Musings About Watercolor

Watercolor on 140# Arches paper.

2011-10-13T21:38:00.000-04:00

"Two Sails at Sunset"

my latest watercolor finished yesterday.

Actually it's the first since March and I'm so happy to have broken thru and started back into the rhythm. Even though this looks simple, it wasn't. Half way through I almost gave up because this had some really hard parts, but then told myself that if I didn't press on, I would never finish anything.

I'm so happy with it now.

Ah, nature at its rawest and most brutal: bluebirds in distress

2011-07-28T13:31:00.003-04:00

Best viewed full screen. Yesterday, looking out our window, I noticed bluebirds fluttering and swooping in front of opening in birdhouse along with quite a bit of chirping. Watched and videoed for a few minutes (above video), then realized these two had a problem. Went out to see what was wrong. While checking the birdhouse out, a face appeared in the opening. Not a bluebird; not a bird even; ---a red squirrel. It startled me so much I forgot I had a camera with me. I rang my knuckles on the side to make it exit and it did jump out, not on me thankfully. Red squirrels are about half the size of a gray squirrel therefore small enough to easily enter the small hole in birdhouse. Don't know if it found anything inside. (Last year one ate the eggs in a chicadee nest, same birdhouse, saw the r.s. enter and saw the shells on ground.) No shells this year, and the bluebirds are still going in and out of the nest today. Can't see into the nest even when I opened the door. I'll let you know what happens: whether new brood or abandonment by the bluebirds. How distressful to have a nest raider after all the time spent creating it; keeping vigil of it; and possibly having young in it. ) : (

Spring Hope-Phew! Been a Long Time...

2011-06-19T11:35:00.002-04:00

I've been away since the first of March, dealing with a big change in my life - onslaught of Type I diabetes. Am now feeling a little like getting back to what God has trained me to do. So will add some photos that will make some good painitings. Starting to get back into the groove slowly.

We watched as robins built this nest in our honeysuckle bush between the two rails of our backyard fence. It's been a week that one has been sitting on the eggs. Can't get too close, they zip out of the nest as soon as one approaches. Using zoom lens, did get a photo of one in profile; had to stand at least 20 ft. away and use Adobe to isolate this precious pic below.

The awe of new life!

"Two-pointed"

2011-03-05T18:02:00.002-05:00

The two-pointed dinghy found in European countries. This one anchored in a quiet lagoon, the city far away..

I loved the sereneness of this scene, had to paint it. It was fun to suggest all the reflections in the water.

Technique tip: To suggest the distance of the city, a very light gray is used and no detail, just lines and some shading to make building shapes. Light direction from sun kept same as the foreground's light source.

“The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do” ~Orison Swett Marden

"Zippo Engaged" and "Walnuts in Review"

2011-02-20T14:52:00.030-05:00

DPW Challenge (very user friendly): Carol Marine along with her high-tech husband, David, and 9 other artists have a website to which they have added a new artist challenge, DPW Challenge, (see all the different styles of the artists by clicking on the highlighted challenge name) that is very interesting and open to any and all artists. None of the challenges close, so you can add as many as you want to render anytime. I'm going for the rose next. Then, the old car. Talk about "body" shadowing and reflections!

The 4th challenge -(this week).

The challenge: using two colors only. 5" x 5.25"

I would never have selected this subject, but the reflected colored light on the metallic piece, metal reflections on table, shadows, metal itself and the flame (my particular take on this small object) intrigued me. This looks simple, but let me tell you, it's NOT. How do you make metal look like metal? But it's doable as you can see.

Using granulated pigments, as Ultramarine Blue is in watercolors, makes it hard to make smooth edges or color. The granulation makes interesting patterns and textures, but it's hard to make "clean" work.

However, it can be done with perseverance.

I studied this for a few days to figure out why the flame didn't show up. Fire should be outstanding, right? Then as I analyzed and studied, I realized the Zippo was the same tone as the bg. I toned down the bg with the UB complement RS, and wahooooo, just like that, the Zippo and flame now are the proper focal point. I have a new original!

Sometimes, one has to step away for a few days, but keeping an eye out and the solution "dawns".

Unfortuately, on the DPW gallery, it doesn't look like this. You can go there and find it. I will have to tone down my quick release of my paintings from now on and give a few days (at least hours) once-over so I can make the changes before "publishing".

Second challenge: Quick Study- 10 minutes only for each panel produces a neat underpainting. The first one was hilarious, the second one surprisingly was doing okay. The third one got so sloppy, watery, runny. The fourth was worse than the second. Working right on this board, I was able to finish up with the original below,

"Quck Study" tweaked to finish the underpainting, now a finished product! 12" x 5"

All the challenges are different supplied each Saturday night by one of the 10 artists who are the mainstay of this website. To start, I chose this quick study challenge. The directions were to choose a subject, put multiple images on a board and complete each one in a 10 minute time limit with TIMER. Of course, the first one was really a little out of control, and I felt under a lot of pressure to get all the darks and lights on in the 10 min. slot. So I took a few minutes before working on the 2nd one just to relax a bit. It got better with each additional one. (Want to see how you react when under HIGH pressure, try this.) When finished, I had lovely underpaintings ready for file 13. Won't tell you which one was first; I didn't go straight from left to right. I submitted the challenge to the website, and being one to not throw anything away, I decided to use my result as an underpainting. I tweaked each; giving each panel another 10 minutes; adding detail; softening some areas; etc.
This worked. I signed it.
Technique: What did I learn? This is a good method for painting. First, start with lights and darks in general. Then, finish with necessary details, (not overworked details) for a finished product. Thanks, Carol for a new direction for me.
"Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer." ~André A. Jackson

Here is a reason for learning and using Adobe Photoshop (which I taught to myself) or any such photo program other than enhancing a photo for the computer monitor.

I'm not sure that I got the bg dark enough for the Zippo. In Photoshop, I selected a deep dark blue color and "painted" with the eyedropper, the bg. You can see some of the blue in it if you move around.
This gives me some indication as to whether it will work with this much intensity:

I'm still mulling this over.

"Beach Ware"

2011-02-19T23:13:00.007-05:00

The last in the series for Romania, for the February Virtual Paintout. Found these wares for sale on Strada Tineretului, Costineşti, România. Wonder how many buyers want the float on the bottom of this pile? Why did I choose this specific group? I wanted something colorful, simple in design, yet still interesting or different, therefore I selected these out of all the busyness on this street. If you'd want to see this on Google go here. It may take a few seconds to bring up the Google map, so be patient. You can see how I extrapolated and adapted this scene to this composition. This is 11 1/4" x 15", watercolor on 140# CP Arches.

Technique Tip: To make colors sizzle, put complementary colors next to each other as in CadScar and Ultramarine Blue. Another way, underglaze with yellow, then put CadScar overglaze. When the highlights are lifted, the yellow (which is staining and doesn't "lift") will make CadScar glow as in the lobster float above.

"Laughter is an instant vacation." ~Milton Berle

"Two Friends - Melded Shadow"

2011-02-16T00:15:00.009-05:00

Another (the limit is 3) in the series for Romania, for the February Virtual Paintout. I loved the flippy skirt, the "purses", the beautiful hair styles, the shadow, the movement in this scene on Strada Talazului, in Costinesti. If you'd want to see this on Google go here. It may take a few seconds to bring up the Google map, so be patient. You can see how I adapted the actual scene to this composition.

This is 10 3/8" x 14 1/4".

Technique Tip: This is all about shadows and shading. Shadows are cast by some sort of light source. These have hard edges when one paints or draws. Shading is the "shadow/dark" on a form, be it a leg, a pear, a nose, a body that gives form to the object. These are blended.

That is a major consideration when rendering.

On this piece, there are quite a few shadows. First the major one CAST by the girls. Also more cast shadows are CAST by the flippy skirt across the legs-these have hard edges.

The legs themselves to have form and shape have BLENDED shadows so they look rounded-no hard edges within the shape from dark to light. There are quite a few more instances in this, but this gives you the idea.

"A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world." ~Leo Buscaglia

Beginning stage as I started to lay in the flesh tones. I used salt to get the texture in the roadway. Grassy/dirt area running alongside roadway, I used wet color in wet to make the blends and free patterns.

"Riding a NewEngland Beach-New Year's Day"

2011-01-30T20:02:00.015-05:00

Just finished this today. 15 1/4" x 11". When I saw a series of photos (thanks to Jacqui Hawke for permission to use) of this group riding the water pools along the beach, I wanted to paint this scene. I took elements from three of the photos and created my own. I love the reflections in the pools.
A few techniques: odd numbers, sky swirl leads to main horse and rider (focal point), focal pt. in lower right quadrant, horizon below middle of scene, main sand section leads to other horses, +(dark, medium, and light values of which one should be more coverage than the others).
No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill
For 3 initial steps + the 3 photos I used to create composition, click on the page above: "Progressive Steps of Paintings"

How to create...

2011-01-23T22:04:00.005-05:00

AS PROMISED:

Click on the title above, PROGRESSIVE STEPS OF PAINTINGS, for photos and the progressive explanations of making straight edges while keeping all perpendicular.

"Sand Cakes"

2011-01-17T14:27:00.001-05:00

Another striped hat.
Learned a lot about how to make the beach look rolling and full of sea stuff. Also learned more about making tubular shapes just that by using darks and lights. Employed the technique of adding "sand" color under the water at the front edge of it, to make the water clear and transparent.

Another hat painting: "The Striped Hat"

2011-01-15T11:39:00.003-05:00

This young girl with her red curly hair and fiery temper is actually an adorable loveable friend of the family. Always with a hat on the beach because of her fair skin, she makes for an adorable subject.
In this painting I learned how to zero in on a subject and let the background carry the viewer to her place of contemplation. Note she is placed off center; the features of her face would be the first place to attract the eye so that is placed in lower left quadrant. Note the contast between smooth areas and patterened areas. There should be more of one than the other.
~"Painting should never look as though it was done with difficulty, however difficult it may actually have been." ~Robert Henri

"The Anticipation Response" by Robert Genn

2011-01-14T14:25:00.014-05:00

This latest article in Robert Genn's Newsletter, (click on his name to go to the full article) January 14, 2011: "Dopamine" a "feel good" neurotransmitter, is released into the bloodstream from several parts of the brain.. .....With no anticipated excitement before, there's no great art after...

Interesting article. Great inspiration for the artist.

TWO WOLVES :
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

"HATS"

2011-01-13T11:40:00.004-05:00

When I started to work on this painting, my watercolor mentor, Suzanne Binnie, told me I should do a series of "hat" paintings. So I embarked on that series. They have been fun and have taught me many things about watercolor, portraits, skin tone, shapes, rounded shapes (even noses are rounded shapes), textures, patterns, composition, backgrounds, etc.

It's good to do series. Gives cohesiveness to your portfolio/body of work.

In this one, I learned contrasting patterned background work using tape to block off the squares. Also learned how to better control salt to give the texture in the hats.

Ipanema: "And When She Goes Walking... She Takes Her Boogie Board"

2010-12-28T14:20:00.003-05:00

Didn't get this posted with last month's Virtual Paintout in Rio de Janeiro. I just loved this lady's proud carriage. The surf was just perfect as well as the piece of land jutting out into it.

I added the other persons for added interest. You see the boogie board lady is interested in what she is passing also.

And those sidewalks are spectacular.

Technique Tip: 3 (odd number) groups with person(s) are included to make good composition. None are in exact center. Notice the negative space between any of the three. Not equal. Also there is enough space in front of the woman to allow her to continue the energy of her walking and swinging her arm in this scene which also keeps the viewer's eyes in the scene. It is midday. You can tell by the shadows so immediately under each person and the highlights bouncing off the tops of all horizontal planes.

"Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention." ~Jim Rohn

"On Top of the World"- Dingle, CountyClare, Ireland by Ruth Bodycott

2010-12-23T19:57:00.009-05:00

Virtual Paintout for December, County Clare, Ireland. As I "traveled" thruout the countryside around Dingle, I found this peaceful scene on a hilly hillocked field, so typical of the landscape of Ireland. Wonder how the cows manage to walk around and eat on this uneven surface. The cows were not bothered evidently by the Google contraption. Just looked on with interest at the movements, and stayed right where they were allowing the Googler to capture a fantastic photo.

Technique Tip: To make the illusion that there is great height to this hillside, using warm and cool colors helps to create that. The warm greens and yellows were used in the fg, while cool light ones used as progress up the hill to the far distance.

Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Blessed Christmas to ALL!

"Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with
the gift of your attention." ~Jim Rohn

2010-12-23T19:24:00.004-05:00

Marjarom aka Mary: Looking outside as we look inside.

"Marjoram Picking Her Place at Pickety Place"

2010-12-22T13:53:00.005-05:00

A departure from a painting. Wanted to share this particular incident. Took this photo this past week at Pickity Place which is in the mountains west of us, in the woods, down a long dirt road, and very popular spot for many who go to enjoy their gourmet herbal luncheons (We ate in the Garden Room as pictured in the photo on right at the Pickity's link above). They have numerous cats on location and they have the run of the grounds and the gift shop (not the dining area, though.)
The brokeh gives up a hint of Marjoram's face. See her reflection?

Marjoram, called Mary for short, (she has a brother named Sage) finds this place the best. It's in the sun among all the quaint goodies of the PP Gift Shop where the herbs are hanging overhead to dry, the handmade soap is strung, the sun is warm, & her world is hers to survey. Carefully she moves among the merchandise, not moving a thing out of place to get to her spot high up in the window. It was neat to watch her thread and weave her way thru all the objects. The brokeh gives a hint of the cute little Pickety Place eating establishment, but where else would Mary find interesting movement than in the sun and watching nature strike a pose outside. Soon as the sun moves on, so does Marjoram.

"Saucy Squirrel"

2010-12-08T13:01:00.002-05:00

Blacks created by mixing color: CS and UB; plus a very little NT (plus all other paint used in the painting in much lesser amount). If you move a laptop lid back so the bg is rich dark that is how it is IRL. But when you bring the laptop lid forward a little, you can see the colors I used to make the rich black.
Also see the mixed blacks on the zebras a couple of entries down.

"Ipanema-Sand Castles"

2010-12-07T14:40:00.004-05:00

On the beaches of Ipanema are a myriad of vignettes. This scene caught my eye as being a little different from all the other hundreds of scenes along this stretch of inviting beaches. A Google scene for November's Virtual Paintout-Rio de Janeiro.
Technique Tips: I love the diagonal of the sidewalk and the flowing design of it. I didn't try to let the design peter out on either end because I feel this way, the viewer retains the idea that these sidewalks continue on and on and on. Because of the strong bright reds in the center, I feel the eye is drawn there immediately and then the viewer can in a somewhat circular fashion travel around to the other interesting points of view in this scene. Coming back to the reds after "visiting" all the different things of interest going on here, the viewer has a satisfied "adventure" and is ready now to enjoy the design elements.

“Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God.” ~Diana Robinson

"Ipanema-And When She Goes Walking...She Takes Her Dog and Water Bottle, too"

2010-11-28T20:32:00.006-05:00

Can you get the song out of your head, now? A scene from Google Street View for the November Virtual Paintout challenge. I found these three on the beaches of Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro. The wide sidewalks, neat and clean, are eyecatching not only because they are wide, but patterned intriguingly. Imagine walking on these. When my husband first saw this, his comment was, "Muscle Beach", from his seeing this design in CA, USA. Will have to see if Google gets this close to Muscle Beach, just south of Los Angeles.
I was attracted to the girl walking her dog when suddenly I spied the dog carrying the water bottle. That clinched it for one of my selections. (Click on pic to enlarge it to see what I mean, really funny.) On another stretch, I was attracted to this buff young man. So, I put them into one composition. I liked the contrast of dark against light.
Technique Tip: I put the wastebaskets in this comp because they are representative of the placing of these all along this mile after mile stretch of public beach area (which makes for the tidy beach), and they were red. I wanted to use them to make a third red area along with the red leash and the itty-bitty red swim suit. One good color technique/composition-wise: always have an odd number of places for any color used (other than 1, that is). Also another tech.tip, odd number of objects/things: i.e.: man, woman, dog, bird, wastebaskets (considered one unit).

"If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them." ~Phil Pastoret

Two paintings, their story...

2010-11-21T00:37:00.003-05:00

This past weekend was the Hollis Arts Society's Holiday Gala. About 30 artists displayed their work. These two paintings interested a Hollis, NH husband and wife collector team and happily have found their home with them. I have mixed feelings about someone else having my paintings on their walls, because I love looking at them on my walls, but this is what art is about: SHARING ones creativity with others. I am so happy to look into the eyes of those who are really moved by what they see. What a great experience! And, I'm invited to come see them and their collections whenever I wish.
"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~Thornton Wilder

"I'm Working It, Dad. I'm Working It!"

2010-10-31T20:26:00.004-04:00

A scene from San Miguel de Allende, MX for October Virtual Paintout. The cobblestone streets and the hills are common sights that identify this city. These two just captured my heart when I saw the struggle but determination of the young boy and the obvious patience and strength of the father.
Technique Tip: To create distance, size of objects as they recede into the distance diminishes. This is obvious in the size of the pebbles in the street. Also the width of the sidewalk and how close the divisions get as they go off in the distance.
As far as center of interest, people catch the eye first after a baby. Notice that they are put in the lower left quadrant (never in the exact center.)
~"I made a promise to keep a watch over myself, to remain master of myself, so that I might become a sure observer." (Paul Gauguin)

"Body Language" San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2010-10-25T17:09:00.003-04:00

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico is the Virtual Paintout location for the month of October. Some of the features of this city which is a magnet for artists of all persuasions are the cobblestoned streets, the many textured and colored buildings lining skinny streets, the abundant draping climbing plants, and the plethora of steeples of the many churches thruout the city.
I chose this scene because I thought the language of each of the bodies told a story. This is a friendly group, all interested in the conversation going on between the worker and the woman in pink and black. Obviously, whatever he has to offer about the pile of dirt he is working with will impact each of them.
With the diagonal line across the scene, all the textures are made known to the viewer as the eyes travel along the sidewalk into the middle of the discussion. I love the play of the light and shadows thruout as it comes across the wall. Adds to the interest of the scene. Therein lies the techniques used.
~ "Never fear shadows.... that always means there is a light shining somewhere."

"Trotting Back for Next Fare"

2010-10-07T14:42:00.003-04:00

One of the many attractions of New York City is the carriage ride through Central Park. The drivers deck their carriages to suit the seasons. This one particularly caught my interest because of the contrasting red and white of the carriage and the beautiful color of the horse in contrast. I also liked the extra accutrement of white flowered bouquets placed in the prominent vases. Even though an old-fashioned "thrill" ride thru plush verdant foliage in the very middle of the hustle and bustle, skyscrapers and taxicabs of NYC, note how the driver brings the scene into this century. To his ear he has pressed and is communicating with the now ever- and omni- present cell phone.
Technique Tip: One very important consideration when painting is to be aware of continuity of colors. So, if a color is used in one place, it should be used in at least two other places thruout. Not necessarily in the same intensity or degree of shade, but in some form and not obviously "stuck in" places just to achieve this technique, but subtly so that viewers cannot identify this purpose. To relate to this picture, for one instance, the driver IRL had a white hat on which would have related to the white carriage, but there was enough white in this, so I opted to use the red to relate with the carriage interior, the yoke on the horse's harness and the woman off in the background. And, red calls the attention as fast as a person in a painting does.
"Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees." ~Victor Hugo

"Window Dressing"

2010-09-21T21:54:00.010-04:00

Dressing the window at 36 West 50th Street, New York, NY. Interesting to find someone actually working on dressing one of the many shop windows for Virtual Paintout-Sept.

But wait a minute, the sign, an anomaly?

Does this sign found just in front of this window apply to pedestrians or to vehicles? Hmmmmmmmm.

I think the anomaly works for this composition, adds something "extra" instead of the common finished shop window seen all over NYC; however, I'm sure this is NOT what this retailer had in mind. Maybe, acrimonious would be a better word.

Technique Tip: What makes this scene work? One thing is the color combo. Using complementary colors creates unity and contrast with colors that work together. Another thing that works is the light and dark values. Makes contrasts distinguishable and gives zing to the composition. And, a third thing is the use of varying sizes, kinds, and colors of ladders. Interior decorators/window dressers use the same principles that the 2-dimensional artist uses for composition, color theory, etc. Adding the street sign to this comp. creates the anomaly that causes extra thought and enjoyment and maybe a chuckle.

On purpose, I left out detail on the peripheral window dressing. The center of interest has the detail; these peripheral pieces allow viewers to engage their brains to create whatever they would like them to be. Keeps any viewer interested in this piece longer than a passing glance.

"Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it." ~Author Unknown (another anomaly?)

IN THE NEWS RIGHT NOW: EYE MAGNET-"Dots, Stripes, and Baby" in "The Artist's Magazine". If you scroll down, see the added magazine article at the end.

2010-09-07T09:44:00.019-04:00

EXCITING NEWS! HAPPENING NOW!

Today is September 7th.

The October issue of "The Artist's Magazine" hits the newstands.

And, in it under the feature, Art Clinic, is this painting which is being critiqued this month. Last year I submitted it for the purpose of getting a critique on it from an accomplished well-known artist. It was slated for June publication, but as things go in the publishing world was postponed to September, then on to OCTOBER.

Haven't seen what was written yet. Am off to B and N or Borders to pick up a copy. It will be most interesting to read someone else's concept of this painting. Reading some of the previous critiques, I have noted that the critiquing artist gives as many positive artistic points as possible and ends with suggestions to possibly make the piece better.

Barnes and Noble and Borders carry this magazine. Online one can purchase the magazine at: www.northlightshop.com/product/print-issue-the-artists-magazine-october-2010/art-magazines, if you would want to get one. The magazine offers some very good articles.

I "found" the magazine at the bookstore. Am pleased with the article. Will scan it and add it here in next few days, if I can figure out how to do that. The artist, Greg Albert, "saw" so many pertinent and positive things. And, his suggestions for improvement were right on the money.

Interesting that Crystal, a blogger friend, finds this Art Clinic feature her most favorite part of the magazine. When reading Greg A.'s critiques, one learns the fine points of HOW to critique, (describing all good artistic techniques first, then following up with suggestions for improvement.) There's a lot to learn by paying attention to this kind of critique.

Found on page 76: (Click on the page below to enlarge to read. Then, if needed, do, Ctrl+) Very astute critique.

LESSONS LEARNED:

Now, did I learn anything from this critique? Actually, quite a bit and a very important technique. What Greg Albert zeroed in on is important to the painting. I enjoyed reading his verbalization of what I was portraying. Very intensive and comprehensive critique. I love the way he uses an actual painting to "teach". I especially learned that when reviewing and analyzing one's painting one last time, to look for places and edges of confusion as one scans over all. I totally missed the areas he pointed out and will rectify those areas in the near future. Like he said they are easily fixed in this painting. Just should be done to carry it to the next level.

"The Unfolding Rose"

2010-08-26T12:45:00.005-04:00

How does one have so much beauty? The colors in this were so fun to duplicate. Can I do it again? Hmmmmm. It would be just as hard the second time, BUT, it would be just as rewarding a finish.

Technique Tip: To get the spotted texture as on the folded over pink petal edges, the salt technique works. First wet an area, when sheen has just gone, sprinkle with salt; be patient and allow it to dry, then brush off salt. Result, impressive, magical, and interesting pattern that looks natural and not studiously placed or overworked.

To make the very dark background which makes for a striking counter-balance to the rose, I used a mix of concentrated color of all these: Ultramarine Blue, Cad.Scarlet, Permanent Rose, Magenta, Raw Sienna, (all the colors used in the rose) plus the extra key to the real darkness, Neutral Tint which contains no lamp black. Most blacks out of the tube contain this, and that's what makes the black look DEAD on the finished artwork. Neutral Tint works well for making rich blacks and especially where needed, on animals.

If you allow the light to hit this photo at different angles, you can see all the colors in the black as can be seen in the original.

Please note that the color mix would be a little different for each painting. Use the colors of the painting to create cohesiveness and continuity. If those colors are not dark enough, then add UB & CS as well as the NT.

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Sun-kissed and Wind-blown Lupines and Laundry, PEI"

2010-08-23T22:40:00.026-04:00

One surprising phenomenon on PEI is the surprising red red earth. After the spring plowing for potatoes (one of their largest exports to such fast-food restaurants as Wendys, BurgerKing, etc.-mucho French fries), the fields are exposed in red. This is such an impact that the souvenir stores sell T-shirts with the red earth emblem on them. Also you can buy a bag of Red Earth there, too. On PEI there are many potato fields and farms. This scene is just before spring plowing when the multi-colored lupines that grow along the roadsides in profusion are at their most brilliant. They grow stalwart and soldier-like in bunches of color. A wild delight for the eyes as one travels the country side of PEI. Check out Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney for a cute story about perpetuating lupines....
And, look at that! Clothes hung outside on the line. Don't see that too often in our current fast-paced age.
Technique Tip: I underglazed the green field with a warm (Gam.) and a cool (AY) yellow. Warm in foreground field; cool in back half. This is an artist's technique that helps to create more visual depth in 2-dimensional (flat sheet) art since cool recedes and warm colors bring forward.

When I first "finished" this, I had too much empty middle ground. Not happy with the empty middle space, I added some more foliage behind the lupines and design that casually points to the center of interest as well as cutting down on too much middle space and giving the lupines more anchor in the foreground. Another technique used in composition.
The beginning project without the above changes can be seen on Virtual Paintout. Go there and you can compare what happens when the artist reevaluates a piece.
Each artist submitting to this challenge chooses a Google street scene that appeals to them. It's a great challenge and fun to see what the participant's "discover" and make into a finished project..

"Drinking nature is an unquenchable thirst." ~Berri Clove

"The Miracle of Stripes"

2010-08-11T14:05:00.003-04:00

To make ones work interesting, unpredictable, and perhaps show-stopping, using design elements in as many different ways as one can possibly conjure up, one needs to step outside the box and push the mind to make something spectacularly different from the usual. Using common subjects and stylizing backgrounds can stimulate a lot of striking results. This painting captures the mesmerizing stripes of the zebra as well as the beautiful shapes of the eyes, the stripes, the legs, the body.

Technique Tips: The complementary colors, the light and dark tones of them with some used in the black and white of the zebras themselves, the variety of spaces, and the variety of the animal sizes and shapes make for a cohesiveness and a special unique composition.

“God makes three requests of his children: Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have, now” African-American Proverb

"Dappled"

2010-08-03T11:29:00.003-04:00

The gray mare with some spots. Horses are so fun to paint. They just look like they want to talk to you. Their eyes are what make them so sensitively expressive.

Technique Tip: Using a darker background gives the values needed to make the horse the center of attention. And using complementary colors as in the gray of the horse and the yellow brown of the mane finishes the contrast. In the background color are all the colors of the mare, but in deeper color and different amounts of each color. This makes for cohesiveness overall.

"The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire." ~Sharon Ralls Lemon

The Baby Llama

2010-07-24T19:54:00.003-04:00

Llamas are interesting animals. Native to South America, they are used as beast of burdens and for their meat. They actually can be a pet since they mostly have easygoing dispositions, but mostly they are raised for their wool which is very soft and expensive. Domesticated here, there are some llama stables right here in NH and many thruout the US. The dark value of the flower pods give good contrast to the focal point. This adorable baby llama is showing his curiosity as he looks at us from his side of the fence.
Technique tips: Using colors in background and surrounding the baby that are complementary to his body color puts him as the center of interest. Also I used odd number of flower pods on either side of him. Odd numbers always challenge the eye and mind more than the even number which can be boring and tire the mind easily.
"I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Drama Above Sidewalk Shops in 1-Pt. Perspective-HongKong

2010-07-11T15:42:00.015-04:00

Google gave me this angle shot when I decided to check out what was above the shops along the streets of HongKong for Virtual Paintout. Got me to thinking about 1-pt. perspective, so I decided to do some practice in 1-pt. This scene with the window mannekins, the Chinese & English on same sign, the 3 round metal signs, the many a/c's, the glittery railing, and all the balconies, plus the height just caught my fancy and I thought it would make an interesting study. I studied perspective in my art course and this view is a good example. You can go to my website and on this page: Ruth's 1-pt. Perspective, you can see some 1- and 2-pt. diagrams that I did in that course (abt half way down the page.) Then, of course, we had to draw some actual renderings. I had a miniature wooden railroad car set that I used for the models for the Railroad Cars Bulletin Board (on same page) which I did in the 1-pt. perspective. Think this a good thing to have in one's knowledge bucket? Write me your opinion/comment. And, on an uppermost balcony of this HI-HI RISE, how apropos, it looks like an artist has h/her canvases drying, stacked thru the railing posts. At least, they looked like such to me. So that's how I painted it.

Handy Notes...

2010-07-11T15:28:00.004-04:00

And, on the cover of my John Pike palette, using a Sharpie waterproof marker, I created a color wheel and added some notes that are very pertinent to color theory. This way as I paint, those are handy for reference. If you're interested in the notes, click on the pic and see it larger. I use these references quite frequently as I paint. You would think after 100 or so paintings that I would know all, but it is so easy to forget a very important item. Therefore, the always handy reminder.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

"Jughandle Turnout" Honolulu

2010-07-08T19:15:00.003-04:00

These two trees intrigued me with their gnarled and intertwined roots as well as their branches. They almost look like one odd tree. I also loved the shadows they were making. Must be a wonderful pull-off to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii.
Technique Tip: To make these bright greens, I used WN Blue/to grn side, and aureolin yellow. The darker greens, I used WN Blue/to red side and aureolin. For the browns, grays, & shading, I used CadScar and UB
"Trees are your best antiques." ~Alexander Smith

"My Kind of Beach Day"

2010-06-21T19:29:00.002-04:00

Isn't this the ideal beach at which to spend the afternoon? Having the water and the beach all to oneself. Or just enjoying the slight breeze sitting on a bench in the shade. A Virtual Paintout painting for the June Hawaii month. It was fun taking some virtual trips thruout the islands. Probably the only way I'll ever get to see them. Lots of water scenes and tropical foliage. I particularly liked the shape of these trees. Not sure what they are.

Technique Tip: In a scene, using a cool and a warm pigment of same hue gives good contrast and punch. In this I used WinsorNewton Blue/grn and WN Ultramarine. One cooler than the other.

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Saucy Squirrel"

2010-06-19T23:50:00.002-04:00

This was a fun painting to do, not only for the challenge of getting the squirrel shape correct and the painting of it just right, but to make the huge granite rock look like granite and a rock. And then, to be satisfied that all was accomplished.
Technique Tip: To get the texture in the rock, salt was used. What a neat technique tool salt is for the watercolorist. It can create so many unexpected "designs" that the artist can maneuver to h/her advantage. The trick is to wet the area. Wait then til there is a dull shine thruout, then scatter the salt over the area using artistic skill for placement. Last, and the most important, is to wait til totally dry. At that point, carefully brush off the salt, but not with any good brushes. Salt, as well as the other nemesis - friskit, will completely ruin brushes. So make sure all salt is removed, and delight in the new patterns while adding color and shading as your artistic eyes allow. The salt actually absorbs the liquid/color where it rests. So the patterns are made by the way one scatters the salt onto the wet areas.
"God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow in them." ~Author Unknown

"Onyx by the Sea"

2010-06-13T01:28:00.002-04:00

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. I painted this from a photo taken the first time she "experienced" the New England seashore.

Technique Tip: The "ocean" was not in this particular photo so I painted it from memory to make a perfect backdrop for this magnificent "buddy" 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

the "Snow Doodle"

2010-06-06T10:31:00.003-04:00

The Golden Doodle (golden retriever and std. poodle mix) our "buddy" for four years. Named Toby, he is a lovable fun-loving good buddy like the retriever and intelligent like the poodle. No shedding with this dog - his poodle part. This scene is from one of his weekly off-leash 3-hr. runs thru verdant countryside with a pack of usually eight dogs.
Technique tip: 2 colors: UB and CadScar = Complementary colors.
"Beauty is God's handwriting." ~ Charles Kingsley
(16 1/4 x 13 1/4"- in artist's private collection)

"Zonked into Blissfulness"

2010-05-28T10:25:00.011-04:00

Sophia, an Italian greyhound has found her home, the painting - that is. Her owner has had her since a puppy which was some four years ago. Sophia is Jane's constant companion. And Jane says that this pose of Sophia shows Sophia: completely happy and satisfied with life. This is one of S.'s favorite positions. Jane took this framed painting home with her this weekend. 11"x14", owned by Jane Stafford, GA.

Technique Tip: To make the color (raw sienna mix) of the greyhound complemented by the background, I used the blue/red mix complement =varying shades of purple.

"To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace". ~Milan Kundera

"Leaves in Design"

2010-05-22T14:20:00.015-04:00

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. The original color was the very light on the large leaves in center. The last color used was the very dark little wiry Japanese maple leaves.
This painting I used as the background for the banner at the top of this blog. Decided to learn more techniques in Photoshop and this is the latest. Varied it a little bit and made ones similar for my websites, too. http://ruthswatercolors.shutterfly.com/ and http://ruth-bodycott.artistwebsites.com/ Click on the links to see the differences. Surpised that I can do that? I am, but I'm also delighted that I have learned how.
Watercolor Technique Tip: The three large center leaves, after the first light wash was created over the entire surface and a treatment by salt, was masked out so as to preserve that deliciously light color; the second coat was 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 to give the depth between the layers of 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. When finished, one steps back and says, "I did that????" So much fun. R...
♥ "Up goin' this way is down comin' back."
(16 3/4 x 20 3/8")

"The Field of Sunflowers", Czech Republic

2010-05-13T23:13:00.010-04:00

Was interested in finding this scene when following the Google Trail for the Virtual Paintout May challenge thruout the very limited spots covered by Google in the Czech Republic (did you notice the helmet of the rider of the vehicle taking these videos?). This field is vast. Some have told me that they have seen these fields in Europe, but I've never been fortunate to have seen them IRL.

Technique Tip: I used the technique of warm colors in foreground and cool colors in far distance. So for the fg sunflowers I used the warm Gamboge and bg I used cool Aureolin. Also, used warm and cool greens in like manner. I mixed WinsorBlue to red side w/Gam for fg greens; w/Aur for bg greens.

The yellows and greens from front to back don't look too different, but there is a temperature change. The cool creates the receding to create distance.

And, putting the warmer UB for the sky color, juxtaposes some more warm and cool colors to create brilliance in the colors.

There are more techniques here to create distance. Can anyone find others that I used?

"Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you." ~Marsha Norman

"Douglas Firs-Bryce Canyon Tetrad"

2010-04-25T22:37:00.004-04:00

What is a tetrad? Hmmmmmm. In the world of art/color, the pigments are limited to just four, but they are not just any four. The main idea here is that using this as a guide to choose colors gives 4 complementary thereby 4 harmonious pigments. = one of the uses of the color wheel and exercises ones expertise in mixing colors. Here are some answers when I googled "tetrad".
-Consists of four colors, spaced an equal distance apart on the color wheel. Tetrad color schemes create interesting effects because of the potential variety available. They are best when two colors dominate.
-A tetrad color scheme is a double complementary color combination using the four colors that sit at the points of either a square or rectangle on the color wheel . Specifically, a square tetrad color scheme uses colors that are the same distance apart from one another on the color wheel.
-Tetrad (double-contrast) model. This scheme is made by a pair of colors and their complements. It's based on the Tetrade – the foursome of colors evenly distributed on the color wheel (by 90 degreees).
"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives." ~Clay P. Bedford

"Foxglove in the Scottish Mist"

2010-04-24T16:55:00.002-04:00

This was a fun flower to paint. All the "bells" with all their shadings each took time to analyze, but fun to make them all look like 3-D vessels.

Technique Tip: Need to use the shading for a cone for each flower. If one is not sure how that is executed, one has to go back to basic drawing and shading techniques. Google that to get direction.
"You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind." ~Author Unknown

"Lily in Flame"

2010-04-23T18:07:00.005-04:00

I love the way watercolor just floats around with direction of ones brush.

Technique Tip: I used mask-it around the edges of the flower, then freely put the blue in while letting it burst in whatever direction it wanted to go with just a touch of the brush to give a boost in an interesting direction. When satisfied with the free flowing design, I let it dry, then proceeded to render the colorful flower in complementary color.

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars".~Martin Luther

"Safe Haven with a View"

2010-04-17T20:56:00.003-04:00

This little guy knew exactly where to go to people watch and be safe as well. This fancy cutout is on a balustrade of a bridge in a town in Italy.

Technique Tip: I used salt and stippling to get the texture of the cement.

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." ~William Jame

The Successful Traveler...

2010-03-27T11:16:00.011-04:00

This has now found a happy home. It makes me so satisfied and happy that it will brighten the interior of some of my favorite people. Hope you new owners enjoy it as much as I have done in producing it. I actually just love this painting. It is a pleasant experience to spend time studying all the nuances in it and enjoying, even for me!

"God's Gifts put man's best dreams to shame."

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"Sheepishly Mine"

2010-03-12T12:18:00.005-05:00

This is an oil on canvas (16 x 20) I did a few years back in a portrait class I was taking at an Adult School Evening Class. The instructor told me: "Ruth, you should take your own photos to render since you are this good at it". This launched my photography "career" or searching for "friends" who give me permission to use their photos. It has been my favorite of all that I have done. Now, for the first time I have put it out for display and sale at the Southern NH Medical Center Cafe. Not sure that I will keep it for sale, though. I think I can't part with it.

We'll see after the end of this month.

Looks good hanging there, doesn't it? You can tell I love it.

"Daisies at the Hard Rock"

2010-02-18T12:36:00.004-05:00

Think it's time to bring out some bright spring flowers. After the snowstorm yesterday (abt. 8" here in NH), the skies are brilliant deep blue with gorgeous white puffy clouds charging across the vista.

So to accompany that, here are some free flowing daisies. This particular rendering was "bought" by a young 13 year old. At one of my showings, she attended with her father. She fell in love with this one, so he bought it for her as a birthday (which was the next day) present. How cool is that, that a teenager would love this scene! It surprises me many times what appeals to whom. And, it pleases me to witness those happenings and know the piece has found its home.
"Watercolor offers us, as artists, an inspired approach to the age-old process of making paintings sing." ~Jeffrey J. Watkins

The FINISHED STAGE

2010-02-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

Finished and I love it!

See page 2 and below for more...

"The Karin Jurick Thank-you Project"

2010-02-13T09:13:00.029-05:00

-my interpretation and submission.

(16"x15" watercolor, 140#Arches) Jill Polsby initiated and mounted this huge task of putting together a Snapfish book of 118 collected paintings of Karin (all painted during the month of Jan.2010) as a thank you for her. Any who participated in her proposal could not blog, post, etc. online so as to keep it a secret from Karin til she received the photo album in her hands from Snapfish Photo site. Think it worked and she now has THE COPY.

Technique Tip: How did I come up with this comp.? Knowing that Karin has her own frame shop as well as is a top-notch painter/artist in oils, I created my composition with that in mind. The reflection just developed. Kind of to instill the idea that each viewer can interpret its meaning according to how h/she "sees" it.

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." ~Mother Teresa

The FINISHED STAGE.......stages...

2010-02-08T11:31:00.013-05:00

This was hard to finish, but I made it through perseverence and concentration.

See page 2 for progressive steps.

I'm working on the NYC scene with the one huge Christmas ball in it. It's at the place where it gets exciting because it looks like it is "working". You know those stages you go thru: white of paper; yuk, this is hard; ouch, is this going to work? and then finally the stage: Oh, I think it IS working. (and there is always this that follows: hope I don't mess it up now.)

And here it is at 2:22 pm. Even here on this blog, it looks like it's going to work. There's still lots to do, but it should be easier because the attitude is good, now. Just hope I don't mess it up. Sometimes those feelings damper the initiative to get back to painting. I have to control that. The bg is good, huh? And, the car shape is believable, too. The people heads on the right are developing also. So, think I can just get to finishing it; with the bright color of the red ball and its reflection in the water, and the scale of the ball to the car/people, this should be super. Check back for the completed piece.
"The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places." ~Author Unknown
7 1/2" x 9 1/2" watercolor

"Water Doodle"

2010-01-30T15:02:00.013-05:00

The dog in the middle of this scene is our 4-year-old Golden Doodle enjoying the swampy water along with his "buddies", another Doodle and a beagle who go with him and their handler once a week, every week-rain, shine, snow-on a 5-hour off-leash w/6-7 others and run thru the woodlands, fields, orchards of Hollis, NH. Rebecca takes digital videos thruout the hours, posts them on one of the photo sites like Shutterfly, and sends the link to the dog owners each time. How cool is that!

"Do not fear- only believe. All things are possible to him that believes." ~Jesus Christ.

"The Candied Apple"

2010-01-15T00:12:00.009-05:00

Two different color tones here. Both taken on white bg. One was taken at night with incandescent light, the other in bright daylight, not direct sunlight however. Interestingly enough the one on the right in bright daylight is the one most like the original. The white background makes a difference, too. If just a wood floor or dark floor of any kind, the result will be very brownish. I've tried this numerous times and so make a conclusion: 1) whatever you lay your artwork on will affect the tone of the resulting photo. 2) full daylight without flash gives most true representation of the real thing.

From silhouettes to reflections. One learns new things all the time with each task. With this one especially, I had to contend with the dry, dry air that is our environment after two months of very cold outside and dry heat inside. The water/paint dries very fast and one has to move swiftly to get the surface covered. Another condition that will affect the way you have to handle your water, paper, and paint is when a fan is moving the air. So it's a good idea to analyze the conditions surrounding one when beginning any project and make adjustments in procedures.

In drawing one needs to be careful not to create tangents, which is one line from one element continuing the line of another element. In this painting, the candy on the stick could create a tangent with the edge of the apple. I took artistic license and extended the candy up higher on the stick to make it a little more interesting, to eliminate the possibility of a tangent, and add more of that luscious caramel color.
"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Silhouettes that I've rendered...

2010-01-10T13:47:00.005-05:00

How impressive are the silhouettes. These are fun to do. Fun to select the colors that create the contrast. Fun to create the graceful lines of the tree branches. I can't ride in a car without being totally engrossed in the shapes of trees, shapes of branches, etc. displayed against their backdrops whether sky, ground, or contrasting vegetation. I love their simply free and artful flowing. There is not one a bit ugly. I try to translate that beauty into my silhouettes. God it the Master. I am the copycat.

Ready to start new NYC piece...

2010-01-03T19:04:00.012-05:00

It's still snowing here in southern NH. I'm going to keep the snow falling on this blog til it no longer falls here this year.

I am showing the very beginning of the next and will add progressive inbetween steps. I still have two scenes taken in Central Park that are super. Can't wait to get to them, too.

These pencil drawings look very dark, but in reality they're not. I just darkened them in Adobe so they can be seen here. The paper is still pure white. I'm working on 140#CP Arches and most of the pencil will be erased with a kneaded eraser, carefully applied so as not to disturb the integrity of the paper.
The trees will be covered with the little twinkling lights as in real life with reflections galore under the ball.
My next step will be to paint in all the "friskit" areas to preserve the whites and the spaces for the yellows of the sparkling tree lights. Lots of little "dots" will have to be laid in. Lots of lights on both pieces. This will require negative painting, too, around the "lights". Hmmmm! Sounds like a lot of work. Well, I'll have to patiently work it thru. It pays off in the end. (These are just some of the musings one goes thru when analyzing how to proceed.)
“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” ~Sven Goran Eriksson
How I need this quote!!!!

FINISHED 5 pm New Year's Eve 2009: "Christmas Balls Sculpture in Downtown Manhattan, NYC"

2009-12-27T10:25:00.018-05:00

1st step

2nd step

This Work-in-Progress has a subject that is quite fascinating to me. Every year Manhattan has these scuptures set up for the Christmas season. They are huge. In the 2nd step stage above, you can see the street lamps being sculpted out (on the left just above the lighted trees). See how much taller these sculptures are than they. Running water is falling over the sides of the display. These are magnificent to look at. I have only seen them after completion. Would love to see the process of how they erect them and also the storage barns where these are kept out-of-season. And, lining the streets are the gloriously lit trees. Downtown Manhattan is a delightful feast for the eyes to indulge in during this time of year.

I have several views of these and thought I might do a series. After working on this, I MAY MAKE THIS THE ONLY ONE. There is a super amount to attend to on this rendering. I still have to sculpt the trees; put in many dark areas, but must be careful not to overload w/the dark. The silver hanger parts at top of each ball have to be defined as yet as well as the wire hangers. (Each ball has a wire hanger dangling from it!) And, some sculpting of the balls themselves to make the round object that they are realistic in 2 dimension.

Can you imagine being the "author/sculptor" of these colossal projects in the real, in NYC?

“Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.” `~Tom Krause

And here are the Christmas Balls, NYC, finished and posted here as of
5 pm on New Year's Eve.

Made it before the ball drops at Times Square, 2009-2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

"Taking the Mirror Image for a Portrait', watercolor on 140# CP Arches, 12 1/4" x 9"

2009-12-23T00:49:00.033-05:00

For progressive steps of this painting, see Page 2.

A photo that I received from the end-of-year portrait challenge at DSFDF, although a wonderful photo, didn't have the WOW factor of dramatic lighting. Frontal lighting has no WOW factor. So, I was at first distressed at what would make this an outstanding portrait. With some contemplation, I came up with the idea of one taking a photo of oneself in the mirror and so proceeded to create the composition. Added the black gloves for drama and contrast to give a punch to this comp. Excluded a necklace because it was too distracting. And, of course, the camera had to be a Nikon and that reading backwards creates the mirror effect. Because this lady has such pretty blonde hair, I used complementary color for the background.

Once I finally got caught up in how to proceed with a more compelling scene, I donned gloves (wanted some intense contrast therefore chose black gloves) and with camera in hand took a photo of MYSELF in MY mirror. This allowed me good placement of the additions, their shapes, and shading. So, how cool is that? It worked.

Karen Jurick matched up 180 people for this year's participation. Check out the website: http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/ There are some super renditions to scroll thru.

Although this lady looks familiar, I don't know who she is. Turns out she is Mitzi Easley from Austin, TX.
Check out her website at: www.mitzieasley.blogspot.com.
She's an interesting person, has a fun website, cute and a little off-beat sense of humor and an artist who mostly specializes in oils.
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” ~Benjamin Franklin

'The Winter Lighthouse', watercolor

2009-12-13T22:32:00.004-05:00

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
10 1/2 x 16 7/8"

"Winter Sunrise", watercolor

2009-12-07T22:52:00.012-05:00

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

30 3/4" x 18 3/4"

"The Waltz of the Birches", watercolor

2009-11-30T23:12:00.011-05:00

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...

2009-11-26T20:48:00.006-05:00

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"

2009-11-18T18:37:00.013-05:00

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

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

2009-11-11T16:58:00.009-05:00

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

"O'er the Rooftops"

2009-10-28T21:25:00.017-04:00

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"

2009-10-22T18:56:00.013-04:00

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

2009-10-15T17:34:00.024-04:00

(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 and 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'"

2009-10-11T21:05:00.008-04:00

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
(20 1/2" x 14 1/2") watercolor

"Protecting Potanipo"

2009-10-05T19:17:00.021-04:00

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
. (23 1/2" x 21 3/4")

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

2009-09-27T15:55:00.018-04:00

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

2009-09-25T20:18:00.011-04:00

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

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

"The Golden Circles of Life"

2009-09-22T14:28:00.020-04:00

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
(8 1/2 x 11")

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

2009-09-20T19:58:00.023-04:00

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."

(14 3/4 x 19 3/4")

"Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Hats"

2009-09-17T20:01:00.017-04:00

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

(13 x 21")

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

2009-09-16T09:42:00.021-04:00

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

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

"The Striped Hat"

2009-09-12T21:44:00.009-04:00

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
(16 1/4 x 13 3/4")

"The Yellow Tulips"

2009-09-12T20:59:00.011-04:00

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 (19 1/8 x 16")

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

2009-09-03T15:34:00.028-04:00

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."Top(10 3/4 x 7 1/2"); -Bottom(14 1/2 x 10 1/2")

"Same Mood, Different Media"

2009-08-28T18:50:00.032-04:00

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: (10 3/4 x 14 1/4")

"Claiming the Jewels" WcW

2009-08-18T09:24:00.012-04:00

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."(14 1/4 x 8 3/4")

"San Francisco Tradition"-DSFDF

2009-08-12T22:42:00.013-04:00

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

(5 7/8 x 13")

"San Diego at Night"

2009-08-10T12:50:00.013-04:00

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

"What About Me?"

2009-08-01T00:40:00.009-04:00

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"

2009-07-31T23:53:00.025-04:00

****************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: (7 1/2 x 11 1/2"); Right: (8 x 10 1/4")

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

2009-07-24T21:02:00.020-04:00

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
(13 x 11")

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

2009-07-20T08:52:00.017-04:00

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?"

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

"The Red Shovel" -SOLD

2009-07-15T23:37:00.015-04:00

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

2009-07-08T19:35:00.022-04:00

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."

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

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

2009-06-03T11:44:00.031-04:00

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."

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

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

2009-05-31T11:53:00.043-04:00

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: (medallion 2x2"); Jefferson Memorial Hanging: (8x8"); Pink Magnolia Hanging-2sides: (4x4")

"The Blue Bunting & the Hollyhock" -SOLD

2009-05-07T12:56:00.017-04:00

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"

2009-05-03T10:19:00.016-04:00

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."

(20 X 15 1/2")

"Spring Harbingers-the Rhododendron & Magnolia"

2009-04-25T08:17:00.013-04:00

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."
(8 7/8 x 5 3/4")

Devotion-"A Companion of Diana" -DSFDF

2009-04-18T19:19:00.007-04:00

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"
(5 3/5 x 10 1/8)

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

2009-04-17T11:43:00.006-04:00

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."

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

"Butterfly at Work"

2009-04-08T01:22:00.005-04:00

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..."

(15 7/8 x 16 1/4")

"Beach Quintessentials-the Digitals" -DSFDF

2009-03-31T11:36:00.007-04:00

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."

(8 x 5 1/4")

"Signs of Spring-the House Finches"

2009-03-27T15:40:00.010-04:00

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." (4 1/2 x 14 1/4")

"Apple Tree at Sunrise"

2009-03-27T13:36:00.010-04:00

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."

(16 1/4 x 20 1/4")