1940’s Love Story Continued

1940’s Love Story

A 1940's Love Story (see December 31, 2016 post for the graphite collage study). Watercolor - on Arches paper - I had two separate photos that I had to work from, and I had to make up a shadow for my mother. Since today is Memorial Day, it seems like a good time to share this.

That Girl is Always Playing With Her Paints and Goofing Off

Sounds like me!

After working on my waterfall series, I didn't really feel like working on a "serious" project. I did want to keep painting, and I wanted to try something abstract. Also,it just so happens that I had just purchased a wonderful set of french curves by Alvin & Co. from Amazon. I wanted my next painting to have flowing graceful lines and I wanted to just play with the paints and colors. This particular painting is watercolor. I tried to bring the different colors together with one very light glaze of New Gamboge (to try to pull all the wild colors together a little) but I didn't want to totally lose the stained glass effect. I am not sure that New Gamboge was the best color to try over the Cerulean, but that is what I tried. And so, just for fun, I painted this:

French Curves

The Latest: San Antonio - Japanese Gardens Painting

Ok, so I am sitting here quietly kicking myself. Why? Because for once procrastination might have worked in my favor. Yes, as you see, on Saturday, I decided that I wanted to try to do my watercolor painting of the San Antonio Japanese Gardens, and enter it into a competition. I used my photo along with my drawing that I had done using Prismacolor markers to work from. Once I got the watercolor painting finished, I entered it into the composition, but then today, I decided to do a copy of the painting in oil paint. And wouldn't you know it? It came out pretty nice. And so, now I am thinking - well maybe I should have waited and entered this one. Of course I didn't really have any plans to do this one until today - at least, no for sure plans. I had kind of half way tossed the idea around in my head to do an oil version, and then remembered what I am like with oil paints. I have a picture on my Facebook page that reminds me of what I am like with oil paints in my hands. The painting is of a young child, totally absorbed in his painting and totally covered with paint. And sure enough, by the time the canvas was covered with paint, so was I. The good thing - I totally enjoyed myself, completed another painting, and have something to enter into another painting contest if I choose to. I also have something new to share with you on my blog.

Prismacolor Markers

Watercolor Version

Oil Painted Version

And before I go, one final note. I want to sincerely thank my Cafe Press patrons who have purchased my artwork on everyday items that they can use while enjoying my art. Hope my art helps to brighten each of your days for you.

Did a little more work on the flowers

It's the New Year

It's the New Year and I'm back. The holidays were great - a total goof-off time. I did manage to squeak out one fast study. A while back I decided I wanted to try to learn how to paint landscapes - not an area that I naturally do well in. That is probably why I am so determined to work on this area of my painting. That doesn't mean I intend to back off from other areas of my painting, but I really feel like a breakthrough in one area of art almost always spills over and helps strengthen other areas. So here I am with it.

It all started with a very simple photo of a striking sunset. My husband and I had just dropped our son off at work and rounded the corner of the parking lot to this open view of land that is quickly becoming diminished. I found myself remembering how open and spacious this area had been in the not so long ago past. It is called progress and I am not against progress; however, I sometimes question if all change is automatically progress.

At any rate, the photo involved a very simple landscape that made experimenting easy and possible. I wanted to take time playing with seasons, color schemes, and paint. So, San Antonio Sunset; Starry, Starry Night in San Antonio; and It Snowed For Christmas were born. They are studies. Something fun. All three are watercolor and all three were painted with a paintbrush as opposed to the study - Atmosphere (based on a different photo), which is also a watercolor painting, but is mainly layers of watercolor sprayed onto the paper. All four are on watercolor paper. These watercolor studies also give a chance to play with the actual paint itself, and see how each pigment reacts. Some pigments actually flow and dance. Others sit almost like rocks (not necessarily a bad thing if you know how to take advantage of that).

San Antonio Sunset

Starry, Starry Night in San Antonio

It Snowed on Christmas

I sincerely hope that you don't tire of seeing this particular scene because I still have more plans for it. You will probably end up being exposed to - Spring - eventually, and other color schemes are always a possibility.

Thanks for joining me one more time. This is the beginning of a new year. Do I have any great New Year's Resolutions?

Nope! I just intend to continue exploring paint, composition, color and whatever else it takes in my own personal great adventure with art.

Happy New Year everyone!

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