Postcard Paintings

I finished this series of 5 postcards yesterday.  I belong to a SWAP group and these were all mailed out this morning to 5 of the members.  They are all 4" x 6" and are painted on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.  Two of them are leaving the States - hope they make it to their intended homes.

Marilyn's Easter Gift

Our daughter, Marilyn and hubby Matt, gave us this beautiful lily for Easter.  I have had it on the table next to my recliner where I could see it and enjoy it, and of course, had to paint it.  I did this on an 8" x 10" piece of watercolor board.  I decided to paint the background black, mainly because the lily has been sort of in front of the black television screen, and I really became accustomed to seeing it surrounded by black from the angle I was seeing it.  Now it is time to take it outside and plant it in the flower bed so we can enjoy it again next year.

Mary's Lillies

I received a card from my brother and sister-in-law with a beautiful photograph of lillies.  Immediately I decided it had to be painted...my sister-in-law raises beautiful flowers and takes awesome pictures.  Thank you, Mary!

The painting is 8" x 10" and is painted on watercolor board.  This is my first experience with the watercolor board and although it is very different from watercolor paper, I enjoyed painting on it.  The paint is easy to remove and lays on the surface more than paper.  If you are glazing, you have to be careful not to lift the under-painting.  I used a lot of negative painting in the foliage, and more direct, traditional methods on the flowers.

Painting # 32: Easter Blessings

This painting is a study from a photograph on a get-well card which I received this winter.  It is one eighth of a sheet of 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper and I used some very old paints that I have had for at least 25 years - amazing they are still  good.  They are more opaque than what I usually use, but they have some beautiful colors.

I think the tulips are a wonderful way to celebrate Easter and the beautiful colors and flowers of spring.