Water of Life #4

"Water of Life #4"

Number 4 in the Water of Life Series was inspired by a trip to Alberta Falls in Colorado. Do you know the feeling of mountain air and the intoxicating fragrance of clean, pure
splashing water? I chose oil paints for this painting so that I could add texture to the scene. My style is rather loose and I love brush strokes to show. It makes the painting more intriguing; more like it was not planned so that your eyes have fun.

My Self Prtrait

8" x 8"    oil on canvas     $49.00

I belong to Arati Artists Gallery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  We are challenged to a Self Portrait show this month. All of us are making portraits of ourselves for the window.  It is much more difficult than painting someone else, but the show is delightful with glass portraits, clay portraits, watercolor portraits, etc.  I painted my portrait, without wrinkles.   Ha!  I think it is pretty true anyway since I am a happy colorful person who has always loved life and people.  I am a natural encourager and I love getting a good likeness, but more than that I love painting the character of a person or animal. 

Bread for the World

14" x 19"    watercolor   $450.00 unframed   $575.00 framed

This adorable child lives in Kenya and  is helping the family by selling bread.  I was given permission to use a photo by a pastor in Kenya, and I changed the story by adding the bread, the baskets, and the huts.  The beautiful intelligent face and gentle eyes would have been enough, but the clothing is also so lovely and decorative.  I was immediately hooked.  Thank you Karen Michaelle and Paul Odari.  10% of the sale will go to Upendo children's home.

1940 Posing For the New Camera

15" x15"  watercolor unframed   $250.00

I found this old black and white photo of my aunt and cousin. It is so lovely.I wondered what color the clothing was and what the hair looked like. The photo was rather dark so I lightened it up in my mind and had a lot of fun creating an old fashioned look. I am enamored with babies and moms. Dads too. I have never figured out why, but they are my utmost favorite.

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Cotemplative Hand Study

11" x 14"  watercolor   300# Arches paper unframed  $250.00

This is a painting of a beautiful dancer in a quiet moment, working out a hand movement for her ballet.

 I am showing the development of my watercolor so that you can see how layers and layers of color are applied to get the nearly finished product.  Beginning with the bottom photo, I splattered masking after the first layer.  It is important to see that a window of sorts was applied after the first layer.  I liked it but did not want the painting to be too pastel, so subsequent layers of opposite colors were applied in the background to give a feeling of opulence.  Lastly I applied some spots a la Ted Nuttall.  Which layer do you prefer?

I always think the first layer is magical.

 

   

The Dreamer

15 x 11   watercolor    $95.00

What is she thinking about?  The wind is sculpting her hair, tangling it and bringing new scent to her nostrils while she muses about the little chipmunks she viewed today. She is like a chipmunk she thinks.  She is swift, she is curious, has a Mona Lisa smile, and sometimes she is afraid to come out of her room.  But not today.  Do you know why?

Refreshing, Sparkling Waterfall

18" x 18"    watercolor      $10000.00 framed and matted

I have entered 3 waterfalls into the PPWS international Watermedia today.
They are all from the Rocky Mountains from photos I have taken and converted into paintings .  Yet when I look at the paintings from children's imaginations, I feel stilted and uncreative.  My work comes from seeing something and more or less copying it.  Children's work is freeing and delightful, colorful and imaginative.Their work comes totally from the heart.  Can I attain to that?  I sure hope so.  Hmmm....think like a child, think like a child.

Heart Nebula

18" x 24"  acrylic   SOLD

A heart shaped abstract nebula floating and pulsing in the night sky. Lay on your back and dream of the times you have looked up into a starry sky in wonder and awe. Nothing can compare to the God's creation.

SpectacularView From the Top

 

16" x 20"  acrylic on canvas board  $300.00

Clouds, clouds, clouds....and sunset!  Can't do much better than that for a God rush! 

His canvas  and palette are so much more amazing than mine.  Millions of colors, and shades. to thrill your heart and mind.

The Biggest Sunflower

9" x 12"  watercolor  $150.00

I set up a demo for my students, and am certain that I enjoyedd it as much or more than they did.  After they left, I decided that the bottomwas too plain, so I added some lace.  The flower was enormous and I probably should have given it a larger vase.

Glorious Season

4" x 12"    acrylic    $150.00

A trip last Sunday to the mountains provided so many gorgeous autumn views and there were crowds lining the winding roads making memories.  As we wound back home darkness was beginning but somehow the aspens still held their glow.  Irrisistable!

Meilyn Day 29 of the 30 day challenge

6" x 6"  watercolor    $70.00

When this little cutie came to live at 11 months of age,  from China, with our son and his wife, we had no idea of her potential.  Meilyn's greatest desire and all her efforts go into being a professional ballet dancer. She works many grueling hours a day perfecting that goal.  She is home schooled  and taking honors classes, and is also a joyful, grounded young woman every minute of every day.  Another granddaughter that is completely bathed in our love. 

Dandy Girl Day 19 of the 30 day challenge

6" x 6"   watercolor   $50.00

The name, "dandelion" is a mispronunciation of the French name dent de lion, which translates to “tooth of the lion”.  This refers to the dandelion’s leaves which are serrated and look much like teeth.
When dandelions turn to fluff, however, children, animals and wind can take credit for spreading their lovely seeds which are so expertly sandwiched into the base of the stem.  I always marvel at seed heads and seed pods.  Take them apart yourself and you will find that they are ever so perfectly tucked in and ready for us to spread them into our garden.  Amazing!

Lights and Stars Wabi Sabi

17 x 24   watercolor baatik on rice paper with gold thread $125.00 unmounted

This is  a technique I am learning from Carol Naylor.  Carol is an excellent teacher who stays with you to the very end, and also feeds you delicious fare and drink. 

 I mentioned that the figures weren't very perfect.  My friend, Becky said that is called "Wabi Sabi"

I took a lot of wrong turns on this one, but with Carol's guidance it came out.    

I love this painting and hope to do many more in the near future.  It took all day to pull off this effect of the dancers and stage lighting because of the many layers!

All the paintings created  in the class were fabulous!

Golden Opportunity

5" x 5" oil on deep canvas  floral   still life   $50.00

Every day is a golden opportunity to seek God's beauty.  Sometimes the smallest blossom, maybe a leftover from the taller stems, should not be discarded.  Their fullness, contained in a small apothecary jar, spills life and joy in a dark corner. 

Sugar Sherbet Snowfall

11 " x 14"  watercolor      $100.00

Some time ago I had seen the sun shining through the evening clouds with the brushy limbs and the ancient  tree stumps at the bottom of the trunks and always thought I should paint that scene.  When my students wanted to learn snow, I remembered the scene and thought, why paint blue snow?  Let's get creative.  I had so much fun planning this peaceful painting.  I let the spirit of the painting come through, and challenged and delighted myself.  Notice the repetition of shapes and colors.  What would we do without repetition?  Just think of our cells, the grass, bricks and hair.  How about learning?  Repetition is sooo important.

Lit From the Attic Window

11" x 14"  watercolor  still life    $300.00 matted

In all actuality, I had gone looking for a proper vase up into the attic, with this spray of sunflowers in my hands, thinking, "I should have given these sunflowers a drink first.  After laying them on the wooden table, the light struck them through the window.  "Oh" I thought, "how beautiful"!  And so I progressed through the stages of photographing and marveling at the freshness and the lights against the dark shadows.

All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Hands

10" x 14"  watercolor, collage, ink    $150.00

As often happens, one idea gets squelched and another emerges when painting.  When this painting looked sad and 

wimpy, I added the collage with used, shredded dryer sheets and glued them onto the lower part of my painting.  After it dried I added more color everywhere, brightening and darkening, introducing colored pencil.  This painting took on a whimsical life, so gold and silver specks and scripture were added.

 When I relax on my porch in the autumn evenings and the aspen tree leaves are quaking, they sound like thousands of little hands clapping.  I love that sound.  Often scripture from Isaiah 55:11 -12  comes to mind

…11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12"For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands

Bright Forest

4" x 12" each on deep canvas    oil    $99.00 each or al three for $250.00

A happy salute to all my friends!  Stand tall and raise your arms in the air and breathe the freshness of fall, floating leaves and kids jumping in crunchy piles of earthy gold.  

This year my tulips are planted and covered with chicken wire so that they don't become squirrel food and I am hopeful that they will bring Springtime joy in 2014.  Can you believe it?  

 These happy paintings are covered with heavy oil paint and slightly abstract because you cannot really decipher a leaf!  However you get the idea of warmth at the end of October.  I love my aspen trees so much with their gorgeous paper bark, scarred,  as of someone came by with a charcoal stick and scribbled on them.  Do you think it was the mysterious"Banksy"?