Want a cracker

This bird didn't mind having her picture taken...but don't get too close to the side of the cage...she would race over and want to take a bite! Colorful lady and quite a looker! (10"x14")

Open Studio

For all of you getting out and about this weekend...I will be sharing a friend's studio/gallery in Warren for the Vermont Open Studio weekend. Saturday and Sunday I will be painting on site and have prints, paintings and cards for you to peruse! For more information check the sidebar of my blog or click here.

Sunny respite

Early morning sun worshipper...he looks like the epitome of relaxed and not an appointment on his calendar that he needs to rush to! So remember to slow down and breathe!...face the day (22"x15") Watercolor yoga!

Show results

My painting "Multihued Merchant" (22"x15") was just accepted into the VT Watercolor Society's annual Juried exhibition at the Hunter Gallery of Fine Art and the Phelps Barn in Grafton, Vermont. The exhibit will run from July 18-August 1. The opening reception is Saturday July 23 from 6-8 p.m. Come on by!

Vendor

My trip to Mexico provided quite a bit of inspiration...this lady selling food on a side street is another painting inspired by the photos I took. This feels a little more like a vignette with all the white space around the colorful center.

Resting

Since Blogger was down at the end of last week I couldn't post on Friday! Sorry about that...but I guess computer blog programs need a day off once in a while too... This piece is heavy on the middle values with subtle shifts in color...The fabric folds are my favorite..in both the jeans and shirt. Thanks for all your comments...it's awesome to hear from you!

Between sets

Another painting with a musical instrument in it! That is unusual for me...but it's been fun to expand the subject horizons. I've also been trying to make my browns a bit more interesting by adding brighter colors and pushing those pigments a little further to make them pop.

"Music Man"

This music man was spotted walking through a busy market....the bold colors behind him, plus his white hat and colorful bag made for a compelling composition. It's been a challenge looking through my camera lens to "compose" paintings while I shoot pix. (11"x5")

Palette fun

...and following on the heels of my travel journal posts...I've been playing with some of the pictures I took in Mexico and translating them into paintings...These pics are really making me use all the colors in my palette and that's half the fun! (10"x14")

Mountainside

A sketchbook image from my Mexico vacation earlier this year. I find that when I use my little travel watercolors my colors tend to be a little more timid..I don't know if it's that I don't have a large working surface for bigger puddles of colors or it's just something that happens and the colors are a bit dried out when I start...something to keep an eye on.

Mixing it up

Phew!..I'm back...It's been a while since my last post...sorry about that...but here is a portrait I did a while ago using charcoal pencils as my base sketch and then overlaying with really wet watercolor washes. The charcoal bleeds and blends a bit and forced me to work a little faster.

Peony workshop

I'm hosting a peony painting workshop in June...two days...email me for more info...Hope you'll paint with us in Burlington...They are so beautiful and smell so good!

Palm portrait

portrait week... continues...again striving for loose strokes, change of colors, both in temperature and values and having drips and dribbles where you might not expect them...

staying loose

Trying to capture light, shadows and staying loose. Not easy when a portrait is involved...we always tend to tighten up and try to capture an exact likeness...

bright abstract

Okay here is the last this week in the series..this one incorporates a few brighter colors..this experiment also allows me to pull out the larger brushes and alternative tools...things I might not use on a regular basis..

anything goes

Second in the abstract series...using some titanium white watercolor...I don't indulge in white so much, but in playtime anything goes!

color play

Abstract week...I'll post a few different "color play" pieces that I do in the studio if inspiration is lacking and the brush just doesn't want to produce anything satisfying. I'll dabble in some color "splashing" and mark making.

Peony painting

Two images today...I have a 2011 workshop schedule tab on the side of my blog...but wanted to let you all know that I'll be teaching two peony painting workshops in Burlington, VT. I am offering two days this year.. Saturday June 4th and Tuesday June 7th. Send me an email if you are interested in more information and want to paint with us!