'The Winter Lighthouse', watercolor

Brrrrrrr. some more snow scenes. We are getting another covering of snow again today. Snow falls on the lighthouse, too. But the light still shines for those who need its direction. Lighthouses are fascinating structures. I know a New Jersey artist, Alex Alampi, who teaches watercolor in his wonderful southern New Jersey country studio in Pilesgrove, NJ who has painted many lighthouses found along the Jersey shore. Check out his website:  http://www.alexalampi.com/ and also for southern NJ's working people portraits: www.discoversalemcounty.com/arts&entertainment/ArtistAlexAlampijr.asp Beautiful work, Alex.

Technique Tip: The lighthouse is basically a cone so should be rendered as such. Notice that the highlight runs from top to bottom. Although both sides show shading, it's darker on one side than the other. If you're not sure how to render a cone, google, 'shading a cone' and study the offerings. To keep the "lights" shining in the windows, I used frisket so the yellow would be clean and bright and not tinted by the blues.

"Where does the white go when the snow melts?" ~Author Unknown
$190 framed; 10 1/2 x 16 7/8"

"Winter Sunrise", watercolor

Up til Saturday, we were having 60 degree weather, Saturday night we had our first snow and it has remained cold at 30 so that snow has not melted and now another storm is coming in. Guess we are beginning our winter season. This Friday is the anniversary of the infamous ice storm we had last year. We were without electricity for 6 days; had to use the generator; dastardly, we were without cable for 6 weeks. Do not want to have that duplicated this year, hopefully.

This painting is on display in the Hollis Art Society Gallery in downtown Nashua, NH and reminds me of our surroundings right now.

Technique Tip: Notice that the silhouette is not solid black. This makes them more interesting to suggest shapes and forms in the line of silhouette.
Snow is not just white. Along with its shadows, it has a lot of reflection of colors. The sky color is reflected in this piece on the banks of snow.

"Snowmen fall from heaven...unassembled." ~Author Unknown

$330   in wooden frame. 30 3/4" x 18 3/4"

"The Waltz of the Birches", watercolor

Just posted this "cool" scene on
http://www.fineartamerica.com/.
This now can be bought as a giclee print in 3 different size choices or in card w/envs. form. Would make a lovely scene for a Christmas card choice this year.
I took the photo of this out of our guest room window. Can you imagine the snow that roly-poly? When it's here, it appears as though it will never melt. But eventually along about Apr. 15th, it slowly disappears. You can see the sun beams striding across the snow in this scene. Not successful though in making it all melt away this day.
Technique Tip: Note the red building is in top left quadrant. Because the red attracts the eye immediately, that is the main focal point and needs to be off dead center. Then the birches are placed in strategic locations as well as all being just a little different. Adding the lightweight bushes gives contrast to the heavier, thicker trunks of the trees. R...
Like the snow, "God is so big He can cover the whole world with His love and so small He can curl up inside your heart."

Thin white or black straight lines...

Click on each pic to see larger, clearer version. I use Duck brand masking tape with the RED duck showing on inside of roll. Gives good tacky adhesion, but releases cleanly and easily w/o tearing paper.

"Sky View"

An interesting perspective. All the characters in this scene are totally involved with what they are doing and bent on getting to that plane that is scheduled to take off shortly. Do they all support each other as they hurry?

I didn't particularly want to do this DSFDF challenge, but thought it well worth some experience in this kind of perspective. As I studied the photo, I saw some really interesting shadows and some really interesting lines. When a T-square is used on these lines, it quickly shows that they are not parallel even though our prior knowledge says those lines between tiles were put down equidistant from each other. So it's good to analyze what happens when looking from a distance and from above so we can record correctly in our 2-dimensional renderings.

Technique Tip: What to look for? From this angle there is foreshortening of the bodies and all their exterior limbs. The lines in the floor pattern meet at a one-point perspective so therefore are not parallel to each other.

"And then you sock in the darks." ~Malcolm Myers

$50 10 1/4" x 6 1/8" watercolor

Tis Thanksgiving time. Most of the pumpkins in the NH area are harvested and sitting in the markets ready to be selected for the pumpkin pies, bread, etc. We have so much to be thankful for just by living in this country. Let's hope we all remain strong and keep the freedom that so many have lost their lives for defending from those who would oppress.

Remember to thank God for all as you sit around the happy and bountiful Thanksgiving table where just prior the smells of turkey and pie were tantalizing.

Technique Tip: In this painting I used complementary colors of cad scar & UB. The background being strong and dark gives the shape and form for these objects. The varying shades of CS mold the round pumpkins. Use of highlights molds as well. Using AY first as an underpainting before CS was applied, then after the CS was dry, rubbing out the highlights makes them sparkle because the yellow being a staining pigment, does not rub out.

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." ~Edwin Arlington Robinson

"Autumn on the Nashua River" just south of the historic Merrimack R. in NH

I took this photo in Hollis, NH from the bridge on Rt. 111 looking east. Can anything be more idyllic? It is so neat to take one's own photos and use for one's own renderings. The drawback: everywhere one looks, one "sees" a photo op.

Technique Tip: In order to make a scene more interesting, adding another element can give it the punch. This scene was great but just needed something else. So, I added the egret to the scene when I painted it because they are indigenous to the area and with graceful wings spread against the deep colored reflections: there's the "punch".

"I pick the prettiest part of the sky and I melt into the wing and then into the air, til I'm just soul on a sunbeam." ~Richard Bach

THIS WEEKEND is over...

Double click on the poster to see it bigger and clearer. It looks really blurry in the small. We had a good crowd visiting. Sales were fairly good overall. The building was buzzing with 34 artist booths. Looked really professional and great offerings. I'll add some photos of my booth & some of the show in a few days.

"O'er the Rooftops"

Perhaps this should be the scene o'er the rooftops of San Francisco at Christmas time. Macys has a similar tree on the ground reaching from sidewalk to the top of their building at their front door. Think they should consider the rooftop display, too, don't you? Would make the scenes from hotel windows more exciting.
Technique Tip: The use of masking tape for straight edges gives a marvelous result. I used a LOT of it to keep each edge.
I also used the T-square to keep all lines perpendicular. First, I made sure the paper was square with edge of my acrylic board when I taped it down. Then horiz. lines up w/vertical ones correctly.
"Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place." ~Mark Twain

"The YoYo and the Tabby"

This photo shot was so precious. I was glad I had my ever-connected-to-me-camera when my granddaughter while waiting to be called to lunch at Pickity Place in Mason, NH (google it; it's a highly successful of the simple-life gourmet luncheon restaurant at the end of a long dirt road, located in the southwestern NH hills. When you go to their site, be sure to check out their monthly menus. Mouth-watering time!) got attracted to and engrossed in enticing this resident cat. In NEngland the ususal "fence" between rural properties are the many rock walls such as you see piled here. I included all the rocks in my rendering since this is typically a NEng feature, but kept the lightest and brightest colors surrounding the protagonists to attract the viewer's attention to the drama being played out.
Technique Tip: The leg may look too small, but this is how this agile child could fold herself up. Also, since the angle is looking down on the scene, there is foreshortening going on of those limbs. R...
♥ "The best most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." ~Helen Keller

"Knucklehead and Sniglet"-Best Buddies for ten years

Here it is framed and hanging. Looks good to me!

(Click on photo to enlarge and see detail.) Some thoughts on what techniques were used in this particular composition. Maybe you can decide on a few if you take a minute to study it. This was totally created by me so all pieces were put together into this comp. It is not perfect, but it has some good elements.
First, the reason for this. I wanted to put both cat buddies together. The two heads could have been put together, but I thought more interesting their butt-ing up to each other. One being totally black, the other striped tabby makes an interesting contrast. So taking the two poses, I overlapped them and put one slightly in front of the other, but nesting together, touching. I used actual photos of each to get the shapes. When using different photos, the artist has to be careful of lighting angles. It has to be same for both. If not in your photos or set-up, one has to create the same light source for each.
They needed something interesting to be reclining on so using my "scrap" file of pix, I decided to use a third picture that had this neat textured log lying under some attractive foliage. (rather than just plain grass, a sofa, floor, laps, etc.)
When one first looks at this scene, two cats are quickly seen. Then, the eyes grab the attention. Even though reclining, touching, and snuggled together, with their inquiring eyes, I think they make us wonder what has attracted and caught their attention that they both are intent on. Then we can look at all the many surrounding different textures or lack of texture.
To keep the two the central characters, I made their fg & bg simple although interesting shapes w/different textured negative spaces instead of solid black or gray for depth spaces between the leaves. The use of closer black lines make for darker spaces not the use of heavier wider lines. All these horizontal strokes are filling in the negative spaces. Note their variety whether angled differently, closer together, or some just filled with dots.
So as not to leave a huge white space in upper left which would let eye walk right off the paper, spattering was applied (to keep the leaves white, they were covered by paper cut to their shape during application---mask-it could also be used) --another texture. All in all a lot of variety in textures.
Note that the spot, most intense light close to middle of scene right in front of the cats, has very little detail and so continues the focus on the two.
Conclusion: The cats are surely the focal point, with precise focal point: each set of eyes in upper quadrants.
This procedure can be applied to all media: watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, pencil, etc.
You know the phenomenon that occurs when you stare at dark objects, then switch eyes to blank wall that color appears in the same shape? It happens with this, but with an exception--the color appears while just staring at the eyes. If one stares at the cats' eyes whether here or the actual rendering, they seem to glow green or gold.
In actuality, one cat had gold eyes and the other green. How eerie is that? R...

"Learnin' & Concentratin'"

These 3 were so intent on "learning their trade", that they never knew a camera was lurking behind them. It was fun to paint the different colors in their outfits, the rocks, and their concentration. Using artistic license, the scene was adapted to make good composition. Colors of outfits were changed to make for contrasting and complementary colors.
Technique Tip: When painting a shoreline, put some sand color (raw sienna) down in area near the shore. Then when dry add the blue. This makes the "sand" show thru the water near the shoreline. Note also that the 3 fishing poles are not lined up equidistant from each other or drawn at the same angle or parallel to each. Tricks of good composition.
♥ Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
$135. (20 1/2" x 14 1/2") watercolor, double-matted

"Poster Creating..."

So after the cropping of each WORD document is done in PAINT and saved to a jpeg file from the Paint window, these are the results.

Now, of what benefit is this? When one wants to attach a WORD doc. via email, the type and design can show up skewed and different type on the receiver's computer because the receiver doesn't have the same typefaces you do or same program. Or, to add to this blog. A WORD doc. wouldn't upload. But, as a jpeg it does. This procedure makes all design stable and arrives exactly as you created. See the first part of the story below:

This seems a mite strange, I know. These are posters I created for the three fall functions of the Hollis Arts Society. And the PrintScrn capture. I just learned from my friend, Heidi, this technique of using the Paint program to capture the image of the PrintScreen function. It's fascinating to me to keep learning whether in this electronic monster or in the art of watercolor. If you click on the picture, it will enlarge and you can read what each says. The Wine & Cheese Soiree was this past Saturday night and was a huge success. The purpose: to acquaint guests with the society, bring in new members, and general camaraderie among the members. If you check out the Hollis Arts Society blog, I'm sure photos will be showing up there.
The other two are yet to come: The opening of our new gallery which is this Thursday night (and now over was a great success, too. The hanging pieces really look good. See the HAS art blog http://www.hollisarea-art.blogspot.com/ to see some of the pix from these nights.) and our annual major function of the Holiday Gala next month which is held for two days. Over 30 artists will have booths. Looks like it will be another success this year.

♥ "Whatever is good to know is difficult to learn." Greek Proverb

"Protecting Potanipo"

I took photos of this scene at Lake Potanipo near our house. And knew that it was to be at the end of my paintbrush soon. The sun was just setting at the far end of the lake which is to the left of this scene behind the bushes and shining down the lake to the right, highlighting all the beautiful autumn colors in the trees and their perfect reflections lining the far shore. The water was so still that it was like a mirror. The Indian name "Potanipo" is pronounced, po-tan-i-po just like it's spelled. We pass this every time we go anywhere. The colorful brilliant autumn colors along the far shore and their reflections exemplifies the colors that can be seen in NH in the fall. It's why the phrase, "Leaf Peepers" is a common by-word in NH & VT and we have the "leaf-peeping season". At the launching area is this little lighthouse w/its beacon that guides the boaters to dock after dark. The fast-paced water makes delightful shapes, colors, and patterns as it rushes over the rocks and downstream from the lake. It is an extremely soulful place to spend some quiet moments.
Technique Tip: To make a lighthouse round, one has to remember it is a basic cone shape. Therefore it needs the shading that a cone would need w/highlight running the length of it even though it is backlit since sun is setting to the left and behind it.
♥ "We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God." ~St. Francis De Sales
$330 -matted & framed. (23 1/2" x 21 3/4")

"Strings at the Sidewalk Cafe" -Another in my Hat Series

Here are two adding local color to the international scene while "working" for their supper. (Note that their "tin can" open for offerings is BIG. The open case is purposely placed to catch any flying notes.) Not fortunate enough to have traveled abroad, I am thankful to my friend, Susan, for sharing her photo with me to use for reference. I loved isolating this particular activity, the pattern of the sidewalk, the red "velvet" of the case interior, all the bright colors, and especially, the shadows produced by their bodies. Although not a push-over to paint, I really loved working on this piece. Did a lot of thinking to make it look "real" in 2-dimension--like the notes are being strummed right now.
Technique Tip: Note that the cafe building detail is in blur with suggestive detail. Since the focus is on the 3 major red areas, the blur helps to pinpoint these 3 as the focus so the eye doesn't have to study what is going on with a detailed building. That's immaterial. But to make the "cafe" an important part of location, the arcs of the chair backs in black at the tables casually but carefully define where this takes place as well as echoing the black in the artists pants. There are also red bouquets on the tables strategically, artistically, although seemingly randomly placed to further echo the colors of the important red shirts. Also note how the sidewalk has highlighted area in the center where the musicians are diligently strumming their instruments. (If you click on this pic, for larger size, you can see the detail in the instruments, the case, the table settings, etc. It will surpirse you --all the detail involved. Just remember the photo of the rendering is purposely in low resolution for protection purposes from cyber pirates. -not total protection, but some form of prevention.)
♥ "Gettin' good players is easy. Gettin' 'em to play together is the hard part." ~Casey Stengel
SOLD. (19 1/8 x 14") Owned by Zoa Guernsey, Groton, MA

The Hat, The Sunglasses

Another in the Hat series with stylized background.

Aren't these glasses fun? And the hat is precious for one so small. My granddaughter loved this hat. And, she was holding on tight. Mom's a security blanket, but she wasn't taking any chances.

Technique Tip: Here is yet another way to create a different bg pattern. I used triangles to counter the circle shapes of the hat and sunglasses. Hope these all show how one can keep on building new upon new upon new.

♥ Children are unpredictable. You never know what inconsistency they're going to catch you in next. ~Franklin P. Jones

$110 (11 1/8" x 5 5/8")

"The Golden Circles of Life"

Another entry in my series of "hat" people and stylized backgrounds. Thru the years great pix have been taken of my granddaughter therefore I have numerous poses that I can expand and expound on thru watercolor.

thus the exploring of different kinds of patterns to create a different stylized background. Since my model had the gold rings in stylish places, I used the circle shapes to create that special patterned bg.
Technique Tips: Folds in material are intriguing. It's fun to work them out in two dimensional art. To do so one must carefully study the lines, the shapes, the shadows whether light or dark/cast or body, the highlights. Re: painting the circles; each circle ring had frisk-it applied then each interior was painted separately. When dry, friskit removed and the rings were rendered to look like gold. R...
♥ "Everyone is gifted, but some people never open their package." Author Unknown

$200 (8 1/2 x 11")

"Plums in Botanical Design" & Companion, "Pears in Botanical Design"

I just did this companion piece to "Plums in Botanical Design" since the challenge this month from Watercolor Workshop Yahoo Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WatercolorWorkshop/ was a pair of pears. I decided to do it in the same technique of the plums I had done earlier, but not exactly like them. This one is just a little bit bigger, but can hang in companion to the plums. I loved painting these juicy ripe Anjou pears.

Technique Tip: Once again the use of the T-square and masking tape. Each shape has to be done separately and not next to a wet shape. I wanted this piece to match the existing plum piece and since that had purples in it, I chose to turn the green w/rosy highlighted pears into the golden/orange (complement of purple center of these two pieces) pears of the Anjou. This gives striking contrast to this piece. You should see this piece with an overhead spotlight. Amazing. What makes these pears "round" are the white highlights (preserved by masking initially) and the complementary-colored body shading opposite the light source. R...

♥ Parapharasing Robert H. Schuller: "Any fool can count the seeds in a pear. Only God can count all the pears in one seed."

$290-framed PlumsinD (14 3/4 x 19 3/4") (can be purchased w/o frame; deduct $100) $190 (13 x 9 3/4") Pears in D.

"Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Hats" - NFS

Another in my "hat" series. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has the cutest face, beautiful round eyes, and the fluffiest fur. With their matching hats, these two were adding local color to one of the nearby town Spring Garden Tours. They sure look like they belong to each other. This lucky owner/companion told me that this little guy just loves to lay in her arms all day. A real bosom buddy.

Technique Tip: This background works to create a stylized counterpoint to the realism. It is created the same way that the squares were in the previous entry using the T-square & masking tape. Initially, the patterns were sketched in position to make sure they would work well. R....

♥ We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot

NFS (13 x 21")

"Colors for the Palate" & "Ready to Eat Truffle"

When this cupcake became the latest challenge of DSFDF, http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/,%20I I decided it would be the perfect companion for the "truffle" I had rendered earlier. I think next could come a slice or slices of cherry pie, or apple, or blueberry? Wonder if this is how elementary Wayne Thiebaud started? Did you notice in the video that WT is a slender man, AND he "digests" all those desserts he creates (Obvious, not literally).

Technique Tip: To make straight lines, use a T-square (they come in all sizes-from easy to handle convenient 12" small for small drawings to gigantic 60" for carpenter & huge works of art, and so on). First, line up the edge of the watercolor paper to edge of board (I use a see-thru acrylic used in picture frames), tape into position, then all lines drawn will be square with each other and the edges of w/c. I even line up the tape so my 1/4" white edge is also even. To make straight edges, use a good masking tape along w/T-square. I use "DUCK" red-see inside the roll. (Best there is-holds tight-easy removal w/o tearing if you pull the tape away from painting. Actually, I use this tape for taping w/c paper down, too.) Each of the squares taped on all 4 sides was done separately AND, not near adjacent still-damp ones.

♥ "There are three stages in the work of God: impossible, difficult, done." ~James Hudson Taylor

$110 each (CforP: 10 3/4 x 7 3/8"; TtoET: 11 x 7 1/4")

My Signature Painting: "Dots, Stripes & Baby"

I did a series of "hat" paintings. They can be so intriguing and fun to do. I'll add a few of them along with, "What About Me?" a couple of pix below which is one of my favorites. This one turned out to be my all time MOST favorite. It measures 17 1/4" x 8 1/4". In the photo, some of the patterns surrounded the baby, but I capitalized on them and added them in different places to make each pattern a counterpoint to the other.
Technique Tip: When rendering a face, keep in mind its parts. Each has to be treated as an individual form w/shading for that part, and at the same time treated as a part of the whole. A baby's or young child's face needs minimal shading & lines in it to keep it fresh and young.
♥ "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." ~Augustine
NFS-in artist's private collection

"The Striped Hat"

This could be any little girl with a brilliantly-colored hat, red hair & pouty lips, being a stand-out on the beach. Bet she lives up to her name and red hair. Feisty, but oh so cute. .
Technique Tips: Using the same color blue wisely thruout gives continuity to the scene. Also making one color cover majority of area of painting is another wise technique
♥ "God is the perfect poet." ~Robert Browning
$120 (16 1/4 x 13 3/4")

"The Yellow Tulips"-SOLD

These yellow tulips look so good against their complement. One of my favorite windowed renderings. This was on display at SNHMedical Center Cafe and I'm so happy that it found its home with Mary Ann Bettilyon from Hollis, NH.
Technique Tips: First of all one should have a definite light source. This one coming from top, right. Resulting highlights and opposing shadows give the bulbous form to each flower. Notice that the flower cups overlap, but not in a regular fashion. This keeps the connection between them & interesting positions. The poured background is fun to manipulate and direct. Makes the artist feel like a director of a magnificent orchestra. In this one I purposely created and then used the dreaded watercolor "blooms" to give special texture. R...
♥ "God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
SOLD. (19 1/8 x 16")

"Heber Valley, UT from RR" & "The Old Barn, Heber Valley, Utah"

Interesting to compare these two paintings of the same subject by the same artist in the same medium. Both were painted using the original photo for reference. The only thing not the same is the time in which they were painted and the pigments used in each. Wonder if it's possible to paint the same scene exactly the second time?

Tecnique Tip: The center of interest & focus in each is of course the barn. It is in the lower left quadrant, not in middle either vertically or horizontally.

♥ "No one or thing ever stood out for being the same."
$90-Top(10 3/4 x 7 1/2"); $130-Bottom(14 1/2 x 10 1/2")

"Same Mood, Different Media"

Two renderings done 20 years apart. The oil on left is one of two of these that I did 20 years ago. The watercolor on right was just rendered recently. I love the ownership/love connection between the mother and foal: The mother for the foal. The foal for the mother. It rings loud and clear whether in oils or w/c. Interesting the different color choices give a slightly different presentation, but the two stay connected in each.

Technique Tip: Choose subjects that will evoke some emotion when they are viewed. Remember that you, the artist, are a viewer also and can let the "mood" wash over you as you paint. R...

♥ "A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it." ~Frank A. Clark

Left OIL: (16 x 20") in private collection; Right w/c: $190 (10 3/4 x 14 1/4")

"Claiming the Jewels" WcW

 It was fun to start with the background for this scene. Wetting the paper, after masking out the three sea turtles, and adding underwater colors by dropping the colors all about is the happy part of watercolors. Then watching as the colors mix and mingle; watch as the salt does its creativity is just pure pleasure.
Technique Tips: Of course, the artist has to monitor and make sure colors aren't misbehaving and giving a little nudge here or there to make sure the colors perform as needed for the current composition. Then, after it dries, is the real fun. Stepping back away from the results and just "seeing" things that need to be enhanced to finish all the nuances that came about by the freedom of the wet colors "working". This is what results. Did you find the "jewels"? They were emerging in the wet version; molded to make the story. R...
♥ "Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing."
$110 (14 1/4 x 8 3/4")

"San Francisco Tradition"-DSFDF

This is a real challenge in perspective. Not only do the perspective lines have to be correct, different value intensity and sharpness or less sharpness has to be used to show close up and distance, too.

Which of the perspectives does this exemplify? 1-, 2-, 3- pt?

Then trying to figure out the buildings is another hefty thought process. Not an easy project.

I added the trolley car to the scene because I wanted to make it specifically a SanFrancisco street. Alcatraz may be at the end of the street and across the bay, but too far away to be a player in this street scene.

Technique Tip: Use color to draw the eye thru the composition. First the bright oranges give direction for the eye to follow into the scene across the rooftops of the buildings to the end of the street, dance around and enjoy the clouds, then the green trees bring you back to the trolley car to enjoy that neat feature of SF. Note, too, that any color used has been used in at least three other areas thruout. All good techniques. R...

♥ "In character, in manners, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity." ~Longfellow

$120 (5 7/8 x 13")

"San Diego at Night"

From a photo taken by our special dear friend, photographer, and fellow traveler at the beginning of our Panama Canal Cruise, Susan Clark. No other words are necessary, the beauty of this scene says it all.

Technique Tip: Angular planes and verticals intersecting make for interesting composition. Be sure the perspective is accurate and well drawn. If not sure what that means, take some lessons on one-, two-, three- point perspective.

♥ "The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do." Orison Swett Marden

(9 1/4 x 14") Owned by Alisa & Todd, San Diego, CA

"Dancing Is..." by Havelock Ellis

This is Brian Fortuna & partner. Although I have never met Brian, I have watched him dance many times when we were all dancing socially or practicing for comps at different ballrooms thruout the Delaware Valley area in NJ, PA & DE. We may have brushed shoulders once. Brian grew up in his mother's (Sandra Fortuna, Universal Dance Studio) dance studio in southern New Jersey. When he traveled as a back up dancer in 'Dancing With The Stars' road show, I painted this for Sandra. (She framed and hung it in their foyer at home, so all visiting them see it first thing.) From the road show, Brian became one of the professionals in one of the DWTS seasons. From there he was hired by Great Britain's DWTS's version. Now, he is teaching and dancing with professional partner thruout Great Britain and creating a TV show there for wheelchair competitions which has a similar format as DWTS. This is an extension of his mother's vision who has written a syllabus for teaching dance to wheel chair dancers. Together they are making this a mission in their dance journey.
Cudos to both of you.
"While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance." ~Hans Bos
(8 x 12 !/2") Owned by Sandra Fortuna, Collinswood, NJ

"What About Me?"

Since the 31st was a 16th birthday of this little girl, I had to get this rendering in. Time passes so swiftly. First, I have her captured as a baby in dots and stripes and pattern and was so inspired by that pose that that rendering is my signature piece and you find it in the heading of this blog. This rendering standing landside of the waves, she is about 3 years old. Just at the age to want to be noticed. When her dad was taking her mother's photo, she stood as such w/little tummy sticking way out, and said, "What about me?" (reason for title). Luckily her dad was swift enough to press the shutter once more and capture this moment in time. I fell in love with her polite sassiness and can just feel that love each time I look at this rendering. Needless to say that both these renderings are in "this artist's private collection." I loved the painting process of both poses.

Now, I'll have to find one that inspires a 16 year pose. She is a love, my granddaughter.

TechniqueTip: First, a selection of subject with attitude. Second, to make the texture of the hat, I used salt. The trick here is to sprinkle the salt (table & sea) at the right time which is just as the shininess disappears from the wet color. It's critical to do it at this time. THEN, the second critical part is to be patient and let this totally dry w/o using a hair dryer (this will blow the salt away). Thirdly, do not use good brushes anywhere near the salt. It will destroy them pronto! When dry, brush salt off with fingers or a rubber cement lifter. R...

♥ "A Granddaughter is God's way of touching your heart with laughter, blessing your life with happiness, and filling your world with love."

17 1/8 x 14 1/2" owned by Ruth Bodycott

"Pumpkins in Shadow" & "Pumpkin Pile"

****************This is another example of what underglazing with yellow does as I did on the man waiting at the Office door below. The yellow was put down first, allowed to dry. Then, the pumpkin color and all shadings etc. were added. The highlights were rubbed out and magically the yellow staining pigment survives thus making a bright and dynamic contrast to the local color of the body of the pumpkin.

TecniqueTip included in the above description. R...

♥ "It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others."

Left: $150 (7 1/2 x 11 1/2"); Right: $150 (8 x 10 1/4")

"Northwoods Mirage - Is That a HOT CC&C OasIs?" WcW

When I began to think of how to portray this cute & very interesting Oasis in the snow country for the WatercolorWorkshop (WcW) Yahoo group (link in list on sidebar), I kept thinking how I could make it even more interesting than just sitting there among some bldgs. I could add a dog sled pulling up there; add some cute figures of people; put it at the top of the North Pole; add some interested reindeer; decorate w/Santa and a Christmas tree, or "build" it sandwiched between two hi-rises, etc. None really started my creative juices going. Finally I thought of the mirage idea. Because these hot drinks would sure be welcome if one had spent many days in 0 degree temps, or were lost in the snow fields. So using the mirage from hot country as a counterpoint to the cold country, came up with the idea to distort in this swirling fashion. I had used AP to create some other photo images like this for an album for drama, and thought that idea would work for my vision of a swirling mirage. I created some distortions in that program and used it as a jumping off point for my final creation. The original scene was not an easy exercise, and this swirling distorted one was even harder. Took a lot of concentration and analyzing to get all the lines swirling in the right curve and direction. But I think I did it OK. There is one thing it did for sure. It made me think, think, & think some more.
Technique Tip: Analyze and study the drawing on the paper or board before doing any painting. Make sure all is true and well drawn. All the above is more or less a tip on some of the thought processes that could get your creative juices stimulated.
Other very important tips: In order to make a rendering look as such and not an exact replica of a photograph and also to help to make a focal point strong, use 2 techniques. One, use soft edges & less strong colors & detail away from that focus. Two, keep the light & bright colors in the focus area and darken outer corners, subtly as though it is needed there thus creating an aura of subtle and artistic "framing" of that focal point. A photograph doesn't do this. R...
♥ "God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow into them." ~Author Unknown
$130 (13 x 11")

"Waiting...Waiting..." -DSFDF

DSFDF-I decided to play with the colors just to try something I've never done before. I juxtaposed colors on/with colors to make a more interestingly different piece. instead of following the colors on the photo supplied, I decided to use some "hot" colors so as to stretch my interpretation. I first used a cool yellow (Aureolin) glaze on all the background that I wanted to sizzle (cool to shine thru or next to warm overglazes) and on the figure where the highlights were, let that dry, then used complementary colors to make the yellow pop. I used the warm pink (Perm.Rose) juxtaposed to the yel.(warm next to cool contrast) on the highlights (on the figure). The greenish blue on the bldg. is mixed w/Aureolin to make a clean greenish color. The dark darks were created mixing UB, CS, BU & NT together. I call this, "Waiting....Waiting...." because if you note signs on door, one says Office, the other, Closed. But I didn't want these two to compete with the figure of the man so I made them essentially neutral. ( I also moved the door handle to the other side of the door, because in the photo it was competing for position right at his nose. When moving something or adding elements from some other source, one needs to be careful because the shading could be different, so new analyzing of where the light source is has to take place.)

TechniqueTip: To make straight lines as in bldg. vertical, a T-square makes for perfect alignment. Also use the t-square when inserting the piece into mat. I used masking tape on both sides of the edges of the metal parts of the chair so that they came out clean and straight. R...

♥ "Where will you be seated in eternity? Smoking or non-smoking?"

$110 (5 5/8 x 10 5/8")

"The Red Shovel" -SOLD

Sean is an interesting young man. When I first met him, he was about 4 yrs. old as in this rendering and

literally a stranger to no one. And, he was ready to take on any thing no matter for what age level. Here he is ready to take on the sand castle crowd or is it a dig to China. There is

resolve in that stance.

TechniqueTip: Use of varying the size of planes across scene. Note sky, water, beach, each has a different size and different shape line across paper.

Make sure horizon line is straight visually. Also this line should never be dead center. R...

♥ "Courage is not absence of fear, but mastery over it."

(15 X 18") owned by Jennie & Stan Carpenter, Pitman, NJ

"Dreaming of Sailing" -DSFDF

DSFDF- Because I don't think too many people myself included would like a dreary day making an appearance (even for a short time) in my space, I decided to make this cheery and add some other traffic to the composition. TechniqueTip: To add fluidity and continuity, it is a good idea to include each color used in at least 3 places (if more, always odd number) thruout a composition. Of course, all should be done subtly as though each was needed in that spot. R...

♥ "Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future."

$160 (14 x 9 1/4" matted in gold frame & all archival materials)

"Spring in Lancaster, PA - The Plowing" -DSFDF

Up going this way, is down coming back:
Having just come back from a trip to the Lancaster area, I decided to incorporate the spring scene as well into the DSFDF challenge when I added my color to the gray-scaled photo. The farmers were in the fields without motorized equipment plowing the many fields in the area. Beautiful country and time of the year to ride through and observe. The different fields were just this straightly created and looked almost unreal. This team of horses numbered four across in the harness with the single farmer standing on the disc contraption. If you click on this pic to enlarge it, you can see the many legs even though it is hard to distinguish all four bodies of the horses.

TechniqueTip: Always work in odd numbers when composing. Note the horizontal spaces number 13 in this comp. Also each is varied in width. This keeps the viewer's eye from getting disinterested in too much the same repetition. R..

♥ "Those who throw dirt are sure to lose ground."

$110 (7 3/4 x 5 3/4")

"The Collaboration"-The Pink Magnolia & the Jefferson Memorial

These are the 3 collaboration pieces,
reversible wearable original watercolor as jewelry and
reversible original w/c, as suncatchers.









These pix show what our collaboration created:
two suncatchers & a 'wearable art' necklace:
I painted & signed the original watercolors. Each piece is painted on D'arches 140# watercolor paper. The two pink magnolias (actually four-both sides of renderings) are painted on front & back each so they are reversible, then carefully cut out. The Jefferson Memorial has the cherry blossom design painted on the back in gold echoing the wire design. Heidi Farrow then suspended these originals between glass, sealed them in with unleaded solder & created the cherry blossom wire design. To the necklace she added a sterling silver chain & Swarovski crystal beads. The small suncatcher is between beveled glass which also creates exquisite prisms dancing around on the walls of a room at times.
TechniqueTip:: Sometimes it's a soul-satisfying experience to step further into and out of the taditional box and create something totally undreamed of before. The Jefferson Memorial was one of the DSFDF challenges. Taking it a step further we made it into this unique suncatcher w/signed original art on authentic watercolor paper. R...
♥ "Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen."
Necklace: $120 (medallion 2x2"); Jefferson Memorial Hanging: $102 (8x8"); Pink Magnolia Hanging-2sides: $90 (4x4")

"The Blue Bunting & the Hollyhock" -SOLD

And look what came to our feeders

on May 15, 2009.

This is one of my most favorite renderings. I love the complementary colors of the blue and orange. Also the cool blue against the warm blue puts the zing in the scene.

There's the "TechniqueTip" also: complementary colors & warm against cool colors of same hue. R...

♥ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

SOLD (12 7/8 X 16 7/8")

"Morning Invitation"

To get up early in the morning, take a bike ride, and spend some quality time alternately walking barefoot in the beach sand and kicking thru the surf -- aaah, to feel the coolness and the massage of the water and the sand (not to mention the exhilarating exercise of the bike ride) has to be the ultimate in relaxation and exercise.

Technique Tip: The bicycle, a center of interest, is in upper, right quadrant while the fences are leading one into the rest of the scene and "story". At this scene there was nothing but sand & grasses in the foreground. I added the driftwood, tracks, and spattering to give more interest in this area, but not overpower it. R...

♥ "Laughing is good exercise; it's like jogging on the inside. Exercise daily --walk with the Lord."

$125 (20 X 15 1/2")

"Spring Harbingers-the Rhododendron & Magnolia"

VSD-April. http://virtualsketchdate.blogspot.com/
How interesting, but not easy to make a composition with just the buds of the rhododendron. Being in the same color family and both spring flowers, these two would look good together, I thought, so I took the photo one step further and "planted" these two next to each other. Even though the "bud" is almost in the center, the magnolia and its branch reaching from one side to the other keeps the viewer's eye moving thru the piece. It makes one smile, don't you think?
Technique Tip: To get the lighter vein on the leaf, I used a clean damp, carefully pointed, #4 round sable brush and wiped the color out always using clean water with each stroke and a paper towel. R... .
♥ "Peace starts with a smile."

$90 (8 7/8 x 5 3/4")

Devotion-"A Companion of Diana" -DSFDF

DSFDF-http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/
When I first looked at this "challenge", I said to myself, "No way. I'll skip this one." Then, after looking at it a few more times, I decided it would be an interesting study to do. -tones/values/composition challenge. At first I thought it would be hard to make a decent composition. Then as I studied it more, I realized it was perfect. The nymph's head is in the top, right quadrant; the dog is in the lower, right quadrant; and the spear is in the upper left one. The three main points of interest. Perfect. I love the connection between the nymph and the dog.
When working out the drawing, I saw many things that I had not seen on first glance which is always an amazing & puzzling phenomenon--that one does not see all these details all the time. One detail found was the love connection between nymph and her faithful companion. Another, that the leash in her hand drapes down across the gentle folds of her outfit to where it is attached to the dog's collar behind its ear. As I scanned thru the host of finished pieces on DSFDF, I noticed that this interesting shape had not been "found" by all. It took me some moments of close study to decipher the shape, this second ear of the dog. Do you see both ears?
If you're wondering why I covered the bosom, my thought is that suggestion is more enticing and exciting than blatant exposure. So I took artistic license in this area even though the statue itself is openly exposed.
Technique tip: In a study such as this where only tones and values are involved, how can the artist find all the darks and lights? Squinting one's eyes makes them quite clear. You may have to keep repeating this to catch them all, but it works. Two colors were used in this watercolor: WN Ultramarine Blue & Cad Scarlet (transparent, lightfast colors and complementary). To make the intense black surround, just a touch of Neutral Tint was added in parts. The rest is the white of the paper, except the signature - that I do with a rigger brush and opaque white..R...
♥ "Time spent in prayer can be a taste of heaven"
$60 (5 3/5 x 10 1/8)

"Backyard Ladies"-one of the early arrivals of spring

When we moved to the NH area, I asked our new neighbor if she had ever seen lady slipplers in the area. She told me they as well as wild blueberries were growing all over the surrounding woods. Our yard is basically the woods so I went hunting, never dreaming that these ladies would be close by. To my amazement they were growing right in our back yard - literally 20 steps from the back door. Of course, I used them for the composition above. These are a protected species and must never be picked -- or disturbed as they don't transplant well either. There is a place in Vermont where you can get domesticated versions (easy to Google).
Technique: This is called windowing. First the drawing is put in place along with marking carefully for the window. To create both areas of color is a matter of taping off with masking tape and painting each area at different times. The flowers were masked out during the process of background painting. It's fun to let the watercolor do its thing. Still controlled by the painter, the result is always an exciting surprise. R...
♥ "Embrace the unpredictable and go exploring for things that inspire you."

$200 (20 1/4 x 16) matted & framed in gold frame, all archival materials.

"The Striking Clematis" -SOLD

Since spring is beginning to reveal itself here in NEngland, I am adding my versions. A clematis from our garden, photo taken previously as clematis won't be unveiling itself for a few more weeks. This painting is one of my favorites. Enjoy!
Technique tip: Always look for shadows falling in, on, and around the subject There are two kinds of shadows: body & cast. The body shadows are what make the contours of an object. The cast are the shadows cast when light or sun hits the subject. Include them in your comp. Adds interest to piece.
♥ Especially at this Easter time, think on this: "Jesus invested His life in you; have you shown any interest?"
Owned by Janet & Dick Funk, Winchester, VA

"Butterfly at Work"

Butterflies are just beautiful. This one stands out against its beautiful dark blue background. From photo by Susan Clark.
Technique tip: The use of complementary colors (ultramarine blue & cad scarlet) produces exciting, pulsating contrasts when used next (not mixed) to each other. So it's important to study and learn color theory. It helps in other areas, too. For instance in home decorating and in putting together an outfit to wear R...
♥ "Proofread carefully to see if you any words out..."

$220 (15 7/8 x 16 1/4") matted & framed in gold frame; all archival materials.

"Leaves in Design"

This was a fun painting to do. Done in layers and using actual leaves for patterns added to the awesomeness. There are probably four kinds of leaves that I used. I think, can you find any more? The original overall color was the very light on the large leaves in center. The last color used was the very dark little & wiry Japanese maple leaves.

Technique: the three large center leaves after the first coat and a treatment by salt was masked out so as to preserve that deliciously light color; the second coat as the light pink, which when dry was also masked out, then a third darker layer. When all was dry, the masking was removed and dark color was placed between leaves. The final layer was the addition of the very dark maple leaves. Rigger brush was used for their long tendrils. Takes a bit of concentration, but it is a very satisfactory result. R...

♥ "Up goin' this way is down comin' back."

$240 (16 3/4 x 20 3/8") matted & framed in archival materials

"Snow Doodle" -SOLD

The Golden Doodle (golden retriever & std. poodle mix) our "buddy" these 3 years since Onyx. Named Toby, he is a lovable fun-loving good buddy like the retriever and intelligent like the poodle. From the poodle in him, he doesn't shed. This scene is from one of his weekly off-leash 3-hr. runs thru verdant countryside with a pack of usually 8 dogs.

Technique tip: 2 colors only were used on this: Ultramarine blue & Cadmium Scarlet= Complementary colors.r...

♥ "The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. Peace & grace of JC be with you."

(16 1/4 x 13 1/4") Owned by Ruth Bodycott

"Onyx by the Sea" -SOLD

Onyx was a member of our household for six wonderful years. She belonged to our kids and since we all live together, she was entrenched deep in our hearts, too. Beautiful carriage, beautiful disposition, wonderful coloring, sparkling eyes. Perfect companion. She loved to snuggle. Couldn't you just hug her? We still miss you, girl.
I painted this from a photo taken the first time she "experienced" the New England seashore.
Technique Tip: The "ocean" I painted from my own memory to make a perfect backdrop for this magnificent "buddy" and put her back in the scene of her first "ocean". R...
♥ "God is so big He can cover the whole world with His love and so small He can curl up inside your heart."
(17 x 14 1/2") framed -Owned by Scott Hornung

"Beach Quintessentials-the Digitals" -DSFDF

DSFDF http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/:
One must always be aware that there are cameras on the beach. What will they capture when one isn't looking? Better yet, what a wonderful way to record life's great moments. I think "Mom" is recording her daughter's gathering of shells & wet sand down there between the umbrellas. Did you see her as the 5th person? The digital experience is mind-boggling, but oh, so much fun.
Technique Tip #1: Always make sure there are odd numbers of objects in your composition, i.e.: 5 people, 3 bright spots of vermillion, 1 sailboat + 2 umbrellas (basic triangular shape), 3 floats, etc.
#2: Always repeat each color in at least 3 different places in painting; creates continuity.
#3: Obviously I added to Karin's original photo. One thing to always be aware of and make corrections for is: all elements have to have the same light source. The elements I added had a right light source in my photos; Karin's photo had a left source. I'm pretty sure I got them all at the same scene at the same time of day, AND, at the same ocean. R...
♥ "Keep your artistic muscles limber! Peace & grace of JC be with you."

$110 (8 x 5 1/4")

"Signs of Spring-the House Finches"

The March 09 VSD project. Now, we are getting closer to signs of spring. I chose not to add the wire mesh as in the photo because all our feeders like this have just the clear plastic tube without any screening. To me, it makes the final rendering simpler.
Techniques: Because I wanted to use an existing piece of watercolor paper in a long thin shape, I elongated the feeder to accommodate the paper. When I first "finished" this, my background colors were too brilliant. The painting had no central focus; colors were competing with each other & cancelling each other out. After assessing, I carefully masked out the feeder and birds and 'washed' the background away. The resulting muted colors work so much better. Using a rigger and sponge, I filled in the trees and bushes to finalize the focus on the house finches. R...
♥ "Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. Peace & grace of J.C. be with you."
$90 (4 1/2 x 14 1/4")

"Apple Tree at Sunrise"

And here is a sign of hope. The apple trees in Hollis, NH make delicious shapes. Here is one reflecting hope for the spring about to break thru. A watercolor from a photo that I took. Some apple trees are like this in free form and others are trained on wire trellises in the orchards in Hollis.

Techniques: How does one get reflections to match especially on one such as this with so many intricacies? Trace carefully the form of the tree & limbs on tracing paper, flip upside down and there you have the reverse shapes for the reflection. Proceed with your method of drawing it in place.

There is another way to do it on one's computer. Email me and I'll give you the simple method. R...

♥ "Courage is not absence of fear, but mastery over it. Peace & grace of J.C. be with you."

$220 (16 1/4 x 20 1/4") matted & framed in gold frame, all archival materials.