Mountain Morning Sky-- SOLD

Why is this one so big, you ask?

I've decided to do a few larger paintings and thought I would post this gigantic one (for me)! It's 5" x 7" and was done as a demonstration for a class I taught this week on Gouache Basics. I posted a plea for some sky photos on Facebook, and my buddy David Patterson came through with a gorgeous shot of an area not far from the old homestead in the mountains above Albuquerque. I suspect I could drive you right to that same place, I know Highway 14 so well. I really enjoyed catching the arching sky and clouds above the high mountains on a sunny spring day. Such a sweet place, and sweet memories for me.

Sky's the Limit

I've decided that I'll do a short series of maybe 9 or 10 paintings of the sky in which I plan to use the same kinds of brush strokes as you see in this one. I like the idea of letting them stand and when I do a series it usually challenges me to find out what works and what doesn't. For now I'm going to keep these back and not offer them for sale so that I can see how the idea progresses. I love the colors and transparency of this one, which is on Illustration Board.

Bid on this painting

Rosy Days

It's been so dry but the roses are prolific this year. I wanted to catch the delightful snarl of dense bushes covered with flowers. I'm using a new set of gouache I picked up recently, made by Holbein. They are pigment rich, giving me the bright pinks and yellows effortlessly. I had to grab my Hookers Green from the M. Graham stash, however, to get that rich dark green.

On Canvas Paper.

$50.
Paypal or personal check.

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.

$50.
Paypal or personal check

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.

$50.
Paypal or personal check

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.

$50.
Paypal or personal check