Two Heads Are Better in Color

11" x 14"  watercolor  $45.00  portraits

Are you serious?

The first definition of "play" in the dictionary says "play" is to engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than serious or practical purpose.  However sometimes play teaches us something very practical, and that is that everything is not always as it seems.  For instance this class demo proves that a face does not have to be painted in skin tones to look like a face.  Is value then, more important than color?  

During our class we also played,  blowing paint with straws to add a little abstract movement.   

Gypsy

11" x 15"  watercolor   unframed  $130.00

Under the drifting clouds this shy young girl dreams of dancing.  Her feathery hair and clothing are touched with a hint of copper and she is adorned with flowers and stars and fantasy, and so am I.

"Dandelion Fluff #2"

21" x14"  watercolor    $225.00  unframed

In silence and with a whoosh of air,  dandilion seeds will waft windward.  They are lovely and prolific.  

Dandelion is a French word,  dent-de-lion, meaning "lion's tooth".

Dandilions are also loved by herbalists for their vitamins and tummy cures.  

I just remember as a child making bracelets from the flower and stem and then making a wish and blowing the delicate seed heads that resemble upside down umbrellas.  

"Dandilion Fluff"

21" x 14"  watercolor   $225.00 unframed

In silence and with a breath of air, a dandilion witll waft seeds windward.  They are lovely and prolific.  

Dandelion is a French word,  dent-de-lion, meaning "lion's tooth".

Dandilions are also loved by herbalists for their vitamins and tummy cures.  

I just remember making bracelets from the flower and stem and then making a wish and blowing the delicate seed heads that resemble upside down umbrellas.  

Memories #1

8.5" x 10.5"   watercolor  SOLD

My daughter sent me these tulips during Christmas and they so brightened my day!  I decided that I have enough beautiful photos of arrangements that I must get busy and see if I can paint them all.  Some are from making bouquets at church from my friend Elaines's garden.  We would go pick them on Sat. morning for nearly 8 years.  The pleasure of being with a master gardener in the dewy morning, cutting dozens of tall flowers, and quickly putting them into fresh pails of water is heady. Their fragrances were astonishing!  What a gift!  I savor these amazingly beautiful experiences with a great woman of honor, delight, humor, and care.  

Tulips and Apples in April

14.5" x 14.5"   watercolor and gouach  SOLD

My students and I set up a still life with vase, flowers, small bowl with a handle, some apples and a cloth on a table.  I try to show them how to get the composition right by making several thumbnails of various views and then choose the one we each like best.  Next we layer washes, letting each one dry so that the colors stay bright.  We punch the darks as necessary and let the painting tell us where we need to express some freedom of strokes and splatters.  We step back often from our work making sure that some of the colors marry together .

"Flying Around the Sun"

19" x 13"  watercolor  $150.00

See the birds in flight?  They are harnessing power from the brilliant sunset so that they have enough energy for the day.  Cats and other animals find a nice spot to lay down and catch the rays.  I don't know about you, but the warmth coming into my window on a chilly day is soothing, relaxing, and energizing.  This painting was made with frugality of color.  A couple of reds, an orange and some black. The sideways drips engage the eye in a new way.