Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Karen's Lovely Magnolia


This painting was done from a photograph taken by a friend and former student, Karen Spencer Brown.  She is a wonderful artist and has a lovely eye for beauty!  She has also graciously allowed me to use her photo for a class lesson at Riverside.  

The painting is 12" x 9" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper with the new QoR watercolor paints from Golden.  They are wonderful.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Blue Door

This painting is from a group of photographs posted by artist Deb Watson on her blog and which she allows artists to paint from.  I always enjoy pictures of entryways - especially colorful ones like this one.  Thanks to Deb Watson for allowing us to use her beautiful photos.

I thought this might make a great lesson for my class at Riverside Art Center, but after all the time it took me to paint it, they may have other ideas!!!  Actually it would not be necessary to paint in individual bricks - just suggest them.

This painting is approximately 12" x 9 " and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed Canson watercolor paper using a variety of watercolors from a variety of companies!

Friday, April 17, 2015

Spooky White Trees

This is the latest lesson I have prepared for my intermediate watercolor class at Riverside Art Center.  I got my inspiration from a painting I saw on Pinterest, "Shadow Play" by Teresa Ascone.  I drew this myself, but I have to admit that the colors and the concepts were not mine and I will not take credit for them.  I thought that it would make a great lesson, though, especially in the color combinations
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This painting is 12" x 9" and is painted on Canson 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Old Colorado Dump Truck

This is the latest lesson for my intermediate watercolor painting class at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

It is painted on 140 lb. Canson cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I used Dragon's Blood and Payne's Grey and Sepia for the truck.  I mixed my greens with pthalo blue, cadmium yellow and burnt sienna.  Burnt sienna and pthalo blue make the most wonderful dark green.  I used some raw sienna and yellow ochre with burnt sienna for the ground.

I hope they enjoy painting this - I like it because of the nice shapes in the back of the truck.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The Old Man - The Class Versions

Left to right: Terry Nelson; Janice Belgiovane; Misty Steinke; Dave McNeal; Rose Hawkins

Last night the intermediate watercolor Class at Riverside Art Center did their paintings of "The Old Man!"  They did a great job and had a lot of fun.  This was not an easy painting and I didn't hear one grumble.