The Book

Gouache Paintings in Small Scale by Deborah Secor | Make Your Own Book

Last October I published this little 7" x 7" book of my gouache paintings at Blurb, a print-on-demand publisher. I was delighted! The color turned out to be quite good and the printing is clear. I included three step-by-step demonstrations, as well as 68 of my little 2.5" x 3.5" paintings.

Look how close the reproduction comes to the real thing:

It's not a big book, more like a little catalog sized booklet, perfect for browsing through now and then.

I'm now thinking about Volume II, to be published in about October this year. I think a yearly volume is a good idea. It's a marvelous way to keep a record of the paintings that have left my hands, and to share my portfolio with people who are interested.

You can see the whole book in the preview. Enjoy!

Brilliance

This painting is on Pastelmat, which allows me to build up color in layers. I really enjoyed creating that punch of orange amid the gray, and developing the color of the middle distant red-violet clouds, but it was the tiny last touches of light in the dark landscape that did the trick. All of a sudden the painting seemed complete. I try to pay attention to that voice in my head that says 'enough!' I could easily go on to dibble and dabble and explain more, but usually it isn't needed. The statement has already been made.

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Fog on Tamales Bay

I used a photo from Robert at WetCanvas (aka skappy), of beautiful Tamales Bay in California. It's an area I always loved visiting and I found myself letting the fog roll in as I painted. It's on Illustration Board, so I could add water and let the fog pool on top of the paper.

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Sonoran Sunset

Painted on black Pastelmat, this piece was inspired by another of the excellent photos from the Gouache Corner over at WetCanvas. I love the almost magical sunset colors, turning what some might see as a bleak landscape into a romantic moment of peace.

One of my personal favorites.

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Sky Path

I loved the crazy shape of this cloud. I admit that the rest is mostly imaginary, designed from a real place but made my own. It's now northern New Mexico on a crisp, clear, blue, sunshiny summer day. I've seen these white flowers dotting the landscape, adding such delight to the walk, but it's the sky that's the path that leads me onward. Want to go for a hike?

On Illustration Board.

$50.
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Arizona View

I loved the photo that Lenore ("MRSBB" over at WetCanvas) shared of the mountains out by her home in Arizona. I love the way the land swings and sways, dipping and rising as it recedes.

On Canva-Paper.

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