Figure study

Winter storm Juno has not reached us yet...but we will get a few flakes from the tail end of the storm. Hopefully the harder hit areas of New England and New York will soon be dug out.  Stay warm! In the meantime I painted this young lady on a somewhat warmer day at the end of summer.

Make your own

I was asked after my last post what I meant by make my own sketchbooks...so I thought I would show you some examples.  There are numerous books as I am sure links online on how to make books, but I will tell you how I make mine. You can cut several favorite pieces of watercolor paper to one size(top picture) and add two heavier pieces of board (front/back covers) and have your local copy store (kinko's) put a spiral binding on it. Or you can stack several folded pieces of paper and either staple the seam or sew the seam to make a small book...or in the last example you can accordion fold a long piece of paper and make a book that way with again a heavier piece of board for a front and back cover....hope you give it a try.

Travel memories

Happy New Year everyone...one week in, almost!  I thought I would start my first post of 2015 with a small watercolor I did when I travelled last year...I always bring along a sketchbook with the intention to fill it by journey's end...most of the time this goal is achieved...sometimes not.  To help me attain the goal I will make my own sketchbooks with just enough pages to do a sketch a day for the duration of the trip...plus I control the paper in the book and in this case my favorite Fabriano!

Holidaze

It's been a while since I've posted and thought I'd post this holiday image...that sums it all up.  The Holidays are here!  Oh Deer!  Wishing you all the best in cyber land and thank you for commenting, following and emailing throughout the year!  Enjoy....

Counting sheep

My sheep series has been new for me and I decided to really push the colors towards abstraction.  I say this in my workshops regarding florals or fruit as well, that a tomato or poppy are not just red out of the tube...they can lean towards orange, yellow, green or even violet, making them that much more interesting...well at least to me...

Strong light

We have several weekly figure sessions around town and I try to go at least once if not twice a week. I think studying the figure has helped in other areas of my work. I try to focus on shapes and light.

World 'o Watercolor

I received my copy of the World Watercolour Competition catalog. What a tome! There are over 1800 paintings printed with the 23 finalists highlighted in the beginning....my two paintings were after that with the 295 artists who made it to the second stage. The remainder of the catalog is filled with paintings from the other participants. Quite visually exciting to see these all in one place!

How do you figure

I found out last week that the painting from my previous post was awarded the M. Graham merchandise award at the New England WC show! Wowie...that makes me happy. I unfortunately could not attend the opening reception in Plymouth, Mass. This painting is a study in light and shadow using just Burnt Sienna.

New England WC Society

My painting "Let me explain it this way" was selected for inclusion in the New England Watercolor Society juried National show.  The show will open on the 18th at the Plymouth Center for the Arts in Massachusetts. This is my fourth acceptance in various NEWS shows and has earned me signature status!

"Yellow Ribbons"

This painting will be exhibited in the annual Vermont Watercolor Society's juried show in Grafton, VT.  It should be a varied show with many interesting paintings.  I have a few more shows coming up that I will update on my website.  I love this little girl's dreamy and far away expression...what is she thinking about?

"Tulip tints"

This is another piece that is being delivered today to the art in the Round Barn show in Waitsfield, opening next Sunday the 21st. (Closing Oct. 13) If you find yourself leaf peeping or just roaming the Vermont countryside it is well worth a visit. A great variety of styles and media is well represented during this short show.

"Birches in autumn"

This painting is one that I am getting ready to frame for the annual Art in the Round Barn in Waitsfield. This is a great show in a picture perfect Vermont setting.  The show is on from September 22 until October 12.  I am delivering 4 more pieces along with this one.

Landscapes

This will be Vermont in several weeks! But not yet....I am trying to incorporate some more landscapes in my work.... Any time you venture in a new direction there is a learning curve and a time of exploration and discovery.  Patience comes in handy...(shhhh I don't have much of that!)

Summer's end

It seems that the summer is slipping away and this rooster titled "feeling blue" is realizing it too!  But fear not the fall is also nice and the seasons are what we make of them, right? I am getting ready for several shows and framing is in my future....

"Solar power"

These yellow beauties are all in bloom across gardens in my town. Some are so tall they are almost 10 feet high!  This painting was inspired by a photograph taken of a large field of sunflowers, but the distant purple hills were made up.

Ewe lookin' at me?

And here is the black sheep of the family...no just a fluffy four legged friend I happened to photograph last year. I'm enjoying the sheep paintings as they are a new subject for me.

Mary had a little lamb

   

This sheep painting is titled "Ewe look baa-velous"...a little fun with word play...it's come to my attention  that several people are no longer receiving my blog posts in their email inboxes...has anyone else experienced this with feedburner? Any input would be helpful...thanks!

Unique drawing eve

      

Two weeks ago I had an opportunity to participate in a unique figure session. They had a burlesque evening which featured three ladies in various costumes and we could draw them for an hour and a half. Afterwards they gave a performance which was great. It certainly was different for me from my regular sessions.