Babe in the Leaves day 23 of the 30 day challenge.

6" x 6"  watercolor   $50.00

My second attempt at this little blond head.  I made her face larger, (better for my  eyesight), and put less shadow on her face.  It is better I believe, and I won't paint it again real soon, but I so enjoyed getting her to look like a baby, that I probably will do her another day.  Thank you Nancy Wylie for loaning me your granddaughter's photo!

Rocky Mountain Presence

24" x 30"   oil on canvas    $725.00

A million scenes to paint. Did your Mother teach you to look, to capture in your mind scenery, clouds, forests, waters, roads, directions, weather, and foliage? You are the lucky one indeed. 

Check out Mr. bear in the background ready to amble down and splash around in the stream and cool off.  You can almost feel the moisture in the air and the temperature of around 68 degrees.  Soooo comfortable!

If you are interested in this painting it will be showing at Arati Artists Gallery, 2425 W. Colorado Ave., during the month of July.  We are a full coop with working artists and all original artwork.  Let us wrap up an experience for you, and while you are at it, take a look at the myriad other items like jewelry, pottery, wood carvings, glass art, sculpture and greeting cards.  

Mr. Rabbit 3

8" x 10"  watercolor   sold

Mr. Rabbit is a ball of fluff sitting in the sunset.  The golden colors wash over him, and the purple shadows surround him softly.

Springtime Cache

21" x 29"  watercolor matted and framed  $1050.00

How do you know when spring arrives?  Is it the small soft green buds forming on the branches,  or is it the small baby animals that suddenly begin to appear on the landscape?  I have to admit that Spring is my favorite time of the year because of hope...anticipation...delicate colors...play of light...and newness.  I painted these trees, nest and eggs with that thought in my mind.  How do birds do it?  They just get so excited making the nest for their lovers!  How sweet to know that love is in the air everywhere.

"Morning Study"

14"x10.5"  w/c  $175.00

This painting is now at auction for the Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser which gives  100% of profit.

Beginning with the top right tulip, and no pre drawing, I worked my way down to the leaves atop the pitcher, leaving the whites for the bottom right gardenia.  Next I worked out the curve of the pitcher on the right and added the handle.  I added the shadows for the left gardenia and began the downward flow of the composition on the left.  At this point everything seemed bottom heavy so the top gardenia was added, along with spatters, palette knife, and darker values.  Soon it began to come together marvelously.  Layers were added in the whites, and a yellowish center.  I usually do not like smooth hot press, but happily found this technique to be satisfying.

"Farmhouse Road, Pevina, Italy"

15" x 30" oil on canvas framed  $575.00

I woke up in a sunlit room and lace curtains filled with the fresh fragrance of an Italian village farm.  Mezmerised, I took a quick shower, got dressed and ran down the road to snap as many photos as I could, deliciously savoring the sun and shadows.  This buttery road, led to the vineyard.  The direction behind me led to the olive groves.  Was I in heaven?  Fresh vegetables, hand pressed olive oil, cheese, pasta, and home cured prociutto were lunchtime specialties!

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.