Willow Ridge Pond

Willow Ridge Pond, 2.5" x 3.5"

A pond near my home, painted in the spring of 2016.

Favorite part: the grassy shadow.

Erie Canal

Erie Canal, 2.5" x 3.5"

I wanted to catch the interesting aqua color of the water in the canal on this August day.

Favorite part: the way the light changes as the canal turns.

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden, 2.5" x 3.5"

Painted from photos taken on an outing to Delaware Park in Buffalo NY, on a hot summer day.

Favorite part: the multi-colored tree at the top of the steps.

Akron Falls Park

Akron Falls Park, 2.5" x 3.5"

Catching up here, after a half-year of little artwork. This painting was done from photos I took on a delightful day painting at Akron Falls Park, NY, last summer.

Favorite part: the shimmer on the bank of vines at the bottom. 

Glen Falls from above

Above Glen Falls, 2.5" x 3.5" on Arches 300# w/c 

Glen Falls is a local spectacle, located on Ellicott Creek in Williamsville, NY. I was standing on the bride along Main Street, looking down to where the falls cascade over the edge, which is why you see such a sharp edge in the distance. It's a lovely little park, and the falls are impressive. One of these days I'll paint  them, too.

Favorite part: The shady spot in the lower right-hand corner, with the rocks and reflections beneath the overhanging trees.

Cool Afternoon

I hope you sense the cool breeze blowing across the high plains, looking toward the distant volcanoes on Albuquerque's west side.


Painted in gouache on Arches 300 C/P, 2.5" x 3.5".  

~Deborah

Along the Creek

I just wanted to paint a little water. It's been so dry here that it's scary. The fun of this one was to capture that lush growth, the sparkling light, and the highlight of the stream. Refreshing to paint. (And it rained here last night--finally!)


Painted in gouache on Bristol vellum, 2.5" x 3.5".

~Deborah

7/6 Edited the photograph, which as too light, lacking contrast! 

All in a Row

I loved capturing the delicate leaves highlighted by the sun on this grove. The canvas texture works perfectly for that. Don't you think the smallest tree looks like a wayward child, twirling as all of her relatives look on? (Okay, sometimes my imagination goes off, but trees always seem like people to me. Maybe it's early Ent exposure, a la Tolkien!)


Painted in gouache on Canvas Paper, 2.5" x 3.5".

~Deborah

Rio Grande Winter

There are times in the winter months here in Albuquerque when the sky is turbulent and the river's characteristic reddish tint takes on these incredible lavender, red-violet and blue-violet tones. Mix that with the reflected dry green color of the olive trees lining the bank and you have this incredibly beautiful harmony of tones and colors. This little painting really pleases me. It's come closer than a lot of other tries to getting the subtleties. Plus, I like the sky.


Painted in gouache on 140 lb. watercolor paper, 2.5" x 3.5".

~Deborah

Green Shade

Shadows always enthrall me. I love the way they add drama to the ordinary scene and define the planes of the land. This was a sunny summer day in the north valley in Albuquerque. That shade felt so good! A great place to paint. (Although, just to be clear, this painting was done from a photo of the day, not on site.)

I snapped some process shots for you to see. I pencil in a quick sketch, then begin with the sky. Next I establish the sweep of the land and its shadow. Then I add the tree shapes very loosely. I add some tree edge details in the fourth step. 

I add some some trunks, as well as that dash of distant light that adds visual interest to the distance. In the sixth step I add some white clouds to the sky. Then I detail the grass in the foreground, and it's done! 

Painted in gouache on Bristol vellum, 2.5" x 3.5".

~Deborah

Glorious Gold

The cottonwoods aren't quite this yellow here yet, but somehow the promise of gold is on its way even though it's still hitting the 90s in the daytime. I found a photo that was shared in a challenge last year in the WetCanvas Landscape forum and reinterpreted it. It really is this brilliant, and I love the swing-and-sway of the composition.


My usual small size, 2.5" x 3.5", on Bristol Vellum. 

~Deborah

Georgia Garden

Nope, I don't live in Georgia! This is a photo that Phyllis Franklin allowed me to use, taken in early spring in a garden near her home. It's simply breathtaking to a New Mexico girl to see all that green, all those lush flowers and the dazzling azaleas! I had to give it a whirl.

I like the sense of the light encircling the big tree, which remains mostly in shade. It gives a nice path for the eye. My favorite part is the texture and colors on the tree trunk, however. It stabilizes the composition, like the hub of a wheel.

It's back to my usual 2.5" x 3.5" format, this time on Bristol paper. 

~Deborah

Yosemite Falls

Another painting done from a photograph of Yosemite Falls taken by Gerald Parras. (Thanks again, Gerald.)  It's a grand place, full of drama and mystery. I love the scale created by the inclusion of the small figure. The large underlying shapes in the painting please me, with the dark green and strong blue triangles 'pointing' the eye into the sunlit trees and waterfall. Of course, the strong light angle of the falls and the varied geometry of the rock wall are the stars of the show!

Arches 300 cold press watercolor paper, 7" x 5". HUGE for me!

~Deborah

Summer Stand

Years ago I visited the Blanco Basin up near Pagosa Springs and took the photo that inspired this little painting. It was a ripe summer day, clear blue sky, looming mountains, with wide fields through which the road meandered. I think it's the relationship of the trees, like a family admiring a youngster, that appeals to me. They all stand at the same distance, as if they're posing for the photo. I like that. I probably should have come up with some clever title relating to it... Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy a family moment in the midst of a summer day.

~Deborah

Olive and Indigo

It's nudging into spring. The plum trees are budding, dark eyelids still demurely cast down over rich pink flowers. I'm so ready for winter to be over. This painting must give you a hint of the mood I'm in. I want lush green grass, olive trees swaying in the breeze, and the indigo broom bursting with tiny lavender flowers. Soon... Meanwhile this lively color scheme feeds my soul.

~Deborah

Rocky Red and Greens

The monumental quality of the red rocks throughout the southwest are fascinating, and the natural contrast of red rock and green trees against a blue sky is just stunning. As much as I enjoyed the light and shadow on the rocks, it was the sky that I had the most fun with on this one. It's painted on Bristol paper, which is so hard that the paint stays atop the surface, so for this sky I really rolled on some water and let the blue paint run down as I dabbed in thick white clouds. Whatever happened was fine with me (with only a little urging here and there.) 

Great Bay Shore

Another of the Gouache Corner photos that Hal Kirby posted, this one of the Great Bay. I cropped it, too, to take out  the tall trees and focus on the rocks and shadows on the sandy, rocky shore. I enjoyed sorting out the jumble of colors and shapes on the steep bank behind the boulders, letting the paint suggest to me what was there.

Pond at Sunrise

I've begun walking in the mornings and this pond on my accustomed route always catches my eye. It was 'sunrise' to me--probably not technically! But the glistening sun peeking over the top of Sandia was what made it so exciting.  To me, the clean bright colors speak of the morning's beauty and freshness.

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.

SOLD

Gibb River

This is a painting done from a photo provided by an acquaintance for a challenge over at WetCanvas. We have a monthly thread with photos we share, and this is the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley, Northwestern Australia. Nola tells me, "The Gibb River Road is very famous and a lot of people aspire to travel it. There is spectacular scenery in the gorges, etc., along the road, and you only go if you have an extremely sturdy 4 wheel drive as it is all corrugated gravel. This was taken at Wynjanna Gorge." I'm fairly certain I've added a touch of New Mexico influence to it, so let's say it's a Southwestern version of the area! Thanks, Nola, for the inspiration.

On Canva-Paper.

$50.
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