Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Music is Good.  That's what she said as she got comfortable in her pose.  Then I could see that she was into it.  I love the graceful lines and unusual color scheme.  I took just a few colors to attempt my first acrylic painting at our life painting session.  I will make  a few changes, but I don't want to lose the freshness of the direct painting experience.  The music is good. 

Monday, March 25, 2013

My inspiration! 

These are Ranunculus.  As you can see from these two photos, I continue to paint shapes that redefine areas and create the illusion of space.  The flowers have color on them, but still have the appearance of being soft and white.  I am not quite finished with this painting, but I need to stop and study it before adding the last touches.  I may scrub out some of the dark shapes and I am still not sure about the background.  I originally wanted to cut the paper to make it smaller, but then added the lattice work for contrast. 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Process, process, process!  Here is the beginning of a new watercolor.  I feel the need to get as much out of the flowers as I can.  And they change so quickly that I need to complete paintings, or at least get them to a stage where I no longer need the real deal to finish.  I love to work from life, whether it be a flower or a figure.  I don't mind a photo, but definitely prefer studying a thing or person sitting with me.  It is just a fun way to discover the shapes of things.  Anyway, I plan to add to this one and show the process.

I started on a piece of watercolor paper that I thoroughly wet on both sides.  I used some nice thick, juicy paints, since I had so much water on the paper already.  I used a lovely green gold  and added orange and cerulean blue.  I didn't draw on the paper before I started, but I knew where I wanted the flowers.  I wiped out the white areas with a clean wet brush.  As the paper began to dry, I was able to add purple to the shadow side of the flowers.  I thought about the shape of the petals and the warm side and cool side of the shapes. 

I am at a good stopping place because the paint should be dry when I go back into the painting.  Tomorrow, I will continue to carve out my shapes and design my painting until it looks finished.  With any luck, someone will take the brush out of my hand before I overdo it.   

Orange Slices is my first in a new series of acrylics.  I am using realistic, organic shapes, and contrasting geometric shapes for added interest.  Again, I am using secondary colors with whites and I really like this combination.  This one has a little more gray than most of my works have, and I like it and plan to use gray more often.  I picked this bouquet up at the grocery store.  They put together some wonderful combinations.  After the orange daisies wilted, some nice yellow lilies blossomed.  I had flowers for inspiration for many days. 

Here is a new painting for spring.  I am calling it Whites in a Jar.  I am having fun with shapes these days.  With this piece, I not only added the geometric shape for contrast, I also added the round, lacy doily too, and that was fun.  I will definitely be using that doily again.  I wanted to let a little process show through, so I didn't paint over the drips.  The colors are my favorite element in this piece.  I am loving secondary colors these days.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

I call this one Sues' Favorite because my good friend Sue likes it best of all my poppy paintings.  This one is watercolor and acrylic on watercolor paper.  I wish I had a booth at the Poppy Festival this year, but I don't.  You'll just have to see my paintings at Stinger Studio or Franklin Fine Jewelers in Georgetown.  I will be having a show with Sue Gray at the Vineyards in Florence next month with the opening on April 13.  It should be lots of fun.  I am off to paint more flowers!

Friday, March 8, 2013

It is that time of year.  We know that a drive around certain parts of Georgetown will soon bring us to these unexpected spots with brilliant red poppies and then our big festival is just around the corner.  I love the Poppy Festival and I also love to paint poppies.  This watercolor is called Georgetown Poppies.