to expand the subject repertoire and not get stuck in a particular subject rut...have to keep reinventing and reinvigorating the muse! 

More shows...

Here is another painting that I have in the Round Barn show in Waitsfield...the opening reception was last night and I had a chance to see a lot of artist friends, which was fun...great food, too! Oh and I just shipped off a painting for the New England Watercolor Society show in Gloucester and got accepted to the VT watercolor society show that will be in West Lebanon at the Ava Gallery in October. I'll update my website with dates etc....

Exploring oils

Not my usual Watercolors....but I participated in a wonderful figurative/portrait oil painting workshop this last weekend...and this was the final day's effort...full day, build up of proportions, values and then color...hard work, lots of squinting and measuring and ultimately lots of fun...I am liking this medium! A lot! 

"Vermont Vista"

Currently I am framing this painting along with two others for an upcoming group show.  The annual exhibition is in Waitsfield, VT in an historic Round Barn...a lovely place to visit and beautiful area. This piece is 12"x12" and was painted on Fluid 100 CP paper...nice product...the pad/block is gummed on two sides instead of all four.

"WORK"-shop

So I expanded my horizons...literally! Plein air painting during a workshop...oh what fun was had and my artistic muscles were given a workout...there's a reason it's called a "WORK"- shop.... Am eager to do more...

Woof!

These types of paintings happen when you challenge yourself to fill an entire sketchbook with just animals....that's what I did earlier this year and this freckled face is among those pages along with birds, pigs, donkeys, penguins and many more.....that was fun!

Sailboats and clouds

I did this sketch during a fun waterfront workshop last month here in Burlington...I attended and was a student this time...which is always great...I enjoy being on the flip side and continue to learn from others....

Inspiration

Does this quote apply to you? Does it even ring true? Well he is a world famous artist, so we will take his advice...teaching four classes next week here in Burlington for the annual Vermont Art Event. So we will work and inspiration will find us!

Aaah Vermont!

The idyllic Vermont scene looking across a cow pasture towards the mountains. Fluffy billowing clouds complete my watercolor landscape sketch.  I think this is my fifth cow painting to date...I'm enjoying painting them. Tomorrow is the opening reception for the anniversary show at Furchgott and Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne. Just dropped off some new work. Enjoy your summer everyone!

Going dark

This little study done in my sketchbook measures about 5" x 5" and was a study in darks vs. lights. I don't know who won, the dark or light, in this bout...but let's say it's a draw and they are well balanced by the support of the mid-tones. Or at least I hope some version of that theory :)

New paintings

I am framing and organizing for upcoming shows....the paperwork, delivery, pick up, entering, refreshing etc....of paintings to various venues is an ongoing cycle....like a merry go round...so this painting is titled "Spreading the Joy", which I hope folks feel when they see my work. Oh and by the way I've opened an Etsy store....hope you check it out!

Splash!

Coming out soon...this cool book, which will have my painting "The Spectator" in amongst its pages somewhere....can't wait to check it out! 

Feathered muse

I never tire of these birds....so many colors, personalities, shapes and sizes...my camera is always at the ready to capture them at random farms or other places I might spot them clucking about!

Pencils

For me practicing is key...and I try to draw or paint or create something every day. This includes going to figure sessions where I have the chance to sharpen my eye and observe from life, proportions, lights and shadows and all that comes along with that...not easy, but an ongoing merry-go-round... This drawing was done with watercolor pencils on grey toned paper that I never ended up using water on.

New gallery work

Just dropped off new paintings at the Green Mountain Fine Art Gallery in Stowe...this one included titled "Territorial".  It is a third of a full sheet of watercolor so it measures 10"x22".  These are fun to do with tall subjects...like delphiniums! 

Open studio visit

This weekend is the state-wide Open Studio event here in Vermont.  Many artists' studios will be open for visiting, perusing, buying and chatting! I will be taking up some space at one of those studios/gallery....in Warren at my friends Gary Eckhart and Roarke Sharlow's beautiful place. Moosewalk Studios....starting at about 10 am on Saturday until about 5:00...they will be there all weekend...me only on Saturday...hope you can stop by...(I'll have cards, prints, originals and some small oils) Click the link to go to their website for address etc...and follow the yellow signs out there along the Vermont roads! 

Yellow and Rhodies

A little rhododendron sketch in another Kilimanjaro paper sketchbook....that paper is growing on me... It is bright white...the sizing is not too hard and it has a good texture (cold press).  I am also using more of the cooler yellows on my palette...like lemon, Winsor, hansa etc....continuing to learn and grow.

Books and classes

I am so happy to announce that my painting "Little Jester" was selected for publication in North Light Books' latest watercolor competition, Splash 18: Value| Light & Dark! Available next year....looking forward to seeing it in print.  On another announcement note...I will be doing a demonstration for the Vermont Watercolor Society at their annual spring meeting this Saturday the 21st of May in Killington. Also check my sidebar or website for my classes schedule for the Vermont Art Event in July.

Wrong season

Not your typical spring floral sighting...but a fun one to paint and to stretch your "yellow" pigment muscles.  It's a color that gets contaminated quickly and can get muddied up.

"Knitter's Delight"

The third and final painting that will be at the Bryan Gallery show in Jeffersonville, VT opening this weekend....(details on my website) This one is titled "Knitter's Delight" (my nod to Rapper's Delight..favorite song!) and features a curious and inquisitive sheep. Original size is 15"x15".

Show-time

Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville, VT will host a show titled “From Farm to Table” from May 6 to June 26.  I will have three paintings in the show ("Vermont Vermillion" from a previous post is also exhibited). This one is titled "Choco-Latte" and is my third bovine painting to date, I do believe...

Market flowers

A quick little sketch that I did in a 5x5 sketchbook....trying to fill em up! But also learn something in the process...we can only hope!

H2O galore

Detail of a new painting fresh off the easel...dipping back into the floral pool and I am enjoying using some more water for looser washes and spontaneous blooms. 

"Vermont Vermillion"

My new painting that is going to be framed and delivered along with two others for the Bryan Gallery "From Farm to Table" exhibit which runs from May 5 to June 26 in Jeffersonville VT. The other two are animals and they are not of the feathered variety! I'll post those here in the next several weeks.

Swan pair

Posting a photo from my sketchbook of two swans and a glimpse of my "doctored" travel palette, which consists of multiple pans (half and full) from different companies. Plus I squeezed extra pigment in empty spaces where I think a small brush would normally live. How to maximize a small color footprint! 

Spring

Just a little glimpse of a sketchbook painting and some lettering I did on some clear plastic that I photographed so the letters cast the "Spring" shadow on my paper. This was another Kilimanjaro paper experiment.

Delphinium Dreams

New studio work...Delphinium inspiration...this was done on a square block of Fluid wc paper. It has different handling properties compared to the papers I am used to...but nonetheless a really nice surface to work on.

Go (ld) fish

A wee little fishy to brighten up a Monday morning with some warm orange colors.  

Sketchbook blooms

This 9x12 sketchbook bouquet was another Kilimanjaro paper experiment.  After a few of these I was getting the hang of the new to me watercolor paper.  Bright white and a nice textured surface...always fun to give something new a try..although tried and true is comforting we sometimes have to push ourselves to learn.

Strong light

These figure sessions I attend are mostly held in white walled rooms, but that doesn't keep me from inventing a background that wasn't there...like this deep green, which makes it look like she is a forest faerie! Plus it adds that element of complements when her skin tones and hair are on the orange spectrum...

Familiar subject

Back to doing some flowers in a new sketchbook that is filled with Kilimanjaro 140lb CP watercolor paper....I'm a bit unfamiliar with it, but trying to get a handle on it...experimentation..the word of 2016!

Portrait 2

Here is another from my Self portrait project...this one quite appropriate for the weather! I might start another themed journal like this one soon...it is fun to work towards a goal and to fill up those blank sketchbooks that are filling up my studio, because I can't seem to stop myself from buying them any time I see them! Large, small, thick, thin, square, hard bound, fancy, plain...you get my drift...anyone else have this obsession?

Small

Not a self portrait, but I will post another one next week...this is a morning sketch from my sketchbook using hooker's green...a small one, just 5" x 5".

Selfie

Not a watercolor today (although the under painting is wc)...but a color pencil study I did last year, when during the month of January I did a self portrait every day....simply as a challenge for myself...I varied the techniques and media used...all in one handy sketchbook...I'll post some more soon...

Lettering

Trying something new...shapes within shapes... This was fun and got me back to thinking florals and spring time...

Have a Baa-velous 2016

Wishing everyone a "Baa-velous" 2016. May it be filled with color, joy, peace, health and happiness!