Friday, August 29, 2008

paper and oranges

This is the last entry for "journal week", maybe
next week will be figure studies...who knows.
I should come up with some sort of challenge for
myself...do a sketch a day of vegetables, or fruit
or some sort of other series. Hmmm, I'll think about
this for a while, but still need to get my computer
sorted out.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Red Shoes

Espadrilles in the sand...does this scream
vacation? My computer is still having some
issues, so I'll keep this brief in the hopes that
this post goes through.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

stripes on stripes

Computer on the fritz...quick post...
study of stripes and a study of complimentary
colors...hope to have everything fixed soon...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Dance of glances

This was a quick study sitting on a bench
in downtown, observing this lady in her
orange spotted shirt reading the paper and
obviously enjoying her paper cup of coffee.
It is hard to be inconspicuous when you want
to draw someone...a quick look then look away,
another quick look, then down at your paper.
Quite the dance of glances.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

journal week

I'm posting a little early this week...Sunday
p.m., because I won't have time tomorrow.
This is going to be journal sneak-a-peek week.
Every entry will be a page from one of my various
visual journals. Hope you sketch alot as well and
keep notes and sketches of your vacations, daily
events or just some doodles. It's fun and acts as
practice, which we don't seem to do enough of.
Keep those artistic muscles limber!

Friday, August 22, 2008

White feathers

"Leghorn" 15" x 11" Private Collection
I'll round out the week with another rooster
painting. A while ago I did a white poppy and
got some comments about white flowers, which
are not easy to paint...well the same goes for white
roosters! It's amazing how much the background
comes in to play and in order to define the white
feathers you actually have to use some color.
It always boils down to color again..my favorite thing!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Free Range

"Free Range" 15" x 11"
Okay, so I've been told several different
names for the rooster's "spikes", which ofcourse
by my own admission was wrong, but I think got
the "point" across. Talons and spurs have been
sent my way as the correct terms for these items
on a rooster's legs. Thanks for the clarification.
Still, I don't want to come in close contact with any
spurs, talons or spikes...ouch!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Rooster super models

"Double Trouble" 22" x 15"
This painting was "constructed" using two
different photos of roosters...one I took on
vacation of the retreating one and the other
was taken by a friend. Roosters are quite large
and when they see you coming with a camera they
can get shy or chase you down for invading their
privacy! And with those sharp beaks and spikes
on their legs, watch out! Spikes is probably not the
correct anatomical term, I shall investigate further...

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

head and arms

My computer is being "uber" slow this morning,
so I'll keep this post "uber" small. Just like this
head and arms study. Last night was the last figure
session until September...so to be continued next month.

Monday, August 18, 2008

dream and paint BIG

"Glads and Pears" 22" x 15"
I have been experimenting with a slightly
different color palette these last few days.
I probably won't stick to it, because we always
tend to go back to our favorites. It's always nice
to try something new and expand your horizons.
That's how great things are discovered! Don't know
how you can compare an interesting color combination
in watercolors to something great, but hey I say dream
big. Paint big and use those little tubes full of color.
That's what it's all about!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Pansies Posing

"Picture perfect pansies" 22" x 15"
These pansy faces are on display at the
Bennington Center for the Arts for their
Impressions of New England Show. The Art
Center has gone through some new changes,
including more gallery space and workshop
spaces. It is such an impressive place. If you
have never been it is worth checking out. They
host many exciting shows and also have a summer
theatre. Well that's the travel agent in me speaking...
Yesterday it was the chef..off to the studio to be an artist!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Artist or Chef

"Sunbursts" 15" x 22"
Sunflowers have been on the brain lately, with so many
farmstands just bulging with them. Now is the time for these
regal, golden crowned beauties. Along with the sweet
corn, which also stands tall in the fields. I guess if I wasn't an
artist I'd like to be a chef. Maybe I should paint my food more
often! Another blogger mentioned the perfect diet for artists
the other day...paint your dinner before you sit down to eat
it. Either we'd learn to paint really fast or shrink down from starvation!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Coldwater Creek catalog surprise

"Red and Redder" original painting 10" x 22" private collection
Thanks to the keen eye of a friend perusing the newest
Coldwater Creek catalog...a fun thing was brought to my
attention yesterday. I signed a licensing contract last April
for 4 different images to be reproduced on canvas. This
company then in turn redistributes those prints to various
other outlets and the Coldwater Creek catalog happens to be
on that list. So click on the link to be taken to their website.
Who knows where my work will show up next? Keep your eyes
out when you are at Target or the Christmas Tree shops!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Gladiola Bunch

"Gladiola Bunch" 22" x 15"
This was the demonstration painting from
Friday morning's class. The glads are out in
full force now and they have such tall, spiky
beautiful shapes. Plus the variety of colors
they come in is great. One of the local supermarkets
offers a huge bunch for only 5 dollars! That's
worth buying some inspiration for.

Monday, August 11, 2008

picture of painters

"Floral watercolorists galore"
This is the very talented group of ladies who
participated in my Woodstock watercolor workshop.
We had two great days of painting and hard work!
It was alot of fun and thanks to all who signed up
and painted up a storm. Stay tuned for future
workshops...tomorrow I will post my demo from
the first day.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Olympic Quinacridone Gold

"Summer Heralds" 22" x 15" private collection
I have really enjoyed painting irises this summer
and some of the paintings will probably pop up in
the fall shows, which are coming right up! I can't
believe the first week of August is over. With the
Olympics coming up, the next two weeks should
fly by as well. Go for your own gold when you are
painting...Quinacridone Gold that is! Wonderful,
bright and fresh color.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

painting weather

A small Lily painting (7.5" x 7.5") with many layers
of washes. I'm getting ready for my workshop starting
this Friday...so no post that day, but hopefully with some
pictures to share next week. I have to gather up my fabrics,
vases, fruit, misc. other props and load up the car to get
ready to go. The weather (like most of this summer) is going
to be rainy/cloudy, so the perfect time to be inside and painting.
There's nothing worse than sitting inside on a beautiful day and
staring out the window wishing you were out there. Brings back
memories of the first few weeks of school, when the weather was
still nice, but you were "stuck" inside!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Red radishes

This bunch of radishes reminds me of the abundance
of vegetables that are available at all the different farmer's
markets across the area. I love stopping by to see what is
fresh and beautiful. There have been these baby artichokes,
summer squashes, tomatoes and everything in between.
Plenty of painting inspiration to be found! Happy Summer!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Garden View

"Inn at Shelburne Farms view"
This painting was done during Tom Lynch's watercolor workshop
at Shelburne Farms. I had several comments on my previous post
as to how I liked his class. I thought it was alot of fun and he is a very
gracious instructor. I had seen many of his PBS shows and even
rubbed elbows with him at a national trade show for the arts industry.
So being able to take a class with him was great. He has come up
here once a year to teach at the Vermont Art Event and finally this
year I had a chance to sign up for a class with him. I think it is
good to take classes and expand your horizons, you will always come
away with renewed inspiration, excitement, knowledge and techniques.



Friday, August 1, 2008

Painting outside

"Something to say" 15" x 22"
Today I'm off to Shelburne Farms to take a day long
workshop with Tom Lynch. Click his name to go to his
website. He used to have a PBS series on how to paint
with watercolor and is pretty well known in the art industry.
Should be a fun day...the weather is holding and I have a
cooler full of water to keep myself hydrated. Sunscreen
and bugspray and the day should be good. Hope you are
getting out there and painting.