"Apricot Sherbet Clouds"

5/17/11"        11 x 14         mixed media on w/c paper        $150.00          matted

I don't know much about why clouds are what they are, or about atmosphere, or weather or light or the lack thereof. I just know that they change constantly and I love their beauty. 

‎"Walter's Buffet"

w/c on 140 lb Arches paper      5/15/11          7.5 x 11  $55.00

Interesting liquor bottles displayed on a beautiful inlaid wooden console with a hanging tapestry and sunlight streaming through the windows.  Walter's house was beautiful with Italianate furnishings and lovely light.

"Milkweed Podcast"

acrylic and pen and ink on w/c paper    5/13/11      5 x 7        $35.00

 This dried milkweed pod is shouting to the world that it is a sunny fall day. It has character and caligraphy. .

"Tomato Notes"

 6 x 6 watercolor on 140 lb Arches paper   $55.00 unframed

 Yesterday, I judged some grade school paintings 1st - 8th. They were all so wonderful and I had a difficult time choosing. There were obvious pieces that I thought were more well constructed, but there were some that were simply personality. That is what I decided my tomatoes were. Personality! They reminded me of musical notes with their angular stems and bright color.

‎"Amigos"

11.5 x 5.5 w/c on 140 lb w/c paper  $45.00

 Just feeling a little sheepish today! Must be the wet weather. They need a brolly!

"Climbing Up"

5/10/11 5.5 x 15 watercolor on 140 lb arches paper $55.00

In Colorado Springs, there are so many places to explore, photograph and paint. My rendition of the Garden of the Gods, is steep. I have witnessed people riding their bikes in and around the rockyness of this place. I have trouble keeping my two feet from stumbling.

"Mommie and Daughter"

w/c on 140 lb Fabriano paper   9 x 12   5/7/11   private  collection

prints available  $45.00

A mommie with golden curly hair and a child with shiny dark hair  embracing and hugging.   In life, time goes by quickly. These moments can never be retrieved, but they can be recorded. 

Hug your children.  Give them positive vibes.  Create a safe environment for them. 

‎ "Miguel"

w/c on 140 lb Fabriano paper 7 x 10     5/11    $55.00

Standing in a restaurant with the lights on the ceiling Miguel explained his dilemma passionatelyto his friends. He was so handsome with his dark wavy hair and olive skin.

"Skimming the Waters"

  w/c on 140 lb Fabriano paper    5/4/11   21" x 29"   $1250.00 framed

Skimming the Waters" from the 2009 CS ballon fest, Colorado Springs, Colorado.   Some of the balloonists lower their balloons and just skim the waters to give onlookers a treat. Thousands of people have awakened early in the morning, pulled on their warm clothes, grabbed their children and of course their cameras,and a snack and if it is not a windy day, the balloonists are given the okay to rise.  With a whoosh of hot air they are up up up and away in their beautiful balloons. It is a "heavenly",sight and a great way to spend a couple of hours for free! Bring your lawn chairs and a friend or two for a spectacular event in the park.

"Chilly Beach"

oil on canvas board  9 x 12  5/3/11  SOLD

A coolish feeling on the beach with a bit of sun beginning to rise. The morning beach weather can be very breezy and chilly before old sol wakes everyone up.  It's a great time to take your big dog for a brisk walk and wear him out so you can go home, have your morning coffee and think about your workday.  Or not.

"3 Aspens"

4 x 6      oil on canvas board        5/21/11       $35.00

  Where else but Colorado! I love aspens. I love their leaves and their lacy beauty even though people say they are big weeds. Sure are pretty weeds!

"Dedication"

 w/c on 140 lb paper      6/10/11        9 x 12   $65.00   2011

This was from a photo of huge amazing, strong, 

spiritual carved black stone statue at the Botanic

Gardens about 4 years ago. African carvers were

there, teaching how to carve in stone. I wonder what

lucky person purchased this statue?

#39 "Emergence"

‎ 

6/9/11    1 1/2 x 20 x 20     acrylic on  gallery wrap canvas 

sold      20 x 20  prints available      $85.00

This is done in a watercolor style, all wet and washy and 

fun. I added lime greens, buttercup yellow, lavender, a few

 touches of coral and brilliant blue colors together on a wet

 canvas and using my spray bottle letting it float and do its

 own thing with just a few odd touches, it looks pretty in

 every direction. Does it say springtime to you?

"Green Grapes in Wine Canister"

5 x 7  oil on canvas  11/11   sold  prints available  SOLD

The grapes look lyrical in this silver wine canister from Thailand.

Samantha

w/c on 140 lb Arches

portrait commission  12/10/11   8 x 10  sold
prints available    $35.00

This little puppy with her giant doggie bone is holding on tightly.  How could anyone want to take it away from her, anyway?

"Little Pink Boots"

w/c on 140 lb Fabriano  14" x 29"  12/8/11  #300.00 unframed

Little girls love horses so much!  This painting was done from a photo sent to me by a friend.  To be in the fresh meadow, wearing pink boots, and laying on the back of her warm mare in the sunshine is a sweet everyday memory.

Jack the Musician finished

w/c on 140 lb Arches paper  ‎11 x14   7/3/11   SOLD

 This painting is now finished. The wonderful thing about painting peoples faces is that while you are painting, if you know the person well, you remember times spent with them and how they grew up, their strengths, their soft spots, their joys and sorrows and it is kind of like prayer. You always desire the best for them in every circumstance and ask God to protect their minds and bodies and relationships. You want them to have a really good and honest and loving joyful life. Every person has value whether you know them or not.

 To finish this painting....1.  The face had several more layers of the same colors I used the first time. ie:2. Begin with a clear wash, add lemon yellow, then a thin wash of pyrol red, then cyan blue.  Let dry, then add another layer.  Check it after it is dry so that you can assess whether it needs another layer.   3.  Define the eyes, making sure there is a shadow under thetop  lid.4 Define the mouth, ear, pony tail and hat. making sure not to touch the white paper.5.Paint in the background using burnt umber and raw umber violet, and amethyst for the slats of the porch.  Use as many layers as necessary and dry between layers.  6.  For the sky use cyan and burnt umber wet in wet.

Jack, the Musician unfinished

I want to teach you how to maximize the look you want

 painting inspirational, informational and impressionistic portraits in watercolor. 

 Let me show you how I do it. 

#46  "Jack the Musician"  unfinished   6/29/11    11 x 14 watercolor.  NFS

 I will work on this painting again tomorrow when I am fresh. So far it looks pretty much like Jack, my son, who is the band leader for Velvet Rut. They play popular music from almost any era all over the midwest and he will be playing at our 50th anniversary. Yay! He is such a dedicated young man and I love being his mom and live for his bear hugs and smile.

INSTRUCTION

As you can see, this painting is a little over halfway finished.  Since this photo was taken I have already lightened most of the blue shirt on the left shoulder (right bottom of the paper) with my sink sprayer.  It is just too dark.

1.To begin, I carefully drew the face, measuring with my pencil.   I lie it flat on the paper to get proportions.  this painting is twice the size of my photo.  You can use a grid or whatever suits you best or you can work from life

2.  After I get the drawing finished I add masking with a masquepen to keep the wonderful whites and pieces of light.  This masque  tint is green, but you can get other colors.

 3.   Next I proceed to put a wash of clear water over almost all the face, hat, ears and hair.  

4.  Now I added a light wash of lemon yellow over the face and letting it bleed out into some of the other areas.  It is very light, so it will not be seen much, but it adds life. 

 5.  Proceeding while the  painting is still wet, but not shiny, add any of the colors that you see in the photo or make them up, but keep them subtle at this point and tip your paper to let the colors bleed. make sure you wet any dry edges while you are on the face so that you don't have specific lines.  At this point you want it very soft.  

 6.  Please stop and evaluate now and let the painting dry or go on to the hat or background.

After the whole painting is dry, I then rewet almost all of the face except the lightest parts with clear water, and begin the same process over again trying to maintain similar colors, and heightening the shadows.  Sometimes it will look pretty garish when it is wet, but remember, it dries lighter.  

7.  The painting as you see it is finished to this point. After it was dry I removed the masking on the face.

 I am going to finish it and show you the background and finish the detail that will make it sparkle. 

‎# 46 "Jack the Musician" 6/29/11 11 x 14 watercolor.  

"Field Poppies"

12 x 24  acrylic on unframed canvas  6/11   $155.00 

These poppies had been popping up in a nearby grassy 

field and I had been wanting to capture their free 

flowing wispiness before their graceful petals fell.  

It is not easy to make yourself stop painting before you 

say too much! 

"Enigma"

watercolor on 140 lb archces paper

$175.00 framed and matted

Golden winter bushes with blue shadows behind the tree and rocks, muted trees in backlit shadow. The twin towers are also muted at the back of the park  The grayish sky is all this painting needed to be a fading memory.

Let's Stop and Look Over the Edge"

$150.00  unframed

 pastel 6/2/11, 11 x 14. I have heard that there are no shadows in heaven, and yet an artist depends on them for depth and of course color. I imagine heaven like a butterfly wing or a clean fresh child's face. No need for shadow there! 

Just purity. These rugged rusty rocks are filled with jigs, jags, rough texture and very colorful slubbed shadows. They are weathered and full of secrets of age.

"Lean on Me"

5 x 7 acrylic  $45.00

6/5/11  Grapefruit and lemons are colorful, good for you and yummy too.  Gobble them up with gusto, put them in your drinks, your salads, and make sure you have some citrus with breakfast.  My mouth is watering!

"McHugh Falls, Seward Highway, AK"

"McHugh Falls, Seward Highway, AK"

watercolor on canvas  9 x 12  $75.00

The falls are about 20 ft high and can be seen from the highway. The lavender foggy sky made the lush landscape look greener than ever and the mist fell on our raincoats and umbrellas. Aaah!

"Colorado Reflections"

9 x 12     oil on canvas     $125.00  framed   2011
A scenic snowy view with reflections in the stream along the road to Grand Junction, Colorado.