Dinner Time

This is the painting I have prepared for my watercolor class to paint this coming Monday evening.  It is 12" x 9" and is painted on 140 lb. Acquerello cold-pressed watercolor paper.  This is from a photo taken by "The Photo Guy Photography by Darren" in Bardstown, Kentucky.  Thanks, Darren, for allowing me to use your photo.

We are also going to have some wine and refreshments to celebrate the holiday...is there anything better than spending time and enjoying food with other artists? 

Darren's Lighthouse

Another painting that I have prepared for my intermediate watercolor class to paint at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  This painting is done on 140 lb. cold-pressed Acquerello watercolor paper and is 9" x 12".

It is painted from a  photograph by Darren Fisher, The Photography Guy.  He has a great page on Facebook and also on Fine Art America.  Thanks so much, Darren!

A Christmas Still Life

I painted this watercolor this afternoon as a lesson for the painting I am teaching this coming Monday evening.  One of the painters, Dave, requested a Christmas theme painting, so this is what I came up with.  I used several pictures and borrowed different objects from them to form my composition.  

The painting is done on 140 lb. cold-pressed Strathmore Windpower watercolor paper - not one of my favorites, but this was better than some I have used recently.  I had not used Strathmore papers in many years, and was pleasantly surprised that this paper is much easier to work with than what I remembered from the Strathmore papers from years past.

I tried, also, to loosen up some of the washes in this in my futile attempt to become a "looser" woman.  I don't know why I try..."I yam what I yam," as Popeye would have said.

Zentangle Star

I designed this 3 dimensional Zentangle (or is it Zendala) star today for a project I am working on.  It is approximately 6 inches from side to side and top to bottom.  It was created on card stock with  a Micron Pigma .005 black ink drawing pen.

This tells the Christmas Story featuring the Christ Child in the creche in the middle, then the town of Bethlehem and at the top, the angel with the star above her.  This is going to be an art activity to go along with a short story about the Christmas Star for my church circle.  They will score and fold the star to make it dimensional and then attach the ribbon.

A Great Afternoon With Rachel

We were preparing for our family Thanksgiving festivities this afternoon.  Our granddaughter, Rachel, came by to help us set up.  We are having dinner in my basement studio and had to move out my drawing table and move around many brushes, etc.  Rachel set the tables and wrote out place cards for each person.  We are expecting 19 people for dinner.

Now, before you start getting sorry for me having to cook for all these people,  I'm not!!!  All the kids are cooking - my son Rick will stuff and roast the turkey (as he does every year), mash the potatoes and bake the old-fashioned cream pies,  and everyone else is bringing side dishes.  I am making the cranberry relish, the scalloped oysters and the Brussel's sprouts.  Beth is bringing mac and cheese and stewed tomatoes, and rolls; granddaughter Jenny is making sweet potatoes; Marilyn is making the ever-popular green bean casserole and corn pudding.  My brother and sister-in-law are bringing the pumpkin pie!  So - I doubt that we will go hungry.

The best part of the day was spending time with Rachel!  A Thanksgiving tradition now for 3 years!

This, my latest painting, was done from a photo from Darren Fisher, The Photography Guy, who has a great page on Facebook.  I am so grateful that he has given me permission to use his pictures as source pictures for my paintings.  Because of a spinal condition (spinal stenosis), I am unable to travel, hike, climb, etc. to take my own pictures.  If it weren't for people like Darren, I would be "up a crick!"

This Kentucky cabin is 10" x 10" and is painted on my new watercolor paper, Acquarello 140 lb., cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I love it.  It takes a lot of abuse and I can get wonderful washes on it.

Pumpkins Galore

Pumpkins Galore:  This is my latest painting, finished last evening.  This is an image from Country Living.com which I found on Google Images.  I do not plan to sell this for profit, so thought it would be okay to use it and it would be great practice for painting pumpkins.  This is 12" x 9" - painted on 140 lb. Acquerello  cold-pressed watercolor paper.     I thought the subject fits in well with the spirit of the Thanksgiving season.

Color My World

This colorful sunflower painting was finished this evening.  It will be a lesson for the class I teach at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.   This painting is painted on Acquerello 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper - a new paper for me which I am trying out.  I purchased it from Dick Blick and it is made in Italy.  So far, I like it real well.  I used about 4 photos to compose this painting and it is 11" x 11".  I tried some new watercolor paint - I particularly like the sap green from Maimeri Blu and the Indian Yellow from Dick Blick.

Darren's Kentucky Farm

I finished this yesterday as one of the lessons for the Monday night watercolor class at Riverside Art Center In Wapakoneta, Ohio.  This is another painting from a photograph by The Photography Guy Photos by Darren Fisher.  You can find him on Facebook - his work is awesome.  Thank you, Darren!

This painting is approximately 9" x 12" and is painted on Aquarello 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper, another new paper I have been trying out.  In some ways, I love it, and in others it is giving me some grief!  The paint lies on the top sometimes and then, when I don't expect it, it soaks into the paper and can't be lifted at all...go figure.  I bought 10 sheets, have 9 left, so I had better get used to it quickly!

Darren's Red Grapes

I finished this painting late this afternoon.  I plan to use it as my lesson for my watercolor class at Riverside Arts Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio on Monday night.  I did the work in the bottom picture yesterday, and finished it today.

This is from a beautiful photo by The Photo Guy Photography by Darren Fisher- many thanks to Darren for graciously allowing me to use his work as source photos.  Darren works out of Bardstown, Kentucky and you should check out his wonderful Facebook page.

The painting is 11 1/2 x 7" and is painted on Acquarello 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Paper Sculpture Zentangled Stars

I took a break from painting, created some zantangle  stars and then scored and folded them into 3 dimensional paper forms.  They are made from card stock and micron-pigma black pens.

Vintage Sunset

This is my latest painting, done from a source photo from The Photo Guy Photography, photos by Darren Fisher.  He has graciously allowed me to use it for a painting - and of course, you all know how I love vintage trucks!  His work can be found on Facebook and Fine Art America.  Check him out!  Thanks, Darren!

This painting is 9" x 13" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper in transparent watercolor.

Deb's Peony

This painting is one of two I prepared for the demonstration in Cincinnati for the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society on October 2nd.  I finally finished it over the weekend. I started the process by drawing the flower using a grid, and then continued  by pouring with acrylic inks. I finished with negative painting techniques in transparent watercolor.    The painting is 18" x 22" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.  It is painted with permission from a source photograph from my friend, Deb Holmes in Florida, who is an excellent photographer who generously shares her pictures with me.

Limited Edition!!!

This is the reason that I haven't been posting the last week!  I was commissioned to do a series of limited edition (18) ornaments for the gift shop, "Just That n' This" in Jackson Center, Ohio.  Each ornament is a Christmas painting of the outside of the shop -  hand painted in acrylic paint with Micron-Pigma pen details.  Each year Just That and This plans to offer a uniquely designed, limited edition ornament.

Just That and This is a very unique shop - filled with completely original fine arts and crafts - all from local west central Ohio artists and craftsmen.  You can find a gift for anyone in this wonderful place.

More of the Work From My Talented Watercolor Students

Back row: MaryAlice Brewster; Patricia Crawford; Cindy Staples; Misty Steinke: Deb Sommerville; 

Front row: Bridget Weller; Dave McNeal; Jennifer Rockhold; Janice Belgiovone

Well, they did it again!!! They created a "bunch" of beautiful leaves and tulips - paintings, I mean!!!  We painted tulips last Monday evening, and the leaves this evening.  The leaf group of painters is smaller because many were not finished yet.  

The tulips were done in traditional watercolor in which we worked with graduated washes going from light to dark, and in some cases, from one color to another.  The painters did so well, as you can see.

The leaves were done first by doing a wet-in-wet background and the leaves were defined by painting in the negative areas, instead of the positive, leaving the original wet-in-wet wash for the leaves. They aren't as crazy about negative painting techniques - I guess, like a lot of painters, it is not a favorite watercolor technique.  Guess we won't do it again for a while!!!

I sure do love these people!  Great friends and dedicated artists!

October Colors Revisited

This is the project painting for the October "all paint from one photo" for the Watercolor Workshop online Yahoo group.  I used the acrylic ink I had prepared and used for "October Song" which I posted earlier.  The colors are the same, but this looks much different - tighter and not as "watercolorly!"  

This painting is 8" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.

I plan to use this painting as next weeks lesson for the intermediate watercolor class I teach at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  Hope they like it!  Although this was poured in acrylic ink, I think I will have the class  use wet-in-wet techniques in transparent watercolor.

Demonstration Painting Finished

I have worked on this off and on for the last 3 days.  This is the painting I started during my demonstration for the Cincinnati Watercolor Society.  If you would like to see that demonstration, it can be found on Rhonda Carpenter's blog, www.rhcarpenter.blogspot.com.

This process uses acrylic ink instead of watercolor during the pouring process and makes use of Pebeo drawing fluid to mask out areas.  This painting is 1/2 sheet of 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold-pressed watercolor paper and was finished in traditional watercolor.

Watermedia Demonstration in Cincinnati

Yesterday,I was honored to be asked to do a watercolor demonstration for the Cincinnati Watercolor Society.  My friend Rose and I left early in the a.m. and arrived in Cincinnati around 9:15 a.m.

The program director for the society, Rhonda Carpenter, has a wonderful explanation of the process, with pictures of the demonstration on her blog.  Thank you, Rhonda!  If you are interested, you can check this out at www.rhcarpenter.blogspot.com.

We had a wonderful time visiting with the members and appreciated the invitation. It is always a treat spending time with artists!  It was a great day!

The Wonderful Artists at Riverside Art Center

We did a lesson in negative painting techniques Monday night during my intermediate watercolor painting class at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  My painters did a wonderful job, as you can see, and we all had a great time, too.  We also celebrated my 75th birthday in great style - 3 birthday cakes!!! Thank you so much for being such a great group!  

Dwight's Shed

This is another painting for the show with Pamela Baker. (see previous post) This is a painting from the photo of Dwight's Shed.  Dwight is a friend of ours who also happens to love his shed.  I was taken with the late afternoon sunlight reflecting on the trees and tried to capture that.  The painting is 11" x 14" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I apologize for the light reflections on this photo - I usually photograph my paintings before I frame, but forgot in this case.

This may be the last painting for the show - I'm running out of time!!!

An Invitation for You!!!

As you all know, Pamela and I have been working very diligently preparing works for our show together.   If you are in the area, we would love to have you join us for the Artists' Reception on October 6, 2013.  Come join us for food, fun, music and art!

October Song earns First Place! Yippie!!!

I was pleasantly surprised to take a First Place award at the Riverside Art Center's  show this last Friday night.  The competition was very stiff and so I am honored as well as surprised.

This is the painting that took the honors - "October Song" -  a poured watercolor  finished with negative painting techniques which I finished late last year.  I posted this last November after painting this for a pouring demonstration.  The painting is approximately 16" x 20" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Needless to say - I was blown away and very happy!!!

Still Life With Pitcher and Fruit

This painting, finished today, will be the subject of a lesson at my Intermediate Watercolor Class at Wapakoneta's Riverside Art Center.

This painting is 9" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.  It is painted from a still life photo on Wet Canvas and I will post the name of the photographer as soon as I find it! :(

Ghost House on 66

This is the latest painting for the October show," Side by Side", at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  This is from the photograph by Pamela Baker (www.bakercreekdesigns.com) who is sharing the show with me - I am painting from her photographs.  This photo is interesting because there is a reflection in the window that looks amazingly like a ghost.  It could also be a reflection of her van, but we think it is more interesting to consider it a "ghost!"

Sue's Old Fashioned Rose

 

I just finished the painting that will be the lesson for the class I will teach Monday evening at the art center in Wapakoneta.  This is from a photograph by a WatercolorWorkshop friend, Sue Drennan, who graciously allows me to use her photos as source pictures.

The painting is 9" x 12" and it is painted on Canson 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Winter Silence

This is another painting for the October show with Pamela Baker  - her photos and my paintings of them.  This watercolor is 16" x 22" and is painted on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I love winter scenes - a lot more than I love winter! :)

 

This is another painting for our show in October - the show where I am doing my interpretations of Pamela's photographs.  This scary little painting is of an old truck which has a tree growing through it and a cement sculpture of Stan Laurel from "Laurel and Hardy!"  What it is doing in this abandoned truck, we'll never know, but it adds a sort of eerie feel to this painting.

 

The painting is 9" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Classy Koi

This fine group of people represent 5 of the 6 students in the summer watercolor painting class - the 6th was on a well deserved vacation.

 

Their koi paintings are beautiful - with amazingly different colors, swirls and ripples in the water and on the fish.   Beautiful people with great paintings!

Frenzy

Monday will be the last lesson of this summer's 6 week session for the intermediate watercolor class at Riverside Arts Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  I wanted something different for this last lesson so I've come up with this composition of coi feeding.  My background in drawing koi is very limited, so I hope that everyone will think this one is okay. I have approached this more from a design than from an absolutely realistic rendering, especially in the handling of the water, which is very conceptual.  I think it will be very interesting to see how my students approach this and what they come up with!

Abandoned in North Carolina

This is the painting I prepared to teach at our class last Monday night.  It is approximately 9" x 12" and is painted on Canson Tientes 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.

This is painted from a source photograph taken by my friend Deb Holmes during a vacation in North Carolina.  Thanks so much, Deb.

SamyGirl Automotive - 1950's Chrysler

Well - this is another painting finished for the Side-by-Side  show in October at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio which  is featuring Pamela's photographs (www.bakercreekdesigns.com) and my versions of them.  This 1950's Chrysler is at Samy Girl Automotive in Spencerville, Ohio. 

I decided to tightly crop this and zero in on the Chrysler.  The painting is 11" x 14" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.

DIY Decorative Project - Thursday Fun!

The Muses did a fun project today - a project from DIY Network.  This is acrylic on canvas with a chevron design applied by using blue painters tape and white gesso!  This was a lot of fun! A great afternoon, too!

Krazy Koi

This painting will be the lesson for this coming Monday evening's class.  It incorporates wet -in-wet watercolor with Zentangle designs in Micron-Pigma black pens - Zentangle Inspired Art!!!  This painting is 11" x 18", but the students may work in any size they prefer.  They will be able to use some fish shapes I will provide, or design their own, and they may divide the area up into any type of areas they like - even using a Zentangle type string if they prefer.

This painting is done on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper with transparent watercolor and Micron-Pigma waterproof black pens.  The next one I do will be much looser wet-in-wet watercolor - with no attempt to keep the colors within shapes.

Abandoned Dump Truck

This painting of a dump truck is from a photograph by my friend Deb Holmes who has generously allowed me to  use it as a source for this painting.   The painting is on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper and is approximately 9" x 9 1/2" in size.

This will be the painting for our class this Monday evening at the Riverside Arts Center in Wapakoneta.  The members of my class are so patient with me, allowing me to use old trucks and cars as subject matter, because they know I am addicted to these subjects.  Thanks, guys!  I hope they enjoy this one.

Pears, Pears and More Pears!!!

We painted the pears during the intermediate watercolor class at Riverside Arts Center last night.  I was so proud of their work...they are such a great bunch of people and wonderful artists.  I treasure our time together.

Some of these are not yet finished and will be completed at home.  I just love these!

Reflected Pears

 

This painting will be the lesson for our class this coming Monday evening.  I finished it this afternoon...it is 11" x 15" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed Arches watercolor paper.  When I saw the source photo by Dale Cato on Wet Canvas I was taken with the wonderful light and the reflections on the shiny table.  I think they will enjoy painting this one!

Unfinished Work!

This is my latest painting for the October show with Pamela Baker...her photographs and my paintings of them.  This painting is on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper and is 15" x 11".    I love old buildings/barns/trucks, etc. and this fits right in with my favorite subjects.  Pamela has a knack for finding these wonderful old subjects here in western Ohio and since my mobility is very limited these days due to spinal stenosis, she graciously allows me to use her photographs as source pictures.  Check out her work at www.bakercreekdesigns.com

North Carolina Mountain Lake

I worked on this painting today to use as a class project for the class I am teaching at Riverside Art Center.  I made the mistake of doing it on hot-pressed 140 lb. watercolor paper and the reflections were difficult for me.  I am hoping it will be easier for my students on cold-pressed paper.  The painting is 9" x 12" and is from a source photograph from the Wet Canvas reference library:  " North Carolina Mountain Lake"  by JAB.

Winter Rest

This is another painting for the show in October at Riverside Arts Center.  This is, of course, from a source photo by Pamela Baker (www.bakercreekdesigns.com.)(bottom picture)  The orientation is in panorama horizontal format.  I cropped the layout of the source photo, which is not this horizontal.  This painting is on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper and is 4" x12" and will be framed in a 6" x 14" frame.

An interesting fact about this scene is that it is the same farm as the farm with the cows in the painting I posted last week, "Here's Looking At You."

Tropical Tangle

I worked on this today while I was watching television with my husband - Cincinnati Reds baseball game and the Sprint Cup NASCAR race in Dover, Delaware.  Yes!  I like NASCAR, although it goes against all I preach about  preserving the environment, global warming, and hot-house gases.  I wish the cars didn't have to run on fossil fuel!!!  

This is designed on a 4" x 6" white greeting card.  I attempted to carry out a tropical theme and selected tangles which were more bio-morphic rather than sharply geometric in character.  I also limited this design to two tangles.  I don't know their names - just that I like them.There really is no shading on this design on the bottom - it is just the way the camera (or I) photographed it! 

Here's Looking at You!

This is another painting, just completed, for the show in October that I am sharing with Pamela Baker...I am doing my interpretations of her photographs.  This painting is 6" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. hot-pressed watercolor paper.  I am also posting a picture of her photo...as you can see, to make a painting out of the photo, I eliminated some of the gates and farm equipment and I also changed the orientation to more  horizontal format.  Did I tell you that I am so happy to have a good friend who is also a first class photographer and is willing to share her work with me?  Thanks, Pam!  I love these inquisitive cows!!!