seeing is believing

More sketchbook sketches...I like the sunlight on the side of the building...I am taking my time with my sketches. slowing down, observing and absorbing what I see...sometimes you see more than you think!

Sketching tools

I travel with a little sketchbook that I have made at the local copy store. I cut pieces of my favorite watercolor paper (Fabriano) and then with two pieces of matboard(the cover and back) I have them spiral bound together. That way I'm using what I like and I can make it any size I want..this one was 7" square.

One part of a whole

This little 7.5"x7.5" was done from a photograph of lots of orchids...the trick was to "edit" down the picture reference and choose a part of the overall and focus in on something that would make a nice painting or good composition. I try not to be held hostage by my reference material or to what's in front of me...I use my "artistic license" and will invent, move, change color, repeat or exaggerate my subject.

"Weaving"

Another abstract...I'm loving these and they are so freeing...Just playing with pigment and seeing how all the colors react to eachother, trying things I might not normally dare to do when I paint something representational ... it all adds up to learning for the brain and training for the hand. (11"x15")

"Abe"

My other entry this week in the DPW Challenge..."Abe"...this was a bit different for me, because I used watercolor pencils over my initial painting...then used sandpaper to retrieve some highlights, used a permanent sketch pen to put in the fine lines and some black Stabilotone to really push the darks...a mixed media experiment!

"Grippa Zippo"

I'm a bit behind in the DPW Challenges...but I'm a little closer this week...I finished the Zippo challenge as you can see and I just used Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue..the call was for those two colors, plus Titanium White..and with WC...white is the white of the paper...so...a challenge indeed... (7.5"x7.5")

Rainbow palette

I will live in this fantasy today...Maine water, sailboat, blue sky...as opposed to 2 feet of snow on the ground, plus more still falling and shoveling to look forward to! Oh what a world of contrasts...so if I can tunnel to my studio...I'm going to shut out the white of the outside and immerse myself in my rainbow of colors!

Ruby Red

A splash of bright color on this TGIF...The new schedule of shows is slowly unfolding and now it's time to take pictures, sort through paintings and see which ones to enter! This piece is 7.5"x7.5". I love that size, it isn't too intimidating and it isn't too small to feel confined...I cleaned my palette and squeezed out fresh dollops of paint...always a joyous occasion!

"Rings" 15"x22"

My abstract experimentation continues....The hardest part for me is altering my color choices...like anything in life, change is hard, as is breaking the tendency to dip your brush into the same old pigments...sometimes the brush has a mind of it's own and it's right back knocking on the Cerulean Blue door!

Less is more

A quick post of a Vermont summer landscape...with the new snow and currently freezing drizzle this seems so long ago! This was done with a limited palette...just a few colors. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed with our big well palettes and the variety of pigments available to us and frankly it's easy to end up with mud... keep it simple.

Two to Tango

This piece was inspired by one of the figure sessions that I attend. I have a whole drawer full of 5, 10, 15 and 20 minute poses...and slowly I am trying to use and compose them into secondary paintings...It's a start and you'll see where they might end up...(15"x11)

Discoveries

Not inspired to paint? I take some scrap paper and throw some color around, trying for new marks, new color combos, using wax, alternative tools etc..etc.. This type of playtime can result in some fun new discoveries!

Trying things

I'm into portraits lately and this is one I did a while ago as part of a whole assemblage of faces. I was also trying out other tricks and techniques...pushing bubble wrap into the wet paint (left side) and using some heavy graphite pencils and lots and lots of water...

Spring thoughts

This is wishing for spring! I saw the first bundles of daffodils in the store yesterday! Tulips have been available earlier and earlier each year...actually they might be close to available all year! Daffs are such a happy flower! What a color...this is 15"x11".

4 Faces

This was my entry for the Daily Paintworks Challenge...I'm a little behind and still have to do the rose challenge. This was from a photograph...(not the intention I think)...but Idefinitely learned something from each 10 minute exercise. By the end I got the values right and was happy with the result. (click the title of this post to go to the DPW Challenge page) (15"x15")

Iris love

Happy Valentine's Day! A little flower for you all...Irises are probably one of my favorite blooms...I've painted them lots of different ways using a variety of pigments. Close ups, big bouquets, groupings in the garden, still lifes etc..etc..This painting is a detail from a larger (unfinished) piece.

Red Hood

Red Riding Hood...well sort of...This guy could probably chase after the Big Bad Wolf! Isn't there a movie coming out with Red Riding Hood? I don't think it'll be like the children's book and probably not rated G.
(7.5"x7.5")

Brown Cow

I am part of a group show all about animals...it is a benefit for a local Humane Society...this painting was done after I submitted my other work...but I had 4 legged friends on the brain...well let me rephrase that...I put two legged roosters in the show...so that doesn't make sense! (15"x11")