Watercolor: Study for Wine at Mandola Rosa

Study for Wine at Mandola Rosa 5 x 7 Watercolor on Arches Hot Pressed paper
Available on Ebay here.
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This was a test study to explore painting this lovely interior larger. My childhood friend KR was traveling in Killni, Greece when the photo was taken.

Watercolor: Lap Line

Lap Line 3.5 x 7.75 Watercolor on Arches Bristol
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Process shots begin at the bottom
Available on Ebay here.
Today was the 2nd day of painting upright on an easel, and I spent a lot of time groaning. My muscle memory of movement between the paper, the palette and the rinse water is totally off. I know I'll get it back in this new arrangement, among other challenges to slay, but I'm really amazed at how much the physical movement - the well-worn path between the artists' tools - becomes unconscious over time, and a change in topography feels like terraced curbs to trip on all day. Eeesh.

Watercolor: Girl by the Pool

Girl by the Pool 5.5 x 7.25 Watercolor on Arches Bristol (vellum surface)
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This was painted as an exercise in looser brushwork, with the paper upright on an easel instead of my usual angle - flat on a table.
I'm trying to push myself into other ways of seeing and painting. I think there are many lessons while painting an arm's length away from the support. For one, it forces your eye to focus on values, rather than details. I found the upright angle - and the distance - difficult, so I'll be painting this way till I get more comfortable with it.

The reference was a photo taken in bright, San Diego sunlight earlier this month (thanks for the image, TC).

Watercolor: Freckled

Freckled 3.75 x 10 Graphite & Pencil on Aquabee Drawing paper
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From a photo of my mother in about 1951. I started with graphite, and added light glazes of watercolor, in neutral colors, inspired by turn of the century magazine and children's book illustrators. One of my favorites from that era is Jessie Willcox Smith (1863-1935).

Watercolors: Back Yard Happy Hour & Perch

Back Yard Happy Hour 3.75 x 5.25 Watercolor on Bristol paper
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This will be a study in contrasting styles and subject matter.... The watercolor above was painted this afternoon while watching birds wrestle over seeds along the circumference of block wall in my yard. The reference photo was snapped by my friend JMC a few weeks ago, and as soon as she sent it to me, I wanted to paint it. I love the Japanese woodblock feeling it has, and I may have to attempt it in that medium later this year.

******* Changing Channels Now *********

Perch 3.25 x 4.75 Watercolor on Strathmore Bristol
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A few years ago, I painted a series of little Devils. This one is for a theme: Angels & Demons on Ebay.
Artists participate in a monthly contest called Nibblefest - between the 20th-27th. You paint to the theme, post your work in an auction ending on the 27th, with a starting bid of 99 cents, & no reserve. At the close of the auctions, the artist with the highest number of individual bidder ID's (nibblers) wins. There is no prize; it's just healthy competition, and a chance to paint something beyond the usual subjects. You can see the art each month between the 20-27th by searching Ebay for "NFAC" (Nibblefest Art Contest). Next month's theme is A Dog's Life. :o)

Watercolor: Wild Turkey & Colt45

Wild Turkey & Colt45 5x6 Watercolor on Strathmore Bristol
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Painted from a photo I took in 1979, in Connecticut, on my Grandparent's sun porch. I love painting back-lit figures. The challenges are steep, and I always struggle with color temperature and values, but there are a wealth of lessons in every attempt.

Watercolor: Slough in the Rain

Slough in the Rain 5 x 7 Watercolor Study on Bristol paper
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A small study for a larger painting... the view my sister looks at every day from her kitchen window in Alaska. My New England roots were marinating in the familiar vision of a green coastal inlet; this could be Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, etc. Wonderful.

Watercolor: First Sip

First Sip 5 x 8.75 Watercolor on Arches Bristol paper
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Painted from a photo of MM - taken by her husband on a trip to the east coast. I saw it on flickr, loved the light and the pose, and the moment captured there, so I asked permission to paint it. Yesterday, while flying from Alaska back to California, I painted the hours away.

Watercolor: Reading the Funnies

Reading the Funnies Watercolor on Plate Bristol paper
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Blogging this from Alaska... The reference for this watercolor is a portion of a family photo (taken in about 1945) of my dad's mom and older sister. I love photos from this era as painting subjects, and the people in the images are so dear to me, it's a pleasure to be thinking about them as I paint.
Painting on the plane enroute to Anchorage. A small, inexpensive plastic palette with just a bit of tube watercolors works great, and isn't a financial heart break if Airport security decides it has to go in the trash before you board. The art is taped to a small piece of gatorboard (sturdier foam core).
Washing in general shapes and positions in glazes. Modeling the figure becomes a subtractive process, like making a monotype; pulling the pigments from the paper with a wet, clean brush and a paper towel wrapped around a finger tip. (Be careful to only lift after the washes are completely dry. Try not to scrub, to avoid marring the paper. Wet & blot.)

Watercolor: Orange Fanta

Orange Fanta 5.75 x 9.5 Watercolor on plate bristol paper
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An old church in Mexico, in a small village where my friend CP grew up. The last time I went to Mexico, I saw clusters of southbound Americans in the border town shops, carrying cases of Fanta soda to their campers, confirming the rumored tradition of drinking the stuff all day when you're fishing on the beach.

Mixed Media: End of the Day

End of the Day 5.75 x 8.25 Carbon Pencil, Watercolor & Colored Pencil on 300 lb Arches paper
Available for sale here.
An experiment with loose, expressive mark making on top of layered watercolor and carbon pencil.