Color Magic

Color Magic

watercolor 6 x 7"

$100

Sunlit Boscs

Sunlit Boscs

watercolor and acrylic 8 x 11"

$165

Still on my pear painting kick. Earlier this week I bought some really beautiful ones called, I think, Fiorella. They were greenish with dark coral blushing on them, and lots of those little spots that pears have (but I seldom paint. Just can't bring myself to blemish the beautiful washes). I bought 8, and put them in a lovely blue-green dish, thought about the still life I wanted to set up, and waited for the sun to come out. Here it is 5 days later. Still no sun, but that's OK because all the pears are gone! They were good enough to eat! Such is the life of an impatient, pale skinned, and hungry artist.

July 4 Windowbox

July 4 Windowbox

watercolor 14 x 19"

$450

Painting all those bricks was actually kind of fun. Very meditative. I threw some salt on some of the washes for a little texture. I haven't used that technique in quite a while, but I've always liked the results.

It has been raining for days. I'm hoping for a beautiful 4th of July. My nephew is getting married in his parent's backyard that day, and they are all desperate for nice weather.

Sheer Bliss

Sheer Bliss

watercolor 6 x 6.5"

$90

Sunday's Peony

Sunday's Peony

watercolor 8 x 6"

$100

The Peonies are gone. They bloom and fade within a short period of time, not to be seen again until next June. I did get lots of photographs of some luscious dark pink Peonies, with dreams of painting some big pictures. Love those pinks.

I'm hoping to spend a good chunk of July just painting. My file of "Paintings To Do" is bulging, and with 2 shows on the horizon, I can paint without the nagging feeling that I'm just goofing off. Which is an unfortunate side-effect when the art business is not thriving. Since I've been at this for nearly 30 years, I know that business waxes and wanes, and I have to keep working even during the waning period (or is it the waxing period?).

I'm almost always busy and optimistic (you have to be to stay self-employed), and now I'm GRATEFUL for all my followers, commenters, buyers, and well-wishers. It's exciting to be busy and optimistic and SUCCESSFUL.

Thank you all.

Bella Rosa (SOLD)

Bella Rosa (SOLD)

watercolor 7 x 8"

$100

Half Dome, Yosemite

Half Dome

watercolor 11 x 11"

$125

I was an artist-in-residence at Yosemite National Park years ago. I gave watercolor painting classes in the morning, then spent the afternoons wandering around , photographing, sketching, and painting. I spent a wonderful week in Yosemite, and it is still one of my favorite places on earth. I keep thinking of re-applying to be an AIR at some of the other Nat'l Parks, but I am just too tied down right now. I especially would like to spend some time in the Everglades in the middle of Winter, or at the Grand Canyon in the summer.

Red Parrot Tulip

Red Parrot

watercolor 5.5 x 7"

$90

Powder Puff Peony

Powder Puff Peony

watercolor 8 x 8"

$100

This Peony looks very lacy and delicate. The interior of the flower glows a warm yellow, and the little bright red petals add a little surprise.

This is my painting week. I was hoping to spend the whole month of June painting, but duty calls...

I do have a show scheduled, and was invited to participate in a Group show, both next Spring, and I know how fast that will sneak up on me. I'm very excited about painting right now, because I have lots of ideas, and am getting good response (and sales!) to my work.

My goal this week is to finish a piece that I've been working on with the National Watercolor Society Int'l show in mind. The painting is a real challenge, so if it comes out OK, I'll be delighted. If I get it done in time to enter the NWS show, I'll be REALLY delighted. I'll keep you posted....

"Bob" pencil and conte drawing

Bob

pencil and conte on grey paper 9 x 14"

My husband Bob posed for our drawing session a while back. I challenged myself to draw with 3 values, keeping the grey paper the middle value. Bob was wearing a white shirt, and the light source was strong, so the lightest values really pop. I am very happy with how it came out. Once in a while I'm really "on" for drawing, and this was one of those nights. We've been drawing every week for almost 2 years now, and I really can see the improvement in myself and some of the other artists. It's especially amazing to me how people with no background in doing art can gain such facility just by practicing regularly. I just love my little drawing group.

Glass Collection

Glass Collection

watercolor 8 x 14"

$450

This painting reminds me of a funny story. When I was buying a bunch of small glass vases and pitchers (some of which are in this still life) at an antique store, a woman commented on all the interesting ones I'd chosen and asked what I was going to do with them. When I told her I was going to paint them, she instantly perked up and said SHE painted glass too! We started chatting, which became a very confusing conversation, until we realized that SHE actually painted designs on the glass, while I ....well, she dismissed me as a hack I guess. She was very disappointed that I'd never actually painted glass her way, and insisted I give it a try.

Finishing a painting is always a surprise to me. Not the fact of finishing, but there are elements in the finished image (usually the composition) that I didn't consider when I set up the still life, nor as I was painting. Now that I'm done, I find little quirks that make me ask "why did I do that?". For example, in this painting, I purposely set up the pear shaped objects with a straight edged object on each side, but why did I have the spouts of the 2 pitchers pointing out of the painting? Makes me go "Hmmmmmm".

Is there some deep psychological significance to it? Am I crazy? Unfulfilled? Empty? Or just bad at composition? Fortunately, the outwart facing spouts don't bother me at all, so I'll let the future art historians figure it out.

Back Stoop

Back Stoop

watercolor 14 x 20"

$285

This image is from Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. The kitty was sitting somewhere else, but such is the joy of being an artist, I put him on this door step.

Speaking of kitties, Nicole Wong had the cutest painting on DailyPainters.com June 16. Check out her website

http://www.nicole-wong.com/

Her paintings are so fresh and lyrical. They always make me smile.

I'm in a framing frenzy. I bought a new mat cutter, and the learning curve is #*&+% slow. I'm tempted to get out my old mat cutter. It is feeble, but not crotchety. But, I remember it took awhile to learn it's quirks too, so I'll press on, and sooth my jangled nerves with a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Morning Glory

Morning Glory

watercolor 6 x 6.5"

$85

Rakish Roses (SOLD)

Rakish Roses (SOLD)

watercolor 18 x 18"

$545

I like these "Blousey" roses. These were fun to paint , with the warm, yellow-coral centers.

I just got back from my trip to Quebec. Tres bon! Picturesque is the best descrition of the city, but it doesn't quite do it justice. It is quaint and yet magnificent. Like many Americans, I am starved for history. Especially being a native Californian. I used to work in Sacramento, and I was devastated to learn that Sutter's Fort is not the actual fort, but a re-creation. Even most of the Missions have been re-built, and are not really old. Quebec is the real deal, or at least, most of it is.

I took lots of pictures for future paintings, and I'm ready to begin. First, a few necessary jobs need to be accomplished, then I can let my "art-girl" out.

Tropical Blooms

Tropical Blooms

watercolor 8 x 10"

$155