Teapot with Cup and Pear

I've been working on lessons for the next 8 week sessions for Intermediate Watercolor classes at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio which begin next Monday evening.  I finished this one today.   The composition is a composite - the teapot and cup are loosely based on a picture in the Wet Canvas image file and the pear is mostly from my mind.  The painting is done on 140 lb. Acquellero cold-pressed watercolor paper, is 9" square and has been painted with the new watercolors from Golden.

Amy's Lilies

Last month a dear friend brought me a beautiful Stargazer Lily as a hostess gift.  Needless to say, it has long since stopped blooming, but, luckily, I took several pictures when it was at it's most beautiful.  This painting was done from one of those photos.  The painting is 9" x 12" and is painted on Acquerello 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.  The predominant  color is Holbein's quinacridone rose-violet.  I mixed my own greens from pthalo blue, yellow and cadmium red, and used Payne's Grey for the background.  I also glazed the grey over the areas I wanted to lay back, like the center between the 2 major flowers

I think I will use this as one of the lessons for my intermediate watercolor class at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Vino and Paint Night at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio

Last night, fifteen lovely ladies enjoyed painting in acrylics while enjoying a variety of wines!  The subject of the paintings was a semi-abstract stylized sun which was painted on 24" x 18" canvases.  Everyone had a wonderful time participating in this first-time activity at Riverside Art Center.  We hope it is just the first of many Wine and Canvas nights!!!  The activity was led by Barb Sailor.  All of the artists painted lovely creative paintings.  Many thanks to my friend and fellow painter, Misty Steinke, for being the photographer for the evening, as well as painting.

Skyline for Class

Another class project designed for my intermediate watercolor class at Riverside Art Center.  This is loosely based on a number of skyline paintings I saw on the internet and thought it would make a good lesson - geometric design, semi-abstraction, gradation of color and, in this case a complementary color scheme- oranges and blues and yellows and violets!.  This painting is painted on Acquerello 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper and was painted with the new QoR (Core) paints from Golden Paints. The painting is 12" x 9".

"My Little Chickadee!"

This is a painting from "Life in the Northwoods" photographer Matthew Crowley.  His photo is the challenge photograph for this month at Watercolor Workshop, the online Yahoo group for watercolor painters.  I decided to do this challenge, prepare a lesson for my intermediate watercolor painting group at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and use the new QoR (Core) paints from Golden.  

I liked the natural limited palette which was in the wintertime photo.  Because I have been experimenting with the new watercolors from Golden, QoR,(Core),  and wanted to do this painting with only their colors,  I made my blacks from transparent brown oxide and ultramarine blue and used the Ardoise Grey for the background. The only other color I used was their natural burnt sienna.  This has always been one of my favorite palettes and I feel this worked out pretty well.  Once again, thank you Golden, for this opportunity to use, experiment, and discover your new OoR (Core) watercolor line.

Geological Impressions in Mixed Media

I attended the mixed media workshop today at Riverside Art Center presented by Mike Behr, a professional artist from Sidney, Oh.   Mike uses a variety of media, including Gorilla Glue and copper piping to create his art works.  I used tissue paper, window screen, corrugated cardboard and rubber shelf liner among others to create mine, and then I embellished it with watercolor and acrylic paint.   The finished size is 18" x 14" and is done on canvas board.  I used Golden Acrylic Modeling Paste to glue down the heavier pieces and matte acrylic medium for the rest.

I had a great day, and lunch was even included in the fee!  Whee!!!

Today is Thursday - The day when the Muses meet!  Today we worked with alcohol ink on white ceramic tiles (we each had 4 -4"tiles.)  I thought the medium would lend itself well to impressionist painting, thus, these are my offerings to the artistic muses of Thursday.  Alcohol ink is terrific - beautiful colors and spontaneous mixtures and shapes.  You never know quite what you are going to get!  We had lots of fun!

Garrett's Dream

Several years ago I became friends with a young man who lived in the Chicago area - I contacted him because I was interested in doing paintings of his old truck which he and his twin brother were restoring.  We corresponded off and on for over a year until his mother notified me that he had been killed in an automobile accident, ironically while driving to work.  He had told me how much he hated the commute.  How sad!  

Since then, I have painted three paintings of his truck, which I love.  I call this, the latest, "Garrett's Dream!"

The painting is on a 1/4 sheet of a full sheet of 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I used the new QcR (Core)  watercolor paints from Golden, with which I have invited to experiment with for the Golden Paints company.  It is their new line which will be released later in the spring.  I love the paints - the colors are unbelievably lovely and intense and very workable.  It has been a real treat working with them.

Wine and Canvas: "Sunny" - the painting we will be creating!

Riverside Art Center is sponsoring a "Wine and Canvas" night on Thursday evening, April 24, 2014, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.  We will be creating a  semi-abstract painting of the sun similar to this one, but not necessarily in the colors and exact composition as the painting above.  In other words, the painters may select their own colors and from my instructions, compose the painting as they wish.

All supplies will be provided - paint, canvas, brushes, pencils, etc.  Along with the supplies, Wine will also be part of the festivities, provided by the arts center.  I will be the instructor for this event.

If you live in our area and are interested you may call the arts center at 1-419-738-2352  or e-mail: riversideartcenter@gmail.com,  attn: Pam Knoch.

We plan to have a lot of fun!