Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Floating in Summer


As a farewell to summer I thought I'd post this impressive cloud I spotted over the Sandias one day. I'm not ready for sweaters and hot tea and long socks yet, which is good since the temperature is in the 90s F right now. The monsoons are past and it's chillier in the mornings, but the temps soar in mid-afternoon. The painting is on Bristol vellum. Hope you like it!

$50.00




Sunday, September 19, 2010

Simple Sunset


I love painting sunsets, even if they are considered trite! In high school an art teacher drummed this into us. In fact he wouldn't let any of his students paint or draw horses, cars or sunsets. I have to say that it took me nearly 40 years to break free of his prejudices. I'm over it now! In fact, the challenge is to paint sunsets that aren't trite. For instance, I make sure the ball of the sun is NOT located in the center of the composition. Ever. Most photograph are taken this way, but I always turn so the sun is off-center, as I did here. I hope you have a feeling that the hot core is on the far right. I also add some medium colors to indicate shapes in the ground plane, rather than let the ground be a black void. Cameras average the light and turn what's in shadow to inky black, but when I'm standing outside at sunset I can see all the colors and shapes in the reflected light.

This one is on 300 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper, which is a wonderfully responsive surface for such a subject. You can see I used some wet in wet techniques, as well as a bit of dry brush in the foreground.  Hope you like it!

$50.00





Friday, September 10, 2010

Huachuca Mountains


This is on Arches 300-lb. cold press, and was done from a photograph by Lenore (MRSBB) at WetCanvas. I don't think it captures Arizona all that well, but I like the palette. I feel as if the wind is blowing in from that front over the distant mountain.

I haven't had much time to paint lately, but should have short season again soon. I'm looking forward to it!

$50.00





Splashing Around in Spring

I was recently inspired by some floral watercolor paintings I spotted on Instagram. Pamela Harnois does these lovely, quick, colorful floral...